Ever since 1986 I've loved seeing the Red Sox fail. As a Mets fan, I vividly remember how the baseball rolled between Bill Buckner's legs for a hit, which turned out to be the play that switched momentum in the Mets' favor and allowed them to come back and win the '86 World Series. I was as elated as Gary Carter and Orozco when they met in the pitcher's mound. That's when I started disliking ('cause hate is such a harsh word) the Boston Red Sox. 

My abhorrence towards the BoSox just increased in 2004 when they won the championship. I hated the fact that they complained so much about the Yankees spending so much money in their team, but they did precisely the same thing to get a championship. I hated (notice how easy I can use the word now) that a guy like Manny Ramirez [who thinks he can do whatever he wants (i.e., throw his helmet while he's running so people can admire his dreadlocks) and everyone has to applaud his every move] now had a ring. I hated that the Red Sox were once again a respectable team.

So you would think that I would hate the Red Sox even more now that they spent all that money in getting Dice-K; that Manny has yet another ring; and that people are now even talking about the Red Sox being an unbeatable team once they get to the World Series. Right? Well, even I can't understand why I'm not feeling that way? I'm actually feeling happy for the Red Sox ... at least partially.

I still hate what I used to hate about the Red Sox and always will. I don't think they should have paid so much money for Dice-K. I don't like the fact that Manny keeps being Manny. I don't like the fact that a lot of people are giving way too much credit to the BoSox for beating the Rockies. All those things are not good for baseball.

Yet, I'm happy that Boston won because of Coach Francona, Captain Varitek, and MVP Lowell.

Unlike Joe Torre, Francona managed his large-payroll team to a championship to show the Sox's management that he's underpaid. Hopefully, Theo and the rest of the management got the message. Francona deserves more of the cash that Manny's getting for a couple of good at bats.

Jason 'Tek' Varitek, as team captain, did a tremendous job throughout the season to keep his team focused on getting to the World Series and winning it all. If the Mets had a captain like that maybe we wouldn't have witnessed the Mets' debacle as we did this year. Varitek also called great games throughout the season and used his pitchers' skills to the max. Furthermore, whenever the Red Sox needed momentum on their side, their sergeant came through for them and continued leading them to the championship, which leads us to the Series MVP Mike Lowell.

Finally, my fellow Puerto Rican, Mike Lowell got the recognition he deserves. Lowell is the main reason why I'm happy that the Sox won. Every time Lowell plays you know he's going to leave everything in the field to help his team, whoever that team is, win. It would be a shame if the Red Sox repay him with a pink slip. Fortunately, I don't think that'll happen. I think Theo, John Henry, and perhaps even Francona will fight for Mike. Even if Mike doesn't return with the Red Sox his stock just went up during the Series. Would Mike be the next Yanks' 3B? Anything is possible now that A-Rod is out of the Bronx AND the Yankees will sure want to win one battle against their nemesis.

So, whereas today I'm happy for Boston winning the championship I'm already starting to hate them again. Ah, it feels great to hate the Red Sox. I'm already hoping that Boras' ego is SO huge that he will convince the Red Sox to sign A-Rod. Wouldn't that be fun, Red Sox Nation? Think about it A-Rod in Boston, the Red Sox out of championship contention, and me loving the fact that the Red Sox are losers once again.

   After picking Jdeppa to win the Next Great Sportswriter Competition [just a joke bro'], Tiki Barber made his picks for the Super Bowl on national TV.  Last night on The Late Show with David Letterman, Tiki Barber picked  the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots for the Super Bowl.  How good of a pick is this?  Let's analyze it.

This week we have the Redskins traveling to the Seahawks nest; the Patriots getting ready to face a stampede of Broncos; the Steeler's Bus rolling to Indianapolis; and finally a battle of beasts when the Carolina Panthers face the Chicago Bears.  All this games should be close, but I think Tiki's picks will move on this week. 

I see the Seahawks beating the tired Redskins.  The Skins won their last game against the Bucs without offensive production; they've been traveling a lot during the last couple of weeks; and they must be tired after winning their last seven games.  The Seahawks should dominate this game running the ball with Alexander against a poor rushing defense.

I also see the Patriots winning this upcoming weekend.  The Patriots lost to Denver the last time they played each other, but the Patriots were not completely healthy.  Denver won with a score of 28-20. Don't expect that to happen again.  The Patriots are healthy once again, and Brady hasn't lost a playoff game.  So watch out for New England.

The other two games are irrelevant to Tiki's picks.  Yet, I'll still make my picks for the record.  I think the Bus makes his last stop of the season, and perhaps of his career, this weekend in Indianapolis.  And for the upset pick I'll take Carolina over Da Bears.  After embarassing the Giants at the Meadowlands the Panthers seem to have more confidence in themselves.  Don't be surprised if they win again in the road.

Hence, I see Seattle winning the NFC Championship.  Regardless of who they end up playing, I say Carolina but that's a guess, they should win the NFC.  On the AFC, then, I see the Patriots winning.  The Colts are good friends of that hated c-word in sports (choke) and their paths always cross during the playoffs.  So I don't see a repeat of that Monday Night game where the Colts beat the Patriots.

I guess Tiki is right then.  However, he didn't say who he thinks will win the Super Bowl.  I, as the grown ass man that Cedric The Entertainer has tought me to be, will say that this is the Seahawks' season.  They should ride Alexander the Great all the way to the Super Bowl and receive their well-earned Lombadi trophy. 

Well, I didn't get my pick right.  I said that the Buccaneers would beat the Redskins in the first round of the NFL Playoffs.  And although that didn't happen I hope you did follow my recommendation and watched the game.  It was a great game! 

This game had everything you want in a playoff game.  It had constant ball movement, good defense, and a close scoreboard with the losing team constantly making a run for the win.  I only wish the Bucs could have held the ball in the end zone during that fourth quarter played that was determined to be an incomplete pass.  

Although the Redskins won I found that they were lethargic.  The Redskins intensity certainly went from a high during the first quarter to almost none in the fourth quarter.  Their defense dominated during the first quarter and got to every ball in the field.  Offensively they were also dominant with good runs from Portis and making plays with Santana Moss.  Yet, they didn't maintain that intensity throughout the game.   

The Redskins have good reasons for being tired.  They have won their last six games in a row.  That's no easy task for any professional sports team.  But it's even tougher in the NFL.  Due to the short time to get healthy and to bring back their intensity level to a maximum, I don't see the Washington Redskins beating the Seattle Seahawks in the second round of the playoffs.  [With my luck, watch the Skins make it to the Super Bowl.]       I could give my opinion about the Buccaneers and their future as a team, but I think I'll do that in a separate, later posting.

What's going on with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers?  Apparently, they have decided to play this season's remaining games from the last two minutes of the third quarter forward.  The Bucs seem to be playing passively and thinking that they can win games that way.  They should have learned by now that such thing won't happen.

Chris Simms appears to enjoy reacting when the opponents score.  For instance, today the Bucs allowed the Bears to obtain a 13-3 lead before they scored their first touchdown of the game.  Then, they had a chance to score another touchdown but couldn't do it.  That drive ended in a missed field goal.  Sure, you can blame the kicker for not making the field goal.  But that's not the reason why the Bucs lost today ... they lost because they're not aggresive.

Coach Gruden should also begin to play aggressive football.  His game plans seem to be good enough to win games, yet Chris Simms appear not to be a good-enough QB for the team's game plans.  Gruden should shuffle his players a little bit.  If Simms is not moving the ball down the field and the Bucs still have a chance to win the game, then bring in the second string QB.  The Bucs second string QB played well during the pre-season games.  I think he could be the spark the Bucs have been missing lately.

The Bucs definitely have talent, but they're not using it.  Simms got the chance of a lifetime to show what he can do in the NFL.  I don't think he's making the best out of it.  Gruden is definitely a good game plan schemer, yet he's not playing aggresively enough to translate his plans into real wins.  I love watching NFL games that come down to the wire, but I hate to watch to those games when the Bucs are involved - especially when they lose.  The only thing I'm asking for is a Buccaneers game where I can enjoy some nachos and a beer rather than taking a Bayer with some water just to make it through the game.  Am I asking for too much?