New England sports fans need a big win — another NBA title for the Celtics, perhaps, or a repeat of last October's World Series victory — to lift the funk that has enveloped the region since the Patriots fell to the Giants in February's Super Bowl.
Who would have thought an 18-1 season could be so disappointing? But the pall cast by that loss in the desert has yet to disappear.
r Just when it seemed we'd heard the last of Spygate, Pennsylvania Sen. Arlen Specter announced this week he would seek a congressional investigation into allegations of illegal videotaping of opponents by the Patriots' staff.
This is clearly a man with too much time on his hands. Following a thorough investigation and an interview with former Patriot cameraman-turned-golf-pro Matt Walsh, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell decreed that no further sanctions were warranted against the Patriots. The team paid hefty fines and suffered the loss of a top draft pick for the illegal taping they've admitted to, and now Goodell is almost as adamant as coach Bill Belichick in saying there's nothing else there.
Yet Specter, whose home-state Eagles and Steelers have suffered some painful losses at the hands of the Patriots in recent years, just can't let this matter go. He should spend more time worrying about the losses his party has suffered in recent special elections and its poor prospects heading into the fall.
r A few weeks ago many felt it would be the Celtics who would remove the tarnish from the Patriots' Super Bowl loss. But despite a spectacular road record during the regular season, the team has been unable to win away from home during the playoffs.
Here's hoping that drought ends in Cleveland tonight.
r Hopes were high for a second consecutive World Series win by the Red Sox heading into this season. But thus far the pitching, particularly by the bullpen, has been less than spectacular.
Last year, it seemed, middle reliever Hideki Okajima served up nothing but strikes. Wednesday afternoon he served up a grand slam to the Orioles' Jay Payton which resulted in his team's fourth straight loss.
It's early yet — Thursday found both Florida teams leading their respective divisions. How long's that going to last? — but it could be a long summer if the Sox don't solve their pitching woes.
