Sorry, but other New Englanders will consider me RUDE, maybe even a traitor for this comment.
OK, my heart started to race this morning when WFNX radio announced that the Red Sox were up only 1 and a half, AND with Ophelia headed up the coast, what might happen this weekend in baseball? BUT....
I am a Nebraska native, I used to live in Chicago, and although my truck has New Hampshire plates, I have a Chicago Cubs bumper sticker, and used to go to both Cubs and White Sox games, and own jerseys for both teams (plus a NE Patriots jersey #4 and lotsa Bears stuff but I digress...).
OK, my point. The White Sox have fielded great teams for years, but never had enough oomph to make the series. The Cardinals are a terrific team with great fans. People in the Northeast don't pay attention to anything in the midwest, but Chicago and St Louis have a rivalry maybe worse than Yanks and Bosox. My proposal: Bosox make the playoffs, but after beating the Yanks (all we need, really) the Chisox win a close series and then face up to the Cards--those look like the two best teams in baseball, and people all over the central midwest would get their turn, last year the Red Sox had theirs.
Just a thought!

Wow - you really aren't a Red Sox fan as I am convinced they are going to miss the playoffs all together. The last eight days (other than last Saturday) have convinced me of that.

Well, ahem, except for last year, it would be a typical Red Sox season to fall apart in the late season. I want it all though: a good Red Sox playoff series up to a point, and then the Bruins kick some Montreal Canadien ass on their way to a cup....
Maybe for me baseball fills in time 'till football and hockey season.

Blogging activity is slower on Friday because during the week everyone is trying to find diversions from their actual work and on Fridays they are out on the golf course.

I think that GenX@40 has been in a rut for 3 years now. Fortunately, it coincides with my own.

I am used to collapses. My teams collapse. I always think it is me causing it. That is why last year was so weird.<p>I have not been too excited about the NHL until I saw the Penguins line-up. I think with all the reshuffling I may be allowed to resuffle my affections. I think the Leafs are going to really be awful with the line-up they have mustered. I want to get out of the way of another collapsing team. I have too many.

Hans! I thought you have found a new life in industrous employment. Good to see you are still along for the drifting.

Gary speaks truth to NHL power re: the Bruins. Joe Thornton, back from his year in the lofty climbs of Switzerland and the accompanying vast increase in lung capacity, to tear up the league and win the scoring race! You heard it here first.

Alan! The Penguins? Are you moving to Pittsburg? Don't like the Leafs, how about your backyard champs, the Senators?
Actually, there is no rut here--Alan has a great blog, it's just us commentators who are in a rut (my life is simple: work, wife, sports, tasty beverages. Heavenly).

Mike is a smart guy. How did you people up there ever let Joe leave Canada?

Suggested topic: What kind of fraud is Renee Zellweger referring too?

I was away for 3 weeks in DK & IE. Plus, I've gone back to school full-time and am only working part-time. I think you can guess which days I'm at work.

I thought I might have been out of loop after being away for 3 weeks, but, uh, apparently not!

"Driftin' along with the tumblin' tumbleweed..."

What are studying? How were the cheeses of Denmark?

oh get off it, we're one and a half UP! Up. i'm so looking forward to that last weekend. winning is nothing next to having to win.

and gary is right - beating the yanks - that's all we need really.

What!?!? You were the man who expressed doubt when Nomar went. I have nothing to get off. Zippo. Nada.

Some of the Red Sox are earning their paychecks: that was quite a win yesterday, still up one and a half.
Portland, and our wandering bloghost Alan: ever been to Tully's beer in Wells, Maine?http://www.tullysbeerandwine.com/
It is like an Eiffel tower or Empire State building of beers. Beautiful area too, beaches etc. Alan-make note in your calendar for your next Maine vacation.
Why say, Patriots on this afternoon...

Tully's is one of those ace in the hole beer blogging experiences I reserve to my future. It must be fairly close to you in NH, but perhaps only in my beer-distance-patience ratio.

Studying Island Studies.

I am one of the few of Danish heritage that hates cheese especially the stinky kind that Danes seem to specialize in. So, in general, I would have to say that the Danish cheeses are pungently awful. But apparently some people like that.