Three thoughts:

- Saw the Celtics last regular season game with The Hey last night (thanks, Hey!). Not a bad game, and very low pressure, as the Celtics were basically letting the regulars tune up for the first round of the playoffs and the Nets were practically on vacation already. Four of the five starters played; the Big Three and Perk. Rondo got the night off, but won the 6th Man Award. The Celtics won the game 105-95, but it hardly seemed to matter. Best moments: First, Captain Paul Pierce thanking the assembled fans for their support all season. He mentioned how he had been out there the last few years promising that better days were coming. Well, better days are finally here. Second, Kevin Garnett swatted away a Nets shot with authority, announcing to one and all that he's ready for the playoffs.

- One good thing came out of the whole silly Red Sox shirt buried in the new Yankee Stadium controversy: the Yankees gave the shirt to the Jimmy Fund to auction off. They also threw in a Yankee Universe T-shirt, while the Sox added tickets to a Sox game (where the winner will be presented with the shirt) plus a new Ortiz jersey. The high bid at this writing is $30,201, so it looks like a big check will go to a great cause.

- I know it's early, but how on earth are the Cardinals 11-5, 1/2 game behind the D-Backs for the best record in baseball? This is a team that was thought to be at the start of a rebuilding process, with an injured Albert Pujols and a bunch of question marks both on the mound and at the plate. I don't expect this level of success will last, but if Tony LaRussa can even get them to be close to .500 he's even smarter than I thought.