Welcome to Game 7. I’ve chosen a running diary format to follow this game, mostly to save my sanity. Hopefully if I can distract myself at least a little bit by writing about what I’m seeing, it will take some of the sting out of Doc Rivers’ eventual sabotage of this season. So, without further ado…

3:33: Once again, we’re starting a home game in a haze because of the fireworks set off in the Garden. Are these really necessary? I’ve now gotten pissed off three times thinking the game wasn’t being broadcast in high definition because of these damn things. At least show them to us on TV so we aren’t just stuck with the aftermath…

3:54: LeBron just made a great play, and was commended by the commentators. Unfortunately, he took at LEAST three steps before the layup. I really hope these officials don’t give the benefit of the ‘Bron all day…

3:55: “And it’s easier to split the defense when you take three steps, that was a travel!”
Thanks for pointing that out. It’s nice to have an announcer who doesn’t feel like his job is in jeopardy for saying one bad thing about LeBron James.

3:59: Ray Allen puts a hard foul on James and forces him to miss a dunk. Even though LeBron makes both of the free throws, it was good not to have the momentum of a monster dunk go against us while we’re building a huge lead.

4:01: Rajon Rondo grabs another rebound, his fourth of the game. This kid is going to be a superstar. Today, I’m not sure I take another point guard in the east against him.

4:04: At the end of the first quarter, Boston is up 18-13. The Celtics are playing fast and look as if they’ll win this game. However, what should be surprising, but isn’t, is that LeBron James is the only Cavalier who seems to understand what “Game 7″ means.

4:13: Our announcers are now talking about Paul Pierce’s legacy. I hate hearing about this during a game 7 that is still very much in doubt. Isn’t “discussing someone’s all-time greatness during a game” included in the very definition of the word “jinx?” I just threw up in my mouth a little bit.

4:15: Eddie House knocks down another jumper to put the Celts up 24-15. If the Green win this series, it will be no coincidence that Eddie House was moved back to the first Point Guard off the bench. While Sam Cassel sits on the sidelines looking like an extra-terrestrial, House is bringing a fiestyness and intensity, as well as a shot-making ability that Cassel simply can’t match at this point in his career. Kudos, Doc. It’s about time.

4:24: Right on cue, House wins a footrace with Wally Sczerbiak down the floor to a loose ball. Diving for it as the ball approached the line, he expertly tipped it back to Posey who almost made the layup while being fouled. Absolute momentum changer. Posey makes both free throws and the roof of the Garden almost blows clear off.

4:29: Eddie House falls while bringing the ball up, and Delonte West falls on top of him. Trying to get a pass off while West tries to strip the ball, a fight almost erupts between the two. For some reason a foul wasn’t called on West even though he didn’t have his hands near the ball while the two were on the ground. I’m not a basketball expert, but does that make sense? I suppose if you essentially tackle someone it’s fine as long as they’re still in their half of the court. Both are hit with technical fouls.

4:32: By the way, is there anything more humorous in basketball than a point guard jump ball? It always looks as if the referee is playing “Keep-Away” from the contestants instead of throwing up a ball for them to grab. Delonte West wins the jump.

4:42: So the announcers are clearly back on LeBron’s side after a foul by Kendrick Perkins. After Perk reached for the ball and James fell out of bounds, we’ve heard thirty seconds of comments about the star of the league getting “clotheslined.” I think after this series, LeBron needs to take over Glen Davis’s nickname.

5:00: Well it’s halftime and the Celts have a double-digit lead at home. I’d feel completely confident if it weren’t for that man in the suit pacing in front of the Celtics’ bench the whole game.

5:16: Cleveland has cut the lead to five points already. This is not the way the Green wanted to come out in the second half.

5:20: Shots are simply not falling for the Celtics right now. They’ve come out in the second half like they were in the last five minutes of a double header: Exhausted and desperate.

5:36: It’s only the third quarter and Ben Wallace looks like a boxer at the end of the 12th round. Remember when he used to be an impact player?

5:39: As if responding to my comment, Wallace pushes Garnett and is called for a foul that sends Garnett to the line for two. What a contributor!

5:41: Ray Allen bricks another open three-pointer, and he needs to leave immediately. If Allen got his shots to fall tonight, he certainly deserved a shot to be in there after his great season. But his recent struggles are just killing this team. Every time they give him a wide open shot, and a chance to break out of his slump, he kills their momentum as a way of saying “thanks.” This needs to stop NOW.

5:52: Another foul against LeBron James. Is it to the point in this NBA where it’s illegal to even get in the path of its darling player?

5:53: Celtics choose to put KG in sooner than normal in the 4th quarter, and put in House with Rajon Rondo. Two point guards again. Has this strategy ever worked for any team? Ever?

6:04: Pierce is trying to put this game on ice right now, and LeBron James keeps turning up the heat. This is how game 7’s are supposed to unfurl. Just as I’m typing this, however, LeBron James punches a ball out of bounds, grabs Pierce’s jersey so he can’t recover, and is granted possession. If LeBron gets one more call he may break the Michael Jordan record for most ignored calls in the history of the NBA post season.

6:24: Unbelievable. Of all people, P.J. Brown comes through with a clutch jumper. With his fouls bordering on flagrant and point contributions, is it possible he’s been a bigger acquisition than Shaquille O’Neal for the Suns?

6:25: The announcers calling for Hack-a-Ben. Nothing like the commentators asking for a more boring game. I hope no one can hear them.
6:30: LeBron James takes a bad layup and the Celtics rebound, effectively ending the game. By the time Ben Wallace fouls Ray Allen, Boston fans are already gathering in the streets to celebrate their first Conference Finals berth in some years.

6:35: Pierce makes two free throws to officially destroy the last shred of hope for the Cavs. As a Boston fan, I’m encouraged that the Celtics were able to beat both the Cavaliers and the referees tonight. It’s always difficult to play effective defense against a guy who has a free ride every single time he goes to the basket. I’m off to dunk my face in a bucket of ice water and take some intravenous Jack Daniels. Good night.

With The Today Show running their “Where in the World is Matt Lauer” special and Good Morning America doing their “7 Wonders of America” specials this time of year, someone really should cover “Where in the World is Arlen Specter,” because he certainly hasn’t showed up to turn in an honest day’s work in quite a while.

Google Earth. GPS. Something. How is a United States senator allowed to take time away from his responsibilities to bicker over NFL rules? He’s going to hide behind the guise of investigating the NFL because it has anti-trust exemptions, though he’s obviously only trying to embarrass the Patriots franchise after they sent his Pennsylvania teams home for three straight years in the playoffs? How is this not a major headline-grabbing story? It is amazing to me that a man so closely involved with covering up the conspiracy theory involved in John F. Kennedy’s assassination would even want to be out in the limelight like this… Didn’t everyone involved in the Warren Commission die of mysterious causes soon after the report? How did Specter live on to do such important things as accuse George W. Bush and the Patriots of wire-tapping. While we’re on the subject, is it at all possible the guy is just crazy? Isn’t this the behavior of paranoid schizophrenics? Put a suit on Christopher Lloyd’s character from “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” and give him a seat in the senate and could you tell the difference? I think not.

Less likely than a personal vendetta against the Pats, but still far more likely than having genuine good intentions, is protecting his campaign contributor Comcast against the NFL. If Comcast somehow happens to reach an agreement with the NFL concerning the NFL Network’s tier in their packages, we’ll know exactly what is going on here. I can’t imagine that even people in Pennsylvania are supporting this colossal waste of time. But by all means, since we’re not wasting enough money in Iraq or in failed school projects nation-wide, please start a government-funded investigation into the NFL’s lax rules on sideline filming. While you’re at it, someone should look into Sylvester Stallone’s HGH use during his action film days, and anyone else who appeared in action films at the same time shirtless and with more muscles than Arlen Specter.

Since the story won’t go away, even with sports reporters writing non-stop about how the story won’t go away (how does this help, by the way?), we may as well launch as many investigations as possible, to make sure no stone is left unturned in the quest to make everything in life fair. That’s what the United States government is all about, after all.

AL East: Projected Finish (Last Year’s Finish)

1. Boston 103-59 (96-66)
Even without Johan Santana, Boston boasts the league’s best pitching rotation and depth by a wide margin. A projected rotation of Josh Beckett (Fresh off a Cy Young snub), Daisuke Matsuzaka, Jon Lester and Tim Wakefield gives them four solid starters right off the bat. No-Hit Newcomer Clay Buchholz looks to fill in while Schilling rehabs his ailing shoulder. With Jacoby Ellsbury reaching Tom Brady-like proportions in the hearts of Boston-area women, and leading off every day, the Red Sox have all the pieces in place to make another title run.

2. New York 91-71 (94-68)
Hank the Tank Steinbrenner & Co. missed a rare opportunity to snag a two-time Cy Young winner (in his prime!), and may have cost his team a chance at the 2008 playoffs. A projected rotation of aging stars (Mike Mussina and Andy Pettite), tenderfoots (Phil Hughes and Joba Chamberlain) and Chien-Ming Wang does not exactly inspire fear in the hearts of their competition. An off-season that saw Yankees brass spend too much time and money on retaining aging stars instead of acquiring new help will prove costly in the fall of ’08 if changes aren’t made.

3. Tampa Bay 83-79 (66-96)
The young and increasingly talented Rays squad will finally make it to the promised land of .500 baseball this year. Proven standouts Scott Kazmir, Carl Crawford, James Shields and Rocco Baldelli (barring another injury setback) will join forces with newcomers Matt Garza and speedy shortstop Jason Bartlett to anchor a feisty team determined to make noise this season. In addition, Rays fans will enjoy watching the nation’s top prospect Evan Longoria contribute at third base this year. Let the Tony Parker and Desperate Housewives jokes begin.

4. Toronto 79-83 (83-79)
The hardball squad from the north may possess a rare combination of age and inexperience. Newly acquired Scott Rolen and David Eckstein team up with long-tenured Roy Halladay, Vernon Wells and Alex Rios. However, the rest of the rotation, though at times showing brief flashes of brilliance, seems unpredictably decent at best. The Blue Jays have the makings of a hot-start team destined for a complete collapse before any fireworks go off on the 4th of July.

5. Baltimore 63-99 (69-93)
By trading Erik Bedard to Seattle for Adam Jones and Miguel Tejada to Houston for a promising package of youngsters, the Orioles became the first team in the majors to officially forfeit the 2008 season. With their only stars leaving town, their first baseman openly wishing to return to the Red Sox, and a complete lack of confidence in their bullpen (from the coach and the fan base), it is going to be a long, long season for the O’s.

AL Central: Projected Finish (Last Year’s Finish)

1. Detroit 99-63 (88-74)
The Tigers possess a lineup which, on paper, may rival the ’27 Yankees as the team a pitcher would simply want to call in sick against. The acquisition of Miguel Cabrera to an already imposing lineup seemed almost unfair. The Tigers’ glaring weakness lies in their unreliable pitching rotation. Although Justin Verlander is a bona fide #1, an aging Kenny Rogers, up-and-down Jeremy Bonderman and completely unpredictable lefties Nate Robertson and Dontrelle Willis aren’t a dream collection for a 162 game schedule. With the loss of depth in pitching due to the trade, an injury to Verlander would be especially devastating.

2. Cleveland 95-67 (96-66)
The Tribe boasts the league’s top two-headed monster in C.C. Sabbathia and Fausto Carmona at the top of their rotation. They may not have the offensive firepower to contend for the Central title, but could present a potent threat as a wild card entry in the playoffs.

3. Minnesota 82-80 (79-83)
Not getting to .500 with Johan Santana certainly wouldn’t seem to bode well for the Twins reaching that plateau this season. However, with the return of a healthy Francisco Liriano, and the arrival of budding star Delmon Young in addition to the youth added in the Santana trade, Twins fans should have a reasonable amount to cheer about despite losing a two-time Cy Young winner in the offseason.

4. Kansas City 75-87 (69-93)
With Alex Gordon and Mark Teahen continuing to blossom, the Royals have just enough talent spread throughout their team to not finish in last place.

5. Chicago 74-88 (72-90)
The White Sox missed opportunities last season to trade aging stars to rebuild their team. Now, unless manager Ozzie Guillen can locate the fountain of youth, this team cannot compete in the new power division of the major leagues.

AL West: Projected Finish (Last Year’s Finish)

1. Los Angeles 96-66 (94-68)
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim had one of the better off-seasons of any major league club, however quiet it might have been. Signing Torii Hunter shored up their aging outfield, and trading alleged clubhouse cancer Orlando Cabrera for decent fourth starter and innings-eater Jon Garland will prove to be one of the more beneficial trades of the hot stove season (for one of the trading teams, anyway).

2. Seattle 93-69 (88-74)
Now boasting a ferocious 1-2 punch with recently traded-for Erik Bedard and promising middle linebacker Felix Hernandez, the Mariners become a team to be reckoned with. Seattle already boasts arguably the game’s best closer, and despite dealing top prospect Adam Jones to Baltimore, the M’s should have plenty of offense to compete with the Angels for first place.

3. Texas 84-78 (75-87)
The Rangers will run out an interesting mix of veteran talent and promising youngsters in their 2008 campaign. Kevin Millwood and Vincente Padilla continue to be steady middle of the rotation guys stuck at the top of a rotation, and ex-Red Sox farmhand Kason Gabbard will try to make his mark as a full-time starter. The offense has its share of hitters in Ian Kinsler, Josh Hamilton, Michael Young and Milton Bradley, but will miss the firepower of Mark Teixiera. Red Sox fans will be able to watch Gabbard and outfielder David Murphy from afar on a team that poses no threat to them, or anyone else this year.

4. Oakland 69-93 (76-86)
Little to no offense, pitching that can’t stay healthy, and fans that couldn’t care less equals long, brutal summers on the California coast. Mike Piazza hasn’t been the spark the Athletics were hoping for out of the DH spot when he was signed, and with Bobby Crosby, Rich Harden, Huston Street and Piazza already booking reservations for mid-July on the disabled list, the future is grim for the yellow and green.

Division Series
Red Sox def. Indians (5 games)
Tigers def. Angels (4 games)

Championship Series
Red Sox def. Tigers (7 games)

Awards Predictions:

Cy Young: Josh Beckett
Runners Up: Fausto Carmona, Roy Halladay

MVP: Miguel Cabrera
Runners Up: David Ortiz, Manny Ramirez

Rookie of the Year: Jacoby Ellsbury
Runners Up: Evan Longoria, Adam Jones

Coach of the Year: John McLaren
Runners Up: Terry Francona, Ron Washington

NL East: Projected Finish (Last Year’s Finish)

1. New York 97-65 (88-72)
Perhaps no team’s hopes for 2008 rely so heavily on the health of one player so much as the New York Metropolitans. If Pedro Martinez can pitch even close a full season, the recently procured Johan Santana-Martinez duo could be the best 1-2 punch in recent baseball history. With dynamic leadoff hitter Jose Reyes about to explode into his prime, fans will not have to worry about another historic collapse. Instead, Mets fans should be prepared for a very special season.

2. Philadelphia 93-69 (89-73)
With a lineup that includes three players who should go in the top 10 of every fantasy draft this year (Jimmy Rollins, Ryan Howard and Chase Utley), offense is not this team’s problem. The fact that after Cole Hamels, the pitching rotation for the Phillies is composed of four question marks is far more troubling. Is Jamie Moyer finally too old? Can Brett Myers recapture the magic he found for a short time in the closing role as a full-time starter? Can Adam Eaton stay healthy for long enough to be effective? Who in the world is Kyle Kendrick?

3. Atlanta 89-73 (84-78)
This Atlanta Braves team, with Mark Teixiera manning first base for a full season, Tommy Glavine back in the number 2 spot, and John Smoltz, Rafael Soriano, Tim Hudson and Brian McCann doing their things, is certainly a top-10 team in the Major League. Unfortunately for them, the don’t have the firepower of the Phils or the arms of the Mets to compete in this division. This is the type of team that would win the NL West by 10 games but will miss the playoffs because they play in the east.

4. Washington 83-79
Moving from Montreal to Washington didn’t change the fact the franchise remains the farm system for the rest of the league. However, this year is a triple-A squad to be proud of and will be fun to watch. Fans will get to watch Wily Mo Pena and Lastings Milledge play full seasons and attempt to reach their offensive potential. If their pitching staff can stay healthy (which is a bigger question than it sounds like with John Patterson and Shawn Hill missing lengthy portions of the last two seasons), they could have a pleasantly surprising season around .500.

5. Florida 71-91 (71-91)
Mike Lowell, Josh Beckett, and another World Series win have made it easy to forget the fact the Red Sox traded Hanley Ramirez to the Marlins two years ago. The youngster has blossomed into a unique power/speed threat worthy of any fantasy baseball hall of fame. Sadly for the Miami-based ball club, He is the lone bright spot on the team after the departure of Miguel Cabrera for Mo-Town.

NL Central: Projected Finish (Last Year’s Finish)

1. Milwaukee 92-70 (83-79)
The Brew Crew was another team quietly, yet drastically improving their team during the winter. By adding Eric Gagne (and bringing him back to the national league) to solidify the backend up their bullpen, they will hopefully take some pressure off Derek Turnbow, whose stuff is good enough to share a set up role with David Riske. If Ryan Braun continues to develop into a dangerous power threat, Prince Fielder and he could form a 3-4 combo that could rival Ramirez/Ortiz in power numbers. If Ben Sheets can pitch most of the year (for once), the playoffs will be serving Milwaukee’s Best.

2. Chicago 91-71 (85-77)
The Cubs made a big splash this off season by signing free agent Japanese outfielder Kosuke Fukudome. So begins the tally of how many times Chicago sports broadcasters will be fined by the FCC for fateful mispronunciations. With Carlos Zambrano heading a solid rotation (at least by National League standards), and Alfonso Soriano and Derek Lee having Fukudome for added protection should have their standard all-star years. Look for Felix Pie to be a surprise firestarter for the Northsiders this season as well.

3. Houston 88-74 (73-89)
Hunter Pence, Miguel Tejada, Carlos Lee and Lance Berkman form a 2-5 lineup that almost no other team can equal. With a top tier closer in Jose Valverde and ace Roy Oswalt, the Astros would appear to have the pieces in place to make a playoff run. Unfortunately, after these stars the dropoff is considerable. With Wandy Rodriguez (if he wasn’t named by Elmer Fudd then I just don’t get it) posed to be their number 2 starter, the ‘Stros lack the depth to be a serious contender in ’08.

4. St. Louis 77-85 (74-84)
Cardinals pride will take a hit this year with Albert Pujols seemingly the only player who will give opposing managers anything to think about. Winnie the Pujols just may win MVP this season, but he’d have to win the triple crown and perhaps a Cy Young award to give the Cards a fighting chance.

5. Cincinnati 65-97 (72-90)
Harang, Arroyo, Cordero, Encarnacion, Freel, Hatteberg, Griffey, Dunn… The list of painfully average and journeyman players on the Reds stretches on and on. In an improving division, Cincinnati is quickly getting left behind.

6. Pittsburgh 61-101 (68-94)
When Jason Bay’s 2007 campaign inexplicably crashed and burned, the only offensive threat disappeared from the Bucs’ lineup. Tom Gorzelanny and Ian Snell will throw enough good games to keep die-hard fans interested, but it seems the Pirates have more of the same coming to them this year. Keep an eye on youngster Nate McLouth, however, who may be a sleeper for Rookie of the Year honors.
NL West: Projected Finish (Last Year’s Finish)

1. Colorado 94-68 (90-73)
The Rockies’ collection of defensive stars who can flat-out hit the ball may be unmatched in baseball. Having all-star caliber sluggers with a projected rotation of talented youngsters coming into their own appears to give the Rocks the inside track on the West title. And this year, they won’t need a miracle run of 20+ wins in a row.

2. Arizona 93-69 (90-72)
Trading for Dan Haren to bolster a rotation that already includes Randy Johnson and perennial Cy Young contender Brandon Webb was sheer brilliance. In an increasingly tough division, the pitching edge is now decidedly tipped in the D-Backs’ favor.

3. Los Angeles 88-74 (82-80)
If this team jells under Joe Torre with Matt Kemp officially being handed the starting job in right field and new center fielder Andruw Jones contributing his golden glove and homerun power, the Dodgers could surprise people this year. However, as usual for this team (at least in the last five years), their additions were not enough to catapult them to the top of their division. The Boys in Blue will make noise this season, but the crescendo will be either too early or far too late.

4. San Diego 79-83 (89-74)
Padres’ GM Kevin Towers this off-season added Jim Edmonds to the team’s roster and Mark Prior to the team’s disabled list. Although Jake Peavy will contend for the Cy Young again, his teammates will not be able to provide enough support for the Padres to seriously contend in the up-and-coming NL West.

5. San Francisco 64-98 (71-91)
So begins the post-Bonds rebuilding era for the San Francisco Giants. With Dave Roberts starting in left field, it seems safe to say a good deal of power may disappear from the lineup this season. While Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain may win 15 games apiece, expectations and results should be very low for the Giants this summer.

Division Series
Mets def. Diamondbacks (4 games)
Rockies def. Brewers (5 games)

Championship Series
Mets def. Rockies (6 games)

World Series
Red Sox def. Mets (7 games)

Awards Predictions:

Cy Young: Johan Santana
Runners Up: Matt Cain, Jake Peavy

MVP: David Wright
Runners Up: Prince Fielder, Chase Utley

Rookie of the Year: Kosuke Fukudome
Runners Up: Nate McLouth, Joey Votto

Coach of the Year: Joe Torre
Runners Up: Manny Acta, Willie Randolph