A year ago, Topsham’s Dale Arnold, the co-host of the popular “A Team” sports talk show on WEEI-AM 850 in Boston, described the Boston sports scene as “grim.”

What a difference a year makes!

The Patriots are about to play the Steelers for a berth in the Super Bowl, the Bruins lead the NHL’s Northeast Division, the Celtics are in second place in the NBA’s Atlantic Division, and the Red Sox have been sold and have made some key acquisitions.

Arnold is now hosting the “Dale Arnold Show” from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. and there has been no shortage of conversational fodder.

“I’ve been there since the station opened on September first of 1991 and this is as good as it gets,” said Arnold. “It’s a feast aplenty. We haven’t been able to give the Bruins or the Celtics anywhere near the attention they deserve and we won’t be able to until the Patriot run ends.”

The controversial overturn of the fumble call by referee Walt Coleman against Patriot quarterback Tom Brady in their 16-13 overtime win over Oakland on Saturday night was correct, according to Arnold, who was at the game.

“It’s a stupid rule, but according to the rule book, he made the right call,” said Arnold. “The minute the arm goes forward, unless the quarterback tucks the ball and runs with it, it’s an incompletion. Ron Hobson was the pool reporter who talked to Coleman, and Coleman said it took him only 12 seconds to realize he had gotten the original call wrong. It was a no-brainer.”

He has no sympathy for the Raiders, saying, “They needed to make a play, to make a stop, and they didn’t do it.”

The Steelers are nine-point favorites over the Pats and Arnold acknowledges that it will be difficult.

“The Steelers had the best record in the AFC, but if you look at their last 10 games and the Patriots’ last 10 games, the two teams have been virtually identical,” said Arnold.

“The national media thinks the Patriots are a bunch of lucky stiffs. I think they can win, but it’s going to be tough,” added Arnold. “They’re going to have to force [Steeler QB] Kordell Stewart to turn the ball over and not turn it over themselves. The Patriot defense is on a par with the Steeler defense. The question is can the Patriot offense outperform Pittsburgh’s?”

As for the Red Sox, Arnold said he met with one of the new owners, Larry Lucchino, and was “very impressed with him.”

Lucchino will become the president and CEO.

“If he is an indication what the ownership group is like, I feel pretty upbeat about it,” said Arnold. “They will change the general manager, and Joe Kerrigan will start the season as the manager, but he will be on a real short leash.”

The Red Sox have unloaded troublemaker Carl Everett and obtained the likes of slugger Tony Clark, leadoff hitter and center fielder Johnny Damon, and veteran pitchers John Burkett and Dustin Hermanson.

“[Soon-to-be ousted GM] Dan Duquette has finally come to realize the importance of team chemistry like [Patriots coach] Bill Belichick has. Team chemistry can overcome a lack of talent. But it will be too late to save Duquette’s job,” said Arnold.

“If Nomar [Garciaparra], Pedro [Martinez], [Manny] Ramirez, and [Jason] Varitek are healthy, they’re going to be a pretty good team. I’m scared about their starting pitching. I think they can challenge for the wild card, but I don’t think they’re as good as the Yankees,” said Arnold.

As for the Bruins, he said, “I’ve seen all the teams in the Eastern Conference and the Bruins are as good as any team in the East with the possible exception of the Flyers. And once they get [defenseman] Kyle McLaren back, they may be even better than the Flyers.”

He said the Celtics have finally become “relevant in Boston” and worth watching.

Larry Mahoney’s column appears every Wednesday. He can be reached at 990-8231 or by email at lmahoney@bangordailynews.net.