Boston fans can’t expect easy Series

Touching upon a variety of topics….

Don’t get overconfident, Red Sox fans.

I realize the dramatic rally from a three games to one deficit against Cleveland takes you back to the 2004 season when the Sox overcame a 3-0 deficit to beat the Yankees before dispatching the St. Louis Cardinals in four games.

I know you expect the Rockies to be rusty coming off an eight-day layoff and the Red Sox will have ALCS MVP Josh Beckett on the mound for Game 1.

But remember, the Rockies have won 21 of their last 22 games and were in playoff mode long before the actual playoffs began.

They had to string together wins at the end of the regular season and hope to catch a few breaks, which they did, just to get into a one-game playoff with San Diego. They had to rally against one of the game’s best closers, Trevor Hoffman, to beat the Padres in that playoff game.

You could consider them a team of destiny. It is a team of relative no-names, other than first baseman Todd Helton and pitcher Jeff Francis, that has epitomized the definition of the word “team.”

But it should make for a fascinating World Series.

The Rockies will certainly be the sentimental favorites. It’s their first trip to the World Series in their 15-year history.

But this is a resilient Red Sox team that held off a late surge by the Yankees to win the AL East, then eliminated the Angels before rallying past the Indians.

As always, the series will be decided by pitching and clutch hitting.

Don’t be surprised if it produces an unlikely hero. It often does.

The much-maligned J.D. Drew provided the decisive blow in Game 6 against Cleveland, a two-out grand slam in the first inning.

And rookie Dustin Pedroia, who had been struggling in the postseason, belted the game-changing blow in Game 7, a two-run homer that swelled the lead to 5-2 in the seventh. He added a three-run double in the eighth.

Expect a long and entertaining series that could be played in a variety of weather conditions.

Topic 2 – Everyone is talking about the great year Patriots quarterback Tom Brady is having and he certainly is.

The Pats went out and gave him the weapons he needed in wide receivers Randy Moss, Wes Welker and Donte Stallworth.

But the real unsung heroes of this team to date have been on the offensive line.

I don’t care how good a quarterback you are, if you don’t get the necessary pass protection, you aren’t going to put up numbers like Brady has.

To his credit, Brady praises his offensive line. And I’m sure if it continues, they will at least be treated to a wonderful dining experience by him.

Topic 3 – It’s sad to see Foxcroft Academy and Stearns High School of Millinocket lose their ice hockey programs. But you have to have your own youth program, and in order to have that, you need your own indoor facility. Both schools should be commended for having hockey as long as they did and each program turned out some memorable teams and players.

Topic 4 – A tip for football coaches: Work on having your offenses line up quickly after falling just a yard or two short of picking up a first down and run a play before the defense gets set.

You might be able to pull the scurrying defense offside.

Larry Mahoney can be reached at 990-8231, 1-800-310-8600 or by email at lmahoney@bangordailynews.net.