Nine days into Spring Training, the Red Sox have much to look forward to as they get closer to opening day.  Theo Epstein appears to have assembled a roster filled with veteran leadership, young talent, and very few question marks.

The Sox Big Three, Josh Beckett, Jon Lester, and John Lackey, are all pitching in mid-season form.  Beckett and Lackey have combined for ten innings with only one earned run allowed.  Lester struggled in his first appearance, but he settled down on Wednesday against the Rays allowing two hits in 2 2/3 innings with four strikeouts in his first five innings pitched.

On the rookie front, former first round draft pick Casey Kelly is showing what all the hype is about in the early going.  He mowed down six Orioles in two hit-less innings.

Twenty-three year old outfielder Josh Reddick is destined for AAA Pawtucket, but he is making quite the impression on the big league club.  In 17 at bats, he has eight hits including four doubles, one triple, and four RBI’s.  Two other young outfielders; Ryan Kalish and Che-Hsuan Lin have also turned some heads in the early going.

Phenom shortstop Jose Iglesias has exceeded all expectations so far, proving that he is game for the Boston spotlight.  After hitting his first home run in a Red Sox uniform, he has Sox fans’ salivating over what is to come.

By: Joe Ballway, YawkeyTalkies Staff Writer

It looked like the Bruins were in for a fresh start after the Olympic break. Winners of four straight heading into the layoff, they appeared to finally be gaining steam and getting healthy.

But five games later, it’s the same old story.

Injuries and inconsistency.

The same two factors that have plagued the Bruins through this entire season of disappointment and bizarre twists are unwilling to disappear. The Bruins are just 2-2-1 since returning from their two-week hiatus, and as usual, they pretty much look asleep at the wheel. They blew three separate one-goal leads to the Maple Leafs on Tuesday night, eventually losing in overtime. Tim Thomas finally had one of his signature games, flopping left and right to make impossible saves, but per usual, the whole team couldn’t find its game simultaneously.

To make matters worse, they may have lost Marc Savard–their most valuable forward–for the season after he suffered a grade 2 concussion on a nasty hit from Pittsburgh forward Matt Cooke. Zdeno Chara also missed the Toronto game and has been listed as day-to-day with a minor lower-body injury.

Perhaps of equal concern is that the Bruins, in desperate need of scoring, virtually stood pat on deadline day. They unloaded Derek Morris’ salary to Phoenix and cleared up some cap space by replacing him with Dennis Seidenberg–a cheaper, yet similarly capable defenseman from Florida.

But they did nothing to boost the forward lines. It appears Chiarelli had an offensive acquisition in mind when he dumped Morris, but to the surprise of many, nothing came of it. The Bruins, who don’t even have a 40-point scorer at this point, are going to have to claw their way into the playoffs with the same anemic offense they’ve employed all season long.

The loss of Savard certainly isn’t going to help, either. One has to wonder if Chiarelli would have pushed harder for a forward deal had Savard been injured prior to the deadline. But it’s too late now.

We’ll just have to wait and see if the Bruins can salvage their season with the cards they’ve been dealt. But there’s no use in predicting–this team is too impossible to figure out.

By Gabe Souza, YawkeyTalkies Correspondent, from Ft. Meyers, FL

Adrian Beltre scooped up the ball in the hot corner and rifled it over to former Gold Glove winner Kevin Youkilis at first base.

It was a routine play for any baseball players and one that those two have practiced together hundreds of times already this spring. Yet, Youkilis made an error. The first baseman muffed the catch and watched as the ball squirted into foul territory, allowing a Rays runner to score and another to reach base.

What should have been an easy out in the first inning turned into a tone-setter.

The Sox went on to make two errors in the ballgame and bobble a few others, ultimately losing to the Tampa Bay Rays 8-6 this afternoon.

Things looked okay immediately after the Youkilis error. Lester pitched his way out of a jam and The “Greek God of Walks” helped his team carve an early lead by scoring on an RBI-single by Beltre. The third baseman later scored himself on a groundout by utility infielder Bill Hall and the Sox had a 2-1 lead going into the third inning.

It got even better for the Sox when in the bottom of the third, left fielder Jacoby Ellsbury ripped into a inside fastball and put it over the right field fence, giving Boston an even bigger 4-1 lead.

But then things began to unravel.

Just a half an inning after Ellsbury’s blast, reliever Adam Mills quickly loaded the bases with no outs. And his defense didn’t help him any.

On yet another routine groundball, new shortstop Marco Scutaro lost his handle of the ball, allowing a Rays runner to score and failing to record an out.

It was detrimental for Mills who fell apart at the seams after the error, giving up hard line drive doubles to Reid Brignac and B.J. Upton. When the inning was over, Jason Bartlett had added a two-run triple and the Rays had scored six runs in the top of the fourth, gaining a sizeable 7-4 lead.

In the bottom half of the inning, Ellsbury – known for his contact and speed, not for his power – connected with another fastball, jacking this one further than the first for a two-run home run, cinching the gap to one.

But after the minor leaguers made their way into the game, it was too little too late for the Sox who fell to 5-3 in spring play with the loss.

Joe Bateman was the winning pitcher for the Rays and Mills was the losing pitcher.

By Jess Lander, YawkeyTalkies Editor

The Red Sox welcome back Nomar Garciaparra.

Well, for today anyway.

Fondly called Nomahhhh by Red Sox Nation, number 5 signed a one-day contract with a Sox minor league team before announcing his retirement from baseball after 14 seasons, at 36. He will now work as an analyst of ESPN where he said he’s thrilled to stay a part of the game.

This move is greatly appreciated by Sox fans, who have a decade’s worth (1994-2004) of memories from the beloved shortstop.

“I’ve always had a reoccurring dream to be able to retire in a Red Sox uniform,” Garciaparra said, as he admittedly choked up in a press conference today. “To have that dream come true I can’t put into words…To be able to say I came back home to Red Sox Nation, it’s truly a thrill. It’s good to be back.”

I thought it would be appropriate to remember Nomar’s greatness.

• He is a six-time All-Star
• He is a 2-time AL Batting Champion (consecutive years 1999, 2000)
• 1997 AL Rookies of the Year
• Won the Silver Slugger Award in 1997
• 2006 NL Comeback Player of the Year
• One of 13 players in Major League history to hit two grand slams during a single game, and the only to do so at home .

For the Sox, he earned the starting shortstop position late in his first season and secured the job until his departure. Since, the Sox haven’t been able to replace him, going through shortstops like Tiger does mistresses. (Sorry, had to.) In his rookie season, Nomar not only won Rookie of the Year with a 30-game hitting streak and 30 home runs, but was voted eighth for MVP and voted into the Home Run Derby competition.

Starting in 1997, his batting average never went below 3.0, reaching 3.72 in 2000, averageing .338 overall in his time at Fenway. He also hit 169 home runs during his time at with the Red Sox. His numbers with teams after weren’t even close.

Nomar’s fall for the Sox started in 2001 with a wrist injury. Though he recovered it sprung a string of injuries all having something to do with him being traded just a few months short of the 2004 World Series Championship, leading him to a shuffle around the Cubs, Dodgers, and Athletics, and leading to his retirement today.

On missing the World Series, Nomar said today, “I feel a part of it,” recognizing that it was something bigger for Boston than about the players. “It was about winning the World Series for these people, for Red Sox Nation.”

Nomar came home last year as a visiting player and received an amazing ovation from fans.

Nomar, thanks for so many great years. You were aways a Red Sox in our hearts.

And we were always in his.

“The biggest part of my heart, is obviously here,” he said.

By: Ian Tasso, YawkeyTalkies Staff Writer

Spring is a time of new beginnings: the temperatures are on the rise, the sun is back out and the flowers are in bloom.

But most importantly, the cleats are back on.

Yes, for many, the most important thing about the calendar flipping to March is the dawning of baseball, the smearing of pine tar and the popping sound of twine colliding with maple.

Each new baseball season brings in tow plenty of new storylines; some more impressive than others. Whether it be a highly-touted free-agent making his debut in fresh colors, a young gun cracking the lineup or even a returning veteran trying to shed some cobwebs, Spring Training always arrives in March with its fair share of headlines.

And for the 2010 Boston Red Sox, this season is no exception. Josh Beckett’s contract situation and the questionable Boston offense headline a Spring Training that brings plenty of concerns to the table.

But none are more impeding than the suspense surrounding David Ortiz and his mysterious decline of 2009. Will the slugger bounce back to 2004 form? Will he continue to slide?

Only time will tell. But until then, let’s take a look at some of the most anticipated Spring Training debuts in recent Red Sox history.

Nomar Garciaparra, 1997: No Red Sox player carried more expectations in recent memory than Nomar did back in the late 90’s.

Back then, Nomar was to Red Sox baseball what LeBron James is now to the Cavaliers – a beacon of hope. The Sox were a struggling team who hadn’t won a World Series since 1918, and Nomar gave Boston more than a chance: he gave them a face.

He came on as a youngster with the world on his shoulders, appearing in 21 games to close out the ’96 season, which only increased the hype – something that manifested itself in the hearts of New Englanders everywhere over the ensuing winter.

Along came the spring of ’97, where Nomar was finally a cemented member of the Red Sox lineup. The entire region of New England eagerly awaited number five’s debut in the Spring, wanting to see something – anything – from the man who was anointed the savior of Boston baseball in the late ‘90’s.

They got more than just something that spring, as Nomar raked all season long, going on to post a .306 average in his award-winning rookie season.

Thus began the legacy that is ‘Nomah.’

Pedro Martinez, 1998: Similar to Nomar, Pedro was brought in as a savior of Boston baseball.

Following Garciaparra’s successful rookie campaign on the field, Boston attempted to bring him a capable wingman on the mound. Enter Pedro Martinez, a fire-balling righty from the Expos, whom the Sox acquired in a trade. Martinez was then signed to a lucrative six-year $75,000,000 contract, at the time the largest any baseball pitcher had ever seen. Naturally, the hype followed the money.

But unlike Garciaparra the year before, Boston never got a taste of Martinez – they never got to witness him for a few games the year before to wet their pallet.

No, instead Boston had to sit and wait over what may have been the slowest winter in recent baseball memory. Then finally, the spring arrived. And when it did, the three-time Cy Young Award winner walked into Fort Myers on top of the world.

He didn’t disappoint either – supplying 19 wins in his inaugural campaign with the Sox. Finally, Boston got their arm, one that remained in the Bean until 2005.

And the rest is history.

Edgar Renteria, 2005: Boston was missing a shortstop. The beloved Nomar had been bounced to Chicago, and his replacement, the World Champion Orlando Cabrera, had already skipped off to Los Angeles.

Enter Edgar Renteria, a four-time All Star and two-time Gold Glove Award winner. The shortstop waltzed into Boston toting a shiny four-year $40 million deal, and the entire city of Boston drooled at the possibility. After all, Orlando was nice and all, but he couldn’t hit like Nomar.

Renteria on the other hand batted .287, .330 and .305 in his final three seasons with St. Louis, and topped 100 RBI only two seasons back in 2003. It smelled so good.

But after it arrived, it did nothing but stink. Renteria’s bat fell off, just .276, with a paltry eight home runs and 70 RBI in tow. And his glove? It appeared to have a hole in it, as he committed a career-high 30 errors, and posted a career-low .954 fielding percentage.

Needless to say, it didn’t work out for Renteria in Boston, as he left Boston after one season, signing with Atlanta the following year.

The shortstop was selected to his fifth All Star game in 2006, his first year with the Braves.

Daisuke Matsuzaka, 2007: The international Nomar.

Daisuke Matsuzaka carried about the same amount of weight as Nomar did when he finally signed with Boston, only it was represented in throngs of crazed fans from all over the world rather than just drooling Bostonians.

Dice-K was an international sensation even before he joined the red and white, something he brought right with him from overseas. As a result, the scene from Fort Myers in 2007 was something from the circus – hundreds of fans snapping pictures, waving signs and shooting video of the newest member of Red Sox Nation.

They may not have got what they wanted, as Dice-K posted only a 15-12 record with a 4.40 ERA in what could be labled as a “transition” year, but nonetheless, the Japanese sensation had arrived.

And he brought with him a wave of a new era, as Red Sox Nation truly became an international sensation with the arrival of number 18.

Jacoby Ellsbury, 2008: Fresh off a World Series ring in 2007, the 6’1” speedster from Oregon had it all – the looks, the wheels and a ring. Not to mention all the hype that followed.

Ellsbury joined the Red Sox at the end of the 2007 regular season, just before the call-up deadline hit. He then proceeded to bat at a .353 clip for the remainder of his stay, helping to propel a deep Sox playoff run. By the time the World Series came around, the two-time AL stolen base leader had all but replaced Coco Crisp in center field for Boston, as well as captured the hearts of nearly every New England bachelorette in the process.

Then the spring of 2008 rolled around, where every Bostonian – not just the women – eagerly awaited seeing the return of speed in human form. Not only that, but Boston couldn’t wait to see what this kid could do in his first full season campaign.

He responded with a .280 average, and a league-leading 50 stolen bases.

David Ortiz, 2010: And here we are.

Papi’s spring debut is normally anticipated – simply because of who he is and what he means to the city of Boston. The 2004 clutch-hitter has become a stape in the hearts of Bostonians ever since he walked off against the Yankees twice in October, and has been greeted with nothing but smiles in For Myers ever since.

But this year, it’s a tad different.

In 2009, Ortiz began the season with a .185 average through the first two months, and a whopping one total home run. He finally hit his second dinger against Texas in June, but the struggles continued, and his average didn’t jump above .230 until the end of July.

To top it all off, the big lefty was linked with a positive steroid test, which rocked the Boston sports world. Papi’s power stroke did return at the end of the year, however, as he finished 2009 with 28 home runs, but the average still hung low, winding up at .238 for the year.

This year, everyone’s anxious to see how the big man fares. Will it be another long season for number 34? Will he pop 54 home runs like 2006? 47 like 2005? Will he even finish the season in Boston?

The questions are aplenty, but Ortiz made one thing clear yesterday afternoon as he blasted a two-run shot in Boston’s exhibition match against Northeastern University – he’s not going down without a fight.

What else can we expect from the slugger? Only time will tell. And it all starts tonight, when Boston takes the field against the Twins to officially open Spring Training.

The rest, as they say, will be history.

This article also appeared on http://lastcalletin.blogspot.com/

By: Phil Shore, YawkeyTalkies Staff Writer

The New England Patriots further depleted their tight end corps Thursday, releasing  backup Chris Baker.

The move comes off the heels of the news that New England has no intention of bringing back starter Benjamin Watson, who is an unrestricted free agent. That leaves the Patriots with second-year players Robbie Agnone and Rob Myers, both of whom were on the practice squad last season, left at the tight end position.

While the Patriots have seen players without much playing time shine—think Matt Cassel and Julian Edelman—this is a huge void that you should expect them to fill.

The release of Baker intensifies and legitimizes the rumor that the Patriots are looking to acquire Bears tight end Greg Olsen through trade.

Rumors sprouted when the Bears signed Mike Martz as their new offensive coordinator. Historically, Martz does not utilize the tight end much in his scheme. Olsen was aware of this and requested a trade.

Olsen, 24, would be a huge upgrade, even from Watson and Baker, if they could land him.

Olsen is a much better pass-catching option. He has been in the NFL half as long as Watson (three years to six) but has almost matched him in touchdowns, 15 to 20. Watson was at a disadvantage having to share receptions with wideouts Randy Moss and Wes Welker, but Olsen is still considered a more skilled receiving tight end.

The Patriots usually use their tight end to help block more, but it might be smart to go after Olsen to help bolster the passing game. Welker is expected to miss time with a torn MCL and ACL. Moss claims that this season will be his last as a Patriot.

After those two, the other options are question marks.

Edelman surprised many last season, but most of his production came in only three games. Can he do it over the entire course of a season?

New England brought in free agent and former Patriot David Patten, but he is 35-years-old and is not a long-term solution with the current question marks the unit has, and since leaving the Patriots the first time he has played all 16 games only once, has amassed over 250 yards receiving once (792 in 2007) and has caught only four touchdowns in those four seasons, three of them in 2007.

So being able to get a player with Olsen’s skills would be wise. They also have the necessary pieces to make an appealing offer to Chicago.

The Pats have four second-round picks, so one or two could be spared to land Olsen. The Bears do not have a pick until the fourth round, and the 7-9 teams needs all the additional help it can get.

Olsen will also not be a costly addition, as a New England Sports Network piece has his reported salary at $550,000 in 2010 and $650,000 in 2011.

If the Patriots franchise shook its magic 8-ball asking if Greg Olsen is the right move, all signs point to yes.

By: Gabe Souza, YawkeyTalkies Correspondent

It started off so promising.

A clutch opening day win over Cleveland had analysts abuzz on whether they had misjudged the Celtics’ power in the East.

A few easy wins here mixed with very few loses there had C’s fans flaunting their bragging rights up and down Mass. Ave. They could even throw it back in the face of Lakers’ fanatics – World Champion Laker fanatics. And it was all merited.

The green demolished the likes of Philadelphia, Utah, Chicago, Golden State and even Oklahoma City. With only four losses up to Christmas Day, things looked good in the Garden.

But as the yuletide spirit began to grow, so did the anxiety that the Celtics would get coal in their stocking like the had the year before against the Los Angeles Lakers, a loss that ended up derailing their postseason hopes.

Turns out the knots in fans’ stomachs were for not.

By the time Santa finished his rounds on December 25, five Celtic players had scored in double figures – including a near triple-double from Rajon Rondo – and the C’s defeated Superman’s Magic, 86-77.

A solid win. Things looked good. Championship run: still intact.

Then they lost to the perennial cellar-dweller, the Clippers. Merely an abberation, right?

Then they lost to Golden State. Eh, it’s ok, they can have a couple of bad games in a row.

Then they lost to Atlanta. Twice. Well, maybe there was a bit of concern, but hey, the capital of Georgia is an up and coming basketball city, you know.

Sit tight and wait. They’d pull it out soon, right?

But then they lost to Dallas. And Detroit. And Chicago. And New Orleans.

That’s ok, we were told by C’s management. Garnett was out with that nagging knee. We’ll easily make the playoffs, no worries. Hard to win when you don’t have your dominant big man. You know how that goes, right?

Well, then there’s the factor of Marquis Daniels being out, Ray Allen needing to wheelchair it around the locker room and the dinged up Paul Pierce desperately trying to take the court.

Whatever, that’s fine. We’ll wait some more for the turn around. In the meantime, fans just had to accept a couple more losses each to Orlando and Atlanta. No biggie.

For a minute, you could almost buy into those theories.

It seemed like the veteran squad just needed a few days off. Pierce boosted his self-esteem by winning the three-point contest, Garnett showed he could still run with the best of ‘em in the All-star game and I’m sure Allen treated himself to a few whirlpool sessions in the Eastern Conference locker room.

When the re-energized Celtics took the court after nearly a week off, Sacremento, Portland, New York and even the Lakers fell victim to the Hub’s team.

But then Danny Ainge tried to fix what wasn’t broken. The general manager traded his perfectly good, dependable House for a flashy Ferrari with maintenance problems.

In his first game wearing green, Nate Robinson barely helped his new team barely beat his old team, the lowly Knicks, by just four points.

Even last Thursday, things didn’t look too awful. They jumped out to an early lead over LeBron and the Cavs, thanks to Rajon Rondo, who was playing well, and his supporting cast who was taking advantage of scoring opportunities.

But then, the defense catastrophically and systematically failed like it has all season.

“The King” and Shaq manipulated the green’s attack and dropped 62 points in the second half, serving up a 20 point loss for the green.

But worst of all, shortly after that loss, they were absolutely humiliated by New Jersey.

The worst team in the league came into the Garden, completely disregarded the 17 championship banners hanging from the rafters and methodically destroyed what should be a top-tier NBA team. These weren’t even the Nets of 2003 with Jason Kidd, Dikembe Mutombo and Kenyon Martin. These were the Nets of Courtney Lee and Brook Lopez.

Who? Yeah, I know. I had the same reaction.

Folks, I’m here to tell you the harsh reality. If you’re still waiting for the 2009-2010 Boston Celtics to turn their season around, you’re going to be waiting for a long time.

“I got nothing to say. I feel disgusted,” KG told reporters following the loss to the 6-52 Nets.

The fact is, Garnett isn’t what he used to be. His best game of the season came in the ugly Nets loss with 26 points and nine rebounds, a far cry from his MVP type seasons last decade. Pierce, while shooting lights-out this season, has become inconsistent when driving to the basket and the tenderness of his rapidly aging knee is now an issue.

Allen’s days of drowning the opponent in three-pointers is done. While the man can still shoot, his legs can’t take the miles of sprints up and down the hardwood anymore.

As of now the best player on the team is Rajon Rondo. The young point guard is averaging a double-double with 14 points and 10 assists per game and can haul down some big rebounds in crucial times.

Surprisingly, Kendrick Perkins has come into his own, bulking up and averaging 11 points and just under eight boards a game, a welcome addition to the green’s production.

But this isn’t enough. The young players can’t do it themselves. Just as John Havlicek and Cedric Maxwell had Bob Cousy and Bill Russell to show them the way, Rondo, Perkins, and even Daniels need the modern day “Big Three” to show them the way.

“We all have to dig deep and see what we’re made of as a team,” said Garnett after the horrifying Nets loss.

Until they do that – until the veterans step up and start acting like the Big Three they are – very few marks will be notched in the win column for the NBA’s greatest franchise and they’ll be lucky to sneak past the first round of the playoffs.

The Nets game has served as a bit of a wakeup call, as the Celts have won three since to the Pistons, Bobcats, and 76ers. But, Boston, don’t hold your breath, we’ve seen this before too many times already this season.

This article also appears on http://lastcalletin.blogspot.com/

Boston University takes on Northeastern on BU’s senior night at Agganis Arena. Close game, but the defending National Champs came out on top 5-3.

The next night, on Northeastern’s (16-16-2) ice and senior night, BU (16-15-3) did it again, winning 4-3.

By: Dave Cheng, YawkeyTalkies Staff Writer

It’s the most wonderful time of the year.  Spring is just around the corner, and those who live and die with the Red Sox are ready for baseball season, especially with the Celtics struggling to find any momentum heading into the playoffs.

The games against Northeastern and Boston College on Wednesday meant little in the grand scheme of spring training.  The Sox simply beat two inferior college teams, and if they had struggled to do so there might have been some concern around the clubhouse and the city of Boston.

That was not the case today, as the Sox beat the Northeastern Huskies 15-0 in Fort Myers in their first game this preseason.  The main story here wasn’t the game itself but the perfect inning that included two strikeouts top prospect Casey Kelly threw in his debut.

The organizations minor league pitcher of the year last year was nothing short on praise from his teammates, including his catcher who caught two Cy Young award winners in Cleveland.

“He has some great stuff,” said Victor Martinez, who caught CC Sabathia and Cliff Lee with the Indians..  ”He was throwing his fastball in and out, mixing it with his curveball, changeup.  He only threw one inning, but he threw pretty good pitches, quality pitches.”

Kelly’s excitement was apparent from the moment he stepped off the mound.

“I don’t think I’ve stopped smiling since I got off the mound, but it was a good first outing, and to have the crowd and some of the people behind me playing defense was a tremendous honor,” Boston’s first pick in the 2008 draft out of Sarasota High School said.

Manny Delcarmen picked up the win in one inning of work against the Huskies.

With all the off season acquisitions the Sox had this past year, Boof Bonser has probably been the most invisible.  He tossed one shutout inning while striking out two and picking up the win 6-1 against Boston College in the nightcap.

Another positive on the day was David Ortiz hitting a two run home run against Northeastern after waiting forty games before hitting his first one last season.

“Well last year everything started out kind of crazy, first of all I wasn’t doing what I normally do because of my hands.  The doctor wanted me to take it easy until late January, then we had the WBC and, you know, you have to go play some important games that you’re not ready for and all that kind of stuff,” Ortiz told Dennis and Callahan on WEEI.  ”Some of the stuff that happened to me off the field that I had to deal with.  All that stuff was pretty much clicking at the same time and it wasn’t good. Like I said, I’m the kind of guy that likes to turn the page.”

Sox fans are certainly hoping Big Papi is ready to go.

By Ian Tasso, and contributions made by Jess Lander, YawkeyTalkies Staff Writers

Endings are supposed to be climactic.

Raised with movies such as “Scarface” and books like the “Lord of the Rings,” we were taught that an ending is supposed to be glorious. Guns blazing, horns blaring — a finale is supposed to be this.

Same thing goes for the closing of a sports career. By right, it should be a culmination of a years of work, complete with standing ovations, confetti, horns — the works.

But the truth is, it rarely works out like that.

Just ask Allen Iverson, who on Tuesday was released by the 76ers, a move that figured by most to be a long time coming. Iverson was in the midst of attempting to revitalize his 13-year career, 10 seasons of which were spent annihilating defenses in Philadelphia. But after a failed stint in Denver, a mishap in Detroit and a misstep with the Grizzlies, Iverson appears to be done — finally.

Even Michael Jordan, Mr. Basketball himself, ended one of the greatest careers in NBA history with a finale that was far from epic. Jordan left Chicago with every intention of leaving the game, only to return with the Washington Wizards, a sequel that proved to be just as fruitful as “The Sandlot 2.”

The same goes for the great Emmit Smith, who after years of punishing defenses with the Cowboys left for Arizona for a year and fizzled to nothing. The list goes on and on — athletes who suffered ends that never came close to doing their careers justice. Cam Neely, Joe Montana and now Iverson.

As for the city of Boston? We’re no stranger to the art of smothered endings. From Drew Bledsoe to Mo Vaughn, Beantown has been the home of many a fizzled career. Here’s a look at some standouts.

Keith Foulke: He was a hero; he accomplished the impossible, clinching a World Series for Boston for the first time in 86 years, appearing in 11 of the Red Sox’ 14 postseason games in 2004. Over that stretch, Foulke allowed one earned run, fanning 19 batters. He was, for all intents and purposes, the perfect closer for the perfect season.

But then he paid for it. In 2005, Foulke was a silhouette of his former self, battling knee injuries right from the start. His ERA ballooned to over 5.00, and he eventually surrendered the closing role to Mike Timlin midway though the season.

It got so bad for Foulke, whose ERA reached 6.03 in late June, that the once-revered closer lashed back out at Boston fans who showered him with boos during his time of struggle. He called the Red Sox fans an afterthought, claiming that their disappointment wasn’t important to him.

His return in 2006 was just as disastrous, eventually being placed on the disabled list with an elbow injury as his ERA topped out at 5.63. Following the 2006 season, Foulke was released by the Red Sox and signed a one-year deal with the Cleveland Indians for 2007. The closer then announced his retirement in early February, only to return in 2008 with the Athletics.

Last year, he was a relief pitcher for the Newark Bears in the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball.

Willie McGinest: Big No. 55 was a staple of the New England defense his entire career, coming off  four years of record-shattering football at USC.

McGinest finally turned that success into a few rings, proving to be a crucial cornerstone during the Patriots’ three Super Bowl victories.

However, his time as a fan favorite in New England came to an end following the Patriots’ final Super Bowl win in 2004. After the following season, McGinest was released by the Patriots, only to sign a few weeks later with the Cleveland Browns, reuniting with former Patriots defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel.

In his first year with the Browns, McGinest played in only 14 games, recording just four sacks — less than half as many as he had with New England in 2004 (9.5). In 2007, McGinest reached a career low in tackles with 19, appearing in just 13 games with the Browns. His sack total dipped to just one the following year, and McGinest then announced his retirement after the 2008 season, signifying the end to a trickling career away from New England.

Antoine Walker: ‘Toine might have been the most beloved member of the Green second to only Paul Pierce in the late ’90s and early 2000s. The 6-foot-9 forward was drafted by the Celtics in 1996, leading the team with 17.5 points a game and earning a spot on the NBA All-Rookie team. Still, the Celtics struggled mightily, only recording 15 wins during Walker’s inaugural season.

But Walker continued to thrive in Boston, making the All-Star team the following year, his final year without Pierce as his right-hand man. When Pierce arrived, Boston’s 1-2 punch revitalized the once famous basketball city, eventually leading Boston to the playoffs in 2001, the C’s first trip in seven years. Boston advanced to the Eastern Conference finals, before the New Jersey Nets dispatched Boston in six games. Boston suffered the same fate the following season, with the Nets ending Pierce and Walker’s season in the Eastern Conference finals once again.

And that’s when the game of musical chairs started with Walker’s career.

The next season, the forward was traded to the Dallas Mavericks, used on a limited basis due to an already crowded roster of stars including Antawn Jamison and Dirk Nowitzki. Walker’s time in Dallas was short-lived, as he was shipped off to Atlanta just before the start of the 2003-04 season in exchange for Jason Terry and Alan Henderson.

Then, in a moment of poetic justice, Walker returned to the Celtics in a trade during the 2005 season, only to find himself involved in the largest swap in NBA history between Boston and the Miami Heat shortly after.

Walker did win a title with the Heat in 2006, scoring 14 points in the clinching game. But the next season, ‘Toine once again found himself on the road, heading this time for Minnesota in a trade that sent Ricky Davis to Miami. One season later, the forward was Memphis-bound, and he eventually was waived by the Grizzlies in December 2008, ending his time in the NBA.

And now? He’s broke and in debt. It’s a long way from the top …

Drew Bledsoe: No list of awkward and painful career endings would be complete without mention of Drew Bledsoe — Boston-based or not.

The former Patriots quarterback was revered in his prime with New England — a four-time Pro Bowl selection in his seven full seasons with the red, white and blue. But a very severe and very famous chest injury in 2001 would put an end to his reign in New England, as the gates opened for the golden boy, Tom Brady.

Following his departure from the Patriots in 2002 by way of a trade, Bledsoe returned to New England as a member of the Buffalo Bills in the opening game of the ‘02 season. Bledsoe dismantled his former squad, and eventually threw for over 4,000 yards and 24 touchdowns with the Bills. But in 2003, his second and final year with Buffalo, Bledsoe failed to get his team in the end zone in three straight games, prompting his release at the end of the season.

Bledsoe reunited with former coach Bill Parcells the very next season, posting a 9-7 record with Dallas on the wings of passing for a solid 3,000 yards. But in 2006, his play became so erratic that he was eventually replaced by current Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo.

Shortly after the end of the ‘06 season, Bledsoe was released by the Cowboys, and he announced his retirement in the spring of 2007.

Mo Vaughn: The “Hit Dog”

Vaughn buried himself into the hearts of Red Sox fans everywhere right from the start, becoming a centerpiece in Boston’s offense in the 1993 season, belting 29 home runs and driving in a team-leading 101 RBI. In 1995, Vaughn blasted 39 homers and drove in 126 runs, leading Boston to the postseason, though the Red Sox would fall to the Cleveland Indians in the ALDS. For his efforts, the big lefty was awarded AL MVP honors.

Vaughn would continue to rake at Fenway, knocking 44, 35 and 40 home runs in his final three seasons with the Red Sox, his batting average never dipping below .300 and reaching as high as .337. But like so many on this list, Vaughn’s time in Boston eventually came to an end, as he headed for Anaheim, signing a six-year $60 million deal — the most lucrative contract in baseball at the time.

But that six-year deal would turn into only a two-year career with the Angels, as injuries and a fiery attitude lead to his demise in California. After falling down the dugout in the first game of the 2001 season and badly injuring his ankle, Vaughn was shipped off to the Mets in the winter in exchange for Kevin Appier, a trade that would eventually lead to the firing of Mets general manager Steve Phillips.

After a less-than-stellar campaign in 2002 when Vaughn ballooned to as heavy as 275 pounds, a knee injury permanently ended his career after he played only a month in 2003.

Trot Nixon: Nixon was the ultimate dirt dog during his time in Boston, a fan favorite through and through. No. 7 may not have ever drilled over 30 home runs in a season, or driven in as many as 100 RBI in a campaign, but he was a staple in the Red Sox lineup nonetheless, using top-notch hustle to weave his way into the hearts of the Fenway faithful.

But two years after Nixon and the Red Sox brought home the 2004 World Series trophy, he was released by Boston and signed a one-year deal with the Indians instead. Nixon would only appear in 99 games for Cleveland, hitting only three home runs and recording just 31 RBI in his lone season in Ohio.

The following season, he found his way to the Mets, appearing in just 11 games and hitting just a single home run, the only run he would drive in all season.

After finishing 2008 on the disabled list, Nixon signed a minor league deal with the Milwaukee Brewers, only to be released by them as well. Nixon announced his retirement that winter.

Junior Seau: Nobody’s exactly sure what his deal is anymore.

Seau’s story is a little different from the rest, in that he came to Boston following a stellar career and an announced retirement, rather than the opposite. Nonetheless, the 12-time Pro Bowler was still in football shape when he arrived in New England in 2006, recording 69 tackles before breaking his arm in a game against the Chicago Bears.

The very next year, Seau proved instrumental in New England’s 16-0 regular-season campaign, only to be a part of the NFL’s most famous upset as the New York Giants took down the Patriots in Super Bowl XLII.

Seau signed his third one-year deal with the Patriots in 2008, replacing injured linebacker Adalius Thomas, but his career continued to spiral downward. Similarly, in 2009 he also returned to New England for seven games, recording just 14 tackles as a reserve on defense.

Following the 2009 season, Seau announced his “intention” to retire in 2010, though he has not officially left the sport for good.

Sam Cassell: Similar to Seau, Cassell was a highly decorated NBA veteran when he arrived in Boston. The three-time NBA champion, also sometimes confused with an alien, was signed by the Celtics in the spring of 2008 and proved to be instrumental in their 17th championship. According to Celtics superstar Paul Pierce, Cassell spent countless hours at practice with Pierce as he prepared to defend LeBron James in the Eastern semifinal round.

That would be the last of Cassell’s achievements however, as he was traded to Sacramento in the winter of 2009 in exchange for a conditional second-round pick in 2015. One day later, the former NBA All-Star was waived by his new team in order to make room for incoming players. He now is an assistance coach with the Washington Wizards.

So who’s next? There are many Boston super stars that are slowly losing their power before out eyes. Will we soon send away Big Papi is he doesn’t get back to hitting balls over the Monster on a regular basis? Will Kevin Garnett be deemed just too old? In a few years, will Brady be replaced the same way Bledsoe was? Will the men who led us to Superbowls, World Series, and an NBA Championship soon be heroes of the past, boo’d every time they don’t perform to their old standards?

Maybe fans need to get some perspective. Age is unstoppable, and every athlete peaks. What fan can say they could keep up with Kobe Bryant at 35+ let alone at 20? We have to accept that their reigns can’t last forever. There will always be somebody younger coming up behind to replace them with fresh talent, but these athletes should never be forgotten. They should get the exits they deserve.

Much of this article also appeared on WEEI.com