Though it's hard to believe on this humid 75-degree day when the Red Sox are the big story, the Real Hockey Season begins next week. Congratulations to the Bruins, who sewed up the East's #1 seed with a 7-1 drubbing of Pittsburgh. Belated congratulations to the Red Wings, who clinched the league's best record before Christmas. Certificates of Participation will be awarded to Nashville, Tampa Bay, Anaheim, and other teams who are used to getting them. Oh yeah, and the Rangers.

Hockey has always been my fourth sport. I didn't follow the Bruins at all until the Whale left for Carolina, and even now, I'd be hard-pressed to tell you more than nine or ten guys on the team. But you can't live in New England and not know that a Bruins-Canadiens series to open the playoffs is BIG. Celts-Lakers big. (More on that in June.) Cowboys-Skins big. And though my natural tendency is to root for the team from Canada --since they did, you know, invent the sport -- I'm prediciting the Bruins bid adieu aux Habitents en 6.