There's no evidence Lucchino orchestrated the smear campaign, nor evidence others in the ranks of this particularly pompous ownership group did. But someone is guilty and no one has done anything about it or even apologized. Francona has every right to reject such colossal presumption. To whatever degree this ridiculous incident blights the merry 100th shebang it is only what Lucchino and his grasping buddies quite deserve.

Sport and politics

It's hard to know how to take Ozzie Guillen, the volatile Marlins' Manager now in deep trouble for having much too loudly pronounced his affection for Fidel Castro deep in the heart of anti-Castro Country. Is he an inveterate trouble-maker, for he does seemingly evince an occasional mean streak? Is he simply a pop-off and ultimately a boor? Or is he just a colorful rascal, quite amiable beneath all the goofy bluster? I lean toward the third option and hope I'm right.

It's always unwise of an athlete to mess with politics. They aren't supposed to know what they are talking about and they usually don't. But in the end, was Ozzie's silly rant all that outrageous? Who cares what any of them think about anything other than what happens between the lines. It's only surprising that Time Magazine, which cleverly elicited his inflammatory quotes, apparently does.

Only a few weeks ago our hitherto beloved goalie -- the very same chap who deeply inspired the Bruins to their Cup a year ago -- shamefully took advantage of a precious and very non-political occasion to vent his private political agenda. Yet aside from some questioning his manners, who made a federal case out of the indiscretions of Tim Thomas?

Has it reached the point in this country's politically twisted times that ludicrously praising a faded old foreign despot is a graver breach of political correctness than pointedly insulting the sitting president of the United States? Apparently the answer is, "Yes!"

Boston College win

Lastly, however belatedly, congratulations are in order to Coach Jerry York and his champion Boston College hockey team. Three national titles in five years is a magnificent achievement; quite matchless in the modern era. York is to college hockey what John Wooden was to college basketball or what the legendary likes of Knute Rockne was to college football which is to say, quite simply, the very best.

Much more importantly York is -- like a Wooden or Rockne -- the whole package; superb both at coaching and teaching. To Jerry York, the field of play is a genuine lyceum where, as a professor in the classical tradition, he teaches the game of life and how to play it. His kids behave themselves. Play with class. Attend classes. And graduate.

There is much fuss over the rampant scandal, ethical deterioration, and flat-out deceit running wild in college sport. The thoroughly bogus NCAA, which purports to police the scene, is deservedly under fire and doth protest. But if the Poobahs from Kansas sincerely wish to reform their sullied domain let them come and observe Coach York at work. They could learn a lot.