During the week I spent traveling to and from Massachusetts between Christmas and New Years, I had plenty of opportunity to talk with a variety of people and confirm once again to my satisfaction that the only “nation” more pumped-up and widespread than Goodboys Nation is Red Sox Nation. And, from everything I’ve observed thus far, there’s no question in my mind that the cultural phenomenon-to-be known as Daisuke Matsuzaka is goung to play H-U-G-E in Beantown this coming year. How do I know? ‘Cause everyone, it seems, either has already gotten their hands on an early T-shirt, or wants to get their hands on a No. 18 jersey (yeah, the one formerly worn by Traitor Johnny Damon, a.k.a., “TJD”).

And, now thanks to Mike Plugh, we have ourselves a blog dedicated to “Dice-K”. Congrats on the birth of your son, Mike, he looks just like you! 🙂 Did you get him his own No. 18 jersey yet?

Oh, and speaking of TJD: only in Boston can you witness the following scene: Picture the very-Italian (and historic) North End. On a Hanover Street convenience store window, there’s a yellowed souvenier relic left over from the 2004 championship season: a replica of DaVinci’s Last Supper, with Red Sox heads on all the disciples and TJD taking You-Know-Who’s place at the center. Well, evidently, sometime after TJD sprang to the arch-rival New York Yankees, someone used red ink to put stab marks on his chest, with “blood” running down his cloak onto the table. And this, just doors away from beautiful St. Leonard’s Church!

Yessir, emotions run hot in Red Sox Nation. But that’ll be nothing if, after Dice-K makes the scene, he’s a success doing so. I can’t wait for Spring Training!