Stream of Consciousness Funny how things change over a couple of years. Remember in 2004 when the Red Sox played the Cardinals and there was so much of a pro-Red Sox faction because of "The Curse" and their role as the lovable, Bill Buckner-cursed, Bucky "Bleeping" Dent-hating, just-not-quite-as-good-as-the-Yankees team? Well, they win the Series, end the curse, and three years later, it's the Rockies who are the sentimental favorites. What's that old line from the Tower of Power classic, "What is hip today might become passe"? But the BoSox sure made a statement in Game One, huh? A Josh Beckett postseason performance never goes out of style. He might just be as money in the fall as (Dare I say) Bob Gibson.

Pass the tissues. I see that Barry Bonds is bitter over the Giants letting him go. He's taking the old, "After all I did for you?" stance. Barry, you're 43, you're a liability in the outfield, you've set your record, you're no smiling symbol of the team, and you're gonna want another $18 mil. As I'm sure you've said many times, "It's business, baby." Time to let it go and embrace being a D-H.

It's kind of stunning to see the Rams in free fall like they are. 0-7 aside, this trouble with Claude Terrell (or as the coach called him today, "that particular player") is just silly. The confrontation between Terrell and Scott Linehan last week was probably the end for Claude, but it was convenient that he got himself arrested so the Rams could dump him and not worry about a grievance being filed by the NFLPA. But why say he's going to be your starter on Monday and then release him on Tuesday "for performance reasons"? Am I the only one who doesn't get that? Does a guy get that bad in 24 hours? Or as Rene Knott said to me, "What does that say to the guy behind him? 'Claude, you're the best and the worst of what we've got.' 'You over there, we're just not sure." Say it like it is---the guy was a problem and you were ridding the team of a problem. Coach Linehan even brought up his consistent tardiness and his weight issues (without word one being said about his legal issues). If the NFLPA is such a strong union, wouldn't they know not to support a guy who is a problem and sullies the good name of a strong union? My dad was a union guy for over 40 years, and he always told me that a union is only as good as its weakest member.

Put yourself in this situation: Your team has played 57 games and hasn't lost. Then you lose once, and it's the trigger to your walking papers. It's a record a lot of coaches would sell their souls to have, but it wasn't good enough to save Greg Ryan's job as the U.S. Women's soccer coach. Of course, the decision to bench your top goalkeeper (who's played magnificently in the past several games) on a hunch IN THE BIGGEST TOURNAMENT YOU PLAY IN because your backup has played well against your next opponent in the past---the past. Well, I hope you're glad you stuck to your guns, coach. Your 57-game unbeaten string (and the job) are also now in the past.

How many of you are following the Blues? They're off to a great start and that "p"(layoffs) word is being tossed around. Sure, we haven't even hit November yet, but there are a lot of pieces to like on this team: Paul Kariya and his ability to distribute the puck, Brad Boyes combining with Lee Stempniak to give the team two young snipers, Jamal Mayers and his quiet but impressive leadership, the young defense, and the collective "don't back down" attitude. With hockey players being as superstitious as they are, I would imagine they don't even want to think about the "p" word yet, let along utter it. Maybe they'll adopt the Baltimore Ravens strategy of their championship season. Their coach, Brian Billick, refused to allow anyone on the team to say the words "playoffs" or (heaven forbid) "Super Bowl". So the team broke out code words: "Festivus" for the playoffs, and "Festivus Maximus" for the Super Bowl. I know it's early, but the Blues are looking like a Festivus team.

Finally, for this week's Top Ten list for Sports Plus we're going to count down the top defensive plays in World Series history. (And no, we won't be including the unassisted triple play by Bill Wambsganss in the 1920 Series---no video.) I've got a working list, but if you've got an idea or two, let me know.

By the way, Sunday should be a good show: Tony La Russa, Rick Majerus, and a full hour that begins at 10:25----no NBC football. Hope you tune in. ¶ 1:43 PM