Sox Drawer: Gagne, Garnett arrivals reinvigorate Boston

By bringing two legendary players to Boston, coupled with the impending Patriots debut of Randy Moss, the Hub is once again the center of the sports universe

Sights like this, plus the arrival of Eric Gagne, have made Boston the center of attention once again (AP/ESPN photo)

Ah it's times like these I almost wish I didn't leave the gridlocked & grimy confines of the World's Greatest City for the wide open, sunny spaces of fabulous South Florida.

As I type this there is enough rain falling outside to film "Evan Almighty II".

But really, I have to envy all my family and friends who still live in the city that never sleeps, sports-wise, for I can only imagine how giddy the locals are over this latest round of Beantown glory.

Sure, none of the three teams (unless the Bs trade for Sidney Crosby the team is dead to us) have actually won anything yet, but the prospect of a trio of titles in town within the next year is enough to turn the frown of a grizzled, weather-beaten Maine-iac upside down.

With the Celtics trade for Kevin Garnett and the Sox deadline deal that brought Eric Gagne to town coupled with the Pats off season signing of Moss, the three major teams have all brought marquee name players to clubs already rich in talent (well, in the Cs case not exactly rich, but...) which not only virtually assured each squad of a run at its respective championship but succeeded in focusing the national sports spotlight on a city with a trio of teams and owners who are not afraid to make a big deal.

Are you listening, New York, Chicago and Detroit?

Or, as Curt Schilling's buddy Dan Shaugnessy put it in his gloating Globe article today

"We are the town with Manny Ramírez, Tom Brady, Kevin Garnett, Daisuke Matsuzaka, Randy Moss, Ray Allen, Curt Schilling, Bill Belichick, Paul Pierce, David Ortiz, Adalius Thomas, Jonathan Papelbon, Tedy Bruschi, Josh Beckett, Rodney Harrison, Jason Varitek, Richard Seymour, and Eric Gagne. We have reasonable expectations of a World Series, a Super Bowl, and the NBA Finals. There never has been a better time to be a sports fan in Boston."

I'll just have to settle for being a Boston sports fan.

Oh look, the sun is starting to come out.