The 2003 New England Patriots certainly don't dazzle you with offense, and they don't boast many Pro Bowlers, but they are fun to watch, easy to like and are going to the Super Bowl! The scores are usually close, but, especially recently, they are not indicative of the team's performance. Sure they make good theater, but this team has manhandled numerous opponents despite tight games. They are on a 14 game roll, and they look stronger every week.

The defense is dominating; the offense efficient and precise. After the Lawyer Milloy business, a first week thumping at the hands of the Bills, and the loss of prize free agent Roosevelt Colvin to a hip injury, no one could have imagined this type of run. There were early hints that Ty Law could be a salary cap casualty like Milloy next season. He has responded with a monster year, even more impressive given the ankle injury he suffered. Sometimes you have to wonder if there are 3- 4 Tedy Bruschi's running around, breaking up plays. He is tireless and omnipresent, consistently in the middle of the action. Richard Seymour, son of a masonry contractor, may be built of the same bricks his father works with, and is at the top of the league at his position. Tom Brady may not have a piece of the league's MVP trophy, but he has proven to be a cool customer who can handle all that is thrown at him. He answered critics who said he couldn't throw the deep ball with several clutch long passes earlier in the season. He has guided the team despite an undersized, injury- ravaged receiving corps and a sometimes noodle- handed tight end. Has there ever been a more successful Patriots draft? Most of Coach Bill Belichick's and all around personnel guru Scott Pioli's picks are making major contributions. Their free agent signings have also been wildly successful. Each time the team was threatened with an injury to a key player, someone has been there to step in seamlessly. Credit should also obviously be given to the coordinators, as Romeo Crennel, Charlie Weis and the rest of Bill Belichick's staff have made all the right moves.

When the Patriots are celebrating their victory in Super Bowl 38 (actually XXXVIII , because there is nothing more Roman than football) keep in mind how well things fell into place for this team. 14 consecutive wins is an amazing feat, trips to 2 Super Bowls in 3 years equally as impressive given the parity in the National Football League. The 2001 Super Bowl team overachieved and caught numerous breaks along the way. The 2003 version has faced a difficult schedule and suffered numerous key injuries. Punter Ken Walter has been inconsistent, place kicker Adam Vinatieri has looked human at times and they even had a player arrested for scalding his roommate with boiling water, yet they are going to Houston. See you at the parade. Go Pats!

UNDER THE CUSHIONS

Tom Brady at the State of the Union address

Tom Brady attended the State of the Union on January 20 in DC. During the address, President george bush called for professional athletes to stop using steroids. With U.S. troops dying almost daily overseas in Iraq and Afghanistan, a huge budget deficit and masses of unemployed workers around the country, it's refreshing to see Mr. bush focus on such an important issue. Steroid use should be addressed by the sport's governing body, not the country's. I must have flipped the channel when W commented on Britney's short-lived marriage.

Grab me the remote, it's another season of American Idol. The theme music alone makes me wince. Thank God the Super Bowl is not on Fox. The endless promos could make even Carrot Top seem palatable. Hey Simon: we get it, you're a curmudgeon. Now shove off before I call Ruben over to sit on you. By the way, Ruben sure looks like he's had a reuben or two in his day.

One of the best pre- AFC championship non- stories was the interview with one of Manny Ramirez's agents, Gene Mato. In the Boston Globe interview, Mato said that Manny wanted to attend the Patriots- Colts game at Gillette Stadium, but was worried that he would be booed when shown on the stadium's jumbotron. I guess he DOES care what people think. We also learned that Manny attended a yankee$- Marlins World Series game, sitting in the upper deck. He made that game, but couldn't make it to Fenway in late August to get checked by the team doctors?

I was down in Miami last weekend when the Dolphins hired Dan Marino to be their senior vice president of football operations. The story was the lead on the 6 o'clock news program I was watching. It sounds to me like a figurehead type position, but if Marino does wield some power, Head Coach Dave Wannstedt may be looking over his shoulder. If my memory serves me correctly, Wannstedt helped hasten Marino's retirement. If the Dolphins falter next season, Marino may hasten the mustachioed coach's own retirement.

It was a roundabout route, but Roger Clemen$ is finally playing closer to home. Boston to Toronto to New York to retirement to Houston, with unhappy fans and teammates after each stop. I can't wait to see how he alienates Houston.

Speaking of Clemen$, the headline in one New York paper when he left read 'What an ASS- tro.' Great, no? Headline Monday after the Patriots' AFC Championship victory in the Boston Metro, certainly not in the same league as a big time newspaper, but a newspaper nonetheless; 'HOUSTON, WE HAVE A DEFENSE.' Boston, we have a lame headline.

Michael Jackson may or may not be guilty of child molestation, but he is guilty of dressing like a clown. Someone dime the guys from Queer Eye. Jacko may not be the straight guy, but he could still use their help.

Despite many people's assertions, the yankee$ really are not that much worse off. The loss of Andy Pettite was tough, but Clemen$ and David Wells are aging. Kevin Brown, if healthy is an ace, Jon Lieber could bounce back, and Javier Vazquez is younger and ready to move to the next level. The offense will be upgraded with the addition of Gary Sheffield, and Jason Giambi should come back healthy. Red Sox fans have reason to be optimistic with the addition of Keith Foulke and Curt Schilling, but the yankee$ are not going to turn into the Detroit Tigers based on the changes they made this winter.

Nomar, ARod, Manny, shh.

Some friends attended the 2003 Hot Stove Cool Music concert at the Paradise in Boston on Sunday, January 11. They met Kevin Millar and his wife, as well as Bill Mueller (photo will be posted soon.) ESPN.com baseball columnist Peter Gammons asked Mr. Millar for his favorite moment of the 2003 season. He noted Todd Walker's 3 run late inning September homer for a comeback win and running around the streets near Fenway in his uniform and cleats after clinching the Wild Card berth. Friend David Shepherd, whose engagement you may have recently read about on Boston.com (http://www.boston.com/personals/success_stories/david_rena/ ), gave Millar the classic advice 'lay off the high cheese.' Mrs. Millar spoke to my friends for awhile, saying she tells her friends they have not seen a ball game until they've been to Fenway. It is nice to hear something positive coming from the players around here.

Questions, Questions

Boston Mayor Thomas Menino

Patriots owner Robert Kraft

Has anyone ever seen Boston Mayor Tom Menino and Patriots owner Bob Kraft in the same room? Not only do they look alike, but each talks as if he just polished off a bottle of Jagermeister. Maybe it's a mouthful of marbles? Invite them to your next party and let me know if both attend.

The Patriot's mascot is named Pat Patriot? What next, Red Sox? Has anyone asked Mister Auerbach to wear Sox on his hands, prancing and waving around to the fans at Fenway? Cool logo, terrible name.

Are the Bruins and Celtics even playing this year?

Go Pats!!!