The Red Sox need to get on westbound planes more often.

Three years ago, Boston GM Theo Epstein boarded a plane for Arizona on Thanksgiving, plopped down in Curt Schilling's kitchen, and wouldn't leave until he had Schilling's name on a huge free-agent contract. One bloody sock later, and the Red Sox were the '04 World Champs.

This winter, Epstein and his owner, John Henry, raced across the country to intercept Japanese wunderkind Daisuke Matsuzaka and his agent, Scott Boras. To that point, Boras and the Sox had traded leaks indicating how frustrated they were with one another, how they weren't in the same ballpark, money-wise, how there was a chance Matsuzaka would be headed back to Japan rather than emigrating to the U.S. to play for Boston. The Red Sox, who posted an impossible $51.1 million for the rights to negotiate for the Dice Man (his first name is pronounced "Dice-Kay"), were going to get that money back, and explore investing it elsewhere, like in some ancient mariner named Roger Clemens. The Boston media was set to pounce on a public relations disaster.

But it seems once Theo Epstein gets on a plane, things work out. Within hours of the Red Sox' arrival at Boras' offices, a different kind of leak began to emerge: the parties were getting close, Boras was coming down off his exorbitant demands, and Boston was about to get their man. Matsuzaka, 26, is the best pitcher in Japan: he led his nation to the World Baseball Classic title this spring, won 17 games for the Seibu Lions this year, and throws 96. He also reportedly features a dazzling array of softer pitches he can throw for strikes at any time, a description that makes you think of another former Boston hurler, some guy named Pedro. Now the Red Sox will feature a rotation that consists of Schilling, Matsuzaka, Josh Beckett and Jonathan Papelbon, which could just be the best in the majors, if the Dice Man pans out.

Boston still needs a closer, but at this point, outside of the back end of the bullpen, I daresay the Red Sox actually look better than the Yankees on paper. It's December, so Red Sox Nation needs to take a chill, but if the Dice Man brings it the way everyone who's ever seen him pitch in Japan says he will, this flight west will turn out as profitable as the one three years ago.

And if he doesn't?

It'll be absolutely no fun being the Dice Man.

Three weeks left in the NFL regular season. Give me one team who's not going to qualify for a first-round bye who will be in the Super Bowl.

BoDog Bookmakers, BoDog.ws : I can't, because Chicago and San Diego will be getting the byes, and meeting in the Super Bowl.

An eight-team college football tournament is a must. Someday. For now, we can only play it in our minds. Who wins these first-round games, and give us a short capsule on each: (#8) Wake Forest at (#1) Ohio St.; (#7) Oklahoma at (#2) Florida; (#6) Louisville at (#3) Michigan; (#5) USC at (#4) LSU.

BDB, BoDog.ws : Ohio State by 21 or more. Wake Forest has been hot lately, which is a surprise, but they're still no match for the Buckeyes. Smith will take full advantage of the poor Wake Forest passing defense. As for Oklahoma, they'll keep it close, possibly within a field goal versus the newly "overrated" Gators. We could definitely look for a cover on the spread from the Sooners, though Florida wins the game. Considering Louisville is among the top three offenses in the nation, their game against Michigan will be a great one to watch against that tough Wolverine D. Look for this one to play out similar to the game against Ohio State, except this time with Michigan on top by a score. Lastly, LSU's highly ranked pass defense keeps John David Booty in check for most of their tilt against Southern Cal, and on the run they'll fail to produce. LSU covers the spread and wins outright to upset the favored Trojans.

Who's your A-1 favorite signing of this Major League Baseball off-season, and why?

BDB, BoDog.ws : Alfonso Soriano, because he can bring the lowly Cubs back to contention in the NL Central, or at least near the .500 mark next year. The combination of Soriano and Derek Lee will be a tough one for opposing pitchers to work through.

What's your favorite story of the NBA season so far?

BDB, BoDog.ws : Iverson potentially getting out of Philly. As an Iverson fan, I'd love to see him join a team with some playoff hopes. He needs out; it's just never going to happen for him in Philly.

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