From the World of Sports

Jon Lester jumps into Jason Varitek's embrace after completing his no-hitter.
Hank Aaron still considers himself the Home Run King. So do the rest of us, Hammerin' Hank. We don't count those juicers against you.

In preparation for the Eastern Conference Championships, meet the Detroit Pistons. Here's another Pistons preview.

Further proof that Danny Ainge is a Mormon: He has six grandchildren. Six!

We won't see Carlos Tevez at Giants Stadium in June; he's been left off Argentina's squad for the friendly with the USA.

Video of the end of Jon Lester's no-hitter:

Doc!

This time last season, fans at TD Banknorth Garden were chanting, "Fire Doc" because they felt Celtics coach Doc Rivers, above, wasn't getting enough out of a poorly assembled team. (AP)
One of the nice things about the revival of the Celtics (I take back all the s**t I said about you, Danny Ainge) is Doc Rivers finally getting the credit he deserves.

I've been a big fan of Doc's since the 1980 Boston Shootout (high school tournament), which my friend and I attended to get a look at this tall sophmore from Cambridge we'd been hearing a lot about. Whatever happened to that Patrick Ewing guy, anyway? But we walked out incredibly impressed by one Glenn Rivers, a senior on his way to Marquette, who dominated every game he played in and was named the tournament MVP.

Now that the Celtics have started the season a blistering 20-2, Doc is getting the kudos he deserves.

WaPo: The Doc Is In for Celtics
Rivers Perceived More Favorably With New Roster, 20-2 Start

The Celtics are Back

Minnesota Timberwolves forward Kevin Garnett pumps his fist to his chest before the start of the basketball game with the Los Angeles Clippers in Minneapolis in this Nov. 25, 2006 file photo. Garnett is leaving Minnesota after the Boston Celtics agreed to acquire the All-Star forward in a multiplayer trade with the Timberwolves, a Celtics official told The Associated Press on Monday, July 30, 2007. (AP Photo/Andy King, File)

In a big way. Today's news of the signing of Kevin Garnett may change my opinion of Danny Ainge (formerly, I thought of him as the dumbest of the former Celtics). The Celtics have been boring and horrible to watch since the departure of Antoine Walker, and they weren't even that great then. Last year, riddled with injuries, they were pathetic. Now we'll find out if Paul Pierce is really a superstar. Garnett certainly is. And Ainge got him for "the Al Jefferson pu pu platter deluxe" (credit to Bill Simmons of ESPN for that delicious bon mot). Game on.

Boston Globe: The big one
Celtics agree on deal to land Garnett

Boston Globe: Jackie MacMullan
Move is just the ticket for once-proud team

Boston Herald: C’s cash in ‘Big Ticket’

Chad Finn's TATB: I think I'll go to Boston/I think I'll start a new life

[] Garnett might be the most dedicated superstar in the game, a selfless, driven, all-around force who plays as hard in a mid-January grinder in Utah as he would against Tim Duncan in the second round of the playoffs. Garnett cares, dammit, and he plays his heart out every freakin' night no matter what . . . Maybe this is hyperbole brought on by the joy and magnitude of the moment, but no matter, because I believe it to be true: Through sheer force of will, Garnett is capable of restoring Celtic Pride, and the alleged and lapsed Celtics fans who don't know this about him are going to be leaping on the bandwagon once they realize what a treat it is to watch this guy play night after night . . .

Bill Simmons, ESPNPage 2: McHale adds another notch to his Celtics legacy

My NBA guide claims that McHale retired from the Celtics in 1993, but apparently that's a misprint. How else could you explain his decision to trade Kevin Garnett to Boston for the Al Jefferson pu pu platter deluxe?