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Athlete (pro)

Nomar Garciaparra

He’s made more errors than the Yankees’ Derek Jeter this year, and he’s hit fewer homers than the Mariners’ Alex Rodriguez. But when the God who invented Michael Jordan decided to design the perfect shortstop, He delivered Nomar-and lifted the curse of the Bambino. Then again, tell that to the Yankees this year.

Red Sox

Mo Vaughn

Don’t get us wrong. We love Pedro (we sure paid enough for him). But every good team has a heart, and this team’s pounds fiercely in the barrel chest of Mo Vaughn. Sadly, that obvious fact may be lost on a rotisserie-league general manager like Dan Duquette.

Patriot

Myra Kraft

She screens out the rapists.

Celtic

Larry Bird

You didn’t say it had to be this year.

Bruin

Sergei Samsonov

The most exciting thing in a Bruins uniform since Bobby Orr.

Rookie

Sergei Samsonov

The NHL sportswriters obviously thought so, too, when they awarded him the Calder Memorial Trophy for Rookie of the Year.

Coach (pro)

Pat Burns

We prayed for a miracle when Saint Pat was recruited by the Bruins last spring. We got one: from worst to playoffs in one season. And he got another NHL Coach of the Year award, his third.

Coach (amateur)

Ben Smith

The USA’s women’s hockey coach wrung a gold medal out of a sport most of us barely knew existed, let alone cared.

Athlete (amateur)

Carlos Pena

A Dominican Roy Hobbs story: After transferring to Northeastern two years ago because he’s homesick for his family in Haverhill, the 20-year-old first baseman leads the Huskies to the America East title last year, wins the MVP award in the Cape Cod League last summer, and gets picked 10th in the draft by the Texas Rangers in June.

Quote

“Not guilty.”

The Sox: Mo Vaughn, Wilfredo Cordero

The Patriots: Drew Bledsoe, Dave Meggett, Max Lane, Scott Zolak

The Celtics: Greg Minor, Antoine Walker

NHL agent provocateur: Alan Eagleson

Face on a bad situation

Khalid Minor’s

When Greg Minor’s two-year-old son appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated, he became the poster child for deadbeat NBA dads.

Intentions

Vaughn’s

He insisted he drove all the way to the Foxy Lady, a strip club in Providence, just to get . . . a cheeseburger.

Clutch performance

Tom Finneran

For putting the nix on taxpayer support of corporate-welfare gimme guys like Patriots owner Bob Kraft and Red Sox boss John Harrington.

Book

Foxwoods

Whoever thought an obscure band of Indians would bankrupt both La Cosa Nostra and the Irish Mob? Plus, they’ll never break your kneecaps.

Move

Larry Bird’s

Larry Legend hires on as head coach of the Indiana Pacers . . .

Revenge

Bird’s . . . after the Celts give him the bum’s rush and hire Rick Pitino.

Prediction

Bird coaches a team to a championship before Pitino.