Two Non-Fitchburg Items

Because sometimes there's other stuff on my mind I want to talk about...

The worst-kept secret ever -- well, not really a secret it was so poorly kept -- became reality today, when Marty Meehan said he'll take the UMass-Lowell job he's been offered.

It sets off a pretty good political brew-ha-ha, with a bunch of folks looking at the seat. Most locally, Rep. Jamie Eldridge of Acton and former Lunenburg Selectman Steve Kerrigan (who also worked for Ted Kennedy and Tom Reilly is a genuinely good guy) are in the race. Nikki Tsongas is doing her semi-annual campaign tease, and other folks like Lowell City Councilor Eileen Donoghue, Middlesex Sheriff Jim DiPaola and probably one or two more and jockeying for position.

As the Phoenix's Talking Politics Blog astutely notes, the state senators in the district are taking a pass. Interesting.

In any event, we can't help but yap about what will be a most entertaining campaign (you can take the boy out of Lowell...). Good times ahead there. As some folks in these parts have noted before, it also might make things a bit interesting in a few years if the state has to drop a congressional district. You'd have to think the New Guy would be either forced out or pushed into a vicious survival battle with a longer incumbent. That's a ways away, so in the meantime, enjoy the election excitement.

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I might be the last guy -- and certainly the last mostly political blog guy -- who still remotely follows the Celtics, forget writing about them. But a funny thing has happened over the last few months: It's become pretty clear who can play (and should stay) and who can't.

Obviously, this team begins and ends with Paul Pierce. If the Celts are serious about getting Odum or Durrant, teaming that guy with Pierce makes the Cs instantly far more credible.

Ryan Gomes is a keeper. He's a fantastic role player and can go off from time to time. Gerald Green has oodles of potential, and needs to stay. Delonte West shouldn't be a starting point guard in the Association, but he's another role player who would be a valuable sixth or seventh guy on a good team.

Rajon Rondo appears to have a future, but it's too soon to tell just how good he can be. He has glimmers of greatness, but has struggled. He needs to incubate a bit more. Kendrick Perkins is a nice 8-9 guy in a rotation, but shouldn't be starting. He won't if Odum is on the team next year.

Sebastian Telfair has been a no-passing disappointment. Wally Szerbiak (I don't even care enough to look to see if that's spelled right) has been a brutal disappointment and can't stay healthy. He's rarely missed when he's not around anyway.

That about covers the rotation guys, except for Al Jefferson. He has been absolute monster the last few months, and finally fulfilling the promise he had shown his first couple of years: The dude can flat out play.

He's averaging a double-double since Christmas, but his game has improved beyond the numbers. He's confident, quick to make a move, and smart with the ball. He's rebounding like a fiend. He's even staying out of foul trouble pretty well. If nothing else, the save grace of this season has been the coming out party for Jefferson. He's become a pleasure to watch.

Let's say things go right for the C's in the lottery. You're looking at Pierce at the 3, and then Jefferson and Odum/Durrant at the 4 and 5. Nice. A little veteran leadership at the point, maybe a streak shooter off the bench to fill the 2 from time to time, and that's a team that could win 45-50 games. Not a championship team, but on the path.