Phil Kessel is just one of the reasons the Burins are back in the minds of Boston sports fans.

When taking stock of the four professional sports teams in Boston, few would blame you if you were to start humming “One of these things is not like the other, one of these things just doesn’t fit in.”  With the raising of banner 17 for KG and the Celtics, the Boston Bruins are officially fourth in the minds and wallets of the sports region, distantly behind  the likes of the Pats and Sox.  But with their hot start this year, and last year’s overachievers fresh in the memory, Beantown is ready to become a four sport city once again.  Not sold on tuning in?  Here are a few reasons even the casual sports fan should be paying attention to the Bruins again.

PHIL KESSEL- While athletes are not necessarily role models, Phil Kessel is a fine example for anyone trying to define the true meaning of the word ‘perseverance.’  Kessel was just 19-years old when diagnosed with testicular cancer in December, 2006.  In just 11 days, Kessel was declared cancer free and completed a short rehab stint in Providence.  He rejoined the Bruins in January, and continues to be an inspiration to the hockey community.  What Jon Lester is to Red Sox Nation, Kessel is the same to B’s fans.  

Kessel has shown the same attitude in his professional life as well.  Drafted 5th overall in 2006, he struggled to live up to the scoring potential he showcased at the University of Minnesota.  In fact, Kessel was famously benched by coach Claude Julien during last year’s playoff series against Montreal.  Choosing not to sulk, Kessel returned to the lineup and played some of his finest hockey to date, and has carried that play over to the 2008-09 season.  Phil Kessel currently leads the Bruins in goals with 8.

Weeks after the Red Sox 2008 season was ended by Tampa, and mere days following the Philadelphia Phillies victory in the World Series, the hot stove is already burning at full blast.  While there are some big names surfacing in the free agent market such as CC Sabathia and Mark Texeira, there are other players who would be a tremendous help to the 2009 Red Sox.

In order to decide which players to pursue, the weaknesses of the team must first be determined.  A look back at last season shows at least three areas the sox must upgrade in order to remain a perennial contender.

Trevor Kidd

Every once in a while you might be wandering around your favorite bookstore or newsstand when something will practically leap off the shelf at you screaming, “You must read me!”  I was lucky enough to have this happen to me last week when I saw that The Hockey News had published a  special issue titled, “The Greatest Masks of All Time.”

Andrew Raycroft

For those of you not in the know, the mask of a hockey goalie has gone through a dramatic life cycle over the past half century.  Originally ridiculed when first introduced in the 50’s and 60’s, the mask eventually became an essential piece of equipment (many credit Bobby Hull’s wicked slap shot).  In the 70’s, some goalies started tinkering with painting the white slab of plastic over their faces (think Jason of Friday the 13th fame).  One of the first was Boston’s Gerry Cheevers, who had the trainer draw fake stitches on the mask every time he felt it protected him from stitches of the real variety.  By the late 70’s and early 80’s, most goalies had gotten away from the white plastic face mask, and were now wearing traditional hockey helmets equipped with a wire cage in front.  But by the mid 80’s, the mask as we now know it underwent it’s final evolution.  Most goalies today wear a helmet molded to their head, with an opening for their face covered by wire bars.  The real show these days is how each individual goalie chooses to decorate the mask.  Each of the masks worn in the NHL is hand painted and unique, the design often reflecting the team logo, city, or the goalies own personality traits.  

Johan Hedberg

Prior to the start of the NFL season most people considered the old guard of the AFC to continue their dominant runs.  New England in the east, Indianapolis in the south, and San Diego in the west seemed to be shoe-ins to repeat as division champions, and some combination of the three were likely to be butting heads in the conference championship game.  But here we are, approaching the halfway point of the season, and all three pre-season darlings are serious contenders to miss the playoffs all together.