Gone are the days of the great Celtic-Laker battles. Nowadays, the leagues best rivalries all involve the boys in blue -Knicks-Heat, Knicks-Pacers, and up until a year ago, Knicks-Bulls. Even when Shaq and the boys come to town, you know not to expect anything other than a dull blowout to happen. The only thing that makes the T-ride worth well is the trip to the only hoops shrine greater than Madison Square Garden, Boston Garden.

Oh, wait, that doesn't exist anymore....

You might be tempted to chalk all of this up to a disgusting display of Big

Apple arrogance. Well, you're right. A feeling of bravado naturally accompanies the knowledge that your hometown is the mecca of professional

sports, and that Boston can do little but cling to the coveted second-fiddle position.

But don't feel bad. It's not like Boston has underachieved. What else can be expected from a town whose subway system shuts down at night and takes you to a fake "Broadway" when it's running, a town whose one major sporting event, the Boston Marathon, takes place largely outside of Boston, a town that's basically a very distant suburb of New York?

So there. Got a problem with any of this? My name is Martin Bell, and I'm a New York sports fan. Bring it.

Just don't mention the Metrostars.