Posted by Teddy Panos, Sun Staff

Five quick rounds in honor of "The Fighter" boxing scenes being shot at Tsongas Arena this week:

1) Arturo Gatti's apparent murder casts a pall over the opening week of shooting for the movie chronicling Micky Ward's rise to boxing stardom. The two will forever be linked in boxing history, and hardly a media report was filed about Gatti's death without mentioning Ward and their trilogy of legendary fights. Micky, a normally happy-go-lucky guy, was noticeably sullen over his friend's fate. Let's hope all the activity surrounding the movie, and his involvement with it, helps take Ward's mind off these difficult times.

2) Ironically the three Ward-Gatti bouts, which put an exclamation point on both fighters' careers, aren't likely to make Hollywood script. Barring some last minute change, "The Fighter" boxing scenes will conclude with the Lowell legend's championship knockout of Shea Neary in London. That triumph took place in March of 2000, more than two years before the Ward-Gatti I showdown in May of 2002.

3) Here's hoping for an American League victory in the All-Star game. The way the Red Sox starting pitchers and Josh Beckett in particular are dealing from the mound right now, the Sox are shaping up as the AL's World Series entry. The home field advantage that goes with an All-Star victory will be much appreciated by Boston's bats, which seem to prefer Fenway over the road.

4) If this Patriots off-season seems like the longest one in ages, well, that's because it is. The 2002 season was the last one in which Bill Belichick's troops began vacation before the playoffs, so there's been plenty of time to digest the 2008 season. In case you haven't already marked your calendars, training camp opens Thursday July 30th, with the regular season opener Monday September 14th, at home versus the Bills.

5) Whether Tom Brady returns from injury to 50-Touchdown All-World status or simply settles for being the efficient, clutch machine who directed 3 Super Bowl triumphs will not be the determining factor in 2009. The defense, which is doing a Benjamin Button impression and growing young before our very eyes, will have final say in how deep into the playoffs the Pats play.

While a transition to youth was sorely needed, it still remains to be seen which of the kiddie corps will step up and grab the leadership mantle vacated by veteran field generals like Roman Phifer, Ted Johnson, Willie McGinest, Ty Law, Rodney Harrison and Mike Vrabel. That gradual erosion of elder statesmen, more than anything else, is why New England hasn't hosted a parade featuring the Lombardi Trophy in four years.