Jason Meserve used an iPhone to take a panoramic shot of the Garden on Thursday night. Best viewed in large mode.

Copyright Jason Meserve. Posted in the Universal Hub pool on Flickr.

The Crimson reports the Sox co-owner is co-teaching a course at Harvard Law with Alan Dershowitz this semester. One of the classes took place during Tuesday night's game in Lucchino's box at Fenway:

... "It was a great opportunity to see the real world applications of what we're learning in law school," said Zucker, a "diehard" Sox fan. ...

Also click the link to see why the Dersh considers himself the Kevin Youkilis of Harvard law (and no, it's not because they both light the menorah).

Peter Ajemian says it all comes down to pitching, and the Angels pitchers are simply healthier and more consistent.

Joy of Sox gets the scoop on the two Toronto fans who normally go to Blue Jays games and mimic the home plate umpire and who thought it would be fun to do the same thing at Fenway.

... There are 7 billion people on the planet. Do you know how many of them travel to another city to fake umpire a game? You're looking at 'em. ...

Denton wishes Tim Wakefield well, after what may have been his last start for the Red Sox:

... In his 15 seasons with the Sox, Wake has compiled 175 wins, 1,867 strikeouts and 22 saves. He has done whatever was asked of him: starting on short rest, coming out of the bullpen and even closing. Off the field, Wake has been even better. He has been a tireless contributor to the Jimmy Fund, stayed completely scandal-free and just been an all-around nice guy. ...

Break out the Bigelow Green Tea: The Rangers lost 5-2 early this morning, which means the Red Sox are in the playoffs. They'll play the Angels in the ALDS.

A weekend of pretty awesome cycling events comes to and end. NECN covered Saturday's professional cycling race, the first pro race held in Boston in over 20 years. The 40-mile men's and women's races took place on the .7-mile loop around City Hall Plaza. Five-time US National Criterium Champion, Tina Pic, won the women's event in the final race of her career before entering retirement. Kyle Wamsley took the men's race in a sensational, final three-man sprint. (More at The Daily Peloton.) More than 60 women and 140 men competed in the events. The Herald got some good photos.

The pro race, the TD Bank Mayor's Cup was part of the weekend's larger Cycling Celebration organized by Boston Bikes, the cycling department within City Hall.

Time to go into that happy place ...

Hard to come to any other conclusion after reading this story about some Red Sox fan who teaches fourth grade in some town in upstate New York.

Like other Sox fans, Beth watched in horror as Jon Lester crumpled to the mound last night:

... The attachment to Jon Lester is deeper and more personal than for many other players among Sox fans, a feeling embodied perfectly by the way Tito gently touched his head, then shoulders, once Lester was on his feet again, as if he were his own child.

I had tears in my eyes watching Lester roll around next to the mound and grimace in agony, clutching his knee. Nobody wants to see that with any player--but with Lester, our homegrown boy, our survivor, seeing him in that kind of pain was especially cruel. ...

Red, meanwhile, considers the Captain:

... One thing that both sides agree on, however, is that Jason Varitek should be used only in emergency situations from here on out. Aliens taking over the world and holding Victor Martinez in the mothership? Well, call Fisk and Bob Montgomery. If they're not available, then let Tek catch. End of story. ...