Catching Up With Bob Lobel: Bob Checks in from Spring Training

Legendary sportscaster Bob Lobel calls in from Fort Myers, Florida, the site of Boston's first Spring Training game. He discusses the chances of a Red Sox repeat with host Joe Parello, and breaks down the Bruins as we head into next week's NHL Trade Deadline.

That, and more, on this week's edition of "Catching Up With Bob Lobel."

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So, I Guess an Athlete Being Gay is Still a Big Deal

Jason Collins (left) became the first openly gay NBA player Sunday night, and Michael Sam (right) is the NFL's first openly gay draft prospect.

By Joe Parello  @HerewegoJoe

The other night Jason Collins became the first openly gay player in NBA history.

Collins, who signed a 10-day contract with the Brooklyn Nets, made his first appearance since "coming out" Sunday, and was as unremarkable on the court as he has been his entire career.

In 11 minutes, he grabbed a pair of rebounds, somehow amassed five fouls, missed his only shot attempt and committed two turnovers. What was remarkable, to some people apparently, was that the ground did not open up and swallow Collins into eternal damnation.

CURLING!!!

It's the coolest Winter Olympic sport for reasons that I still don't understand.

By Jeremy Conlin (@jeremy_conlin)

Every four years, I record every single televised curling match. Why do I do this? I don't know. I always forget the rules and how scoring works until I watch two full matches, remain hopelessly confused, and then look up the scoring rules online.

(Related aside - the Wikipedia page for Curling never actually says how to score each end, only saying "points are scored for the stones resting closest to the center of the house at the conclusion of each end," which technically isn't 100 percent accurate. It's almost like they don't want us to know the real rules)

The Sochi Olympics Are Going To Be The Worst

In Soviet Russia, bathroom stall share you!

By Joe Parello  @HerewegoJoe

Full disclosure, I'm not a huge fan of the Olympics.

It's not that I don't love rooting for the old US-of-A, I do. I get my hopes irrationally high every time America qualifies for the World Cup, and I almost peed my pants when we tied England in 2010.

Take that ya filthy Brits! We don't even care about this sport, and we're equal to you!

What I mostly don't like about the Olympics, is that few of the events are actually sports, and even fewer are team sports. I'm sorry to my wife and every other figure skating/gymnastics/synchronized swimming/snowboard halfpipe/ice dancing/diving fans, but those aren't sports.