Not sure if our readers asked for it, but a couple weeks ago I started a bracket of 32 athletes from the various Boston sports teams, put them head-to-head against one another and produced sixteen winners.  As the NCAA basketball and hockey tournaments get ready to draw to a close over the next couple of weekends, might as well finished what I started and produce a winner, because with all apologies to the New England Revolution, ties are not acceptable.

‘FENWAY’ REGION

No. 1 David Ortiz vs. No. 9 Kelly Olynyk: Big Papi got the contract extension he had been hoping for and will now likely finish his career with the Red Sox.  He also hit a home run at Camden Yards that must’ve made a mess of Boog Powell’s barbecue pit.  Olynyk might be able to dunk on Ortiz, but I’d like to see Kelly try to hit a curve ball.  In the battle of ‘O’ last names, O is for offense and we know who provides more of it when absolutely needed.  Pick: Ortiz.

No. 4 Tuukka Rask vs. No. 12 Felix Doubront: Not a fair matchup on many fronts, especially since Doubront’s season technically doesn’t start till tonight. But we already know the season that Tuukka has had, and I have a feeling the best is yet to come for the goalie who ought to win this year’s Vezina Trophy.  Pick: Rask.

No. 3 Rob Gronkowski vs. No. 11 Julian Edelman: Ok, at least in this pairing we have two Patriots, although size-wise it might take two Edelmans to equal one Gronk.  I’m sure glad Brady will have both of these guys to throw the ball to next season, although for how long?  Between these two, perhaps I should pick the last one standing, although your guess is as good as mine who that is.  Pick: Gronk by an arm’s length.

No. 2 Koji Uehara vs. No. 7 Darrelle Revis: Koji has begun 2014 much like ended last year, by pitching another scoreless inning.  But I am a little concerned that all the innings pitched last year will take some toll on the 39-year old closer, meaning there should be times this season where he looks mortal.  For Revis, being dropped into the Patriots’ man-coverage secondary, the upside seems endless for someone in the prime of his playing career…I see a stunner here.  Pick: Revis.

‘GARDEN’ REGION

No. 1 Tom Brady vs. No. 9 Grady Sizemore: Fantastic Sox debut for Sizemore, going deep at the same ballpark where he hit his last home run back in 2011.  We will all enjoy this ride while it lasts, but c’mon – it’s Tom Brady on the other side.  Do we really need to say any more?  Tom’s had some decent games in Baltimore, too.  Pick: Brady.

No. 5 Jarome Iginla vs. No. 13 Sealver Siliga: The story of this matchup was Vince Wilfork’s actions during his ‘game’ versus Siliga.  Vince fell into a big hole early and even after restructuring his contract could not come back against the thirteen seed.  Unfortunately now for Siliga he’s just happy to be in the next round, as he is no match for Jarome.  Word play factoid - smashing together these two last names produces the anagram ‘I Is Ailing Gal’.  Pick: Iginla

No. 3 Rajon Rondo vs. No. 11 Jonny Gomes: Both excel in front of a national viewing audience, and if you combined the low-keyed tones of Rondo with the non-stop boisterous self-aggrandizing style of Gomes, you would probably come up with one heckuva TV color analyst.  But who has the more stylish wardrobe?  Rajon’s non-game suits trump Jonny’s American flag blazer that no one else on the Sox wanted to wear.  Pick: Rondo.

No. 2 Zdeno Chara vs. No. 10 Xander Bogaerts: Depending on what day of the week it is, I tend to flip-flop on the whole youth-versus-experience factor in sports.  In this case, we’re talking about a sixteen-year age difference between Z (37) and X (21).  While Bogaerts has a ton of upside, we already know what Chara is—a major key to the Bruins hopes of winning their second Stanley Cup in three years.  Pick: Chara.

Now let’s narrow this down to the last quartet (if I use the ‘F’ alliteration, I owe something to the NCAA).

Ortiz vs. Rask: Like ‘em both, but let’s go with who has the championship pedigree. Pick: Ortiz.

Gronkowski vs. Revis: Offense vs. defense.  Remind me what wins championships?  Pick: Revis by a kneecap.

Brady vs. Iginla: Tom is a part of New England (he and Gisele are even selling their house in LA), while Jarome is new in town. Oh yeah, and he’s the greatest quarterback in Patriots history. Pick: Brady.

Rondo vs. Chara: Right now only one of them is able to play on back-to-back days. Pick: Chara.

I’ll crown a champion to this madness next week.

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