Editorial: Lowell's call

New England sports fans have plenty to feel grateful about this Thanksgiving.

The New England Patriots are putting together a record-breaking season. It's common to say a team is better than its record, but when the team's record is 10-0 and you can still argue that it understates how dominating the Patriots have been on both sides of the ball, something really special is happening.

The Boston Celtics, on life support a year ago, are tearing up the NBA. The New England Revolution just returned from their fourth - albeit unsuccessful - trip to the MLS championship game. Even the Bruins have a winning record.

Then there are the world champion Red Sox, who gladdened the hearts of their fans this week by signing World Series MVP Mike Lowell to a new, three-year contract. Lowell wanted four years and more money, and could likely have gotten it elsewhere, but he chose to keep a good thing going here in Boston.

"I really don't believe everything should be about money," Lowell said Tuesday, showing the maturity that endears him to sports fans. "I didn't think my happiness should be judged just by dollars."

The deal to bring back Lowell comes on the heels of Curt Schilling's decision to turn down the opportunities for a longer contract at higher pay somewhere else in order to play one more year in Boston. At 41, Schilling's not the pitcher he once was - though he sparkled in the post-season and tossed a near-no-hitter this season - but he's smart, steady and hard-working.

Besides, you have to like a major leaguer who negotiates his own contracts. Agents measure their performance in dollar signs. Mature players like Schilling and Lowell understand that once you're a multi-millionaire, the paycheck isn't the main reward. They know from experience that it's better to play on a winning team in front of sellout crowds, even if some lesser team is willing to pay you a million dollars more.

As for the remaining free agents on the Sox roster, some are guys it would be nice to keep around, like Mike Timlin and Doug Mirabelli, while others we'd be happy to see leave town - bon voyage, Eric Gagne.

But with Lowell's signing, the team that went all the way this year is set to return pretty much intact in 2008. That will give fans plenty to look forward to between the Super Bowl and the start of spring training.