What a week it’s been for Boston sports fans. A number was retired, a so-called retirement ended, and the Pats lived to fight another day. This week, we break down the good, the bad, and the ugly in local sports as we hunker down for the AFC Championship.

Item: The Patriots survived the Titans and below-zero temperatures.

Who ever thought the guy selling polypropolene underwear would outperform the beer guy at an NFL game? Word out of Tennessee is that Steve McNair got feeling back in his fingers sometime yesterday.

Item: Cam Neely’s No. 8 retired to the rafters.

It was quite a night for Sea Bass, and an honor for yours truly to be involved. I might be biased, but I thought it was one of the best ceremonies I’d ever seen. Neely epitomized courage on the ice, but Monday’s honors go to actor Michael J. Fox, who showed amazing courage by addressing the sell-out crowd at the Fleet. The Bruins even lived up to the night with an impressive come-from-behind win over Buffalo.

Item: Roger Clemens signs with the Astros.

No doubt the Rocket got bored during his 10 long weeks away from the game. So much for his statement “I’ll always be a Yankee.” Who will be the opening day starter for Houston? Clemens or Pettitte? I know what Clemens’ new manager, Jimy Williams, would say: “we keep that in house.”

Item: Grady Little is expected to become Special Assistant to the Cubs G.M.

Word is he’s in charge of player evaluation, development, and making sure Cubs starters always try to throw a complete game. Should the Cubs make it to a Game 7 next fall, they are considering a restraining order to keep Little and Steve Bartman away from the park.

Item: R.I. native Brian Boucher posts NHL-record five-game shutout streak

Thank God. There was far too much scoring in the league this season. NHL executives continue to consider rule changes like removing the red line … and Boucher’s pads.

Item: Vladimir Guerrero signs with the Angels

Wonder if this will have an effect on attendance in Montreal? As Billy Preston once sang, “nothing from nothing leaves nothing.”

Item: Buffalo Bills hire Mike Mularkey as new head coach.

This is too easy. Haven’t Bills fans put up with enough malarkey over the years?

Item: Former Sox GM Dan Duquette awarded collegiate summer team.

The Berkshire Dukes will play in the New England College Baseball League. The team will not reply to the media and will raise ticket prices annually. Reports that Roger Clemens would pitch for the Dukes are untrue. Duquette, after all, was the first to know that Clemens “was in the twilight of his career.” Dan just didn’t realize Clemens’ twilight would last seven years and three Cy Youngs.

Lewiston native Tom Caron is a studio analyst for NESN telecasts of Bruins and Red Sox games.

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