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Nearly seven years have passed since that summer, and much has changed for the catcher. He was the primary catcher for the first time, two years after he arrived in Boston. He wouldn't be named captain for more than five years, not until he had slammed his mitt in the face of Alex Rodriguez and the Sox had won a World Series. But in those moments, while watching that group of women, he started preparing -- he is, after all, known for his preparation -- for a time when he would need to create not just a team but a team.

He is older now -- his age clicks to 34 today -- and in addition to his normal defensive and offensive duties, he will have to contend with other issues this season. Not only will he have to finish the process, already begun in spring training, of integrating the new Red Sox (from Coco Crisp to Mark Loretta to Josh Beckett), he will have to answer the questions that have plagued him since September of last season, when his dropoff at the plate might have been more than just the regular statistical dip for a player at his position.

But he doesn't want to think about that. He would rather turn his thoughts over to those soccer players, the ones who changed the way he felt, who understood communication at the highest level of competition, something he needs this year, with a clubhouse far different from the one he left at the end of 2005.  [ More ]