'Spark plug' lights up Vegas

Page 2 of 2 -- "We should have won that World Series," said Barrett. "That's the only thing that's tough. It would be really great to have that team, which was so special, to have a World Series ring. It just didn't happen.

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"It was one of those dream years you can have as a team. We weren't really picked to do a whole lot and Roger Clemens had his breakout season and a lot of us had career years. The team chemistry was unbelievable."

Barrett has continued to stay busy with baseball in the Las Vegas area. In fact, the Little League in North Las Vegas, where Barrett grew up, honored him by naming their chapter after him. Barrett has also served as the color commentator on cable television and did some radio announcing for the 51's.

Also, each year right before Christmas, Barrett, along with Greg Maddux, Mike Maddux, Rick Downs and other local guys in baseball, get together to help out the Las Vegas Baseball Academy by running a camp.

Outside of baseball, Barrett has started to dabble in the real estate market in Las Vegas. He and his partner build custom homes for clients.

"It's been a nice learning experience and very educational," Barrett said. "It's been really fun and keeps me busy."

He would also love to return to the game once Kyle is out of high school, and Boston is one place to which he would love to return.

"After my youngest, who has three more years of high school left gets out, I would like to get back in the game," said Barrett. "I would love to come back to Boston. I think they have a good enough team where they have a very good chance to win a World Series in the next two or three years or win a couple. I think they have a decent chance and hopefully it will happen.

"If they could ever do that it would be a dream come true."

If you would like to hear where a former New England sports star is these days, please e-mail Jon Goode at jgoode@lowellspinners.com