Nomie, won't you please come home?

The Red Sox needed a shortstop. Nomar Garciaparra needed a job. But apparently hard feelings remained from the 2004season, during which Garciaparra famously refused to enter an important game against the Yankees and young Theo sent the star shortstop packing to Chicago. Now Garciaparra's heading to Los Angeles to learn to play another position. And we're holding out hope that, after a year of no-hit Alex Cora, the Red Sox can persuade their former star to bury the hatchet and take his rightful place in the Fenway infield. If he does return, Nomah and the Sox won't be the first to kiss and make up.

GEOFF EDGERS

Circumstances: After 10 years of emotional turmoil, Burton, the hard-drinking, Welsh thespian, and Taylor, the Oscar-winning star of ''Butterfield 8," divorce.

Reconciliation: Less than four months after the split, the couple remarries, honeymooning in a game park inBotswana. Sure, the reunion lasted only a few months, but at least it eventually led to Taylor marrying construction worker and husband number 8, Larry Fortensky.

Circumstances: Martin was fired either four or five times as manager of the New York Yankees, depending on what really happened after the 1977 season. The best firing came in 1979 after Martin got into a barroom brawl with amarshmallow salesman.

Reconciliation: Steinbrenner rehired Martin in 1979, 1983, 1985, and 1988. When he died in a car accident in 1989, Martin was working as a Yankees consultant. Who knows how many more times he would have been hired back?

Circumstances: Growing apart, tired of the grind, andYoko'd out, the most popular rock band in the world goes the way of the dodo bird.

Reconciliation: OK, so they never really got back together. But Yoko did give Paul that scratchy tape of John's demo for ''Free as a Bird" and the remaining band members, using modern technology, were able to turn the song into a hit.

Circumstances: Who could blame East Germany? After all, that stupid Marshall Plan had to butt in and ruin everything. Without the Berlin Wall, the east would have become avirtual ghost town.

Reconciliation: Not only did the wall come down in 1989, but lovers of music everywhere were able to witness DavidHasselhoff, standing on the concrete, performing his song ''Looking for Freedom."