Boston-area sports fans "still rank the Patriots as their No. 1 team, while the once-dominant Red Sox trail at No. 2," according to a Channel Media & Market Research survey of more than 13,000 New Englanders cited by Gayle Fee of the BOSTON HERALD. While fans were "generally OK" with the way the Patriots handled Aaron Hernandez' arrest for murder, they are "still fuming over the jettisoning" of WR Wes Welker to the Broncos. The Red Sox "made huge strides in the new poll, with 55 percent of respondents saying the Fenway brass did the best job improving their team over the past year." The Bruins also received "positive reviews overall," but the Celtics were "loudly booed." The survey was completed between Aug. 1-17 and "questioned both male and female sports fans in all six New England states." It has a margin of error of plus or minus 3% (BOSTON HERALD, 8/20). Red Sox President & CEO Larry Lucchino earlier this month said that the Patriots are "one of his team's rivals." Patriots President Jonathan Kraft said in response, "We've been Red Sox season-ticket holders as long as we've been Patriots season-ticket holders. I'm not sure I view it as a rivalry. ... I think what he probably meant is that each of the teams in town is trying to be the best sports entertainment product we can be." He added, "I would never view the Red Sox as a rival. I don't love baseball the way I did growing up, but I do love the Red Sox the way I did growing up" (ESPNBOSTON.com, 8/18).
