I almost always prefer the first version I hear of a song to any later versions. Obviously, many covers of classic songs are pale imitations of the original greats, but this extends even to different versions of a song by the same artist. Once that first version clicks on my mind, I either get into its groove or I don’t. And any subsequent version will be judged on how I reacted to the original version.

The only exception to this is any Bob Dylan version of one of his own songs when compared to cover versions. I liked Sheryl Crow‘s take on “Mississippi,” for example, but it’s nothing compared to his own version on “Love and Theft,” which is absolutely sublime. Anyway, no one can sing Dylan like Dylan.

While the Dodgers’ Shawn Green may have had one great day, but he’ll never have the kind of consistently great career Barry Bonds has had. Now that Bonds has passed Mark McGwire in the all-time home run
race, the question is who else he’ll pass before he retireds.

With 584 home runs, Bonds is 171 home runs short of Aaron’s record. Already 38, I think Bonds knows he won’t be productive enough for long enough to become the all-time champ. Ruth, of course, is in second place with 714 home runs and Willie Mays is in theird with 660 home runs. Bonds will pass Frank Robinson’s fourth-place 586 home runs within the week, probably.

Bonds is projected to hit 60 home runs this season, but let’s be conservative and say Bonds winds up with 50. That would give him 617. Then he would only need 44 home runs in 2003 to overtake his godfather Willie Mays for third place. At that point, Bonds would 39 — and all of this assumes of course he will stay healthy and productive.

But by 39 you’ve got to hink Bonds’ production will drop off, and he’d still be 53 home runs behind Ruth. I think that Bonds — aside from wanting to win a championship — must be realistically shooting for his godfather’s record. Third place all time for a few years? Not too shabby. Until Ken Griffey Jr. comes charging, of course.

The first number is how many wins Arizona’s Curt Schilling has so far. The latter number is how many batters he’s walked. Awesome.

OK, DeShields has two. And admittedly, Bobby Hill was very shaky coming into this game, suffering an 0-for-9 slump. He even committed an error in the third inning.

But today he broke out, going 3-for-5 with four RBI and only a double short of the cycle. I think that if he shows the kind of patience at the plate that he showed in the minors, it’s only a matter of time before he’s leading off and Patterson’s back in the two hole. Meanwhile, McGriff homered and went 3-for-4 with four RBI. He now has a six-game hitting streak. The Cubs have now won three in a row (their largest win streak at home this season), and have scored 18 runs in the last two games. This could be the beginning of a good run for the Cubs.

Unfortunately, they’re pretty much out of the race. They’re 10 games back in the Central Division, and frankly aren’t strong enough to contend with whomever doesn’t win the West for the wild card spot.

Not ony did Pedro Martinez pitch the Red Sox to victory over the Yankees in the first of a crucial four-game series, he took on the curse of the Bambino as well. As reported by the Associated Press:

“Babe Ruth was one of the greatest men for the community. I don’t think he would want to curse not even his worst enemy.

“I don’t believe in curses,” he said then. “Wake up the damn Bambino, maybe I’ll drill him.”

Well, one way to end curses is to pitch the way Pedro did. He went seven innings, gave up only four hits, one run, two walks and struck out 10. And Urbina got the job done again in relief. The Red Sox blew so many painful games in relief last year, between Derek Lowe, Rod Beck and everybody else they tried. I look forward to watching the Sunday night game on ESPN.

Bob Dylan isn’t quite getting the same attention as he did when he turned 60 last year, but at least his hometown of Hibbing, Minn., is celebrating the bard’s birthday for a solid week during “Dylan Days.” Outstanding.

I really should take the trip up there for “Dylan Days” one year. Another interesting fact I learned from this story. People from Hibbing are known as “Hibbingites.”

Remember I wrote about the miracle of “Chuck & Buck’s” being produced by the same people who brought us “American Pie”? Well, I guess the Weitz brothers (who star in and produced “Chuck & Buck”) are not such losers, after all.

They are behind Hugh Grant’s latest vehicle, “About a Boy,” which apparently has some heart and is better than the average Hugh Grant movie. It should be, as its based on the Nick Hornby novel. Ebert gave it three and a half stars.

And here’s an interesting interview with the Weitz brothers from The Onion. For example, Chris Weitz says:

In a sense, we’re taking the studio route, so we’ve made a deal with what could be the devil. But I think we’ve managed to do pretty much what we’ve wanted to do within the system. Of course, there’s huge financial pressure. Studios are basically banks, and they want their money back, so that’s where all the pressure is coming from. They think they know how to make money: according to formulas. Given that, I think we’ve managed to make things relatively non-formulaic, but part of that is keeping our budgets really low.

We actually had a lower budget this time than the last time we made a movie. I saw [director Kinka Usher] at the première of Mystery Men, and he came in front and gave a speech, in which he said, “Thanks to the studio for giving me the extra 20 million bucks to really make the movie I wanted to.” And I thought, “Man, you poor sap. You’ve gotten yourself 20 million bucks deeper in the shit.”

Many other inside Hollywood insights to be found in the interview. Check it out. Still not going to see “About a Boy,” though.

The Celtics played more than a lick of defense on Tuesday night to even up the series — they played outstanding defense. And you knew that would happen, or else Coach Jim O’Brien would have quit on the spot.

Now, the Celtics will be cranking out the Guns N’ Roses as they welcome the Nets to “The Jungle,” which is what they call the Fleet Center. No playoff opponent has shot 40 percent or higher at the Fleet Center yet.

The Red Sox wanted to prove they could beat winning teams. Well, after smashing the White Sox 9-0on Monday, they lost the next two. And now? A four-game series against the evil, evil Yankees and only a one-game lead in the AL East.

Oh, yeah. Manny Ramirez’ thumb may require surgery, after all. ESPN’s Peter Gammons writes that the American League is now a three-team race. And the Red Sox are one of those teams.