GOOD
Usain Bolt
While Britain is not exactly known for its haute cuisine, it won't be losing any points with the defending Olympic 100-metre champion after the announcement that the world's largest McDonald's is set to open in East London for the Games. Bolt – who claimed chicken McNuggets were key to his triple-gold success four years ago – will still be able to chow down on his breakfast of champions, and with the restaurant expected to serve 50,000 Big Macs and 180,000 portions of fries during the event, he won't be short of other menu options if he decides to change things up.
Charlotte Bobcats
Officially the worst team in NBA history on the court, Michael Jordan's team is certainly leading the way off it. Winners of just four home games in the 2011-12 regular season, the Bobcats have tied the cost of next year's season tickets to next month's draft position, meaning that if they end up picking first home games will cost just $1. We won't name any names, but wouldn't it be nice if other also-ran sporting organizations were as forward thinking?
Lionel Messi
If you thought Steven Stamkos's 60-goal haul this past season was impressive, then what to make of the Barcelona playmaker? The little Argentine struck his 68th goal of the year in Wednesday's 4-1 triumph over Malaga to eclipse Gerd Muller's 39-year-old European record. By way of comparison, Messi's average of 1.26 goals a game does more than put Stamkos's rate of .73 in the shade, it also eclipses the 1.15 that Wayne Gretzky struck during his 92-goal season of three decades ago. Wayne may be the Great One, but more and more Messi is looking like the greatest.
Mark Prior
Sitting in last place one month into the season was not exactly how rookie general manager Ben Cherington was hoping to begin his tenure at Fenway Park. With reports of fan apathy already setting in after the Red Sox's late collapse last year, the GM rolled the dice Thursday, signing the oft-injured former star who hasn't pitched in the majors since 2006. Still, if anyone is going to know anything about desperation, it's going to be a former Cub.
BAD
Mariano Rivera
Unquestionably the best closer in major-league history, the legendary Yankee may be faced with his ultimate opponent – Father Time. After tearing his ACL shagging flies in Kansas City Thursday, the 42-year-old now faces an uphill struggle back to full fitness, already unsure if he wanted to pitch in 2013. As the owner of the most career saves, the lowest earned-run average of the live-ball era and five World Series rings, Rivera is already a sure-fire Hall of Famer, but having snuffed out hope for many a ninth-inning batter, he may finally be staring his own demise in the face.
Paul Attfield