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Legend has it that the GMs of the Yankees and Red Sox got drunk one night and agreed to trade Joe DiMaggio to the Red Sox in return the Yankees would get Ted Williams. Teddy Ballgame would have the short right-field porch to hit to while Joe D would play pepper with the Green Monster.

Imagine how team history, and possibly MLB records, would have been changed? Legend has it that both GMs woke up early the next day, hung over and in a panic. They squashed the proposed deal and the rest was history.

I bring that up because this past week was the one-year anniversary for two very important events. A year ago this past Tuesday, the Boston Celtics were hoping and praying that the ping pong balls in the NBA Draft lottery would bounce their way so that they could get the No. 1 pick in the draft. This would ensure them the rights to Ohio State 7-footer Greg Oden, a Bill Russell-like player who would return the Celtics to glory.

The Celtics got the fifth pick in the draft. Greg Oden went to Portland.

A year ago this past Friday, was the anniversary of Kobe Bryant demanding a trade from the Lakers. After 11 years Kobe insisted he had played his last game in L.A. and that the "trust' was gone between himself and the organization. "Too many promises have been broken," said Kobe, so it was time to go.

The Lakers had a deal worked out with the Chicago Bulls. Kobe was thrilled. He almost signed with Chicago as a free agent two years earlier. He had idolized Michael Jordan. He played like him, walked like him, stuck out his tongue like him. All the Bulls had to do was include forward Luol Deng to the three-player package and Kobe was heading to the Second City.

Luol Deng. A 22-year-old, 6-9 forward. A good player, but no Kobe Bryant.

The Bulls refused. Kobe was crushed. The Bulls went on to have a miserable season, firing two coaches, and today have the No. 1 pick in the upcoming NBA Draft.

The Lakers, thanks to the brilliance of Kobe Bryant, are in the Finals.

As for Greg Oden and the Celtics, well, Oden suffered a knee injury before training camp and missed the entire season.

Boston tried to trade for Kevin Garnett of the Minnesota Timberwolves. He was the anti-Kobe. Even though the Wolves had only gotten past the first round once in 12 years, Garnett was loyal to the T-Wolves. He refused to be traded. Eventually, it took the Minnesota ownership telling Garnett he was no longer wanted to convince him to accept a trade he didn't want.

Garnett, Ray Allen and Paul Pierce just led the Boston Celtics to the NBA Finals for the first time in 21 years.

***

The same "who knew" syndrome is applying to other sports as well. Boston Red Sox starter Jon Lester threw a no-hitter two weeks ago. Lester is a 24-year-old cancer survivor who should have been with the Minnesota Twins two months ago. Why? Because all that was keeping Johan Santana from becoming a member of the Red Sox, was the inclusion of Jon Lester into the deal. The Twins held out for Lester and the Red Sox, to the dismay of many fans and almost the entire baseball community, would not part with the young lefty.

The Twins eventually traded Johan Santana to the Mets in a deal which the entire baseball community said was a steal, for the Mets.

It's early, but the Mets are in fourth place, the prospects from the Mets have the Twins playing better than everyone thought, and the Red Sox with Jon Lester in the rotation are the clear favorite to win the AL East.

***

The Detroit Red Wings had some great teams in the 90's that could not win the Stanley Cup. In 1994 they were the Western Conference favorites only to be stunned in the first round of the playoffs. They had a young goalie who, after giving up a bad goal in the Game 7 loss, cried in front of his locker while talking to reporters.

This same goalie took them to the Finals in 1995 only to see the heavily favored Wings get swept by the New Jersey Devils.

The next year the favored Wings were beaten in the conference finals.

In 1997, this same goalie led them back to the playoffs, where the coach had a hunch, and decided to go with the other goalie. Detroit went on to win their first Stanley Cup in 42 years.

In 1998, the Wings won the Cup but no one gave goalie Chris Osgood much respect. The Wings were clearly the best team in the league and all he managed to do was finally not screw it up.

Four years and no more Cups later, the Wings felt as if they were just one player, I mean goalie, away from winning the Stanley Cup. They went out and acquired one who had never won a Cup. Dominik Hasek immediately came to town and won the Stanley Cup.

Five long years and no more Cups later, after giving anyone but Chris Osgood the chance, this time at the age of 38, it is none other than Chris Osgood who the Wings turned to early in the playoffs when it became clear that they were one goalie away from winning the Stanely Cup.

If he cries in front of his locker this year, he will likely be soaked in champagne and you'll understand why.

Kobe Bryant, Kevin Garnett, Jon Lester and Chris Osgood.

Funny how things work out.

***

David Moulton is co-host of "Miller and Moulton in the Afternoons," which airs Mon-Fri. 3-7 p.m. on SportsRadio 770/ESPN. His columns appear every Sunday. You can e-mail David at: millerandmoulton@sportsradio770.com