BOSTON -- With the TV cameras ready to roll, and the shiny World Series trophy perched next to him, Boston Red sox owner John Henry tried to light his victory cigar.

But the thing was huge, probably needing a blowtorch on one end, and the equivalent of a Hoover providing suction on the other.

Henry could not get it to light.

Oh well, kids, there is a lesson there. You can't have everything, even if you do own two World Championships in four years, the second-largest payroll in the major leagues, and the admiration of that growing phenomenon known as Red Sox Nation.

Fans of that Nation numbered in the thousands at Coors Field Sunday night.

They descended onto the lower seats after the game, cheering as each one of their champagne-soaked stars re-emerged from the clubhouse.

Some players got the expected roars of approval. David Ortiz, goggles and all, waved to the crowd and he bounced from microphone to microphone, giving every TV station a little love.

Curt Schilling acknowledged the fans and then shrugged as they chanted, "One More Year," referring to hopes that Boston re-ups with Schilling for 2008.

Maybe one of the best sights was 31-year-old back-up outfielder Bobby Kielty holding his young daughter and looking like a kid himself. Kielty was having a horrible season and was waved by the Oakland A's, only to be picked up by Boston in August. "I went from having the worst year in my life to it being the best year of my life," he said.

Kielty's home run in the eighth inning Sunday -- which turned out to be the decisive run -- is part of the brilliance of this organization. They recognized Kielty as someone who could help, more than the inconsistent Wily Mo Pena. Kielty has a decent glove and is a switch-hitter, although he's much better right-handed.

So then, in Game 4, with left-hander pitcher Brian Fuentes on the mound, manager Terry Francona decided it was a good time for Kielty to get his first swings in the World Series.

He only needed one swing, swatting the first pitch into the left field seats.

Kielty's pinch-hit homer was just one of several moves Francona made at the right time. When Coco Crisp pinch-ran for David Ortiz in the eighth inning, Crisp remained in the game, going to center field, and moving Jacoby Ellsbury to left to replace Manny Ramirez.

In the ninth inning when Colorado pinch-hitter Jamey Carroll ripped a ball toward deep left field, Ellsbury shifted into the gear that you and I can only dream about, reaching the ball and catching it against the wall.

Ellsbury, the rookie who started the season in Portland, became a household name, at least in terms of the national baseball media.

St. Petersburg Times baseball writer Marc Topkin lamented that the Devil Rays did not sign Ellsbury when they drafted him out of high school in 2002.

"Jacoby Ellsbury could have been a Devil Ray," Topkin wrote. "Instead, he's a Red Sox rookie. And a World Series star."

Ellsbury is one reason why the Red Sox player development staff - those folks who frequent Hadlock Field all summer - looked so proud, standing on the Coors infield, absorbing the accomplishment.

Not only did Ellsbury contribute to this title, but so did Dustin Pedroia, Kevin Youkilis, Jonathan Papelbon, Jon Lester and Manny Delcarmen.

That said, we must point out that Boston almost traded Lester.

Remember that Lester was to be part of that deal before the 2004 season, which would send him and Ramirez to Texas, for Alex Rodriguez.

Do you believe, like I do, that if that trade is made, Boston is still without a world title this century? Boston needed Ramirez, and Lester certainly helped. Who knows what Rodriguez's presence would have meant to Boston?

The Red Sox fans in Denver had their opinion with two loud and clear chants: "Don't sign A-Rod," and "Re-Sign Lowell."

With Boston's player development and with their money, this Red Sox team could become a long-time power, like that Boston team that won five World Series titles in 16 seasons (1903-1918).

Do you think that early 1900s team was resented for its success? Probably. They just did not have sports talk radio and ESPN talking heads to hammer home the point.

These Red Sox can expect negative feedback.

One Denver Post headline Monday read: "Bosox no longer lovable losers: With two Series titles in four years, Boston rivals the New York Yankees as the team fans love to hate."

Ouch. But face it: While the Red Sox bemoan the New York Yankeesâ over-spending, they cannot talk when it comes to everyone else.

Boston upped its payroll by $23 million this season to $143-million.

While Boston is still well shy of New York's $190 million in salaries, the Red Sox are comfortably ahead of the next group of big spenders -- the Mets ($115 million), Angels and White Sox ($109 million each), Dodgers ($108 million) and Mariners ($106 million).

Boston's payroll is more than double of 13 major league teams, including the Rockies ($54 million).

Money does not guarantee winning. The Mets, White Sox, Dodgers, and Mariners did not make the playoffs, and the Yankees and Angels were eliminated in the first round, but it helps cover mistakes.

Boston could afford to absorb salaries of Matt Clement (on the disabled list all year, while making $9.5 million) and the ineffective Eric Gagne (the Red Sox guaranteed $2.5 million in performance bonuses after trading for him, even though he did not earn them).

And the Red Sox could spend big bucks on outfielder J.D. Drew ($14 million) and shortstop Julio Lugo ($9 million) and wait for them to come around.

Smaller-market teams sneak into the limelight once in a while (the Marlins in 2003, the Rockies this year), because of good player development, but they rarely can sustain success.

They lose their good players to free agency, or trade them when they become too expensive (which is why the Marlins unloaded Josh Beckett and Mike Lowell to the Red Sox).

Boston should sustain its success. Its player development machine is purring. And the Red Sox pour money into scouting, signing draft picks, and, of course, obtaining expensive free agents. And we have not even talked about the deep pockets of Mr. Henry and partners, which allowed them to bid $51 million just to negotiate with Japanese pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka.

Big money is a big help. Other things -- like managing, coaching and scouting -- are huge.

All that lays the groundwork for the pitching, hitting and fielding.

For 2007, and maybe sometime to come, Boston is the best at it.