Celtics’ Kendrick Perkins Awed by Red Sox’ Kendrick Perkins

BOSTON — The New England region has been overtaken by Celtics mania, but the Red Sox have gone and taken that hysteria just a bit too far. Apparently looking for some extra size in the outfield, the Sox drafted Kendrick Perkins in the sixth round on Tuesday.

Oh, so you’ve heard that one before? Well, Celtics center Kendrick Perkins hadn’t, and he was pretty amused when he found out the Red Sox selected a high school center fielder with the same name, who is also from Texas.

“No they didn’t,” the taller Perkins said on Tuesday night. “For real? You’re playing.”

Nope, it’s the truth — “The Truth,” get it? The Red Sox have added Perk’s namesake, statesake, and, for lack of a better term, a kid who was also drafted out of high school. Three parallels before Game 3 of the NBA Finals. It’s just too good to be true.

“Now they’ve got another Kendrick Perkins?” the Celtic said, his eyebrows still raised in disbelief. “I thought I was the only one. That’s cool, though.”