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As the world now knows, that answer was "yes." Yes-exclamation-point, in fact. Mick won the Terrier Group Monday evening, becoming the only three-time winner in history of what is arguably the toughest of the Group. That brought him into Mrs. Bivin's ring that Tuesday night, where he was once again in pretty select company. But he was up to it, capturing a fitting win to conclude a great career as one of the world's greatest show dogs ever.
But he wasn't out there in that ring by himself. As mentioned before, it was a night of great performances by great dogs. In group order, here's how it went.
 For the second year in a row, the Brittany, Ch. Magic Sir-ly You Jest, won the Sporting Group. What made if most notable was the fact that "Jester" had not been in a dog show since the previous Westminster. He had spent the year training in the field, pointing birds and earning his Junior Hunter title. But in spite of the layoff, he was back for another shot at the big prize with handler Clint Livingston at the other end of the lead. Jester didn't show it, but at the age of 7, he was the oldest of the finalists.
 Clint had a dilemma. A pleasant one, however, caused by the fact that he had also piloted an impressive young Ibizan Hound to victory in the Hound Group. Ch. Luxor's Playmate of the Year was a well-deserving but surprise winner, giving the breed a placement in the Hound Group for the first time in its short participation (since 1980) at Westminster. Clint's assistant Janice Hayes handled "Bunny" in the finale, while Clint stood in line with Jester and clapped for them. So did a lot of others.
 Another crowd favorite was the athletic big black dog, the Newfoundland, Ch. Darbydale All Rise Pouch Cove. "Josh" was the #8 dog all breeds for 2002, and had 29 Bests In Show to his credit. Michelle Ostermiller had gaited "Josh" to a win in the competitive Working Group and now they had hopes of becoming the second Newfoundland to capture the top award at Westminster..
 At the other end of the scale, the elegant little Pekingese, Ch. Yakee Leaving Me Breathless at Franshaw, moved slowly but assuredly around the ring under the confident hand of Hiram Stewart. "Les" had his fans, too, and they were hoping he could become the fourth Peke to capture Westminster's Best In Show trophy. He had been the #3 dog all breeds in 2002, establishing a record for Toy Dogs with 59 Bests In Show for the year, giving him a career total of 65. Like Mick, Les was also bred in the United Kingdom (Scotland).
 Ch. Ale Kai Mikimoto On Fifth, a graceful white Standard Poodle, represented the Non-Sporting Group. Another top ten dog all breeds in 2002, "Miki" was handled by the legendary Poodle man, 77-year-old Wendell Sammet, and had captured many of America's top shows, a total of 59 Bests in his career. If pedigree were to make a difference, Mike had a lot going for him: his great-great grandfather, Ch. Whisperwind On A Carousel, had been Best In Show at Westminster in 1991 and Miki's sire had won the Group three years in a row
(1998-1999-2000).
 The crowd at the Garden always loves the German Shepherd, too, and that was again the case at Westminster 127. Ch. Kismet's Sight for Sore Eyes was coming off a great year as the #1 dog all breeds and showed the crowd why. "Dallas" had 103 Bests In Show to his credit and was handled by Jim Moses. For Jim, it was the sixth time that he has taken a German Shepherd to the Herding Group title since the Herding Group started in 1983, and one of those, the famous Ch. Covy Tucker Hill's Manhattan, captured Best In Show in 1987.
 But this was Mick's year. He became the first Kerry Blue Terrier to capture Best at Westminster, the 43rd such win by a Terrier since Best In Show judging began in 1907. He also became only the second dog to capture both Crufts and Westminster, joining the Lakeland Terrier, Ch. Stingray of Derryabah, in that elite club.
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