Weekend Recap - Hazel's Heroes and...

Hey peeps, and anyone else checking in. A special "hey" goes to you if you are reading this and your name happens to be Ms. Hazel Mae - thanks for taking the time to stop by.

There was a message posted on the yahoo site today - someone asking if Hazel was still with NESN; he said he had not seen her in awhile. Given that I am not in New England, and therefore do not have access to NESN...can anyone reading this confirm that Hazel is indeed still on NESN? I would like to think that she is heading back on up here - but its probably vacation time for her...since she really can't take time off in the summer with the Sox playing.

So its Monday night and I'm posting...why, when MNF is on, you ask? Well, it is the Pack against Captain Stubings' Love Boat boys...better known as the Vikings. Meh...who cares unless you have a wad of jack on the game.

So on Monday's I go back over the last week or so in the world of sports and pick out some of the more notable performances...to highlight (in my estimation) those who would be Hazel's Heroes...and the "Not-So-Heroic" (or Zeros for short). Without further "Freddie Adu" ( Chris Bermanism if I ever heard one) I give you:

HAZEL'S HEROES

NCAA
I don't usually get into the NCAA - but Reggie Bush of the Trojans was unbelievable Saturday night against Fresno St. The score carried the game and we ended up switching from the Oilers/Hawks game to the Trojans. 500+ yards in total offence including almost 300 rushing. Amazing - Heismann trophy this year?

NHL
Brian McCabe of the Toronto Maple Leafs continues to light up the league this year...making his bid for the 2006 Olympic Team. McCabe had 3 goals and 4 assists in 3 games this week...Hazel (hopefully still a proud member of Leaf Nation) had to smile over that one.

Steve Larmer, ex Chicago Blackhawk recently resigned from the NHLPA. Larmer left a very cushy job for his principles and for his beliefs - you gotta like a man with conviction.

NFL
Chad Johnson of the Cincinnati Bengals (8 catches, 189 yards, 1 TD) - they didn't win, but Johnson showed up to play. He didn't guarantee a win...he kept his pie hole shut (for the most part) and showed the Colts that he is a force. I loved the "T.O. I get you baby" sign he made. I wonder if he would have proposed to Hazel had she been on the sideline.

Jerry Porter of the Oakland Raiders (6 catches, 142 yards, 1 TD) - he made the highlights for a TD he scored, and for getting creamed at midfield by Skins' Safety Sean Taylor (for the record, he hung on to the ball). Porter had a great day for Hazel Mae's Cowboys (now 7-3-1).

Larry Johnson of Hazel's Kansas City Chiefs (36 rushes, 211 yards and 2 TDs) - I know Houston is terrible, but 200+ yards rushing against any NFL team is a feat. I didn't nominate Trent Green (also a member of Hazel Mae's Cowboys) for the very fact that Houston is terrible, while he had 3 TD passes...it was against Houston and NONE to Gonzalez.

Drew Brees of the San Diego Chargers (28/33, 339 yards and 4TDs) - Brees torched a very highly regarded Bills D on Sunday afternoon. How about that J.P. Losman...is he making Buffalo fans forget Drew Bledsoe yet? haha

Cadillac Williams of the Tampa Bay Bucs had a great game in Atlanta on Sunday (19 rushes, 116 yards, 1 TD). Many were wondering if he would wear down this year... I think not. Speaking of the Bucs - they go down to Atlanta and beat Ron Mexico and the Falcons. The Bucs pull out a surprise win for the second week in a row - gotta hand it to them.

Honourable mention goes to Peyton Manning for a very good game against the Bengals, Marvin Harrison for reaching 900 career receptions, Plaxico Burress of the Giants, Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin of the Cards (all three WRs members of the "Cowboys"), Rueben Droughans of the Browns for an great 75 yard TD run.

CFL
I know NESN carries CFL football games so New England readers might be interested - and Hazel is on record as being a big time CFL fan - so big time credit goes to Jason Maas of the Edmonton Eskimos. Maas again comes off the bench yesterday to lead Edmonton to a win in Britsh Columbia. Many Eskimos fans felt that Maas should be the starter yesterday...Maas to his credit kept his mouth shut and prepared for the game...and pulled out a win. Gotta like that...One thing you can say about Maas...in addition to being a gamer... he's got one big set of ears!

MLB
If this evening's reports are true...and the Boston Red Sox have indeed traded two prospect (Hanley Ramirez and Anibal Sanchez) plus a player to be named later to the Florida Marlins for Josh Beckett (the cornerstone of Hazel Mae's Heroes - roto team) and Mike Lowell (a former Yankee prospect) - whoever pulled the trigger on that deal deserves to have a parade held in their honour. That trade just established the Sox as the early favourite for the 2006 World Series - PROVIDED THEY DON'T TRADE MANNY. No talk about the potential of both prospects...Beckett and Lowell are proven. Red Sox win hands down.


NOT-SO-HEROIC

NHL
The Montreal Canadiens are looking very ordinary without Kovalev. Paper tigers.

The Boston Bruins are looking almost as bad as the St. Louis Blues...ok, maybe not as bad; but a Joe Thornton-led team being this bad? I wonder how hard it is for Hazel to put a somewhat positive spin on the Bruins these days.

Steve Yzerman of the Detroit Red Wings - who comes out and criticizes the new NHL after the Wings drop one to the Blues this past Saturday night. Though I am not in love with the new NHL, even I know that the Wings problems go far deeper than referee's interpreations...they are OLD and SLOW. For a guy that has a lot of respect in NHL circles...he should shut his pie hole.

NFL
The Carolina Panthers...for a team that many consider to be frontrunners to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl - Meh. I know the Bears are very good on D - but 3 points? Road wimps.

The Atlanta Falcons...they have looked very beatable these last couple of weeks - and they look like they are headed down further. I'm not calling this, but don't be surprised if the Lions surprise them on Turkey Day.

MLB
This may not be appropriate under this heading...but did anyone catch the news about former Boston Red Sox Dennis "Oil Can" Boyd being arrested for leaving threatening voicemails on his ex girlfriend's phone? One question...who could understand what he said? I never could understand what Boyd was trying to say.

I think that is about it for tonight - as I type this, Minnesota just scored another TD on a pickoff.

Have a great one peeps...Hazel, if you are checking in - I hope things are groovy in your world. Enjoy American Turkey Day. And for heaven's sakes, if you are coming back up here...let us know, we'll organize the parade! (I know...wishful thinking).

Donald Driver just scored on a 54 yard pass and run play from Favre...maybe this game IS worth watching after all.

Song of the Day on Hazelspeeps - if the Sox did indeed get Josh Beckett (a young Roger Clemens) a Texan...Josh must be asking the Marlins...

Hey Baby Que Paso - Texas Tornadoes

Peesth Out.