The Hazies NFL Style

Hey Peeps and anyone else checking in. A special "Hey" goes out to Hazel Mae.

For those of you who haven't been here before, Monday night entries take a look back at the week or so that was in the world of sports, highlighting some of the more notable performances. To those who have risen above the rest, we award them with an honourary "Hazie" - the lucky few have the title of "Hazel's Hero" bestowed upon them. While Hazel hasn't officially approved this week's winners, we'd like to think she would give her trademark smile and thumbs up.


NFL

Week 1 is officially in the books - it was a terrible week from my perspective, but a number of players distinguished themselves.

There were seven 100 yard rushers in Week 1 - the notables:

• Atlanta's Warrick Dunn shredded the much-heralded Carolina Panthers' defence for 132 yards on Sunday. Dunn didn't score a TD, but he was the main reason the Falcons got into scoring position.
  
  
• San Diego's LaDanian Tomlinsonhad a 58 yard run on his way to 131 yards and a TD - I don't think he is quite ready to conceed the title of league's best RB to Hazel's boy Larry Johnson. I say that because LT is a member of Hazel Mae's Cowboys in yahoo pool.
  
  
• Green Bay's Ahman Green ran for 110 yards on 22 carries against one of the NFL's best defences - the Chicago Bears. The Packers didn't score a point, but to rush for 110 on the Bears' defence is saying something.

Other 100 yard rushers - Steven Jackson of the Rams, Willie Parker of the Steelers, Tiki Barber of the Giants, and Tatum Bell of the Broncos.


There were three 300 yard passers on Sunday, but one stood out above all the rest:

• New York Jets' Chad Pennington returned to the NFL in big way on Sunday in Tennessee. Pennington came into this season with more than his share of doubters, and yes it was only Tennessee, but 24/33 for 319 yards and 2 TDs (throw in a QB rating of 123.2) and you have a performance that should silence the critics for a little while. Good story.

Other 300 yard passers - Chunky-soup lovin' mama's boy Donovan McNabb, and Kurt "little hands" Warner of the Cardinals.


There were nine 100 yard receivers this past weekend, the notables:

• New York Jets' Laveranues Coles caught 8 passes for 153 yards; no TDs, but he was a the man on Sunday...plus, he's a little guy, Hazel would see eye to eye with Coles.
  
  
• Phliadelphia's Donte Stallworth caught 6 passes for 141 yards and 1 TD; yes it was the Texans he was up against - but a 23.8 yard avg per catch is impressive.
  

Other 100 yard receivers - Larry Fitzgerald of the Cardinals and Antonio Bryant of the Chargers (both members of Hazel Mae's Cowboys in a non-yahoo pool), Marvin Harrison of the Colts, Drew Bennett of the Titans, Muhsin Muhammed of the Bears, Heath Miller of the Steelers, and Andre Johnson of the Texans.

Honourable mention goes to San Francisco RB Frank Gore who had 80+ yards rushing and receiving and scored two TDs in a losing cause against the Cardinals.

Where's the defence you ask? Baltimore, Chicago, San Diego all pitched shutouts this past weekend.


MLB

Florida Marlins' P Anibal Sanchez was named the National League Player of the Week after throwing a no-hitter against the Diamondbacks last week. A former Red Sox farmhand and briefly a member of Renee's Naughty Girls in the yahoo pool (I like to bring that one up every once in a while).

Oakland A's DH Frank Thomas was named the American League Player of the Week. The Big Hurt hit .426 with 5 HRs, 13 RBI, and a slugging percentage of 1.083; going into tonight's game in Minnesota - Thomas had hit a HR in six straight games.


CHAMPIONS LEAGUE SOCCER

Valencia striker Fernando Morientes scored a hat-trick today against Olympiakos in the opening game of the 2006 Champions League group stage.

A depleted Sporting Lisbon (starting four youngsters) got a goal from defender Marco Caneira to beat Inter Milan 1-0 today in Lisbon. The goal spoiled Luis Figo's return to the Portugal, against the team he started his career with. A major upset indeed, as Inter is being picked by many to challenge Chelsea and Barcelona for this year's championship. Good for Portuguese soccer - bad for my man Figo...but he will be back.

That's about all for tonight gang - we'll be back tomorrow for Weird & Whacked Wednesdays. Have a great one peeps!

Hazel, I hope things are groovy in your world.

Song of the Night on Hazelspeeps - to celebrate the return of the NFL (you know it, you love it)

NFL Roundup - NFL Films

Peesth Out..Buh Bye!