I Hope They "Greeced" Up First

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

Alright, we don't normally do basketball here, but my man Kavliary sent me an email at work yesterday asking me why I had not mentioned that Greece beat the U.S. in the World Basketball Championship. What can I say? The U.S.A. - led by NBA stars LeBron James, Dwayne Wade and Carmelo Anthony (and for Hazel, Chris Bosh of the hometown Toronto Raptors) were "greeked" yesterday in Japan...and you know that had to hurt. So for those of you counting - four major world tournaments - Basketball, Baseball, Hockey, and YES Soccer - the U.S. is not a world champ in any of them. Sorry guys, you can make the excuse that the best weren't at the World Baseball Championship, and that Hockey and Soccer just don't matter...but beat by Greece in basketball is akin to be "greeked". I wonder how long before some genius comes up with the World American Football Championship...to restore a little national pride.

In baseball news, things keep getting worse for Hazel's (new) hometown Red Sox. Doctors confirmed yesterday that Red Sox prized prospect Jon Lester has cancer; while reports say it is a very treatable condition, I can't even begin to imagine what he and his family must be going through right now. As with David Ortiz, good wishes, good thoughts and prayers go out to young Mr. Lester and his family.

Add closer Jonathan Papelbon to the list of injured Red Sox; Papelbon left the last night's game against Toronto with what he described as a strain in his shoulder. The Red Sox medical staff - who are definitely earning their keep these days - have said that fatigue could be a factor in this one. If the injury isn't too serious, and it is just fatigue, you would think that the Sox brass might be smiling a little over this one. There was a report in the Boston Globe a week back that said the Sox and Papelbon were at odds over his possible participation in a MLB tour of Japan this fall. Papelbon was on record as saying he wanted to go, citing a nice payday as the main reason - Terry Francona downplayed Papelbon's remarks, saying that they would sit down with the youngster after the season to discuss it. I think Papelbon's fall trip to Japan is out now...which really should please Red Sox Nation.

One last thought - if you are a Sox fan, what do you think of Mike Lowell's recent resurgence with Ortiz, Ramirez and Varitek all out of the lineup? Lowell was one of the guys that went missing this summer after a good start to the season. If you are a Sox fan, do you think:

• Good, its something to build on for next year;
  
• Too little, too late - where was he in July and August?
• Who cares? The season is over...putting up numbers in meaningless games, with no pressure means nothing.
  

Speaking of inconsistent performances, Red Sox Nation - are you still loving Eric Hinske these days?

Red Sox West made it six in a row last night with a 6-3 victory over the Colorado Rockies; Derek Lowe pitched 5 innings to pick up his 13th win. The Dodgers have a 4 game lead with 28 games to go...a sweep of the Rockies would put them in a very good spot heading into the home strech.

Here is something we here in North America aren't accustomed to seeing - three players from Bristol City were sent to jail for their part in a brawl outside a night club. David Partridge was sentenced to two months after pleading guilty to causing bodily harm during a fight last October. Teammates Steve Brooker and Bradley Orr were each sentenced to 28 days in jail.

Jeebers, if they did that here in North America every time one of these guys did something...you might actually see Hazel Mae pencilled in at 2B for a major league team...the BostonDirtDogs site had Hazel playing 2B for the Sox last week against Oakland. I know I'd pay to go to the game...

Anyways, that's about it for this morning. Have a great day peeps - if you are in New England, good luck with the storm coming today...the Sox pushed up the start of today's game from 7:00 pm to 1:00 pm because of the storm. DJames, if you are checking in - stay dry man...and thanks for the email yesterday - great advice man, I can always count on you. I'll get back to you this weekend. To the other peeps who got the email and still haven't answered - gentlemen, if you are reading this, I'd appreciate hearing your thoughts.

HAZEL'S SATURDAY HOROSCOPE
Take a look around and you will discover you have more going for you than you realize. You can make headway and change your current direction. A personal relationship will grow into something very special. 5 stars

Hazel, I hope things are groovy in your world...good luck getting through that storm today.

Song of the Day on Hazelspeeps - for something that happened this week

On the Radio - Nelly Furtado

You liked me till' you heard my shit on the radio
well I hate to say but pop ain't going solo
you liked me till' you heard my shit on the radio
but now I'm just too mainstream for you, oh no
you liked me till' you seen me on your t.v.
well if you're so low below then why you watching
you say good things come to those who wait
well I've been waiting a long time for it

I remember the days when i was so eager to satisfy you
and be less then I was just to prove I could walk beside you
now that I've flown away I see you've chosen to stay behind me
and still you curse the day I decided to stay true to myself

You say your quest is to bring it higher
well I never seen change without a fire
but from your mouth I have seen a lot of burning
but underneath I think it's a lot of yearning
your face, the colours change from green to yellow
to the point where you can't even say hello
you tell me you'd kill me if I ever snob you out
like that's what you'd expect from me, like that's what I'm about

I remember the days when i was so eager to satisfy you
and be less then I was just to prove I could walk beside you
now that I've flown away I see you've chosen to stay behind me
and still you curse the day I decided to stay true to myself

It's so much easier to stay down there guaranteeing you're cool
than to sit up here exposing myself trying to break through
than to burn in the spotlight,
turn in the spitfire scream without making a sound,
be up here and not look down
because we're all afraid of heights

I remember the days when i was so eager to satisfy you
and be less then I was just to prove I could walk beside you
now that I've flown away I see you've chosen to stay behind me
and still you curse the day I decided to stay true to myself

Why ya hurt me hurt me hurt me hurt me hurt me hurt me
so so, leave me down down down down low leave me down da down down da down da down down down...
shit on the radio... shit on the radio... shit on the radio... shit on the radio

Peesth Out...Buh Bye!