The Best Coach You Have Never Heard Of

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

I write this knowing that most, if not all, of our American friends may not be too interested in this morning's story - but it is a good one.

In an era where sports, both professional and amateur, has become big business it is becoming increasingly rare to see any head coach last more than a few years with any one team. Last night, Brian "Killer" Kilrea was behind the bench for his 2,000th game with the Ottawa 67s of the Ontario Hockey League - major junior hockey in Canada is still the primary feeder system for the NHL. Kilrea's career with the 67's started in 1974, the only gaps in his tenure behind Ottawa's bench were a stint as an assistant coach for the Islanders and for a very short retirement. In all, Kilrea has coached for 30 years and his accomplishments match up with the best coaches in all of sports. You can find Kilrea's list of accomplishments here - if you are a hockey fan, give the man 10 seconds of your time.

Kilrea is a legend in Canadian Major Junior hockey - so we'd like to think Hazel would give her thumbs up and acknowledge the man known in the hockey world as "Killer".

Memo to Boston - the city of Toronto is going to hate you if this keeps up. The folks in Hazel's old stomping grounds like to think of their city as the center of the universe; can you tell by Hazel's swagger that she grew up in T.O.?

Well, if Toronto is indeed the center of the universe, Boston has to be the center of the "wide world of sports". You would think that with the Super Bowl coming up, people would be talking about the Bears and the Colts; leave it to Boston to steal the NFL's thunder.

• Curt Schilling picks this week to tell everyone that he is going to pitch next year. In typical Schilling style, he effectively puts a gun to the collective head of Red Sox management by saying that if he isn't signed before the end of spring training, he will test the free agency market. Of course Curt was quick to say he wasn't threatening the Red Sox, he just feels he shouldn't have to prove himself.
  
  
• Boston Red Sox GM Theo Epstein elopes, and his father picks a rather odd joke to play on one of the Globe's more likeable beat writers Gordon Edes. To his credit, Edes took it all in stride and publicly admitted that he missed the joke and made a mistake. That guy is good peeps.
  
  
• The Boston Red Sox had there fans hoping for a trade earlier this week - the Sox were reportedly going to give up Mike Lowell, Julian Tavarez and prospects for Colorado 1B Todd Helton - the deal never went through and the Rockies' owner spilled the beans on the players from Boston who were on the block. Memo to MLB GMs talking to Theo Epstein is a waste of time - he is afraid to make a trade of any significance, unless you call trading for Doug Mirabelli a blockbuster. Talking to Epstein has to be the most frustrating experience - I swear he floats this stuff out there to make it look like he's doing something.
  
  
• Former Patriots LB told the Boston Globe that multiple concussions suffered while playing under Pats coach Bill Belichick have left him a shell of his former self. Johnson said that Belichick made him play while he was trying to recover from concussions, and that he suffered permanent damage as a result of those brain injuries.
  
  
• The Boston Bruins and Boston Celtics have become the laughing stock of the winter sports. The Bruins are in a free fall right now with their coach publicly asking for anyone to step up - the Celtics have lost 14 in a row (we still DO NOT care about basketball here).
  

Ironic huh? Hazel grows up in the center of the universe and then moves to the center of the sports world.

Given that it was a light night in the world of sports - we aren't doing Hazel's three stars this morning. Tomorrow's stars will undoubtedly feature at least one member of the Toronto Maple Leafs - they are in town tonight to kick some SenaTard butt. Puck drops at 7:00 pm tonight, and we'd like to think Hazel will have an eye on the game - we need that good karma here Hazel.
We'll be back later with the Three Play. Have a great one peeps!

HAZEL'S SATURDAY HOROSCOPE
Travel physically or down the information highway and you will know instinctively what you have to do to get ahead. A unique opportunity to use your talents will lead you in a positive direction. 5 stars

Hazel, I hope things are groovy in your world.

Song of the Day on Hazelspeeps - for Brian Kilrea

Killer - Seal

Peesth Out...Buh Bye!