The Hazies - The Champs & Chumps

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

No emails about me getting pics from "Hazel's #1 fan site" - so we are posting it before it gets lifted from the yahoo site. The February homepage pic on Yahoo.

For those of you who haven't been here before, The Hazies 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 OK'd this week's winners, we'd like to think she give her trademark smile and thumbs up.


HAZEL'S HEROES - THE CHAMPS

NHL

Toronto Maple Leafs G Andrew Raycroft was named the NHL's First Star of the Week. Raycroft was spectacular last week and was the main reason the Maple Leafs won three straight road games. Raycroft posted a GAA of 1.33 and a save percentage of .960. Raycroft's highlight of the week? Stopping SenaTards C Jason Spezza in Saturday night's shootout. Hazel has to be down with this pick.

New Jersey Devils RW Jamie Langenbrunner was named the Second Star of the Week. Langenbrunner had two goals and five assists in leading the Devils to five out of six possible points last week. He flies under the radar - but he is the guy that makes the Devils go; he is one of the league's most under-appreciated players.

Detroit Red Wings D Nicklas Lidstrom was named the Third Star of the Week. Lidstrom had six assists in two games last week - can you say Norris Trophy Winner?

Toronto Maple Leafs Captain Mats Sundin scored his 20th goal of the season last week - sixteen seasons with 20+ goals. He won't get the recognition he deserves until he makes it to the Hall of Fame.


NFL
Indianapolis Colts PK Adam Vinatieri won his fourth Super Bowl yesterday - though to most of our readers, yesterday's win came with the wrong team. The guy is money.

We'll give it up to Tony Dungy, Peyton Manning and Marvin Harrison too - though we won't go into it. They won - let the 2007 season begin.

Former Dallas Cowboys WR Michael Irvin was one of six players inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame last week. Often criticized for trouble off the field - he was always ready to play on Sunday and was a huge part of the Cowboys' dynasty of the 1990's. Irvin finished his career with 750 receptions for 11,094 yards and 65 touchdowns - five Pro Bowls, the 1990's All-Decade Team and three Super Bowl victories. Love him or hate him (we loved him) the guy was a champ on the field.

Other inductees included Buffalo Bills RB Thurman "I forgot my helmet" Thomas, Houston Oilers/Tennessee Titans OL Bruce Matthews, St. Louis Cardinals CB Roger Wherli, Detroit Lions TE Charlie Sanders, and Cleveland Browns OL Gene Hickerson. From our perspective, Irvin is the only one that matters.


HAZEL'S ZEROES - THE CHUMPS

NFL
Rex Grossman of the Bears - three fumbles and two interceptions. We won't pile on Rex any more than that. In a game where most of the Bears were bad - Rex was the worst.


NHL
Pittsburgh Penguins wonderkid Sidney Crosby is starting to get on people's nerves now - last week, Crosby acted like he had been "pole axed" on a regular faceoff. Watching Crosby jump off his skates and flop to the ice like he had been stabbed with a hunting knife was too much to take. He may be one of the league's top players - but he really needs to have his ass kicked to make him stop this garbage.

Every once in a while I like to bring attention to the idiots that are known and reviled as "Sens Army" aka the SenaTards faithful. They are among hockey's least knowledgeable fans at the best of times - at the worst of times (Saturday to Thursday) they are the biggest bunch of whining, second-guessing crybabys the NHL has seen. The Tards faithful were out in force this morning, on the call in shows, drawing a comparison to the Indianapolis Colts win and how it must be a sign that the Tards are ready to win it all...a la Manning. This of course allowed them to gloss over the fact that they lost to the Maple Leafs on Saturday night. Those that were willing to discuss Saturday's game talked about how the shootout would have been different had Spezza and Heatley lead off the shootout instead of shooting 4 and 5 - for the record they both missed.

The life of a Maple Leafs fan in the land of the SenaTards.


MLB
Boston Red Sox P Curt Schilling decided to announce to the world that he intended to pitch after the 2007 season - a whole two months before opening day. I have heard that Curt did it to take the heat off the team for the botched trade with the Rockies - I'm not buying it for one second. This was what it always is with Schilling - all about Curt. He is such a team guy that he is holding them hostage before the season even starts. I saw an article last week that compared Schilling's actions to what Pedro Martinez did when he left the Sox - and wasn't Schilling one of Pedro's more outspoken critics? In his own special "Curt Schilling kind of way."

That's about it for tonight gang - as always, if you think I've missed something, leave us a comment. Have a great one peeps.

Hazel, I hope things are groovy in your world.

Song of the Night on Hazelspeeps - one of Mats Sundin's favourites

Enter Sandman - Metallica

Peesth Out...Buh Bye!