Glass 3/4 Full

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

A tough day in Europe yesterday - the Euro 2008 qualifiers got off to a great start with news that Finland (first place in Portugal's group) had lost to European minnows Azerbaijan on a late goal - opening the door for Portugal to pass them with a win against Serbia. The Seleccao das Quinhas got off to a great start with a goal by Tiago in the fifth minute of play - only to see the Serbs equalize in the thirty-seventh minute. The game wound up in a 1-1 tie, meaning that Portugal, Finland and Serbia are all tied for second place behind Poland with 11 points. In looking at things from a "glass half-full" perspective, Portugal is ahead of the Finns and Serbs on goal differential - not to mention that they have gotten their three toughest road games out of the way. It wasn't the way we wanted to start the qualifiers - but we'll make it to Austria/Switzerland...count on it.

I was mistaken this morning when I said Portugal's new field general, Deco, would be back on the pitch - he was not in the lineup after having surgery on his finger last week. The good news for the boys sporting the shields was that superstar winger Cristiano Ronaldo was in the lineup after suffering a heel injury during training on Tuesday - Ronaldo must have been feeling the effects of the injury because he wasn't much of a factor yesterday. In a surprising move, coach Luiz Felipe Scolari star winger Ricardo Quaresma after a great game on Saturday, and changed the lineup going with three forwards instead of the lone striker. While the result wasn't what we wanted - we have gotten over the toughest part of qualifying, the rest of the games should be relatively easy for the boys in maroon.

Leaf Nation is smiling this morning after getting a favour from the stinking Philadelphia Flyers - yes the Flyers. Philadelphia beat up on Carolina last night, laying a 5-1 beatdown on the Hurricanes; keeping the Hurricanes tied with Toronto for ninth in the conference, two points behind the stinking Canadiens. Toronto has a game in hand on the Canes, the Habs and the Lightning- so tonight's game in Atlanta is huge for the Leafs...a win doesn't move them up in the standings (they lose the tie-breaker on wins), but it does put them on equal ground with both. Have I asked for some Hazel Karma lately?

The Florida Panthers also did the Leafs a favour last night, beating Atlanta in a shootout and keeping the Thrashers within striking distance - a win tomorrow night puts Toronto a mere three points behind Atlanta. While Leaf Nation could have done without seeing Atlanta pick up a point - we didn't expect Florida to be able to pull one out, so we'll take it.

There is one person who doesn't see the glass as being three quarters or even half full - former Expos/Red Sox reliever Ugueth Urbina was sentenced yesterday in Venezuela to 14 years in prison for the attempted murder of five workers on his family's ranch. Urbina has maintained that he wasn't involved in the incident. If you didn't catch Hazel talking about it last night on NESN, you can read the story here. Ya right, as if you didn't watch Hazel last night (New England readers only).

All in all it was a "glass three quarters full" kind of day yesterday - that's almost a full pint.


HAZEL'S THREE STARS
Portugal Midfielder Tiago gets a star for scoring against Serbia today.

Philadelphia Flyers G Martin Biron made 23 saves, including a few spectacular ones, to lead the Flyers to a 5-1 win over the suddenly struggling Hurricanes.

Anaheim Ducks C Dustin Penner (also a member of Hazel's Maeple Leafs in the yahoo hockey pool) scored two goals to lead the Ducks to a 3-1 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks. Good for yesterday's three play.


THURSDAY THREE PLAY
Another good night last night picking two winners and increasing the balance sheet up to + $500 for the week. Another good night on the sked in the NHL.

Minnesota over Calgary - the Flames surprised the Wild on Tuesday night, they won't win back to back games in Minnesota...the Flames are awful on the road. The Wild will throw everything they have at the Flames and win this one. Lay $100 on the Wild - $165.

Colorado over Phoenix - this is pretty much it for the Avs, a loss tonight and they are done (we think they are done anyway) - so expect the Avs to come out firing as they fight to stay alive in the Western Conference. Lay $100 on the Avs - $200.

St. Louis over Edmonton - yuck; still though, these are the kind of games you take because they pay. The Oilers are limping towards the end of the season - the Blues have been playing a lot better lately (even with Tuesday's loss to Columbus) and will win this one. Lay $100 on the Blues - $180.

That's it for this morning gang - have a great one peeps!


KEEPING HAZEL UP ON WHAT'S WHAT IN TORONTO
Leafs role players stepping up

Cola's perserverance paying off

Some of Ferguson's moves have paid off - SOME

O'Neill being a team guy


BLUE JAYS
Griffin's mailbag


HAZEL'S THURSDAY HOROSCOPE
Make sure you have proper documentation if you are traveling. Mix business with pleasure and network all you can. Your knowledge and your dynamic way of presenting will lead to something big. 5 stars

Hazel, I hope things are groovy in your world.

Song of the Day on Hazelspeeps - hey, its MC Hammer's birthday...c'mon now, you know the song will come back to you

Can't Touch This - MC Hammer

Peesth Out...Buh Bye!