The Hazies - The Champs & Chumps

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, The Hazies take a look back at the week that was in the world of sports and single out some of the outstanding performances. The lucky few are awarded a Hazie and have the title of "Hazel's Hero" bestowed upon them - which is better than any recognition they may have gotten elsewhere. While Hazel hasn't officially approved this week's winners, we would like to think that she'd give her trademark smile and thumbs up to our picks.

HAZEL'S HEROES - THE CHAMPS

HOCKEY
If you checked in last week you would have read that Phoenix Coyotes RW Shane Doan is Team Canada's Captain at the IIHF World Hockey Championships taking place in Russia; and you would know that his captaincy was the subject of debate in Canada's House of Commons. A couple of politicians from Quebec asked that Canada's Prime Minister involved himself in Hockey Canada's business and seek to have Doan's captaincy removed because of something he allegedly said a few years back that was considered derogatory towards French Canadians - a few of Canada's more notorious left-wing politicians got in on the act asking the PM to do something. Doan refused to get dragged into the debate. When asked for his reaction on what was happening in Canada, Doan took the high road and maintained that his focus was on leading his team at the World Championship - reminding the media that the NHL investigated this alleged slur against French Canadians and could not find any evidence that Doan had said anything. He proved just how much of a champ he is by putting the controversy behind him and scoring a hat-trick the very next day.


MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
Toronto Blue Jays 3B Troy Glaus was named the American League Player of the Week - for the week, Glaus hit .400 (10 for 25) with four home runs, seven runs batted in and an slugging percentage of .960. Unfortunately for Glaus, his big week didn't do much to help the Jays who finished the week at 1-6 including six straight road losses.

Milwaukee Brewers 1B Prince Fielder was named the National League Player of the Week - Cecil's little guy finished the week hitting .440 (11 for 25) with four home runs, 12 runs batted in and a slugging percentage of .960.

Boston Red Sox P Josh Beckett won again last week to improve his record to 6-0 to start the season - last week I mistakenly mentioned that Clemens had done it in 1991. Well I stand corrected as Hazel said last week that Clemens started the 1991 season at 4-0 - my bad.

Cincinnati Reds OF Ken Griffey Jr. made news last week by moving into tenth place on the all-time HR list - he should have been the guy to challenging Hank Aaron's home run mark. Griffey had it going last week - hitting .444 with three home runs and 5 runs batted in in six games.


EUROPEAN FOOTBALL
Another Ronaldo update - Portugal International Cristiano Ronaldo won another award last week - the latest being the Footballer of the Year Award as voted by British journalists. This one came as a shock to me - I didn't think the writers would give it to him...not with their hatred for him. These are the same people that still mention the incident at the World Cup everytime they write about Ronaldo.


HAZEL'S ZEROES - THE CHUMPS

HOCKEY
New Jersey Devils Coach/GM makes the list this week - ok, we've gotten over his stunt in Long Island last month (sorta) - Lamoriello embarrassed himself and his team this spring when he fired Claude Julien with a couple of games left in the regular season. Lamoriello never gave a specific reason for firing Julien - but if there was any justice (karma lou...karma) Lamoriello would be given the axe. He was overmatched in both series - being totally out coached - and looked lost out there not being able to adapt and make in-game adjustments, particulary with respect to line matchups. Lamoriello refused to see/acknowledge that things weren't working and refused to change his team's style of play.


MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
Roger Clemens of course. I don't have a problem with Clemens signing with New York for the money, who would turn their back on millions of dollars? My problem with Clemens is that he went through the charade of considering signing with the Red Sox, when it was pretty damn clear all along that he would never go back to Boston. The garbage about him being moved to tears when shown the "Red Sox Nation loves you Roger" video last year was laughable - the talk about how he and his family loved Boston and would like to go back there
(some have even suggested that he said he made a mistake not signing with Boston - I think Red Sox Nation made that up) was just downright dishonest and disrespectful to people who call Boston/New England home. He was never going to go back there - ever.

So Roger is a chump - for leaving members of Red Sox Nation so disillusioned and hurt that they don't know what to do with the vintage Roger Clemens posters - can't you just see Evan ripping up his poster in his bedroom while wearing his Red Sox pajamas? Roger you really hurt his feelings - you should be ashamed of yourself.

You know...I have yet to meet a person named Roger who wasn't a complete retard.


Toronto Blue Jays GM J.P. Ricciardi makes the list again this week - Ricciardi admitted that he lied about the extent and severity of closer B.J. Ryan's injury during spring training. That isn't why he is on the list though - I have to think Blue Jays fans across Canada must be feeling pretty insulted by the fact that Ricciardi thought they were stupid and gullible enough to believe him in the first place. I think everyone in Canada knew Ryan wasn't out with a sore back - Blue Jays fans knew J.P. they were just humouring you.


EUROPEAN FOOTBALL
Last week Manchester City Midfielder Joey Barton was suspended by the club following an attack on his teammate Ousmane Dabo after a training session - from all accounts Barton's attack was unprovoked. Barton has been in trouble his whole career - having undergone mandatory anger management training after losing his mind and attacking an adolescent who supported Everton AND an incident where he put out a cigar in the eye of one of his teammates during an argument at a team party. This guy is insane...certifiably insane.

That's about it for tonight gang - have a great one peeps!

Hazel, I hope things are groovy in your world.

Song of the Night on Hazelspeeps - now playing

Nausea - Beck

Peesth Out...Buh Bye!