Hello/Goodbye

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

A big welcome to Brian Burke, errr Al Coates, as Director of Player Personnel in Toronto. The Leafs announced the hiring of Coates, who has a long history with Leafs interim GM Cliff Fletcher - did I mention that Coates spent the last six seasons with the Anaheim Ducks, the last two as senior advisor to one Brian Burke.

Burke is coming to Toronto - COUNT ON IT.

Today could be a very interesting day in European Soccer - two of the bigger craphole team, the French and the Italian, kick off today in a must win match to progress on to the quarter-finals of Euro 2008. Both teams are tied for third in their group with one point from two matches - all the talk that these two were regarded as favourites was just that - TALK. A win could be a moot point today - if Romania, who are second in the group with two points, beat the Dutch who have already guaranteed themselves a spot in the quarters.

The French seem resigned to losing - they should be, they are not a threat to win anything. The Italians aren't going down with threats - they have made it known they EXPECT Holland to beat Romania handily, anything less would result in Italy having a look at the game. Typical Italian garbage at a big tournament - often blessed with creampuff draws - these clowns would have people believe that there is some sort of plot against having them win the tournament...they are oblivious to the fact that THEY NEED TO SCORE...you can't win a 0-0 game (well, technically you can in soccer...but you have to make to to the knockout round first).

The Italians have completely dismissed the fact that the Romanian beat the Dutch at home and tied them in the Netherlands during qualifying for the Euro - the Italians would rather believe that there was a conspiracy to keep them from winning the tournament, rather than face the fact that their team lacks the offensive creativity and capacity of the teams that are actually making things happen this time around.

In a just world - the Italians would win today, knocking out the stinking French...and a late goal by Romania would give them the win, thus knocking out Italy. But the world isn't always just - something tells me we are going to have to listen to these clowns for at least another few days.

Portugal gets Germany on Thursday - more on that tomorrow.

Three play and more later today. Thanks for taking the time to check in.

Hazel, here's hoping things are groovy in your world.

I'm Out!