Sunday, July 12, 2009

British Open Week


It's British Open Week! I can't believe we are already at the time of the summer where our 3rd major takes place. I always feel that after the major championships are over, that means my summer is over so I better get excited to start school back up and prepare for football season! I'm not quite there exactly! Actually, I'm still applying for teaching jobs and have decided to take a break from my masters degree (because if I accumulate any more credits, I really will never find a job because they will have to pay me so much more than they would like!) and pursue another love of mine, finance. I will start classes this fall with hopes of attaining my personal financial planning license. Yeah, sounds a bit boring, but I like numbers, and it's very useful information to know!

Back to golf, which is also quite useful! I have several favorites for this week's tournament, which kind of defeats the purpose of having a favorite!

Tiger Woods: You can't not pick Tiger. He's so dominant and coming off a great win at the AT&T last week. He also has the mental game of a machine! It's a requirement for a major championship to have a strong mental game. I'm sure if you look up mental game in the dictionary, you might find Tiger's picture there! He's that good!

Padraig Harrington: As much as I would love to see the Irishman 3-peat this tournament. I don't see it happening! He just won the Irish Open today for the third consecutive time and his reworked swing is coming together nicely, but I feel that the field is far to competitive for Padraig to pull off another stunning victory on Sunday. I could be wrong though!

Who am I most excited about seeing play: Adam Scott! He'll have his girlfriend (Ana Ivonovic) walking with him this week like he did this past weekend at the Scottish Open. If that's what it takes for Scotty to finish in the top 5 and shoot under par, keep it up! I'm happy to see him smiling on the golf course! I've missed that! I don't think he'll contend, but I see a strong top 15 finish out of Scotty this weekend! I hope he's able to carry it over to the PGA Championship next month and really contend there! He's struggled so much this year, but it looks as if his game is about to turn a corner! Keep grinding, Adam! I also hope he's able to finish strong in the Fed Ex Cup race. He can't win it anymore, but if he keeps making cuts and playing near the last group on Sunday, more good things are bound to happen!

Martin Kaymer--He's won the past two European Tour tournaments! Yes, the past two! This German golfer who was rookie of the year back in 2007 I believe on the Euro Tour has really picked up his game! I look to see 4 good rounds out of him, and a top 10 finish! He's fun to watch. Looks a little like Adam sometimes when he plays. If he grew his hair out and it was a bit curly like Adam's fro, they really would look alike! They've got those dimples!

Other guys I'm looking at would be several of the Europeans. The American's don't tend to play well when the weather is rough and it always is rough during the British Open. We'll see who else is looking good as the week progresses! :)

Wednesday, July 8, 2009

Hudler is gone

Jiri Hudler has informed the Red Wings that he will be playing in Russia next season than with the wings. I am kinda speechless right now. I don't know how to feel or what to say. I'm a bit surprised by the move, but I understand that the wings were never going to be able to offer him the kind of money that the Russia leagues offer. I know someone who went over there to play in the league. He got injured before he even stepped out on the ice and was still guaranteed $100,000. He took that money, came back to the states and retired!

I guess the good news is that Abdelkader now has the opportunity to "bring it" next year and get a chance with the team from the get go! He's going to keep learning and improving so I like that.

Ken Holland says the wings have a little over $1.5 million to pick up a free agent winger. He says he's not rushing into any decisions though.

Jiri, I'll miss you! I'd rather you stayed here and played! I know you're not the biggest guy on the ice, but you've got so much heart and such an ability to push guys around and make great shots on net! You're an asset to our team! All the best!--Melissa

Monday, July 6, 2009

More Trades, Winners/Losers

So the core that once was my beloved Detroit Pistons is no longer. I know we lost Ben Wallace, not gonna lie, it was a great idea not to resign him for that much money, a few years ago, and then we traded away our Mr. Big Shot this year to get AI--I understand the money behind it, but for AI? A) He's past his prime, B) He's not a team player, C) Wasn't he the guy who strangled a coach or was that Latrell Sprewell--nevermind, if a guy played for the Philedelphia 76ers at any point in his career he's not someone I want on my team! But now Rasheed is gone. I understand why he's gone, he's old! But this just makes me feel old now that my team is practically gone! All we have left are Tayshaun Prince and Rip Hamilton. Not that I'm complaining, because they are my two favorites. I have both of their jerseys! But come on! I hope Dumars can turn this around. I may actually have to start watching basketball again!

The Wimbledon final: I can hear Justin Timberlake singing in the background "That's why I love sports!" I'm cleaning my room and yelling at my Mom "It's 7-7 in the 5th set! It's 10-1- in the 5th set. It's 12-12 in the 5th set!" The amount of passion and ability both these players have and showed yesterday was unbelievable. You would have never known without looking at the score that they had been playing for several hours! They both looked to be in incredible shape, Andy especially! I don't know what he is doing differently, but the kid has lost a bit of weight and his stamina and mental game have improved drastically. I've never seen him play better! Good for him! Federer, congrats on beating Sampras. You've earned it. I totally cracked up when Andy said, "Sorry, Pete! I was trying to hold him off," in his post match interview! I believe I heard that this match was the longest 5th set in grand slam history! The intensity never left the court! I fully believe that if it wasn't for a few minor errors, they could have continued this set well into the night!

Tiger Wigs Again--Applause! The greatest there is & ever was has found his groove again. Watch out Turnberry, you're about to be Tigerized!

Steve McNair was murdered: Besides this being absolutely horrible, I think Holly Robinson Peete had a great point when she asked, "Will this put and end to the affairs professional athletes have?" His wife didn't know he was cheating on her. Now she's not only lost her husband, but she's been embarrassed by his actions. Way to be a man, Steve. If you're gonna cheat on your spouse, have the decency to get divorced or separate or something! Be a real man (or woman--Mel the sports nut is not biased!) instead of chicken butt! It's not fair to her to lose the one she loves in such a horrible fashion, but to top it off knowing that he was killed while cheating on her is the icing on the cake! Professional athletes need to quit being the selfish sons of a guns that they are (I will admit that not all of them are! I know some very nice professional athletes in various sports (hockey, football, golf)) and be ethical, moral, and outstanding citizens and roles models!--I think I just fell off my soapbox because that's never going to happen! The great work of many is overshadowed by the poor work of a few! God Bless him, his family and friends and especially his wife!



And we return to Hockey!! Havlat is now a member of the Wild. Mikael Samuelsson has joined the Canucks organization (tear). The wings are currently looking for a forward whom they can sign. Generally they wait until late in the summer and pick up a great free agent. This has happened several times in years past and I have full faith in Ken Holland.

Wednesday, July 1, 2009

Attention Blackhawk and Red Wings Fans

It's official--Marian Hossa has signed a 12 year deal with the Chicago Blackhawks. That's right...the Hossa curse has left Detroit and now resides in...Chicago!!

I guess this means Martin Havlat will not be returning to the Blackhawks next year.

More later on the developing story and what this means for both the hawks and wings organizations! I've got a 3:30 tee time I must see to right now!

Update:We got rained out. After 9 holes, my team is down by 2 in a best ball team matchplay with handicap tournament. I don't get any strokes though. I also didn't play very well so I'm kinda happy we stopped because of the weather, but at the same time I was building momentum!

Back to the trades...Here's a breakdown so far:
Hossa to the Hawks
Cammalleri to the Habs
Komisarek to the Leafs
Gill to the Habs
Pronger to the Flyers
Knuble (met him! great guy, really nice, kind of a dork) to the Capitals
Conklin to the Blues
Walker to the Lightning

What exactly do I think about the Hossa trade--Honestly, I didn't see how he would end up staying in Detroit. The Wings weren't willing to give him a huge contract (he knew this going into talks) but for very good reason. The guy did not perform in the playoffs. Sure he was the leading scorer on the team during the regular season, but when the Wings needed him the most, he wasn't around. Our young guys stepped it up and really overshadowed Hossa. I'm not sorry to see him leave. I'm happy the wings didn't up their offer!

What I think of the Hawks: ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR FREAKING MIND? Whoa...glad to get that off my chest! I'd been holding that one in. You do realize that you have to resign Jonathan Toews (YOUR CAPTAIN), Patrick Kane (YOUR SUPERSTAR), and Duncan Keith (THE BACKBONE OF YOUR DEFENSE) next year. From what I've read, Tallon has left about $15 million in the budget to sign these 3 PREMIER players next year. If Hossa is getting paid more than $5 mill a year, I think each one of these guys deserves to get paid at least that much as well! All three are playmakers! The Hawks would NOT have gotten as far in the playoffs as they did without the help of Duncan Keith. Him and Brent Seabrook owned the ice this past spring! They have my vote for favorite defensive duo--that's right, they have my vote over my beloved wings defenders! That's how impressed I am with the two of these guys! I know Tallon is a smart guy, but I can't see how locking up a player like Hossa, who HASN'T proved himself when it gets down to the end, for 12 years and jeopordize the core for your team makes any sense what-so-ever! But then again, I'm a business and math teacher...what do I know about hockey or running a team?? I will leave that to the men in charge, but will someone please explain it to me! I'm smart, I swear! I graduated with departmental honors! But my business background and my knowledge or sports is not coming up with a solid answer as to why this deal was made!

Side note--I MISS HOCKEY!!!! AND I MISS FOOTBALL BUT IT'S NEARLY FOOTBALL SEASON! :)

Komisarek and Cammalleri--I loved the dynamic duo of the Mikes when they played for Michigan. Now Mike K is gonna be a Leaf--good for him. It was obvious he wanted OUT of the Habs organization. Mike C. has left the Flames and is moving to the Habs. I would have loved to have seen these guys reunited, not gonna lie! But I guess that's just not in the cards right now!

What I am mad about??--Conklin has left Detroit which means the Wings are going to give Jimmy Howard a chance to backup Chris Osgood. I'm banging my head against the wall. There is no way this can work out for the best! Why? HE JUST DOESN'T HAVE THAT "IT" THING!! We need a 2nd string goalie or a guy to continue to push Osgood...this kid isn't going to do that! He's going to learn from Osgood, but I honestly can't see him winning us a Stanley Cup! I can't even see him getting us to the playoffs! Kenny Holland...what do you see that I don't see! Please enlighten me!

Hopefully I'll get another update in tonight or tomorrow depending on what else happens with free agency. Have a great night!