A bit of good cheer but mostly a downer

I'm still in shock over Liverpool's stunning loss to Chelsea in Leg One of the Champions League Quarters.

The Blues made a crucial move -- returning Didier Drogba as top striker in favor of Nicolas Anelka -- though anticipated but had a profound effect on the game. The Ivorian striker when he's focused is one of the best in the world. He's powerfully built yet blindingly fast to wreak havoc on the field. And true enough, he found sufficient motivation to play a huge part in putting the Reds in a precarious position.

And after the loss, Benitiez who has trash talked all throughout the season had nothing to say.

The second leg is next week and if Liverpool wants to advance they have to score at least three goals more than Chelsea. But that's tough because the next game is at Stamford Bridge.

A bit of good cheer for me here as the Yankees finally got their first win as the won the tail-end of the three-game series with the Baltimore Orioles 11-2 for a 1-2 record (they're tied with the Boston Red Sox at the bottom of the AL East). AJ Burnett pitched superbly before fellow new aquisitions Nick Swisher and Mark Teixeira got in on pounding the Orioles.

Remember Camden Yards in Baltimore in a hitter-friendly ballpark so this field is made for the Yankee hitters. It's their pitching that has befuddled them in their first two outings.

Hopefully they can build on this win as they still are on the road.


The win, however, didn't resonate well within me. Los Angeles Angels pitcher Nick Adenhart was killed hours after pitching his season debut by a drunk driver. Adenhart was only 22 and was living his Major League Baseball dream. He threw six scoreless innings against the Oakland Athletics before his bullpen lost the match 6-4.

Any death diminishes us all and though I am not an Angels fans this is a time when there are no teams or city rivalries.

This club has been hit so hard by tragedy you wonder if they've been cursed.

Rest in peace, Nick Adenhart.


Read this from ESPN:
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=4055343

You see, Charles Barkley, why it is idiotic and criminal to be driving while under the influence?