Staying Alive for Football!

Ever since the Olympics ended, I haven't really paid much attention to sports, Dear Roxy. Why torture myself, you know?

When I look at the bottom line to check the Yankees score, it's one sharp pain after the other.... with each one getting worse and worse. I need to be realistic, the Yankees are not going to make it to the playoffs this year - the last year at Yankee Stadium! WTF!@#$$%. What a sad ending to a wonderful stadium.

In other sports, football season is among us which is something to look forward to.

The Dolphins have been doing suprisingly well, including last night!

The "U" creamed Charleston Southern at their new home, Dolphin Stadium.

Hopefully this is a sign of good things to come.

And in last minute news, the Knicks made a trade for Patrick Ewing, Jr! How cool is that? Oh, great memories are rushing back.

Have a safe and nice weekend!

-Criss

Photo: Steve Kashishian, AP

Blog Hog: Dustin "Grand Slam" Pedroia

My boy Dusty hit a big ol' grand slam, Dear Criss. That's some good stuff and a career first. Some one give that kid a raise. How did the score get so out of control? Really, I don't care for the answer to that question, as long as we're winning. And now we have a new acquisition: Mark Kotsay from Atlanta. Should be interesting. Byrd did a good job tonight. I need to see a little more before I feel safe about this guy. He was a little scary a few times, but it worked out.

Tampa Bay won tonight, so we're 3 1/2 behind. That's better than 5 1/2 from a few days ago. Call me crazy but my schedule doesn't show another game against the Yankees tomorrow. Is that a make-up? If we could win, then sweep Chicago at Fenway, that would be a big, big help. Did I say I was getting nervous?

What are you doing, crying in a corner? You've been awfully quiet.

Roxy

Photo: Jim McIsaac, Getty Images

There's a Fleetwood Mac Song, "I Don't Want to Know"...

Okay, Dear Criss, I was reading a story in The Boston Globe about Varitek hitting a homerun in three consecutive games, then it mentions that going through a divorce probably hasn't been helping him at bat. A WHAT?! I literally gasped. No way! (He filed at the end of July.) I'm really not trying to get all NY Yankees-style gossipy, but rather I'm wondering if there's any hope for marriage when Varitek is getting a divorce. Now I hope, hope, hope, there is no dirt behind this on either party's side. I really do believe he is a good person. Let's not make assumptions, folks. Oh no. I know I sound completely dramatic, but just deal with me for a moment. There are no details available.

I'll try to focus on other things, like Jason Varitek filing for divorce - I mean like the Olympics. The diving was great, and those Chinese girls have some talent. Wow! I could've stayed up all night. You know, I didn't realize after Phelps that the Olympics didn't finish. Did I already say that? When do they end?

And back to the Red Sox and my view on life. The Sox lost today and I'm terribly worried about our playoff future. Drew has a herniated disk, Buchholtz needs to find himself and Varitek needs to be re-signed. Matsuzaka has been doing well, and even Lester only occasionally has bad days like today, but I don't feel a consistent effort to "want it." Do we want it, guys? Five behind Tampa. We can't go down to Tampa.

Let's make a commitment not to go down to Tampa.

Roxy

Jim Rogash, Getty Images

Almost Over

As my Yankees continue to struggle I continue to watch the Olympics, Dear Roxy. It somehow eases the pain.

Congratulations to Michael Phelps, once again. The man is a beast!

And to Nastia and Shawn for winning their individual medals in gymnastics! If the truth comes out, Nastia might add another gold medal to her name, and the women's gymnastics would upgrade to Gold as well!

Volleyball was huge for Team USA! It was so exciting to watch them play the way they did. Talk about total domination from the women! Oh, and get this... I just realized that Misty May-Treanor is Matt Treanor's wife!

The men weren't far behind. Dalhausser was insane on the third set last night!

Usain Bolt from Jamaica is a lightning bolt! If only he wasn't that cocky.

Talk about disappointment from Sanya Richards and Jeremy Wariner on Track & Field. I was sad to see them lose like that, especially when they were the favorites.

And a Colombian got 4th place on the first ever BMX bike race AND Bronze on wrestling, I think.

I can't believe it's almost over. Back to moaning about the Yankees.

-Criss

Ladies Man

Michael Phelps = 8. Amazing. That was so much fun to watch. Every swim was fun to watch. I really wasn't excited about these Olympics, but they turned out to be amazing. And now I'm a Debbie Phelps fan, Dear Criss. How adorable is she with her daughters just cheering on the baby of the family? I'll be happy to sleep again.

Kudos to Dara Torres who really worked hard and was, oh, so close to winning that gold. We still love you Dara! 2012! 2012! 2012!!!

Rafa Nadal wasn't too bad with a gold for Spain! This was the first for Spain in tennis. He's on a roll.

Roxy

Phelps: AP photo

Dara: Harry How, Getty Images

Rafa: Philippe Huguen, AFP

All about the Olympics Part II

The Olympics continue to take over my life, Dear Roxy. Between the women's gymnastics and swimming, I don't have much time left for anything else.

And while Michael continued to break records and win another gold medal, Ryan Lochte stole the show by first winning gold in the 200-meter backstroke in world record time and the bronze just 24 minutes later!!! That's never been done before! I was extremely happy for him, especially because he seems to live in the shadow of Phelps and Piersol!

With that said, I just can't believe how great the USA's swimming team is... both the men's and women's. Keep it up!

I will continue to watch more swimming tonight. Hopefully we'll see Michael win his 7th gold medal. Ahh!

And on the other side, Nastia Liukin managed to win gold on the Women's Individual All-Round Final. Congrats!

She was, by far, my favorite. She looked so graceful out there. She also towered over Shawn Johnson! I was curious to see how tall she really was so I googled it this morning... she's only 5'2", while Johnson is 4'9"! She looks a lot taller than that; they're midgets.

I can't wait to see what's next!

-Criss

Photos: 1) Itsuo Inouye, AP. 2) Dylan Martinez, Reuters.

All about the Olympics!

Yes, Dear Roxy, among other things, the Olympics have taken over my life. I hardly get any sleep... and you know how precious that is to me.

I can't get enough of them. I'm just glad they don't have it every year or I would be a walking zombie.

My favorite is Swimming! By far! Michael Phelps has been so incredible. I just can't get enough of him. I hope he gets the record too. It's just incredible what this kid has been able to do. Five gold medals, five World Records. And this is just the beginning.

The men's swimming also happens to be easy on the eyes :)

And that relay - the one where the French thought they would "smash" the Americans - Oh, how sweet that victory was.

I also watched the women's gymnastics. They were a little disappointing but good nonetheless. And the men... they came out of nowhere and got what no one thought they would. Good for them!

And the "women's" Chinese gymnastic is a bunch of BS. Those girls look like they're 8 years-old!

I didn't get a chance to watch the Opening Ceremonies but I heard they were amazing. And so if some of it was fake? It was a success; one that no one will be able to top... or so I hear!

-Criss

PS: I don't want to talk about the Yankees and how deep they've sunk, BUT what are they waiting for? We're in mid-August! Not April or May, August! Come on, kids, play hard and win!

Photo: Timothy Clary, AFP

Super Duper Blog Hog: Chad

Um, when did Chad Pennington become a Dolphin, Dear Criss? And while we're at it, where are you? Maybe I was caught up in the Olympics, but I didn't hear about it until Sunday - and I live here. Well, so be it. It should be interesting. It'll be non-stop critism even before he plays. Let's just not make him totally unhappy. It wasn't enough that all of NY lives here and roots for the stinkin' Jets, but now we have our own little piece of the Jets. It's gonna be a long season.

How about Michael Phelps and the U.S. swimmers? Not bad. That's been some exciting stuff.

Reminder to the Sox: Win.

Roxy

Photo: Marc Serota, Getty Images

Super Blog Hog: J-E-T-S, Brett! Brett! Brett!

So Brett Favre is a NY Jet, Dear Criss. Imagine waking up to that news. Oh, wait - the whole country woke up to that news. Well, good for him, but now I'd love to catch a game to see him play live. Crazy seeing him holding up that Jets jersey, but it's true. Did he almost seem sad? When my mother saw the highlights, she said, "Please Brett, don't cry." And Chad Pennington ... you think by the morning he'll be a Dolphin? I feel for him, but you never know with the Tuna. I didn't realize he was involved in drafting him, once upon a time.

Roxy

Photo: Joe Robbins, Getty Images

Blog Hog: Welcome, Bay!

I love the fact that there's a "Favre" subject heading on the ESPN ticker, Dear Criss. NBA ... NHL ... Favre ... MLB ... This has been really dramatic. I feel like there should be T-shirts: "Team Brett" and "Team Rodgers" or something. I think the Bears should pick him up. Can you imagine him and T.O. in Dallas?

As for my new friend J. Bay (it's easier to say, and I'm still learning to remember if he's Jason or Justin or what), he's not too shabby. Oh my. I like it. More! More!! And now Torre gets to learn some Mannyisms - firsthand. I'd love to be sitting next to him and his wife in a restaurant to hear the stories.

Back to the NFL. Last night , ESPN was showing non-stop NFL Films. and they showed the Steelers 2007 story. It was great. Can't wait for the season. What will I do when Bruschi and Vrabel are gone from New England? They're my faves. I already had a long conversation with Kim in Seattle about what I'll do when Varitek is gone. She reassured me he would have a role in the Red Sox front office. I'm glad she can apparently make those promises.

Well, I guess I'll wrap it up. Who knows what'll be new with Favre tomorrow. I gotta get some rest.

By the way, you know what happens when you don't live in Boston? You don't realize that your favorite country singer threw out the first pitch. Who doesn't love Kenny Chesney? I think Liv Tyler should marry him.

Roxy

Bay: AP photo

Kenny: Reuters, Brian Snyder