Ask the Blogmaster General: January

     [The question window has nicked shut. Thanks for the interest. TBG will return around mid-February. Going to sleep now. Need to rest up for Wednesday, a.k.a. Tony Sparano Day].

     The Blogmaster General returns, after skipping December, with the latest installment of our somewhat semipopular mid-monthly Q&A in which I directly answer any questions you may have. (The first question was submitted by the reader pictured, who asked, "Where are my hands!?")

      You know the daily give-and-take here is your forum (usually smooth-running, occasionally run amok). But once a month I invite and reply to your queries on a variety of topics including but not limited to: Me, this blog, my columns, sports writing, The Miami Herald, other media, local teams, national stories, current events, pop culture, singing on the radio, gourmet cooking, presidential politics and Russian nesting dolls.

     Any questions you've asked of me in the daily blogs that have gone rudely unanswered -- now is the time and this is the place. I'll check back periodically throughout the next couple of days and reply with the exactitude and alacrity you have come to expect.

Comments

[Karl]

With the Heat's playoff chances destroyed, is there a rookie you'd like to see the Heat draft?

[Greg Cote]

To Karl: So many needs, but it would be hard to argue right now with the Heat drafting Memphis' Derrick Rose, the best pure point guard in the draft, if they can.

[Todd L]

Greg,

What sort of evaluation would you give Randy Shannon as a head coach up to this point? There's a lot of negativity out there in message board world but also a lot of ignorance. That's why I'm asking you.

[Tom]

Greg

If Tom Brady had been injured in game 5 this year and put on IR for the remainder of the regular season, much in the same way that Bob Griese was injured in game 5 against SD in 1972, do you think the Pats would have finished the regular season undefeated?

If the Pats played their game Saturday against the Jags with their backup QB, do you think they would have won?

[Jack B]

What's the newspaper business like nowadays and where do you see in going over the next few years? If one were to ask you about a mid-life career change to writing, then what general advice would you suggest? Thanks!

[ginrai]

I would love to see anyone stick it to the Patriots. As much as I don't like them. Chances are very little now that the other playoff teams are banged up ,and the Pats are still healthy without a ding in their armor. Talk about luck. What stings me the most the Dolphins trading Wes Welker. Especially to a division rival like the Patriots. I never liked the trade ,and I knew the Patriots would later be unbeatable with the huge off season that they had. Any chance the Pats will inherit the perfect season curse from the Dolphins ,and finally the Dolphins be curse free ,and finally win again?

[mike1]

Greg, In the last few days on your blog pages, there have been some nuisance bloggers making numerous ridiculous posts and often using other bloggers' identities to pretend it is that person's opinion....my own included. Did you notice this and is there anything that can be done to eradicate it? In contrast, sometimes regular bloggers are getting blocked from posting for no particular reason. Happened to me once as well about a month ago. The former, in particular, takes away enjoyment from reading the reader's comments to your blogs.

[The Bostonian]

Greg,
have you ever seen a greater QB than Tommy Brady?

[ginrai]

The reason why Tom Brady is so good is cause he has all that talent around him. If Marino had that kind of talent he would of had as many championships or more. Everyone would of been talking about him now like Montana, Brady and other qbs that have won in the superbowl.

[The Bostonian]

Ladies & gentlemen,
I believe Greg asked for questions, not comments.

Greg,
One more question ... do you think the Patriots will go undefeated next year also?

[ginrai]

Don't push it boztonian. I'd rather see your Patriots get hexed like they were before 2001 if you keep rubbing it here constantly. Cause I know that that is what you wish always on our teams among other haters that come here to laugh at our current team misfortunes. So may it come back to haunt your team instead. That way you learn like the other haters.

[David Tucker]

Greg,I have to make a confession. I was at a Lightning game last Thursday and I had so much fun that I bought a Lightning hat! I can't even think about cheering for the Bucs or Rays despite them being in different conferences than the Marlins & Dolphins. But the Lightning are in the same division as the Panthers! But I can't name a single Panther anymore and I can name several Lightning players. I feel like a dirty traitor. Is such a move allowed...should I cheer for both teams or should I suck it up and choose one, oh Sage of Sports?

[ginrai]

I don't like north florida teams or the politicians in Tallahassee. Since alot of them are jealous and don't like our teams. To me they are rivals. The heck with them. I root instead for the teams down here in south florida. Being the Dolphins, UM, the Heat, the Marlins ,and the Florida Panthers.

[mike1]

Greg, sorry...I did not see your blog regarding the imposter until just now. No need to respond to my earlier post

[Kurt]

Cote, do you realize there was more than just one new poster using fake names, and that some of the regular "locals" are just as vulgar, if not more-so than the one you called out? Do you intend to do anything about them as well?

[Greg Cote]

To all: Sorry for the delay in responding. Been away dining. Getting to some answers poste haste.

[Kurt]

Cote, a follow-up question: Do you think New England, if they run the table and go 19-0, and own 4 of the last 7 Superbowls, will be considered by the mainstream national media as the best team ever, and the next greatest dynasty?

[Greg Cote]

To all: Sorry about the delay in responding. Been out dining. Getting to the answers poste haste.

[Greg Cote]

To Todd L: I am wary of anyone who, right how, would say he is totally sold on Randy Shannon or that Shannon is a bum. Though I hate to equivocate, I think it's too soon to say. I do think the onus is on Shannon to demonstrate he is a quality head coach, not just an accomplished defensive coordinator trying to be one.

[Greg Cote]

To Tom: You raise, by implication, a very interesting question. No I do NOT think the Patriots, missing Tom Brady much of the season, would be unbeaten today as the Dolphins were missing Griese for much of '72. Neither do i think the Pats would have beaten Jacksonville without Brady. Those champion Dolphins were built on running and defense whereas Brady is as indispensible to New England as any player is to any team.

[Greg Cote]

To Jack B: These are tough times for the newspaper business. If they were not, I'm not sure there would be the online push that spawns blogs such as this one. I think there will always be newspapers (like books), but the printed product will cede more and more influence to the Internet version. As for anyone's mid-life career change to writing? Go for it. And bear in mind newspapering is but one of many outlets for writing.

[ginrai]

Patriots are just a bunch of lucky pattycakes that can't be touch at the last minute when they are close to losing. Or else the refs penalize the other team ,and the Patriots get the ball back and come back at the last minutes remaining in the 4 th quarter. Courtesy of the new Goodell rule. Shouldn't have NE coach Belichick also been suspended several games at the begining of the season due to cam spying on the Jets' play calls?

[OC Dolphin]

Greg,

Being somewhat handy with a wooden spoon, olive oil and a skillet, I sometimes come across some rather tasty recipes. Two you may wish to consider:

1. Boston Cream Pie (19 grams of fat / 0 grams of protein)

2. Grilled Mustard-Crusted Dolphin (1 gram of fat / 15 grams of protein).

Let me know if you're interested in either of the two recipes.

Personally, I can do without the extra calories.

[Greg Cote]

To ginrai: Being a near-lifelong South Floridian I cannot say I am rooting for New England's 19-0, although I'd appreciate and respect it if it happened. Pertinently, I do NOT think it would diminish Miami's 17-0 in any way. The Welker trade, especially in-division, was a bad one. As for the curse? A Dolfan can only hope!

[ginrai]

Same here Greg! hehe!

[Greg Cote]

To mike1: I am aware of some of the blog issues of which you speak, and have moved to address them. (See a post headlined, "A message to all bloggers"). As for occasionally being blocked from posting, I have no answer for that. Let me know in an email if it continues.

[Greg Cote]

To The Bostonian: This is the first I have seen Brady referred to as "Tommy," by the way. Have I seen a QB have a greater individual season? Maybe not. Have I seen a greater QB? Still soon to say. But I'd admit he seems headed there.

[Greg Cote]

To ginrai: Give Brady his due. I'd say that Tom is earning his way onto the upper echelon where Marino has long resided.

[ginrai]

Greg, I heard rumors of Miami Heat owner Mickey Arison putting more pressure on Riley to fix up the Heat's mess and if he quits again he'll have to give up his spot as president. Is this true? Will Riley stay to fix up the Heat with the few years remaining on his contract ,or will he resign after this season is over?

[Greg Cote]

To The Bostonian: If the Patriots go unbeaten NEXT season, we'll change the name of this to Random Evidence of The Bostonian's Mind. But if they don't, you have to pen a daily haiku to the splendor of Dan Marino. Deal?

[Greg Cote]

To ginrai: Try to abide the Pats fan his gloating. Remember New England was 1-15 and 2-14 as recently as the '90s. What goes around...

[ginrai]

Greg, yeah I give Brady his due. But he's got alot of people helping him too. I don't hate the Patriots. I never mentioned hate. I just don't like the Patriots like they and their fans don't like the Dolphins. It's all in the rivalry. We want what they want.

[The Bostonian]

Greg,
Deal. Also, I beg to differ ... Brady is "heading there"?
No! He has arrived and he's building a temple as we blog!

[Greg Cote]

To David Tucker: I wish I could give you a compelling reason to root for the Panthers over the Lightning. How's this: Panthers have the best player named Olli. And that's no Jokinen. (Sorry).

[The Bostonian]

Ancient history, Greg.
Brady has accomplished more with less ...
Brady had a less talented team for his first 2 SBs than Marino did in the mid 80s and then again in the early 90s. I can't believe the audacity of you Miamians!

[Greg Cote]

To ginrai: I too root for our local teams wish more people would. Free country, though, right?

[Greg Cote]

To mike1: No problem.

[Kurt]

I'm telling you, The Bostonian, these Miami fans and writers are thick headed! You'll soon get frustrated with them again as I am. They will never see things as they are. You can type until your fingers fall off, to no avail.

Cote probably still thinks Cameron deserves to be the Head Coach of these stinking fish!

[Greg Cote]

To Kurt: I am well aware of the issues imperiling blogs, such as identity theft and vulgarity, all under the cloak of anonymity. I'd be naive to think there aren't more ne'er-do-wells out there. Increasing technology will help, eventually. For now, we trust and hope that the vast majority of people are on board for an honest exchange of thoughts, not to be juvenile and mean.

[Kurt]

Okay then, Cote, why call out by name only one guy, The Bostonian, and not the local dude, Flipper? What about all his vulgarity?

[The Bostonian]

i think Tommy is the best .. he's really cool. he gets all the girls too. i like tom. he's cool!

[Greg Cote]

To Kurt: Yes if the Pats finish 19-0 I believe history will mark them as one of the great dynasties ever.

[Greg Cote]

To ginrai: If I didn't know better I might almost say you were trying to engage a Pats fan in a joust of acrimony.

[Greg Cote]

To OC Dolphin: Trying to think of a worst combination than mustard-crusted dolphin and Boston cream pie. (However, pistachio-crusted grouper? Mmm mmm!)

[Greg Cote]

To ginrai: Pat Riley is a Heat-er for life. Owner Micky Arison loves him. He'll be the coach until he chooses not to be. And then the president until he chooses not to be.

[Greg Cote]

To The Bostonian: Dude. We were 1-15. At least give us our audacity!

[the shadow knows]

Mr Cote,

should the dolphins use their first pick in the draft on a healthy glen dorsey, or matt ryan or darren mcfadden, or give it up for multiple picks in lower positions and get a player or two of the likes of brian brohm, sedrick ellis or lawrence jackson?

[Greg Cote]

To Kurt: This blog is supposed to be a fun little diversion. I'm not a cop. I don't need all the drama. You all either make it work, as a community, or you don't.

[The Bostonian]

Greg,
you're an OK dude! Too bad you're not a Boston Herald guy ...
by the way, if ... humor me, if the Pats finish 19-0 and next year by week, let's say week nine, the Pats are 9-0 ... heh, what will be the mood in Miamiland?

[ginrai]

Ok so it is just rumors then. Thanks Greg.