The Amazin' Canes, something about Ricky, Dan Le Baleaving (with The Daily Poll) and more

     A brand new big pile of steaming miscellania...

    The other day I posted a "baseball fever" blog item extolling the amazin' Marlins and they proceeded to immediately drop three straight to the Reds. But the Miami Hurricanes are so good they're even impervious to my baseball jinx. Thursday night at A-Rod Presents Mark Light Field I watched No. 1-ranked UM's 12-2 pounding of No. 2 North Carolina and wrote this column. This may be the best Canes baseball team ever, although, as coach Jim Morris rightly notes, "Potential means you haven't done it yet." Likewise homegrown slugger Yonder Alonso (pictured) will leave here judged among the greatest players in school history. I'll be surprised if this team doesn't collect UM's fifth national title. Meantime I'll continue to believe Hurricane baseball's current streaks of 51 consecutive winning seasons and a record 36 straight years in the playoffs (regionals) are the most impressive statement of success of any South Florida team in any sport ever. What's better?

      There's something about Ricky: Dolphin-again running back Ricky Williams told an Austin, Tex. TV station during a charity event that he plans to play two more seasons and then retire. My question: Considering his age (31) and track record ... is that even news? Yet Dolfans remain enamored of Williams. He is somewhat polarizing (plenty of haters with their drug jokes), but I think far more fans really like the guy. Maybe we'll poll that soon. Meantime, what is it about Ricky?

      On missing Le Batard: Well Thursday officially began my boy Le Batard's one-year sabbatical from The Miami Herald, and we wish him well. I'd say he'll be missed ... but is it possible to miss someone who'll still be on local radio five days each week and perhaps in the paper occasionally? Anyway, until we meet again, Dan (which will be this Wednesday night at Dania Jai-Alai), bon voyage!

Opinion Polls & Market Research

[My poll analysis based on the first day's results: Dan doing very well, as he should. Around 60 percent will miss him to at least some degree. Doubt I'd fare as well, even in my own blog!]

     Suggested bumper sticker: Honk If Charles Barkley Owes You Money. (Click here for story).

      It's Buyout Mania!: Tony Kornheiser has accepted a buyout from the Washington Post. Newspapers all across our failing industry are offering buyouts in an effort to pare costs by ridding rosters of higher-paid, older employees. I will now reveal the names of the five Miami Herald sports writers who were recently offered buyouts: They are ... Relax, colleagues. I'm just kidding. Your secret is safe with me! (Although if anybody guessed all five names correctly I might be impressed enough to admit you're right).

     If Jamar Hornsby were a Cane: Hornsby is the scum-Gator quietly booted off the Florida football team this week after he'd rung up almost $3,000 in charges using the stolen credit card of a dead woman. Can you imagine if a UM football player had done the same thing? Man, it would have been national news augmented with a rehash of every controversy ever involving a Hurricane. Am I wrong?

     The Best Available David: Down to David Cook vs. David Archuleta in the American Idol finals, and Random Evidence is throwing the full weight of its prestigious endorsement behind Cook. It's a weak final two. Cook is generic on the rock side, sort of a Chris Daughtry Lite, but more palatable than the cloying, annoying Archuleta (pictured left) and the maniacal Stage Dad woking his strings. Archuleta's nasally voice lends a sameness to his songs. If he weren't seen as adorable by an army of gullible, swooning 15-year-old girls, he'd have disappeared weeks ago.

     Results are in ... and it's Rose!: I don't mean the Heat will draft Derrick Rose if given the chance, although that's true, too. I mean Channel 6's Joe Rose (grinning at right) has won our 'Best Local TV Sportscaster' blog poll (see post below this one). Cannot confirm runnerup Steve Shapiro of Channel 7 is pulling a Hillary and refusing to concede.

     Benihana's does it again: Had a little family birthday dinner there last night and (not for the first time) our performance chef was not Japanese. This is a pet peeve I've griped about in the blog before. Doesn't a Benihana's patron have the right to expect a Japanese chef? You tell me, because I'll admit, once every five or 10 years I tend to be wrong about something.

     Quarterback Who: The NFL's latest Quarterback Update, emailed by the league today to mediaites, lists "expected" starters for 26 of 32 teams. The too-close-to-call exceptions: Miami, along with the Bears, Falcons, 49ers, Jets and Ravens.

     Countdown 3 Days: Finally, reminding again that I'll be taking on the Monday "Q&A Forum" online chat starting next week, May 19. It'll be live from 1-2 p.m. each Monday. Join us. Your boss won't know any better and will assume you're on your computer doing something important.

Comments

[raoul duke]

Glad to see RW is finally "committed" to playing football...

[Stav]

As guy who likes papers, I find the buyouts strange. Basically some of the best writers take a package and go off to greener pastures. The paper is left with the hole left by a great writer. Here in Boston: Steve Bailey (biz writer), Jackie McMullan, Peter May (who's gonna cover basketball up there?); the New York Times loses David Cay Johnston who might be the only man in America who understands our tax code and he shows you all the ways rich people and corporations abuse it...fascinating stuff. Linda Greenhouse did the same for them on the Supreme Court. I just don't get it.

By the way Greg, if you take one, I'm great financial advisor with long ties to the Herald...give me a call! ;)

[Jimbo]

now that Ricky is in the news and people are paying attention to him,,,,isn't it time he failed a drug test?

[raoul duke]

Jimbo when I first saw pic of his unhappy mug on front of sports page that's what I figured story would be about.

[Jimbo]

raoul, he has a habit out of that. when he had a half season sentence and was clean the whole time up to the last test..... I posted on here that he would let the team and fans down,,,sure enough, a couple days later my assumption was correct. He has a terrible trait of letting down the people who depend on him, family & his illegit kids, teamates, management, fans. He also has screwed himself out of millions of dollars because of childish impulses and childish decissions. He WAS a special talent at RB.

I for one AM not counting on him. If he comes thru, great! The let down factor is your best bet.

[raoul duke]

Where's Earl Cambell when you need him? Despite suffering from panic attacks himself it did not stop that MAN among men from being dependable and a one man wrecking ball. He's my next all-time favorite back just behind Zonk.

[raoul duke]

Dan Le Bar who? I know that's cold but in all honesty your takes bored me.

[Phony Balony]

Please explain to me how DLB, in his syrupy sweet "farewell" column, can admit that his heart hasn't been in it for awhile, and that he has been shortchanging the public, but he continues to provide the same jaded opinions and worn-out, contrived positions on radio? If he's taking a sabatical, he should take a sabbatical - - o/wise this is just some more DLB look-at-me-I'm-so-hip-and-creative bullshit. He's had more farewells than Larry Brown. And when anyone challenges his radio BS by saying its tired or overly-cynical, AS HE ADMITTED HIS COLUMN HAD BECOME, he takes dramatic umbrage. Please, DLB, go take break - - but don't act like you're going to China etc in search of yourself while remaining on the radio 24/7 peddling the same old same old.

[I am Kazaam (Bob your head Max)]

So in a recent interview talking about Zach Thomas, Jason Taylor says: He'll continue his legacy over there in Dallas and I'll continue mine in... wait I'm not supposed to be talking about that right now".

Does Jason think he's going to be traded?

[Spastic Colon]

Kazaam, sir of course he is going to be traded young man. You will be traded soon too, he is fading faster then a fart in the wind.

[The Brown Eye]

laBatard, I'll be keeping an eye out 4 ya.

[Spastic Colon]

I had a typo earlier. I meant to post Jason "will be traded soon too" nor inferring U, MR I am Sam Kazaam.
Sometimes I just can't contain myself. When U fart in church, U sit in your own pew.

[Spastic Colon]

I am bursting with excitement over the up and coming NFL season.

[Grandma's still under the bus]

I'm still under this freaking bus. Why can't I get a hand here? Barry ain't helping. Maybe Hillary will bring a jack if I offer to do a commercial for her.

By the way, if Hillary and Barry were on a boat in the middle of the ocean and it started to sink, who would be saved? ... America!

[Iz]

I went to a Bennihana's in Denver and had a Mexican chef!

I dont think there are enough Japanese in Florida to staff the entire restaurant!

They are a chain, thinking it's really japanese is like thinking Outback is really Australian.

[Ka-boom!]

I don't have a problem with other ethnicities making volcanoes out of onions, so long as the chef does not appear middle eastern and proceeds to cook while wearing a backpack.

[Spastic Colon]

Grandma, why are you calling Obama, Barry?

[Grandma's still under the bus]

Spastic Colon you got a jack? Comeon throw an old lady a line here.

We always called him Barry when he lived with me. In fact, we used to call him Barry O'Bomber. Appropriate huh? He decided he wanted to be called Barack when he got all radicalized in college. That's how he ended up with that nitwit, Rev Wright. Now he's your problem.

Hey listen if you don't have a jack, do you mind calling AAA?

[Frank]

This is directed at the Media, ESPN and Arlen Freakin Specter, Can you shut the
F$%K UP ALREADY!!!!

Spy Gate is Over, Done over now shut the F Up...

Lets find something of meaning to talk about in sports.. (ESPN)

And Specter don't Congress have anything better to focus on like God Damn Gas Prices>>>>

Sorry had to vent..

[SNN]

F*** the gas prices. I think Congress needs to focus grammar lessons for mindless sports bloggers, like you Frank!

[Frank]

SNN,
You must work for ESPN,

[naples jack,patsfan]

Flipper72- Fu-- joe gibbs.

[naples jack,patsfan]

Flipper72- stop crying about the Pats running up the score. The offense gets paid to score points, the defense gets paid to stop the offense. What part of football 101, dont you get? Joe gibbs deserved to be embarassed, the way he coached his team the last 3yrs. That was a little payback from belichicks days with the giants.

[the shadow knows]

can mr le batard do south florida a favor a leave permanently? he is absolute horse crap and could use some quality time with his trunco ricky williams. good riddance to a pompous ass who knows nothing about sports

[naples jack,patsfan]

the shadow knows- could not agree with you any more.Lebatard is a pompous, self absorbed, jerk. A minor league writer, nitwit radio host. I think he would like to be respected like Bob Ryan, but that is not happening. He has been mailing it in at the herald for awhile.

[mike1]

I disagree NaplesJack. Running up the score vs Dallas and other teams was unneccessary and classless. This is not college where it matters how much you score (although they say they don't consider it). I remember Shula on the goal line vs the Giants leading 23-13 in 1972, just having Morrall taking the knee several times. Pats would've gone for it so they could win 30-13.

[mike1]

If all sports writers said the same, expected thing and had the same opinion as everyone else, what would be the point?

[r. duke]

Maybe Obama and his lovely wife Camille should go on Dances with the Stars. Might help his ever increasingly tarnished image...I still wouldn't vote for him but I might not think he's just another swarmy, lying, racist, Muslim, American hating politician. I would just think he's a moe too...

[dean]

- why would hurri-cons stoop to using a credit card of the dead when they have already mastered the art of guns and ski masks to steal their booty?

- the last time i went to leeroy selmon's bbq and ordered grandma's famous fried chicken, a fat "git-r-done" wearing a confederate flag t-shirt prepared my dinner.

- latest nfl qb update! all the extra qbs are in tampa.

- dan le ba- outtasightouttamind?

[Monty]

Hey Dean,

Name one Hurricane player who has ever done the things you imply - commited a felony involving guns, ski masks, and stealing. Just one will suffice.

Over a dozen Gator players have been arrested in the past year, and nearly half as many FSU players - plus their cheating scandal. It's been awefully quiet in Coral Gables, minus Marve being cited for breaking a car mirror in the Grove, yet people like you still insist in making biased and non-factual statements against the Canes. It's alright though, we know why you hate.

[naples jack,patsfan]

Mike- Fu** the cowboys. Between TO. and wade phillips, I , and a lot of other Pats fans, wished belichick hung 55 on the cowboys. There is some history with phillips and the patriots. Shot his mouth off 2yrs. ago when the chargers hung 42 on the Pats. Pats had a few injurys, he said after the game, I guess we kicked there ass!!! Screw him!!!

[E. Norton]

Wow, really a rough day in the sewer today. I knew it was going to bad when first thing I got a hole in my boot, not just a small one mind you but big enough to start letting solids in. Then that gas pocket we hit near 51st. Holy shit, thought I was going to pass out.
Kept trying to call Ralph all day about the meeting at the lodge tonight, tried 4 or 5 times and couldn’t get him. Finally when he picked up I dropped my phone in about 6 inches of scum, now it don’t work. I think half the town must have flushed at the same time the water level went up so fast I had to run for half a mile to catch my lunch box. Can’t wait to get home and take a shower and see what Trixie made for dinner.

[David Tucker]

Shadow - Amen

[dean]

hi shadow,

how do you really feel? love it when you show passion. have a great weekend.

[Dave in VA]

I'm pretty effing thirsty here...

[OC Dolphin]

Interesting read on this Pat Kirwan article.

http://www.nfl.com/news/story?id=09000d5d80854ee1&template=with-video&confirm=true&campaign=ec0005

As if we didn't know that that is exactly what Bill Parcells is doing.

[r. duke]

Hmmm sounds like were in process of rebuilding 72 Dolphin team(let alone Vince Lombardi's power running team)with smash mouth power running game. Yup that is certainly what I've been waiting for to contend with these wussy passing/basketball teams. Plus Parcell's likes defenses that aren't bashful about getting in there and really beating daylights out of more artsy fartsy offenses. Yup thankyou Cam for sucking so bad as head coach. Hopefully you at least had an eye for some talent and your draft won't turn out to be total waste.

[Terrell Owens]

Monty isn't Ray Lewis a murderer?

[r. duke]

dean doesn't Herr Gruden remind you of someone who might have made a fine little Nazi if it was 1930s-1940s. Angry, Loud, Domineering, Blonde, Obsessive about attention to detail etc. Plus Gruden sure sounds, as shadow might say, like a kraut name to me. Not so much criticism as observation. I've thought this about him for quite sometime but never brought it up before now.

[Terrell Owens]

Monty didn't Micheal Irvin carry a .357 Magnum complete with silencer to protect his cocaine?

[Monty]

Monty isn't Ray Lewis a murderer?

Posted by: Terrell Owens | May 16, 2008 at 09:14 PM

No. Last time I checked he was never tried or even convicted of murder.

Monty didn't Micheal Irvin carry a .357 Magnum complete with silencer to protect his cocaine?

Posted by: Terrell Owens | May 16, 2008 at 09:29 PM

Not while he was a student/athlete at UM he didn't, at least as far as anyone knows. I don't really see the relevance of what someone does 10 years after they graduate has to do with their alma mater.

[r. duke]

Monty just kidding. Those images of Irvin and his cocaine and Owen's willingness to point out to media how he was being unjustly treated but it was ok that Ray Lewis is a murderer still crack me up.

[Monty]

T.O.

Got a link to an article that mentions the .357 Magnum anf silencer? I'll admit that he got arrested for the coke, but I didn't come across any article that mentioned a weapon, not to mention a silencer.

[r. duke]

Monty I was TO in last two posts and again I was just joking...

[Monty]

r. duke,

It's cool.

BTW, does r. duke stand for Raul Duke, from Dr. Hunter S. Thompson fame?

[r. duke]

Yeah Monty. It's obviously quite grandiose for me to use that name yet I love the guys work so much I couldn't resist.

[Monty]

Me too. I was, and still am a big fan.

[Flipper72]

Rick & Ronnie will plow through the opposition with Jake Long mauling over the D-Line Defenders of the opposing team.

POWER RUNNING GAME will be our bread and butter...!!

10-6....PLAY-OFF Bound...!!

Run Ricky Run...!!

[Flipper72]

Naples Jack,

What the hell man?? Joe Gibbs was a class act. 3 Time Super Bowl Champ. The game was well in hand. There really wasn't any reason for that crap. I agree with Mike1,
Bellicheat showed how much of a classless jerk he really is by running up the score like that.

It doesn't matter Jack, a new season approaches and the Fins are ready to sweep the Pats this year. Pay back time buddy!!

Oh Yhea!! There will be pain...lots of pain!! In the form of Ronnie & Ricky..!!

[Grandma's still under the bus]

WTF? When is someone going to get a jack to help get me out from under this freaking bus? Barry O'Bomber is making an ass out of himself and I'm here helpless to stop him. Truth is Barry is on the precipice of securing his reputation as the Neville Chamberlain of our time. In fact, Barry is worse than Neville Chamberlain: Chamberlain didn't have himself as an example.