Elton Brand to Heat? (with poll); miracle Marlins; Williams' whining & more

     The newest ration o' miscellania, all free, just for you...

     [Bulletin: Click on Cell Phone Popcorn to see something fairly interesting and -- if you have a cell phone on your ear a lot -- a bit scary. Unless it's a hoax, which some think it is. Anyway, this is the kind of thing sports writers look at during rain delays at Marlins games. Sad, right?].

     THE ELTON POSSIBILITY: Pat Riley is said to be bargain-shopping in free agency this summer, but the possibility has unexpectedly arisen that Riley might be able to take one more shot at a player he has long coveted: Elton Brand, the Clippers forward (pictured). Brand surprised most on by opting out of the last year of his contract and becoming an unrestricted free agent as of Tuesday. A sign-and-trade involving Brand and Shawn Marion would work financially, and the Clippers would have an interest in Marion presuming they also lose Cory Maggette to free agency. This scenerio still would allow Miami to bargain-shop for a stopgap answer at point guard. Riley has been talking about saving money now for a big free-agent splash in 2010, but if you can get Brand now, get him. Right? Click here to read today's column by me on the Brand-Heat possibility. Then partake of The Daily Poll and tell us why you voted as you did.

Opinion Polls & Market Research

     [Note: Congrats again. Because of you, this was our 23rd blog poll to blast past 1,000 votes inside of the first 24 hours. Keep 'em coming!]

      MIRACLE MARLINS: The Marlins' rain-delayed 4-2 win today (Wednesday) was the team's 24th come-from-behind W, tying for the NL lead. Add the eight walk-off wins among 12 in the final at-bat and we've got us an exciting team here, people. Was at the ballyard today (though not to columnize) and thank goodness for summer campers. The crowd was 23,624 but might have been around 5K if not for the sea of colorfully shirted camp kids. It was hilarious hearing the high-pitched squealing and screaming when the lightning flashed and the thunder banged, and seeing the kids herding for cover when it rained. It was like the beach scene in Jaws. Eleven straight road games now before the All-Star Break. Hope Marlins crowds pick up in the second half. And I'm not counting campers who are bussed in and admitted for next to nothing.

     WIMBLEDON'S SCHEDULING SCANDAL: OK maybe it's not quite a scandal; then again it merited an outraged column (click here) in my paper today. Courtgate! It seems the Williams camp is upset because Serena and Venus were on Court 2 in yesterday's matches rather than being scheduled for Centre Court or Court 1 -- the "show courts." It was questionable scheduling, yeah, sort of goofy, but to me it's much ado about not a whole lot. Of course the Williamses' mother took offense anyway, though surprisingly (and blessedly) resisted playing the race card. I think the staid Big W in its scheduling does seem to favor Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal's matches over the women. But probably with justification. Thoughts?

      BONK!: Click here for a 6-second video of an errant basketball pass knocking a high-school cheerleader right on her duff. She's OK. That's why it's hilarious.

      MADONNA AND A-ROD A COUPLE!?: Ohmygod! OK! Magazine suggests just that. Click here for the latest gossip on Madonna and Alex Rodriguez possibly maybe perhaps being "more than just friends"! (Madonna, by the way, looking astonishingly good for a woman my age).

     GEORGE ORWELL WOULDN'T BE SURPRISED: Headlines You Never Thought You'd See, one in a series.

     OLYMPIC TRIALS (YAWN): Why is such a big deal made over Olympic trials in track, swimming and so forth? Bulletin: These are not the Olympics, they are just preliminaries. To me, getting all excited about Olympic trials is akin to going bonkers over spring baseball or exhibition football. Wake me when the real stuff starts in Bejing, eh?

      DEAR GREG...: ...your blog's OK, but would be much better if occasionally you would show a photo of a Hindu man with 16-foot-long hair. Thank you.   

     LIVE CHAT: Thanks to all who joined in on our live online chat this week. We do it every Monday from 1-2 p.m. Click here to join the chat live next week or to post questions early.

     Check back. Probably be adding more crap to this post later.

Comments

[cam]

i try to go to as many marlins games as i can, but gas is just too high right now to consistently drive down from boca. i suspect that this is a big reason as to why attendance hasnt shot up, people are talking about the marlins around here, just nobody is going.

[Yitz]

When I lived in Miami, I tried to get to a few games a year. I know they're one of the cheapest to see, but that doesn't make it cheap. Anyway, now I'm stuck in NY, so I watch on MLB.tv.

[the shadow knows]

the florida baseball teams are having incredible seasons, with the devilrays bordering on unbelievable, facing down the red sox whnever they meet. the young talent on the marlins is once again evidence of the acumen of larry beinfest, the best GM in baseball, making chicken salad out of chicken - - - -!

[the shadow knows]

elton brand would be a nice addition to the heat, as he is unspectacular and quite steady. get him!!

[msjoven]

in this case, as the #2 women's player, jankovic was also made to play out in the stratosphere, there doesn't seem to be a racial component to the disrespect, just a sexist one. however, it is so typical of a white male, who has little to (most likely) no history of having been passed over, snickered at, second-guessed, subtly or overtly discriminated against, to belittle a person of color's mere suggestion that race could be a precipitating factor in his or her mistreatment. the fact that oracene williams did not mention race was most likely because she was aware the jankovic had also been shafted but that doesn't mean that none of the nasty little things that have been said and done to the williams sisters over the years have been racially motivated. you pretend as if the elitist tennis world accepted them with open arms. on the contrary, from the beginning there was a sense they they were barbarians storming the gate and there are those who still to carry that sentiment. it is easy (for white people) to say that racism isn't a factor and that players of color in historically white sports are "whining" but how soon you forget.
just a couple of years ago, lleyton hewitt reminded everyone that it's always there just below the surface. that is everyone who was willing to face it.

[msjoven]

in this case, as the #2 women's player, jankovic was also made to play out in the stratosphere, there doesn't seem to be a racial component to the disrespect, just a sexist one. however, it is so typical of a white male, who has little to (most likely) no history of having been passed over, snickered at, second-guessed, subtly or overtly discriminated against, to belittle a person of color's mere suggestion that race could be a precipitating factor in his or her mistreatment. the fact that oracene williams did not mention race was most likely because she was aware the jankovic had also been shafted but that doesn't mean that none of the nasty little things that have been said and done to the williams sisters over the years have been racially motivated. you pretend as if the elitist tennis world accepted them with open arms. on the contrary, from the beginning there was a sense they they were barbarians storming the gate and there are those who still to carry that sentiment. it is easy (for white people) to say that racism isn't a factor and that players of color in historically white sports are "whining" but how soon you forget.
just a couple of years ago, lleyton hewitt reminded everyone that it's always there just below the surface. that is everyone who was willing to face it.

[Flipper72]

Get Brand and get rid of Marion while you still can. Brand, Wade and Beasley sounds very competitive. Keep Jason Williams and Haslem.

A-Rod is a lucky bastard if he is with Madonna. She is still hot for a 50 year old.
Maybe 50 is the new 40 huh?? Maybe!!

[ebag]

trade anyone not named wade for brand

[Bmore T]

Wow Mr. Cote I now truly believe that you are indeed pretty petty and biased. You just could not resist a chance to drop another underserved slander on the Williams sister. If you cared to read the article or cared to print the truth not one of the sisters whined about the court situation. Their mother did not whine but made a statement. Other players made comments regarding the same situation but you dared not suggest that in your header.

You are a mediocre moron. Where is the class this newpaper had once w/ Bob Rubin and Ed Pope. The Herald is trash all over these days. A classless newspaper.

[I'madinnerjacket]

Bmore T,

You seem angry. I wonder what your issues are ..? Can't help but wonder.

[I'madinnerjacket]

Mr Flip,
Yep! Madonna still rocks (the cradle, perhaps).

[Javi]

I would not trade for Brand. As much as he is a good player, I would stay with Marion letting his contract expire and go after a big free agent next season like Carlos Boozer who is younger, arguably better, and consistently rumored to want to play in Miami.

[Phil]

Javi Carlos Boozer is a better youger player, but he is a PF and we already have Bealsey, Marion plays both positions with great Defense. I prefer Brand because he commands double team, as well as a player that might entice Wade to stay with the Heat next year. I think that we can stay with what we have and trade Haslem for a center and or a legit point guard. Our main conserne right now is WILL WADE RE-SIGN with us or will he GO HOME TO PLAY WIT D.ROSE, I believe that if ROSE pans out in two years it will be very difficult to sign WADE unless we get some great players around him besides BEASLEY and MARION.

[OC Dolphin]

Anyone happen to look at the Training camp schedule? As one may well know, all the teams start around 7/24 and practice for about three weeks. But what's up with Jacksonville - 13 days?! Is Allen Iverson running that camp? Practice?! Are we talkin practice?

By comparisons, the Cleveland Browns, with a hefty 32 day camp would make even George Patton proud.

[N.J. John]

BOREING
I'm thirsty, think I'll go find Dave and have a couple cold ones.

[naplesjackpatsfan]

N.J. John- I am with you. Lets hoist a couple of cold ones. The state of Florida executed mark schwab last night. A real piece of garbage. I miss the days when they gave these people the electric chair. Something about seeing there heads smokeing, was justice, as far as I was concerned. The needle is the easy way out.

[I'madinnerjacket]

naplesjackpatsfan,

It's interesting that you point out the execution of Mark Schwab and refer to him as "A real piece of garbage." Yet, you constantly make light of the seriousness of such crimes by wantonly accusing a fellow blogger of being one. Is it possible that there are issues on your table?

[Flipper72]

I guess Patty Spite/Bostonian has a created

a new identity....once again!!

Oh NO.........!!!

[Tom]

Here's a tip for those dead below the waist. Did you see the news story about watermelon having Viagra-like properties? You can find it here:

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D91M3QSG1&show_article=1

It's an entertaining concept, but what struck me was the observation that the chemical in question is concentrated in the watermelon's rind. This tidbit may not mean much to you, but if, like me, you grew up in a neighborhood where nearly every housewife made watermelon pickles from the fruit's rind, this story may have suggested that those women had it going on--BIGTIME if you get my drift.

[the shadow knows]

Tom,

only on this blogsite do we get such information- looks like we are warming up for a great season! travelled yesterday and had the pleasure of meeting jim mora in the commuter wing at san diego's airport- i imagine he was at the NFL's la costa retreat for rookies where the youngsters are given the dos and donts of life in the nfl.

[naplesjackpatsfan]

Imadinnerjacket- Say what!! Granted I had a few beers, and split a bottle of wine last night, and it is still early today, but what the hell are you talking about? By wantonly accusing someone off. Could you please clarify this statement for me. I think the bostonian has come back to us.

[naplesjackpatsfan]

Dinnerjacket- The only issue I have on my table, is with people who commit crimes against kids, wommen, anybody else, then blame everybody else for there problems in life. As far as calling this guy a piece of garbage, thats what he was. Let the executions continue!!!

[naplesjackpatsfan]

I wonder what your issues are?? Hum, Hum!! This approach, has bostonian written all over it.

[Hagar The Horrible]

Naplesjack
Yup, the asshole is back. I did not realize they set a bail amount for infant molestation.

[Tom]

Thank you shadow. Just trying to liven this morgue up a little. It appears, however, that things are about to get very interesting.

[Fuzzy Zeller]

Watermelon like Viagra? Why am I not surprised?

[ginrai]

Don't over pay for Marion. Trade him get something in return. Wait for Boozer til he becomes a free agent next year.

The Miracle name is already taken by another team. Which are our rivals in the NL. How about calling them the Marvelous Marlins?

Arod is famous and very rich in the pockets. He can get any chicks any day of the week. But when it come to it most of them females do it for the attention cause he is famous ,and his huge bank roll. That is what they are always aiming for. Men do the same with the women that are rich and famous as well. It's a materialistic world.
I don't even call it love. Sadly no kind of love currently exists in the world we live in. If we really love with the heart we wouldn't decieve the other so much at all. Whether it is family, friendship, or a love relationship with the opposite gender.

[Flipper72]

Naples Jack,

I hope your ready for a major Pats meltdown this season. The Fins are ready to compete.
The cool thing is- that no one is expecting us to do much, which is perfect because we'll be flying right under the radar.
We'll be like a stealth bomber, undetected until the play-offs come and there you'll see us as a six seed in the AFC playing on the road. OH Yhea!!

[the shadow knows]

venus williams is a very decent human being and pretty good at tennis; i am not in the "anti-williams camp" as i have been aware of the sisters since their compton days- they deserve to get a better shake from the press!!

[oneblankspace]

How did you beat Dave Barry to the circus escape story?