Beck to Ravens?, Gregg era closing, pantsuits, NFL by race, D-Wade, upright corpses and more

     A brand new load o' miscellania, just for you, and all free...

      Dolphins' John Beck to Baltimore?: Well it sure makes sense. Ravens quarterback Kyle Boller is facing possible season-ending shoulder surgery (click here for story), leaving the Birds with only Troy Smith and Joe Flacco. And who is Baltimore's offensive coordinator? You know it: Cam Cameron (pictured), the man who was high enough on Beck to have drafted him. The Ravens' urgency might be enough to make Beck worth more in trade than he otherwise might be. Thoughts?

     Over/under on Pennington, other Dolphin stats: Statistical betting over/unders from our friends at Bodog: Chad Pennington passing yards, 2,800; Ronnie Brown rushing yards, 900; Ted Ginn receiving yards, 840; Ricky Williams rushing yards, 750.

     Enough of Kevin Gregg already!: I'm sure you've seen that public-service announcement. We need to re-record it as such: "Hi I'm Kevin Gregg of the Marlins, and I care. I don't smoke, I don't dip, I don't chew, and I don't close games very well." There are bunches of reasons why the Marlins' playoff hopes are skidding down a sharp, greased slope, but a chief culprit is pictured here. If I'm Fredi Gonzalez at this point, I'm closing by committee with my hot hand, whether it's Matt Lindstrom, Arthur Rhodes, Joe Nelson -- anybody but the Dudley Doright lookalike with the propensity for killing walks.

      Sartorially speaking: Anybody catch Hillary Clinton's speech last night at the Democratic national Convention? I was so inspired I went out and bought, and am now wearing, a burnt-orange pantsuit.

     NFL in black and white: Richard Lapchick's latest Racial and Gender Study for the NFL gives the league an overall B+ grade for its hiring practices related to diversity. The league's player makeup is 66 percent African-American and 31% white. Broken down, the "whitest positions" are center (77-18%), quarterback (76-19) and offensive guard (59-35). The "blackest positions" are cornerback (97-2), running back (89-9) and wide receiver (89-10). That's in case anyone should ask!

     Missoula to Miami: My latest column, online now and in today's paper, is on The Unlikeliest Dolphin, new kicker Dan Carpenter. Click on Foot of the Mountains to read. Hard not to root for this kid.

     Rate my fantasy team: Here are my drafted starters in my first of two leagues: QB Tom Brady (3rd overall pick); RB Ryan Grant (22nd); WR Marques Colston (27th); RB Willie Parker (46th); WR Hines Ward (51st); TE Todd Heap (70th); DEF Seattle (75th); and PK nick Folk (93rd). Decent team or no?

     Even Batman not immune to high gas prices: Sad, isn't it?

     MGM Mirage latest odds: Chances of Dolphins winning the Super Bowl have increased from 150-1 (tied for last) on Jan. 13 to 75-1 (third from last ahead of Chiefs and Falcons) this week. Chances of UM winning the BCS national title have increased from 60-1 on April 18 to 50-1 this week.

     "I was wrong": Make a note of this because I don't say it too often. I think I was wrong in suggesting Dwyane Wade would be better off rehabbing quietly back home for the coming NBA season than participating in the Olympics. It isn't the gold that swayed me. In Beijing, D-Wade was able prove to doubters -- and to himself -- that he is fully back in a way he couldn't have in a gym.

     Dancing With the Athletes: Warren Sapp, Maurice Greene and Misty May-Treanor will be among competitors on the new season of Bill Parcell's favorite show, Dancing With the Stars. And Marlin Matt Treanor thought he got asked about the Olympics a lot!?

     Speak English, dammit!: At the risk of sounding like I'm flying the America-love-it-or-leave-it flag, I agree with the LPGA's new rule requiring players to have basic English skills. The onslaught of South Korean players threatens to smother women's golf in this country.

     Corpse kept upright for three-day wake: See left. Click here for the creepy details if you think you can stand it.

     Check back. Might add more crap later. By the way, a reminder: Our live online chat is each Monday 1-2 p.m., but you can post a question any time during week by clicking here.

Comments

[Matthew Gonzalez]

Why should these S. Korean girls have to learn English. Baseball players never have to. Look at Sosa, he claimed he didn't know English right to the bitter end.

These girls don't live in the U.S., the U.K. or any other country that calls for such a skill. They just golf.

I understand the importance of business and marketing for the sport, but to say that the LPGA is less because a large portion of the players are not English speakers is a clear case of xenophobia if you ask me.

Are we going to make an amendment to the world's constitution (inalienable rights?) that makes English the official language of the sports (or the world)?

This is undermining the bigger issue. The U.S. needs to churn out better female golfers if they want business to pick up. Forcing players to learn the language is short-sighted.

[Stav]

Don't know or care about Korean golfers or the LPGA, but don't American golfers spend their winters' playing in SouthEast Asia?

Pretty decent team. Pick Ricky or someone else off the waiver list cause I don't believe in Parker this year. Again, cause you have an early pick, your season will be made or broken by Tom "Deep Foot Bruise" Brady.

[Jimbo]

Fantasy team: sounds ok, agree that Ricky Williams would have been a good pick that would have come cheap.

Upright Corpse: another of the future's brightest gone too soon. Darn it, he was probably a science major who was going to work on the space shuttle or something equally impressive.

Hillary, hoping that McCain wins so she can have legit shot at Prez in 4 yrs. If O'Bomber wins she will be too old in 8 yrs.

If McCain announces that he will only reside as Prez for 4 yrs, he wins in landslide. Besides Obama backers,, he ain't gonna win anyway no matter how much the media is propping him up. BArak Hussein Abdulah Mullah Obama is not going to win single traditional republican state, and will lose critical Dem strongholds PA and OH. McCain wins what the media will call a "surprise" election.

[Jimbo]

OC you commented on New O saints being 3-13 one yr and winning div the next...

Saints play in NFC south,,, compare that with AFC east is like comparing SEC East with Continental Conference or the WAC.

I do see your logic where the turn around can happen. It is possible in Miami too. Very good things have happened since Parcells was obtained and Cam was gently led by the ear and kicked in the ass. The odds aren't great tho,,especially with a rookie head coach--which always spells-- careful and conservative.

[P...]

your fantasy team should win it all

[rich]

Making golfers speak English is unconstitional. They are not US citizens, we import them because of their golf playing abilities. American golfers don't speak French when they play in France. This is a ludicrous statement, we as Americans have to stop this non-sense concerning the English language. It is getting out of hand.

[Stav]

Greg, I know he picked Beck over Quinn, et. al. But, did Cam like Beck? If so, why was he so reluctant to put him out there on the field? I always took it to be shoppers remorse.

[dean]

- beck must be lighting a candle, praying he will be shipped anywhere in the nfl other than the worst team in the league.

- shouldn't the over / under on ricky willims be 420?

- marlins - playoffs? maybe with joe girardi instead of the bargain basement / flea market manager they have now.

- i always thought hillary clinton was a closet tampa bay buccaneer fan. i thought i saw her sneaking off with leroy selmon last night.

- hasn't misty may and her husband made enough $$$ to get her a suitable rack yet?

- lpga golf smothered in america? how do you smother something that is already dead?

[the shadow knows]

the shadow has always maintained that the most physically demanding position in all of sports is cornerback- able to run downfield with fast wideouts and able to come up on the run and take on blockers and ballcarriers; no surprise on the 97-2 disparity. in days of yore, there were white corners- kent mcloughan, jeff fisher, jason sehorn and a team- the st. louis cardinals- with two caucasians at CB: roger wehrli (HOF) and the mighty mite, pat fischer.

[Bill Parsmells]

Hey, Cam.

Whadda ya got to offer for your boy, John Beck ?

I see you need a QB, and I'll make you an offer, you can't refuse.

For old times sake, Cam.

Give da Tuna a call.

[Harry Balzer]

Get Beck outta here and give them Porter while they are it.

[r. duke]

Goodbye Beck. Thanks for the memories and the number two pick in next years draft.

[r. duke]

Corpses standing in corner? Look nothing and I mean nothing surpasses the grossly atomistic decapitation of Tim McLean by that giant crazed Chinaman while riding on Canadian Greyhound Bus. Read Wikipedia for full details under "Murder of Tim McLean." You will never be the same...

[dean]

hi shadow,

remember fischer being as tough as a $2 steak and never out of position. have to wonder though, @ about five and a half feet tall how he would do vs. today's wideouts giving up nearly a foot?

[Tom]

You gotta wonder what Beck did in his past life to deserve getting drafted by CamMoron and then getting traded to that nitwit all in one year. Whatever it is it must be pretty f****** bad.

[Jimbo]

Tom, i would think that if Beck were traded to Baltimore he would be asking God why he is burdened to carry that cross. don't think that young man gets ate up over stuff like this, he is very grounded.

If possible, I would trade Beck and LB Porter to Cams Ravens for #2 and conditional pick.

Ravens, Chiefs will be fighting with SF, StL, Atl for #1 draft pick this yr.

I see Oakland and Miami as the biggest turn around teams in this season, Oak actually getting wild card slot.Russell, McFadden will dazzle teams this yr. Russell will not have staying power and be a backup in less then 5 seasons. Dude has a third grade reading level, can't get away with that being an nfl qb.

Ricky Williams will have 1200 yds and 10 td's this yr.
Ronnie Brown will have a strong 2nd half when he is better healed, getting 600 yds and 4 td's.
Pennington's favorite target is going to be Ginn, he is getting 800 yds and 8 td's and returning 1 punt for a td too.

[Tom]

I hope you're right about Ginn. I tend to doubt those kind of numbers for a down and out WR. For those kind of numbers you have to be willing to take some hits over the middle. Let's hope that happens and if it does that he survives.

Most of your other predictions look reasonable, but Oakland in the playoffs? We been nipping tonite? Or maybe you've been listening to all that bullshit at the Lunatics National Convention and you're just confused.

[r. duke]

dean Pat Fischer wasn't right. Severely psychotic, adrenalin charged Wally Cox. You're talking about db on Foreskins right?

[r. duke]

Speaking about guys that weren't right, ROMO.

[dean]

r d

yes, pat was a little hyped up. i think he was there when the redskins logo was an arrow on the maroon helmet. before they went to the vomit colored helmet w/ the capital r and feathers.

[Jimbo]

tom, even tho i don't expect adrian peterson performance from Mcfadden, i expect alot. afc west is in turmoil anyway. denver?no, shanahan is creating new ways to get fired. sd? yes, but they have health issues with their core players. KC is the worst team in the league.
therefore, it isn't a big stretch for oakland to win it at 9-7.

[Rick Shaw]

Rick's pick of the week:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=foxEMsFeVBA&feature=related

[Kurt]

Over under for Dolphins wins is 5.5

Over under for NE wins is 12.5

Flipper, I guess it must be morons and idiots who are making p these betting lines. 12.5 doesn't seem to be "on a downward spiral" since last season the over under pick for NE was 12.

Any comments about how this kind of Las Vegas betting is nonsense and Miami will still win 10 or 12 games?

For all of you whom annointed Beck as the next Tom Brady last year: Told you so.

[Mr. Woodcock]

Does anyone know if today's Hurricanes game can be seen on the internet?

[nikhil]

your fantasy team looks horrible.

also, that kevin gregg commercial makes me and my gf crack up everytime we see it...it's a great source of entertainment because he looks so scared.

[Jimbo]

Kurt, for your information I have 2 points to make.
1. you are actually on a "pro" dolphins blog here, miami herald supports the local teams. If you want the stuffy, cold, arrogant and self serving NE media and similar fans, go somewhere else.
2. i did profit 1500 off the Giants, Pats superbowl game. i don't throw $ away, not that kind anyway.

don't insult dolphin fans because they believe in their team. you gotta expect most of the fans being upbeat and high expectations.
worry about your own team, seems they are in for a fight all the way around in 08. cruising thru the div and getting bye week and homefield is history.

[Noel]

The Patriots went 18-0 and lost the Super Bowl. Ha ha ha ha ha ha. Still loving it.

[r. duke]

Just read Catholic Church hit $3,000,000.00 lottery and will be donating the money to itself.

[r. duke]

Whooops nut job member of church won it and donated it to the WEALTHIEST INSTITUTION ON PLANET EARTH! Good move guy. You just bought your way inside the pearly gates...Hmmm once given to church I wonder if it was tax exempt? Forgive me catholic devotees but I'm extremely suspicious of ALL RICH BEYOND AVARICE RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS.

[Jimbo]

Raoul. sorry to say bud, but, all religions have been based and motivated by profit and power. The middle ages saw European being told by the church if they didn't give all and live as paupers they wouldn't be saved. all current religions are in a power struggle for the masses.

Muslim terrorism started in the middle east because the hardliners were seeing their children flock away and pursue western culture, education and lifestyle. the mullah's knowing that once this lifestyle was enjoyed by the masses the repressive religion would die and fade away.

[OC Dolphin]

Yep, caught that story. Eathlink home page ehh? The two stories that caught my eye though were the story about the four shark bitten bodies washing ashore and Obama making his acceptance speech 45 years to the day of the "I have a dream" speech. Gee....what a coninsidence......NOT!

[OC Dolphin]

Muslim terrorism started in the middle east because...........Bingo, Jimbo

[OC Dolphin]

ESPN just published their 08 NFL preview. Their 13 contributing writers and analysts positioning the various teams. Rodney Dangerfield would have had nothing on the Dolphins. Talk about - NO RESPECT - All but one analyst has them finishing last in the division, and winning but a few more games than last year.

Just a guess here, but I think they all used the same computer system to enter their opinions, an iSuc.

[the shadow knows]

Raoul Duke,

compared to the receivers of today, the CBs, with the exception of cromartie of the chargers, are generally smaller than the wideouts. the premium is quickness and smarts- with pat fischer it was "dogged determination" and technique. when interviewed by NFL films, wearing his thick glasses, he explained how he waited for the opportunity to hang onto the receiver's back leg to prevent guys from getting past him after they caught the ball.

[the shadow knows]

Mr. Woodcock,

i have read the miami-charter school "battle" will be on ESPN360.com; if so, enjoy!!!

[Jimbo]

The media loves Obama, they are doing what they can to sway the public--to start to think that Barak Hussein has a chance. Face it, McCain is boring for them and by large the media is left/liberal.

[raoul duke]

Jimbo there is no god so I shall now be forced to take it upon myself and invent IT(genders being too narrow a category). My God Is Gonna Be A Big One! AND IT won't ask for one bloody red cent of your money. I might but IT won't. Amen my brothers and sisters.

[raoul duke]

The funny thing about Pat Fischer is he seemed so mild mannered and intelligent. He could have been a professor that somehow by some strange twist of fate ended up in that university tower with all those high powered rifles and his finely honed sniper skills. There but for the grace of God go I...

William James(I Think)

[raoul duke]

Yes Grandma Still Stuck Under The Bus I have gone round the bend and you know what I found there? President Obama Bin Laden.

[Jimbo]

Too bad Colin Powell wasn't running against Barak the jihadist.

[raoul duke]

Jimbo a friend at work said exact same thing.

[Condoms for Sarah Palin]

A VERY SERIOUS CONCERN THAT YOU ALL SHOULD HAVE:

Miami and the Dade County School system just this past week are in a major crisis because they have no money and are cutting programs and are in a impasse with shouting matches. And it is all because of budgets and money and whether the school system can continue to operate or not.

And it is under this scenario that the politicians of that city are considering opening up the coffers to give hundreds of millions of dollars so that the Marlins can have a free stadium where no one from Broward or Palm Beach counties will bother to go. IF YOU CARE ABOUT SCHOOLS AND WHETHER THE CHILDREN SHOULD HAVE THE MONEY or it should be GIVEN TO BASEBALL MILLIONAIRES ...... SPEAK UP.

Sell the team to someone who can afford to own a team.

Someone sent me a couple of links to articles that discuss the misconceptions of such use of public funds for building new stadiums for millionaire owners and millionaire players. Take a look at two related articles that SPORTS ILLUSTRATED published recently on this subject and you can see for yourself what has happened recently with similar projects in other cities:

The Links to Sports Illustrated Articles:

http://vault.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1140877/index.htm

http://vault.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1127640/index.htm

The fallacy that a new stadium helps brings many "good" jobs and better economic prosperity to a community seems to be just that, a big fallacy, because after the initial curiosity and novelty wears off in the part of the public, the few jobs that a new stadium brings are temporary, part time and entry level-minimum wage variety. They are not solid middle class building jobs on which someone can support a family.

[Condoms for Sarah Palin]

A VERY SERIOUS CONCERN THAT YOU ALL SHOULD HAVE:

Miami and the Dade County School system just this past week are in a major crisis because they have no money and are cutting programs and are in a impasse with shouting matches. And it is all because of budgets and money and whether the school system can continue to operate or not.

And it is under this scenario that the politicians of that city are considering opening up the coffers to give hundreds of millions of dollars so that the Marlins can have a free stadium where no one from Broward or Palm Beach counties will bother to go. IF YOU CARE ABOUT SCHOOLS AND WHETHER THE CHILDREN SHOULD HAVE THE MONEY or it should be GIVEN TO BASEBALL MILLIONAIRES ...... SPEAK UP.

Sell the team to someone who can afford to own a team.

Someone sent me a couple of links to articles that discuss the misconceptions of such use of public funds for building new stadiums for millionaire owners and millionaire players. Take a look at two related articles that SPORTS ILLUSTRATED published recently on this subject and you can see for yourself what has happened recently with similar projects in other cities:

The Links to Sports Illustrated Articles:

http://vault.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1140877/index.htm

http://vault.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1127640/index.htm

The fallacy that a new stadium helps brings many "good" jobs and better economic prosperity to a community seems to be just that, a big fallacy, because after the initial curiosity and novelty wears off in the part of the public, the few jobs that a new stadium brings are temporary, part time and entry level-minimum wage variety. They are not solid middle class building jobs on which someone can support a family.