[A new report by the Surgeon General today indicates the five biggest factors in avoiding a heart attack are family history, regular checkups, not smoking, exercise and heathy diet, and signing up for free to follow along at Twitter.com/gregcote]
The referendum on Ronnie Brown: OK we know by now that Dolphins running back Ronnie Brown offers pretty standard athlete confidence when he is asked by reporters if he is an elite back and he essentially says well-yeah-sure-I-mean-you-have-think-like-that. Saying, "I want my name to be in that group" and "My goal is to be the best I can be" ain't exactly plowing new ground in bragadoccio. So I would put it to readers and Dolfans: How good is Ronnie? How has drafting him worked out for Miami on a scale of superstar to bust? A back entering his fifth pro year may fairly be judged, and I'd say Brown (click here for his career stats) clearly is not in the elite category if you define that by what LaDainian Tomlinson has been and what Adrian Peterson is. But he has been pretty solid, pretty good -- maybe not enough yet to justify being drafted No.2 overall, but closer to a strong pick than a bust. What do you say? Take a dip in our poll.
UM wins to launch regional play: It was Canes beating Jacksonville 9-4 this afternoon up in G'ville, putting UM in winner's bracket entering Saturday action. Miami, with a so-so 36-21 record and coming off a disappointing ACC tournament, needs to advance to the super-regional round to begin to put a smile on this season.
When suspended doesn't actually mean suspended: Much is being made of the idea that suspended Dodger Manny Ramirez (currently fourth in voting) could be elected to start in the All-Star Game, which is played 11 days after his suspension ends July 3. A bigger embarrassment less known: Manny is about to join one of L.A.'s minor-league teams for a couple of weeks of games. Apparently suspensions don't cover the minors. Dumb. Manny should not be playing, period, until after July 3. Not in the minors. Not in the all-star game.
Hope for LeBron v. Kobe yet: Much to the delight of the NBA, TV and Nike, that once-expected Lakers-Cavaliers championship series is looking better now than it did a couple of days ago. L.A. closed out Denver tonight/Friday night 4-2. And Cleveland drew within 3-2 with last night's must-win led by LeBron James' monstah triple-double. Afterward you saw LeBron and Jay-Z courtside, and it was Jay-Z with the awe-struck smile. I was rooting for underdog Denver and am still for Orlando and my boy Stan Van Frumpy. Hey how about a list! Orlando is trying to join this chronological list of 13 teams from the state of Florida that have been in a championship game in the big-four pro leagues:
1971 Dolphins Lost Super Bowl to Dallas
1972 Dolphins Won Super Bowl over Washington
1973 Dolphins Won Super Bowl over Minnesota
1982 Dolphins Lost Super Bowl to Washington
1984 Dolphins Lost Super Bowl to San Francisco
1995 Magic Lost NBA Finals to Houston
1996 Panthers Lost Stanley Cup to Colorado
1997 Marlins Won World Series over Cleveland
2002 Buccaneers Won Super Bowl over Oakland
2003 Marlins Won World Series over New York
2004 Lightning Won Stanley Cup over Calgary
2006 Heat Won NBA Finals over Dallas
2008 Rays Lost World Series to Philadelphia
Indian-American rules spelling bee as usual: Kavya Shivashankar, 13 (pictured), last night became the seventh Indian-American in the past 11 years to win the Scripps National Spelling Bee. She correctly spelled "laodicean," which means indifference in religion or politics. I'd be more impressed if Kavya was smart enough to explain to the rest of us why Brooke Hogan is putting out another album.
Failing with its own players, NFL trying to develop character in youth: The Dolphins and their Davie HQ will be a host site this summer for one of the sessions in the NFL's High-School Player Development Program, in which local prep players are taught character devlopment and life skills. Taking a wild guess and imagining Randy Starks will not be one of the Dolphins offering the kids his guidance. Thinking the NFL needs to develop character in too many of its own miscreant players before getting around to the preppies.
Bumper stickers I'd like to see: Honk If You've Taken the SAT For Derrick Rose.
Love,
Download your 'Fins iPhone application
Don't really care about Florida teams, outside South Florida.
Posted by: mike1 | May 29, 2009 at 12:09 PM
Moderator: (phonetically) "ZOO-KNEE-CIA."
Shivashankar: Can I get the word in use?
Moderator: Greg Cote has "ZOO-KNEE-CIA."
Shivashankar: "ZOO-KNEE-CIA," Z-O-N-E-S-T-H-E-S-I-A, ZOO-KNEE-CIA.
Moderator: Correct! You win the tournament!
note:
zonesthesia
n. - the feeling of wearing a tight girdle
Posted by: OC Dolphin | May 29, 2009 at 12:54 PM
Shivashankar are you related to Ravi Shankar?
Posted by: r. duke | May 29, 2009 at 01:31 PM
Speaking of bumpstickers. I used to love National Lampoon Magazine. They had a page full of "unusal" bumpstickers. One was "I Brake For Jane Mansfields Head" with an artists 1950's looking sketch of Janes smiling head on it. That has always stuck with me...
Posted by: r. duke | May 29, 2009 at 01:38 PM
Moderator: ERECTION
Shavishankar: Can I get the word in use?
Moderator: Oh Christ I was hoping you ask that. Shavishankar gives moderator an ERECTION when she plays with her naked breasts.
Posted by: r. duke | May 29, 2009 at 01:44 PM
Shavishankar: "ERECTION," E-R-E-C-T-I-O-N Erection.
Moderator: Ahhhhh. Well done. You win.
Posted by: r. duke | May 29, 2009 at 01:47 PM
Nice one duke. I think this spelling bee has legs.
Posted by: OC Dolphin | May 29, 2009 at 02:23 PM
lol, run with it Duke!
Did Randy Starks compete in that Spelling Bee?
Ronnie Brown comment. This guy has been good and is on the verge of the best part of his career.
San Diego was foolish to give LT big contract,,,, isn't anyone noticing his quick decline? They let Cobbs and Turner go while showing loyalty to LT. Loyal but not smart. Sprouls is too small to carry the load full time.
Posted by: Jimbo | May 29, 2009 at 06:16 PM
So far Ronnie Brown is a good running back but not elite.
But Ronnie has many years left if he stays healthy ,and be more productive by not missing many games. He can still be one of the elite in the future.
Posted by: ginrai | May 30, 2009 at 01:44 PM
Hum, hum, hum...deed-deedet-deedet...Ah, what a beautiful day...
Posted by: OC Dolphin | May 30, 2009 at 02:04 PM
Ah OC I know it says Shavishankar is only 13 but she told me she was 18. I should have carded her...
Posted by: r. duke | May 30, 2009 at 03:39 PM
I feel like Randle P. McMurphy from "One Flew Over the Cookoo's Nest."
Posted by: r. duke | May 30, 2009 at 03:44 PM
slow day today
Posted by: Jimbo | May 30, 2009 at 05:19 PM
Jimbo it's too hot to post. God there is no shade in cyberspace. OC I thought you and your fellow scientists were working on this problem.
Posted by: r. duke | May 30, 2009 at 05:37 PM
...sir!
(stands up out of his wheelchair)
I have a plan. Heh.
(pauses, realizing that he is standing)
Mein Fuhrer, I can walk!
Posted by: OC Dolphin | May 30, 2009 at 07:57 PM
Mandrake: Jack I never told you this but I have a lame leg. The string in my leg is gone.
RIPPER: MANDRAKE HURRY GET OVER HERE THE REDCOATS ARE COMING!!!
Posted by: r. duke | May 30, 2009 at 08:25 PM
God I never tire of this film or RIPPER.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9bAx7RkvJdY
Posted by: r. duke | May 30, 2009 at 08:33 PM
Not quite sure what English play(?)had to do with it. Just seemed in the way...
Posted by: r. duke | May 30, 2009 at 08:44 PM
Yep, some real funny stuff, duke. I know that shadow posted that he enjoyed the G.C. Scott role more, but the range that Sellers displayed throughout this flick was nothing short of academy award material.
Posted by: OC Dolphin | May 30, 2009 at 08:57 PM
Sellers was one of the very, very best. "The Party" was an absolute classic, in particular this scene, which had me in stitches:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iWE49OOoBdg
Posted by: OC Dolphin | May 30, 2009 at 09:09 PM
Sellers was great in Lolita as well, as was James Mason. I believe that was yet another Kubrick film. Man was he blessed with seemingly inexhaustible fertile imagination and ability to realize his vision.
Posted by: r. duke | May 30, 2009 at 10:50 PM
r. duke,
the late decapitated (hey, her body was still great) ms. mansfield spelled her first name JAYNE. she was a bright gal and made several appearances in playboy during my youth.
Posted by: the shadow knows | May 30, 2009 at 10:52 PM
Jayne was funny actress but I gotta go with with "Candle in the Wind" Marilyn Monroe as #1 sexy dumb blonde hottie of that era. OC Birdie num nums was hilarious. Sellers was inimitable(sp?)unique talent.
Posted by: r. duke | May 30, 2009 at 10:58 PM
OC Dolphin,
"the party" was elvis' favorite movie; rumor has it he watched (and made his entourage watch it) over and over. it is a hoot and i am wondering whichof the many scenes you have selected. another great peter sellers movie is "after the fox"
Posted by: the shadow knows | May 30, 2009 at 11:21 PM
shadow speaking of Elvis.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bojnqBFadz4&feature=related
Posted by: r. duke | May 31, 2009 at 05:14 AM
thanx for that bit trivia about "The Party" and Elvis, shadow. That, I did not know.
Posted by: OC Dolphin | May 31, 2009 at 12:16 PM