Soccer bashing? No; plus Dolphins' No. 1 concern (with poll); Chad Pennington half-nude (with video), Rosenhaus, Marlins, Madoff, Billy Mays & more

     [LIVE ONLINE CHAT! Wednesdays, 1-2 p.m. Click HERE to join chat live tomorrow or post questions at any time].

     [Twitter.com/gregcote]

     "U-S-A! U-S-A! U-S-Awww": Voluminous amount of e-mail on my soccer column today and most of it expressing displeasure with what some see as a "soccer-bashing" column by me. I do not consider it bashing, but rather a realistic take on soccer's place in the fabric of American sports and interests. Click here for the column, which is online and in today's/Tuesday's paper. Miami-Fort Lauderdale was the No. 1 TV market in the country for US-Brazil viewership Sunday, so I'd have certainly been more popular cheerleading the sport. The U.S. men's team led Brazil 2-0 in Sunday's FIFA Confederations Cup championship match, only to lose 3-2. It marked a big accomplishment nevertheless, because in international soccer we're not as good as much of Europe and South America, but it's important to us to be respected in global futbol circles as not sucking, either. I think soccer will never catch football, baseball or basketball in popularity here, but that's OK. I'm curious if you all think I am being realistic, or bashing.

     Dolphins'-biggest-problem-area poll: It's one month from Dolphins training camp. Do you know where your team is? Earlier today in the blog I had a pick-a-poll contest and (perhaps predictably) "anything Dolphins" was pretty much the winner. Thanks to all who e-mailed me topics. Even the guy who suggested a poll on health-care reform (seriously), which might have been my dullest, least voted-on poll since "Beige vs. Taupe." So here goes. Let's try something overview-y with training camp roaring close. What is your one biggest concern about the team as the season nears?

Online Surveys & Market Research

     Chad Pennington exposed!: Click here for the YouTube video of Dolphin QB Chad Pennington's cover photo shoot for SoBeFit magazine. Included are some shots of Chad shirtless and all sexy, for you ladies out there. Or men as the case may be. Or future opponents looking for bulletin-board material.

     Rosenhaus expanding kingdom?: Is Miami superagent Drew Rosenhaus expanding his kingdom beyond the NFL? Drew today Tweeted that he has been hired by Florida Panthers fans to negotiate lower season-ticket prices. Bizarre. I am launching a full investigation! UPDATE: It was a publicity stunt by the Panthers, who already were planning to lower prices. 

     Time for Marlins to spend, not retreat: Being broomed by the Tampa Bay Rays over the weekend doesn't mean the Marlins have stopped being playoff contenders -- especially with the schedule softening a bit now. Florida needs bullpen bolstering with Matt Lindstrom on the DL for a long while, and, as we were reminded in St. Pete, could use some offensive oomph as well. This is the time for the cheap-o Marlins ownership to spend for some reinforcements. But will they? There is no good reason not to. Florida's is the lowest payroll in the bigs, and revenue sharing and TV income means Jeffrey Loria is pocketing plenty of money that could be going to bringing in help. So, c'mon, Loria. Surprise us. Open the wallet. 

     Jason Taylor takes the fifth: ESPN.com came up with a Top 25 list for NFL players this decade (because it's summer, slooowww), and Dolphin-again Jason Taylor is No. 5. Ahead of him: Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, LaDainian Tomlinson and Seahawks tackle Walter Jones. No other Fishies. Click here for the whole list. More Dolphins: Click here for a recent Ronnie Brown interview with Atlanta radio. One question not asked: Ronnie, how do you feel about the Dolphins not offering you a contract extension yet?

     Ladlylike Chrissie Evert joins anti-grunting crusade: Demure Chris Evert, Fort Lauderdale's own, has joined the civil chorus against the increased grunting and shrieking in women's tennis. Click here for the story. Women's tennis these days sounds like a cross between a childbirth delivery room and the throes of passion. Watch any women's match at Wimbledon to see for yourself. As the chair umpires like to say, "Quiet, please." It continues hilarious to me that a female player will stop and glare at the soft whir of a camera shutter or murmur of whisper from the crowd but seconds later scream "AAAHHHHNNNGGGG!!!!" as she hits the ball.

     Dwyane Wade tops locals up for ESPYs: The 17th annual ESPY Awards, one of the many ESPN conceits that amount to the The Worldwide Leader congratulating itself, happen July 19. Samuel L. Jackson will host, because evidently the even-more-ubiquitous Jamie Foxx was busy. There will be 37 categories, meaning the show will end around July 21. Nominees with So-Fla ties include Heat star Dwyane Wade (best NBA player); Palm Beach's Serena Williams (top overall athlete and best tennis player, female); Miamian Helio Castroneves* (best driver and best moment for winning Indy 500); Misty May-Treanor, wife of then-Marlin Matt Treanor (pictured; best championship performance for Olympic beach volleyball); and local-boy-made-weird Mickey Rourke (best sports movie for 'The Wrestler'). I think only Rourke will win. (*-Surprised Helio wasn't also nominated in the new category, Best Dodge of Federal Prison Sentence on Tax-Evasion Charges).

     Reaction to Madoff sentence: HAHAHAHAHA!!!: Serial swindler and dream-stealer Bernie Madoff, 71, was sentenced Monday to the maximum 150 years in prison as his financial victims cheered in the courtroom. Madoff, following a century and a half of unending abuse from fellow inmates, will be eligible for parole when he is 221, at which time his victims' cheated, grudge-bearing heirs, robbed of their inheritance, will be waiting to kill Madoff with futuristic vaporizing guns upon his release. After torturing him first.

     Heaven just became a more irritating, annoying place: Ed McMahon, Farrah Fawcett, Michael Jackson, AND NOW BILLY MAYS THE SHOUTING TELEVISION PITCHMAN!!! Mr. OxiClean has gone on to that great infomercial in the sky. They say his death at 50 could be related to a bump on the head while on a USAirways flight. I speculate it was related to depression over missing out on the coveted ShamWow account. Anyway, apparently it's true what they say: Death comes in threes, followed inevitably by a fourth. And then a fifth, if you count semi-obscure comedian Fred Travalena.

     That'll do it for now but check back. Plan to add stuff including a poll.

Comments

[r. duke]

Madoff just needs to be shot into space with a harded hypersexual San Quentin pervert with enough Cialis to last until Madoff's heart gives out. Oh ueah what heart?

[r. duke]

Oh yeah not "oh ueah" though phonetically it kinda works...

[OC Dolphin]

Hmm, that post up there looks somewhat familiar...

You're welcome Greg. Copying, indeed, is a sincere form of flattery.

----

They say that things come in threes. Last week we had three entertainment personalities kick the bucket. Today we learn that the heavily bearded, obnoxiously voiced pitchman Billy Mays dies of a heart attack. Is the Sham Wow guy next?

Posted by: OC Dolphin | June 29, 2009 at 12:55 PM

[r. duke]

Christ meant "hardened" sex criminal at 3:43 post though harded kinda works too I suppose.

[mike1]

Shadow, I'm responding to your comments made the previous blog.

Yes, per your suggestion, I did watch the pre-game show on Univision to see the muchachas. It was far better than the dry ESPN commentary; however Alexei Lalas is not bad in analysis.

Like you said, the quick 2nd half goal changed ths story. The US probably had a new strategy at half-time for the 2nd half to protect the 2 goal lead. It probably included adding defensive midfielders in place of forwards after 15 minutes or so. Good chance it would've worked. But the quick unexpected goal, confused the players as to what their game plan was supposed to be. They could've benefitted from an NBA style timeout to devise a new plan. Instead, they went into the shell..the soccer version of the NFL's Prevent defense, which fails 50% of the time.

I will point out that the refs continue ot be generous to top teams like Brazil, in every game, except when the elite play each other. If there had been consistency in officiating which resulted in expulsions of 3 US players in the tournament, than 2 Brazilians should've been ejected prior to the disallowed goal. Meto's 2nd foul was definitely of yellow caliber; the ref knew it, and didn't want to prevent the world's team from having a chance at winning.

That's what irks me the most is the favored officiating. You'll point out the disallowed goal; but that's a different story. The ref did not see it. If he had, like in the Egypt game where they illegally used a sideline TV monitor to Brazil's favor, he would've given it to Brazil.

[hande]

I thought that the revenue sharing and TV income was meant to be used so that the clubs in the smaller markets could compete on the field by using the money to aquire better players?

silly me

[ginrai]

Heaven is very pleasant ,and it is much better than being on earth. Jesus gives everyone a chance to make it to Heaven but unfortunately not everyone makes it there. Jesus said the wealthy rich don't make it to heaven, while an innocent child does make it to heaven. Jesus knows best cause he runs the show there ,and someday on earth.

That soul is very fortunate that makes it to Jesus' kingdom of Heaven. Only Jesus knows and that soul knows if that soul is pardoned by Jesus. It's very hard to make it to heaven.

[r. duke]

ginrai ginrai.. I'm speechless and that's pretty rare.

[r. duke]

ginrai be honest. You're putting us all on right?

[r. duke]

Actually Sham Wow guy will end up in a Mental Institution before keeling over OC.

[r. duke]

Hey there's some hooded chap at the door a Mr. Reaper with a rather large scythe. He says there has been some type of accident and wants to know if he can in and use the telephone...

[r. duke]

"if he can come in..." Cote you need to set up edit system beyond previewing. Some sites let you post and give you option to edit after the fact. It's not like I have Penguin Books editor proof reading my posts before they're f***ing submitted yah know.

[OC Dolphin]

duke,

Not 100% on who is circulating his home movie. This is either Tom or Jimbo, not sure.

http://www.hulu.com/watch/57938/saturday-night-live-wii-guys#s-p1-sa-i0

[Noel]

They should take the c@ckmeat sandwich guy out of Guantanamo Bay and send him to Madoff's cell.

[Jimbo]

Hey OC, that video had to come from Tom, never saw it till now.

Noel, most likely Madoff will be separated from predatory type population in prison.

what does 150 yrs signify? give him life or even 25 yrs and he will die of old age in the slammer.

ginrai has been sipping the alter wine again. Seriously tho, are you a 40 yr old alter boy ginrai? the "children of the corn" called and they want U back.

[david in los angeles]

hey cote.. it"s pretty amusing hearing the closet-fascists on the blog bemoan madoff, but not the reason he was able to do what he did: 28 years of republican sponsored deregulation!

[anti-christ]

Lil ginria, are you talking about your home planet???? Luckily for bernie cruel and unusual punishment is not allowed or he would be sentenced to 6 weeks in a small room with lil ginria, now that beats a 150 year term...

[Rick]

I did not want him to die but I am relieved that I won't have to run to turn the volume down when one of his commercials comes on. Life just got a little more pleasant.

[Jimbo]

fascist? how about a truly free society. that what some of us seek. you may think I'm some type of redneck david.. if so, this redneck ain't hurtin financially. your kind can't blame bush forever.... oh, but they will.

bernie madoff is the fault of the republican party? lol. didn't his clients have the sense to check into this guy before the big investments? no background checks, no tracking the investments themselves? what about that little deal down in arkansas involving shady real estate, CLINTONS, rose law firm and people in the know being murdered? that episode sparked the movie "the firm".
besides, the federal government is running the biggest "PONZI" scheme in the world.. under the cloak of "Social Security". Feds can't sell stamps for a profit and they take over GM and major banks?

[Jimbo]

david, seriously, out of about 30 of us on here, there must be at least 20-25 that are conservative. That leaves you with Cote and a of handful others,,, particularly ginrai

even Kurt who argues just to argue isn't liberal. I likened him to some libs a while back and he came back with the insults.

[Jimbo]

you got $ invested david??
401, tax defferred Roth IRA?

your political people have their eyes on them. cofiscation, turn over to Soc Sec and give a whopping 3% return. how? fear. promises of safe, secure investment. reality? they see a $85 billion nest egg that is hands off to the government and they a piece of the pie.

[Dave in VA]

Billy Mays dead! I haven't gotten over Jacko yet! Jesus H, who's next???

[OC Dolphin]

Guys,

Particularly you Dave, and Flipper, duke, Jimbo and shadow. Looks like a fairly interesting movie coming right around the corner.

http://www.apple.com/trailers/sony/itmightgetloud/

Excuse me while I run over to my garage with coke bottle in hand to make me an electric guitar!

[r. duke]

OC that was funny. I love Alec Baldwin. Remember "Canteen Boy" skits with Adam Sandler where perverse Baldwin would be trying to hit on Sandler's character by having him rub lotion on his nude hairy chest...Then there was PBS skit in which Baldwin is host between two boring syphisto type women talking about his holiday chocolate sweaty balls.

[r. duke]

OC that looks like a great flick. I had a guitar teacher "breifly" who said the device Udge uses to get that unique sound is not as "easy" to use as you might think. But really what a great idea and Page despite his age still sounds like he has plenty of gas in the tank. I can't wait to see it. Very cool idea. I think live Daze and Confused from Song Remains the Same will always be among my mindblowing favorites.

[r. duke]

Jimbo it took longer for that brilliant mathmatictian to convince powers that be that Madoff was running PONZI scheme than it did for him to realize Madoff was running PONZI scheme. I think within first five minutes of mathmatician reviewing friends portfolio he was like, "These numbers can't be right. This is a PONZI scheme."

[Jimbo]

Dave in VA. rumor on here has it that Sham Wow peddler could be next. Billy Mays was annoying to see on TV.

Dave, you go down to Va Beach at all? For 2 summers I was there 3-4 days a week during the summer season. Never went to Busch Gardens or Williamsburg tho, missed out.

Dolphins poll. I sat and pondered what to select as a weakness on the team. Question marks.
QB- Is Pennington going to be healthy? If so, no questions. If hurt, questions a plenty.
RB- Is Ronnie going to be healthy? He is now. That guy can be top 3 RB talent in the league. Ricky will realize that he is suddenly too old. He can still come in and take some carries and maybe start back to back games but... not much more.
OL- Strong at most of the positions, G's are still unanswered.
DL- Youth movement. Unproven talent. Fergie at NT is on fumes, if he goes down it could get ugly.
LB- no issues at all
DB's- Could go either way. With infusion of young potential talent drafted at CB & S, they could be set for at least 5 yrs back there.
Special teams- K&P are ok, return game needs to improve.

Overall this team isn't weak in one particular area nor is it overwhelming either. Kinda in the mold of the old up and coming NYGiants team that Parcells molded. Team football is not signing everyone elses used up stars to look good to the average fan.

Expect the Dolphins to end up battling Patriots for AFC East title.

The entire division is getting better.
Patriots have had a killer offseason, manipulated the draft to get a bunch of new talent in the 2nd and 3rd rds. Hate that team but they deserve their due.
Bills also have great offseason. TO is going either help or kill them.
Jets getting Sanchez? Who knows how that will play out. I think he has what it takes but the whole team needs to help him. He will find this part out... USC has superior talent vs all opponents, basically the favorite ALL the time. The Jets aren't top talent,, more like bottom feeders. If he can endure and not get ruined physically and mentally the first 3 yrs, he could be a franchise QB.
Dolphins got a tough road ahead but seem poised to contend with anyone, even Indy, Pitt.

[r. duke]

That which does not kill our beloved Dolphins will make them stronger Jimbo. I think Packer linbacker extraordinare Ray Nitschke said that...

[r. duke]

Speaking of giving someone their due. Dark side of Kurt my sick wife thought your sick MJ joke was hilarious.

[OC Dolphin]

Nitschke, nitchie. Close enough.

[OC Dolphin]

Nietzsche.

[Dave]

Barry Bonds to Marlins for minimum.

[r. duke]

OC that was Frederick I believe, famous German linguistic philosopher that get this ginrai and I quote said, "God is dead." Ah he also went mad with syph. He was said to have been sickly much of his life poor litte giant German philosoper.

[Jimbo]

Ray Nitchzke, the Packer, the poet. what a guy.

[r. duke]

Huh another post bights the dust.

[r. duke]

Well I'll try once more. Watch it will show up twice. Hmm. That's what makes the Germans/Austrians so goddamn fascinating. They gave the world among greatest philosophers, physicists, musicians and ah automobile manufacturers. From those lofty brilliant & creative heights I guess there was no place to go but down, down, down, down into the bowels of human depravity and evil. Hey but they seem on their way to making quite a comeback. However as Churchill(?)said, "Best to keep the Germans at your feet or they'll soon be at your throat."

[r. duke]

christ Bites the dust and Cote this uneditable after the fact post sucks.

[r. duke]

Jimbo everytime I see Sham Wow guy I think There but for the Grace of God go I...

[Shark74]

Come on now Cote, my suggestion for a poll on health care reform would not have been as off the wall as some of the crap polls you have put out there. Whether you believe it or not you have some very intelligent participants on this blog. You would realize that if you read the blog yourself and see that we sometimes bring up subjects of the like ourselves.

[OC Dolphin]

So Sharkie,

Cote didn't go for your poll topic, eh? Don't feel bad, he turned down mine as well. I suggested one for voting on the best possible brand name and packaging of a new soil improvement product I'm introducing into the marketplace. It's essentially 40 gallon bags of 100% horse manure.

A. "Pelosi Pellets"
B. "Barney's RECTO-Fill Mix
C. "Barack's Barnyard Booty Bounty"

Guaranteed To Spread Socialism Wherever Spread!

[OC Dolphin]

Make that: "Grow Socialism Wherever Spread."

[r. duke]

My God Cote is still dreaming of Micheal Vick. Amazing. I'd rather have George Plimpton.

[mike1]

No, soccer will never be prime here (compared to baseball, I am clueless; nothing more boring that baseball). But it has come a long way. I've been following it since the 70's, and even I think that many facets of the sport could use a renovation; just as Pro Football kept evolving to make it more offensive and officiating a little better. Traditionalists will continue to have their way; and block efforts to make it the ultimate best sport.

However, interest has been improved over the years and there has been the occasional high moment.

1. Most people know what the World Cup is. Back then, they did not.

2. So far, the largest ticket sales for next year's World Cup has been USA.

3. All 64 World Cup games are carried on TV, in two languages.

4. Every US qualifying game and almost every friendly is carried live.

5. Basic cable often includes other tournaments, such as Euro Champions League, UEFA Cup, Euro Nation's Cup.

6. There is a cable channel devoted entirely to soccer, Fox Soccer Channel.

7. The US women's victory in 1999 had almost as high TV ratings as did the average of the NBA Finals, which inluded a NY team I believe.

I've come to learn over the years, that the World Cup is futile for most countries. The recognized elite 5, always get the officiating breaks to allow at least two of them to make the Final. No one else has a chance. Many countries are too small to compete. However, I believe the US is one of the few that will have a chance at the title one day.

[OC Dolphin]

mike1,

"Fox Soccer Channel!?" Tell me, do they only show right foot scores?

[r. duke]

Look we need a mauling brutal power running game that makes defenses want to hurry back to their bench.

[Jimbo]

Duke, your right again.

I have seen the love between Cote and Vick blossom into something carnal. But, me being the diplomatic person that I am, well, didn't want to spoil his fun. What is it with Cote and Vick?

Better watch your step OC, one of the socialist viewers on here will start calling you bad names. They are only looking for your best interests anyway.

News reports that Donte Stallworth had THC in his blood when he drove over Paco. Think the NFL Commisioner is inclined to give him a second chance now? A few yrs ago Stallworth was an up and coming WR with the Saints. Gets nice $ contract as a free agent and his level of play levels off. Maybe if he had the desire to improve his game like a Jerry Rice he wouldn't have dug himself into this mess. One man lost his life and the other is lossing his livelyhood.

Mike1 & any other soccer fans. Your sport doesn't get the exposure in the States that it does outside US. More young people here are playing it and the interest should increase. This country already has Football, baseball, basketball, hockey, others less so. The sports fan relates the sports to different seasons of the yr. Most of us don't hate it, just don't follow it. It seems like a good clean sport that takes exceptional stamina and talent.
I take in female mud wrestling occasionally at a local strip....er,, I mean indoor arena.

[the shadow knows]

mike1,

sorry for the delay in responding, but i was in the air on the way to the Holy Land.

glad you caught the pre-game show- a hoot as always.

as mentioned, the last hour of the game was all brazil. the fast break that resulted in the usa's 2nd goal was a terrific play, and i was expecting more orfr that in half number two. the united states does not have the physical stature to close off the goal. the rough play of the europeans will still dominate the less than physically opposing gringos; especially the eastern europeans who are not into fancy, as spain is. the telling game in mexico city will inform us of where the usa stands- even though they are basically o for mexico, they should thoroughly dominate los tri even away.

[the shadow knows]

boys,

45% of the voters are concerned about the passcatchers. the team drafted two cornerbacks- i would be more concerned about the coverage than the passcatchers, especially when the qb has a weak arm, one good for the likes of #15, anthony fassano and other short passcatchers.

[david in los angeles]

please.. speaking of social security, wasn't it the morons in YOUR party that wanted to put the whole lot of it in the stock market? boy that sure would've worked out great. spare me. it isn't bush. it's the republicans mostly, with some help from the democrats. if you truly wanted a "free society", you wouldn't continually vote for parties that CONSTANTLY put the needs of corporations over those of the people. end of story. but then again, what do you care? you aren't "hurting financially".. lol

[david in los angeles]

oh, and one more thing.. who care what the majority of you guys are politically? thank god the founders of this country weren't conservative, or we'd still have the king or queen of england to answer to. in fact, you cannot name ONE SINGLE MOMENT in this country's history where conservatives haven't been on the wrong side. i dare you..