[Our recent Twitter followers include WPLG sports guy Will Manso, the Florida Marlins and cookbook author Beverly Mills. What do they know that you don't? Twitter.com/gregcote]
New evidence that Kobe still the greatest: Lakers take Game 1 of the NBA Finals over Orlando in L.A. last night on the wing of Kobe Bryant's 40 points. Interesting dynamic at play here. Kobe hears all this fan and media chatter about how he's no longer the best. Hears that LeBron "King" James has taken over. Hears that Dwight "Superman" Howard is the man now. Heck, if he's listening in So Fla, he even hears that Dwyane Wade may be better. I thought with his performance last night that Kobe Bryant was pretty much telling everybody that -- even in his 13th season and turning 31 in August -- he might still be better than anybody. Take a dip in our poll, and, Heat fans, try as best you can to be honest, OK?
(By the way, Wade suing his former business partner for $100 million will come as no surprise to readers of this blog. Click here for our Feb. 11 post on that).
Pennington, Porter are Dolphins co-MVPs: QB Chad Pennington and LB Joey Porter were announced as Dolphins' co-MVPs for the 2008 season at a media brunch today at Joe's Stone Crab, one of my favorite restaurants. Pennington also won the leadership award, while LB Akin Ayodele (community service) and RB Ronnie Brown (courage) also were winners. By the way, since I had a conflict and was unable to attend the brunch at Joe's, anybody in the media who did is a [bleep]ing, soul-selling whore!
Bulletin: Another Mourning dawning: Alonzo and Tracy Mourning announced last night they are expecting their third child. Congrats! Good people. By the way, there is a hip-hop song out called "I'm a Zoe." Apparently "Zoe" is street-slang for gangsta or some such. Say it ain't so, Zo!
Overlooked 'boutique' column begs readers: People sometimes ask how I go about choosing column topics. It varies. Sometimes it is event-driven. Sometimes it is imagining what people want to read. Other times it is what interests me. Today's column -- click on Calvin Borel -- fits the latter category. I know a column analyzing the Dolphins' backup long-snapper situation would have been be better-read (anything Dolphins sells itself in this market), but this is a tale, on the eve of the Belmont, that I find worth telling.
Former Mullet King rolls 300: Congrats to Giants pitcher Randy Johnson on his 300th victory yesterday. He may be the last in our lifetimes to do it. No? Then click on this list of active wins leaders and tell us who else might? (See! Nobody).
Ralph Wilson taps Chris Berman: Buffalo Bills founding owner Ralph Wilson, 90, has selected profusely sweating, madly gesticulating ESPN punster Chris Berman (left) to deliver his Hall of Fame induction speech in Canton this year. Which may answer once and for all whether Wilson still has all his faculties.
OBAMA PUPPY ATTACKS REPORTER'S MICROPHONE, IS PUT TO SLEEP
Washington, D.C. (Faked-Up News) -- I mean the reporter, not the puppy. (Click here for story and video on the lovable antics of First Dog Bo).
Sammy Sosa set to retire: Sammy already sort of was retired via universal lack of interest in him, but announced in Santo Domingo that he plans to make it official. Thus will begin the five-year clock until he is first eligible to be denied entry into Cooperstown because of a widely held belief that he was in the steroids wheelhouse circa Mark McGwire/Rafael Palmeiro/Barry Bonds. Said Sosa: "I will calmly wait for my induction to the Baseball Hall of Fame." Hey, good luck on that, Sam! (Pictured left, the cover on baseball saviors McGwire and Sosa that Sports Illustrated might like to have back).
Blog exclusive that nobody cares about!: Been told that Parade magazine's yet-to-be-announced 2009 boys' and girls' high-school All-American soccer teams will include two local boys, Hasani Sinclair of American Heritage and home-schooled Stefan Jerome, and with one girl, Kelsey Wys of Douglas.
Houston? We have a problem: Word is out that on Sept. 1, warbler-turned-druggie Whitney Houston, once the hottest thing in pop music but now a high-mileage has-been at 45, prepares to drop her first new CD in seven years. And iiiiiiiiii-eeeeeiiiii-eeeeeiiiiiiiiii don't give a crap.
Man sues strip club, risks lifetime of ribbing from friends: Click on Dangers of Nude Dancing for the harrowing tale.
Love,
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THE TRUTH BE TOLD KOBE HAS ALWAYS EXEMPLIFIED WHAT A GREAT PLAYER STANDS FOR AND DEFINES. HE HAS NEVER LET PETTY JEALOUSIES DISRUPT WHO HE IS. I HONESTLY FEEL HE HAS MORE THAN PROVEN HE IS THE MOST VALUABLE PLAYER THIS YEAR, BUT FROM ALMOST THE BEGINNING OF THE SEASON IT WAS OBVIOUS THAT LEBRON JAMES WAS BEING CROWNED AS MVP. LEBRON JAMES IS AND EXCEPTIONAL PLAYER BUT THE TRUE MARK OF SUCCESS IS NOT HOW SUCCESSFUL YOU ARE, BUT HOW SUCCESSFUL YOU MAKE OTHERS. DURING THE PLAYOFFS AND JUST BEFORE THE PLAYOFFS BEGAN I NOTICED ON MANY OCCASSIONS WHEN COACH JACKSON TOOK KOBE OUT, SHORTLY AFTER THEY WOULD USUALLY LOSE THE LEAD IN FACT IN ONE GAME WHEN THEY WERE PLAYING THE DENVER NUGGETS. KOBE WENT TO THE BENCH WHEN THEY WERE LEADING BY ELEVEN POINTS. IN LESS THAN THREE MINUTES COACH JACKSON HAD TO PUT HIM BACK IN BUT BY THAT TIME THE ELEVEN POINT LEAD WAS GONE AND THEY WERE DOWN BY ONE AND IF I'M CORRECT. THEY LOST THAT GAME. THIS YEAR HAS ALSO BEEN AN I NTERESTING YEAR DURING THE PLAYOFFS. I CAN'T EVER REMEMBER A TIME WHEN IT APPEARS AS THOUGH MORE PLAYERS ARE INTENTIONALLY TRYING TO INJURY KOBE BRYANT, REGARDLESS OF THE FACT THIS MAN HAS A WIFE AND CHILDREN WHO DEPEND UPON HIS INCOME. I PRAY TO GOD HE REMAINS SAFE. KOBE IS O NE OF THE FEW PLAYERS WHO WHEN HE IS ON HIS GAME. HE IS JUST PURELY UNSTOPPABLE. I REALLY THINK MICHEAL JORDAN WAS AWESOME, BUT IF I HAD TO CHOSE. MY PICK WOULD BE KOBE BRYANT. HE HAS TWO OF THE YOUNGEST STARTERS EVER FOR A FINAL ON HIS TEAM AND NO DISRESPECT TO COACH JACKSON, BUT IT'S OBVIOUS THE MAIN MOTIVATOR FOR THOSE YOUNG PLAYERS IS KOBE. THE SAD THING ABOUT KOBE IS IT'S NOT SO MUCH THE INVISIBLE THAT TRIES TO STOP HIM, BUT THE INVISIBLE, THE SECRET THOUGHTS OF THOSE WHO CONTINOUSLY TRIES TO CONSPIRE TO SABOTAGE WHAT HE DOES AND STAND FOR. HE IS A TRUE CHAMPION AND A TRUE CHAMPION NEVER LET WHAT OTHERS SAY STOP HIM. THAT'S THE REASON DAVID CONQUERED GOLIATH WHEN ALL OTHERS DOUBTED HIM. NO KOBE IS NOT ARROGANT, BUT JUST CONFIDENCE. THAT'S THE KIND OF BACK UP ANY PERSON WOULD LOVE TO HAVE.
Posted by: RICK THE TRUTH SPEAKER | June 05, 2009 at 11:30 AM
I thought Obama was about as smart as his dog.....I was wrong, the dog is more intelligent.
Posted by: Dave | June 05, 2009 at 11:46 AM
boys, what a choice for the all-time lakers team: which two of jerry west, magic johnson, and kobe bryant do you take? or do you opt for a line-up of the three guards, elgin baylor and kareem abdul-jabbar, which sounds like the way to go. and please don't include as a factor the notion of championships won- west would have won plenty except for the greatest dunasty in team sports- the celtics, winners 11 out of 13 years in the late 50s and 60s.
Posted by: the shadow knows | June 05, 2009 at 01:30 PM
I'll be the first to weigh in on the strip club story because the only place I'd rather be than a sporting event is a strip club. The manager is obviously lying. I think this girl must have been dancing and kicked the guy accidentally in the head. He may have leaned too far in while she was spinning on her butt.
However it occurred, the manager gives it away when he says the man slapped the dancer very hard on the behind, she kicked him, and the man left and came back and had a beer. EEEHHHHHH!! There's the lie detector going off. There is NO strip club that will let you abuse a dancer and come back in and have a beer.
The girls have to be protected in these joints, and if he slapped her hard enough that she took exception and kicked him, the manager would ask the man to leave, not continue serving him. I hope this guy wins his suit. It sounds like an accident happened, and the manager panicked and concocted a story.
Posted by: Bruce | June 05, 2009 at 03:22 PM
Flipper is as brilliant as Dumbya. Only when pigs fly.
Posted by: ginrai | June 05, 2009 at 04:01 PM
No question I want Dwyane Wade for a game 7. I am a Heat fan and some may say I am biased...but I can back it up. First off..what he did in the 2006 finals was unbelievable. The Heat were in an 0-2 hole and Wade simply WILLED this team back. How about 42 pts and 13 boards in game 3? With 15 coming in the 4th under a furious rally. And he brought them back from the dead in game 5 (another unbelievable finish). The finals performance by Wade even wowed Jordan. So Wade has come up big before..and without the kind of support Kobe has had. Also, Wade really improved his range this yr and I think is the best shooter out of him, Kobe, and Lebron. He shot a higher fg % than both of them in 08-09. AND he is doing this at 6-4 when Lebron and Kobe have a good 4-6 inches on him. Wade is flat out raw.
Posted by: Alex | June 05, 2009 at 04:43 PM
Kobe may have scored 40 last night but it took 34 shots. Am I supposed to be impressed with that? As of right now, Wade has carried a team to a championship and Kobe has not. Wade was a much better player than Kobe the entire season. The numbers do not lie. I want Wade in a game 7.
Posted by: justin | June 05, 2009 at 06:55 PM
cote is a douche.
Posted by: TheChampionUnderdog | June 05, 2009 at 10:40 PM
yawwwwwwn
is it football season yet???
Posted by: Jimbo | June 05, 2009 at 11:06 PM
Kobe needs to get over this new rape face he puts on every time he scores, its scary especially given his past.
Posted by: D2183 | June 06, 2009 at 02:07 AM
OMG a poll on kobe. This is worse than the "futbo" discussion here the other day. My vote is Kobe is an ahole not worthy of discussing here and basketball makes me ill.
So to get us back on track, I thought I would start another topic. Whdadyathunkaboutthis?
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/bizarre/2466793/Kelly-Brook-poses-in-sexy-lingerie-to-promote-her-perfume-Vivacious.html?enlargePopup=true
Don't worry ginrai I haven't forgotten about you. Here you go my befuddled friend, a smorgasboard of ample delight. bon appetit ginrai
http://www.ebaumsworld.com/pictures/view/653357/
Posted by: Tom | June 06, 2009 at 08:08 AM
Once again Tom, your posted what I was going to say. Lets just say sometimes I think You, Duke, Dave & I went to different schools together.
Posted by: Jimbo | June 06, 2009 at 10:58 AM
R.I.P. Weedhopper. I ain't talking Ricky Williams either.
Posted by: Jimbo | June 06, 2009 at 11:01 AM
zoe means that he is a Haitian
Posted by: jsmooth | June 06, 2009 at 12:32 PM
Hey Kobe is great but he's no James Worthy regardless of statistics right Dan...
Posted by: r. duke | June 06, 2009 at 03:34 PM
I wonder why Ralph Wilson doesn't get The Juice for his HOF induction speech.
Posted by: r. duke | June 06, 2009 at 03:36 PM
Juice could wear his Bruno Magli shoes to HOF and try to get back more of his stuff. Doesn't HOF have one of his Bills jerseys?
Posted by: r. duke | June 06, 2009 at 09:36 PM
Well-well-well, I see the fake Ginrai has arrived. So what's up Patty Puke??
I think Porter and Crowder are ready for the sissy, cheatin' Pats this coming season.
Vegas can say anything they want about us winning 8 games this season. Who the hell cares about what a bunch mobster punks have to say..!!
11-5 record and we will repeat as AFC East Champs and win the Super Bowl. You heard it here first..!!
Bills 10-6
Pats 9-7
Jets 8-8
Posted by: Flipper72 | June 06, 2009 at 09:56 PM
Shadow I'm one oersistent bastard. Let see if I can get Elvis address right this time. This here's for the Banana and Peanut Butter Sandwich King...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xuOOqlV9Q
Posted by: r. duke | June 07, 2009 at 12:42 AM
Nope that's not it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xuOOy3ql9Q
Posted by: r. duke | June 07, 2009 at 12:44 AM
Treat Me Like A Fool, Treat Me Mean And Cruel... One last try.
http://www.youtube.com?v=xuOOy3qlV9Q
Posted by: r. duke | June 07, 2009 at 12:47 AM
ELVIS HAS LEFT THE BUILDING...Enjoy shadow.
Posted by: r. duke | June 07, 2009 at 12:48 AM
Yeah "I'm one persistent bastard." That's what I said but not what I typed...
Posted by: r. duke | June 07, 2009 at 01:00 AM
Good article on J.J. <><><><><><><><><><><>
It looks like he finally has found peace and happiness away from football. Good for him..!! <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
Now he needs to fix the rift between him and Dan and that embarassing play-off loss to the Jags that turned out to be the last game for both of them.
Lakers will school the Magic and win their 15th NBA Title. The Magic is too young and inexperienced to compete with the likes of Kobe and company.
Rex Ryan is talking smack about the Jets having the best Defense in the NFL. Pats are talking smack about the Fins having a weak schedule last year and being lucky winning some close games. They feel like they are the better team and will make another Super Bowl appearance. It is barely June and we are already hearing all of this crap surfacing. I mean T.O. hasn't even opened up his mouth yet regarding how good Buffalo is and what the hell they plan on doing? I think that Porter and Crowder have every right to be pissed off at these pukes for popping off before the pre-season even starts. Every AFC East Divisional Game this year, is going to be a WAR...!!!
I believe that the Dolphin Defense is going to be intense in every area. The weakest will be our secondary but only because they haven't played together but I believe the rookie aquisitions we picked up will help that unit gell a lot quicker than expected.
Our D-Line and LBs will be the strength of our D. In other words, I believe that we will lead the league in QB sacks this year.
This will take pressure off the secondary.
Our Offense will be a lot better than expected and Ted Ginn will finally have his break out year that everyone expected he would have last year. The Wild Cat will have some new weapons and twists and our points per game will go way up. Ronnie, Ricky and Cobbs will make our running game unstoppable. I think the most important thing is that we are going to avoid serious injuries to any of our players and will reach the play-offs peaking at a high level.
This will help us make a Super Bowl run in which we will win it all and finally bring another Lombardi trophy back to South Florida- after the long drought that we have suffered.
Brady will suffer another serious injury this year and put the Pats behind the
8-ball..!!
The Jets will self destruct like they always do because of their lack of Offense.
The Bills will compete and make the play-offs.
The Miami Dolphins will be Super Bowl Champs after it's all said and done!!
Posted by: Flipper72 | June 07, 2009 at 12:39 PM
Why is Rick the Truth Speaker yelling throughout his entire post???
WTF..!!
WE HEAR YOU RICK BUT PLEASE STOP YELLING!!
MY EARS HURT AFTER THAT LONG WINDED POST!!
Posted by: Flipper72 | June 07, 2009 at 12:42 PM
Where is Naples Jack?
Come out Jack and lets talk some football!!
Posted by: Flipper72 | June 07, 2009 at 12:42 PM
r.duke,
MADTV had some unbelievably great writers and performersan; any of their elvis skits make for excellent viewing and are a hoot. thanx
Posted by: the shadow knows | June 07, 2009 at 01:59 PM
Worst predictions in history:
The 13 colonies in the New World could never beat mighty England in a war.
TV is just a fad.
Humans will never live past the age of 50 years.
Microsoft will never make it as a company.
New Coke will surpass Original Coke.
McCain will defeat Obama with ease.
Miami will win the SuperBowl in 2009.
Posted by: Flipper is a duche bag | June 07, 2009 at 06:46 PM
Nice to see you again Flipper72. Keep posting away my friend.
Posted by: Jimbo | June 07, 2009 at 10:57 PM
Flipper72- Good to see you in mid season form. I have been on the road for 2 weeks, went to a reunion, and going to a graduation. New England weather has been awful, rain and cold. Pats start training wed. with all troops ready to go!!! Get ready FLIPPER, THE PATS ARE READY TO GO!!!!!!!
Posted by: naplesjackpatsfan | June 09, 2009 at 03:01 PM