What should a Marlins fan do? (with poll); plus Al Golden admits frustration, Fireman Ed, Heat's test, UM's Morris wins SOPY, NFL pix 'n fantasy & more

[1) It is WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 28. See results of latest Dolfan Satisfaction Meter poll in blogpost directly below this newest one. 2) Join us on Twitter @gregcote]

R.I.P., Sean Taylor: Remembering the former Hurricanes and Redskins safety on this week's fifth anniversary of his murder, Nov. 27, 2007.

WHAT SHOULD A MARLINS FAN DO?: It has been two weeks now since the Marlins' latest big salary-dump/sell-off, the one that felt like a betrayal and seemed to be the last straw for so many angry fans. Sports-talk phone lines and Internet comments bulged with outrage. Threats of boycotts were floated. A hilarious local poll found club owner Jeffrey Loria only slightly more popular in Miami than long-standing diablo Fidel Castro. We can all agree that Loria has earned his unpopularity with a history of ownership that suggests his own pocket has clear priority over his team or its fans. Two weeks later, though, as we reflect, how should disappointed Marlins fans move forward? What is the right course of action for someone who might both despise Loria and yet wish to support the hometown team? Is it right or even possible to separate the two -- to continue to cheer for the Marlins without feeling hyprocritical for, in effect, supporting Loria? I personally feel the Marlins are bigger than the current owner and that fans can support a team while simultaneously abhorring the way it is being run. But I may be wrong. Difficult questions. So let's take a shot at some answers. Vote and say why you feel as you do.

"Q-U-I-T, QUIT!": FIREMAN ED QUITS THE J-E-T-S, JETS!: Jets superfan Edwin Anzalone, best known as "Fireman Ed," has hung up his helmet, and I'm not sure what makes this story more ludicrous: That it would somehow be national news. Or that it's so predictable that this dude's "retirement" will be temporary. "I will attend games as usual, just not as Fireman Ed," he said. OK, whatever. Meantime we shall miss your angry face and abject sadness as an iconic, Dolfan-delighting symbol of Jet futility. Hey, maybe Tim Tebow can put on the helmet and become Fireman Tim! He isn't doing much else.

HOW GOOD ARE THE HEAT?: Seems like a dumb question, right? They're the NBA champs. They're 10-3. Of course they're good. Very. But are they repeat-champion good? There is not early unanimity on that. Miami is 23rd in defense, allowing 100.3 points per game. They are only fourth (for what it's worth) in the latest ESPN power rankings, after Memphis, the Knicks and Oklahoma City. So the next two games could be telling for the Heat -- an opportunity to reiterate their champ's standing, or feed the quiet doubts. San Antonio is here Thursday and then Brooklyn Saturday, two teams a combined 21-7.

UM'S GOLDEN ADMITS FRUSTRATION OVER POSTSEASON BAN: Canes coach Al Golden admitted to WQAM's Joe Rose that frustration over the university's self-imposed postseason ban related to the NCAA investigation was at its worst in the lockerroom after the victory over Duke, describing the team's attitude thusly: "We should be getting ready to play Florida State in Charlotte [in Saturday's ACC championship game]. We've got one of the hottest quarterbacks in America and we can't got to the championship game. It's disappointing." Golden also again brushed aside speculation he might leave, and voiced support for embattled defensive coordinator Mark D'Onofrio. (For more on what Golden meant by "one of the hottest quarterbacks in America," see below...)

CANES' MORRIS WINS 2012 SOPY AWARD, THE "STATE HEISMAN": This year our blog debuted the State Offensive Player of the Year (SOPY) standings, a weekly updated list of the most productive quarterbacks, running backs and receivers from the state's seven FBS schools: Miami, FSU and Florida, FIU and FAU, and South Florida and UCF. We declare Canes QB Stephen Morris (pictured) the 2012 winner because the two teams with one regular-season game left (South Florida, FAU) have no one within range. Our formula awards a half-point for every passing yard and one point for every rushing or receiving yard, with six points for every TD scored or thrown. We'll present our final top 20 next week. For now, the SOPY Top 10 entering Week 14:

Rank (LW)     Player, Team-pos.     SOPY Pts. Week=Year

1 (2)     Stephen Morris, Miami-qb     194.5 = 1,900.5

2 (1)     E.J. Manuel, FSU-qb     163 = 1,868.5

3 (4)     Blake Bortles, UCF-qb     145.5 = 1,597.5     

4 (3)     B.J. Daniels, South Florida-qb     DNP = 1,585.5

5 (5)     Jake Medlock, FIU-qb     DNP = 1,395.5

6 (6)     Graham Wilbert, FAU-qb     BYE = 1,392.5

7 (8)     Mike Gillislee, Florida-rb     174 = 1,316

8 (10)     Duke Johnson, Miami-rb     206 = 1,244

9 (9)     Latavius Murray, UCF-rb     111 = 1,233

10 (7)     Jeff Driskel, Florida-qb     59.5 = 1,229.5

Bubble: Mike James, Miami-rb, 1,119.

State of the State rankings: 1. Florida (11-1); 2. FSU (10-2); 3. Miami (7-5); 4. UCF (9-3); 5. South Florida (3-8); 6. FIU (3-9); 7. FAU (3-8).

NFL PIX 'N FANTASY: A double dose of bad. NFL predix: Went 8-8 straight-up last week (awful) despite nailing two outright upset picks on Redskins over Cowboys and Jaguars over Titans. Was 4-6-6 against the spread; two winners pushed (Texans, Falcons) and four games were off-the-board when I picked them. Fantasy: Greg's Lobos lost 124-104 despite 27 from Andre Johnson, fell to a dismal 3-9 and were eliminated from playoff contention. Otherwise a good week!

MOST-SEARCHED ATHLETES OF 2012: The top 10, in order, according to Bing: Peyton Manning, Tiger Woods, Tim Tebow, Maria Sharapova, Kobe Bryant, Serena Williams, Lamar Odom (assist to Khloe Kardashian), LeBron James, Cristiano Ronaldo and Terrell Owens.

VENDING-MACHINE CAVIAR: Three Beverly Hills-area malls now have vending machines (pictured) that dispense ultra-gourmet items including caviar -- some $500 an ounce -- escargot and truffles. Hmm. Would you think less of me if I just stuck with a Cinnabon? 

Click back. Will be updating/adding to this latest blogpost...

Comments

[I am Kazaam]

Al Golden's defense of D'Onofrio is laughable.

He 'challenges' anyone to look at D'Onofrio's record at Temple.

I challenge Al Golden to look at his record at UM.

[I am Kazaam]

Best part about Fireman Ed's retirement?

It's because he kept getting heckled by Jets fans for wearing their starting quarterback's jersey.

[Miguel Willis]

You can come up with a silly formula for a State Heisman winner, but anything that has Mike Gillislee behind six other in-state players is just asinine.

Gillislee was the 3rd-leading rusher in the nation's top defensive conference. He gashed LSU and FSU, two premier defensive programs (or so one of these schools would like to claim).

Stephen Morris is a good player. And sure, he beefed up his numbers with some video game numbers against FCS teams (I mean NC State and Georgia Tech).

But to have five other guys on this list in front of the best offensive player on a top-5 team...please...do away with this silly formula.

[Big Baby]

That's funny "Stop going to games or supporting the team until Loria is gone" they weren't going to games anyway.

[Big Baby]

Rays fans don't go either despite their success face it basball in Florida is doomed it is a failed experiment wouldn't surprise me if either team moved.

[Pepe]

It s disgusting that Golden feels D Onofrio is doing an adequate job as Miami DC.It s totally bogus and false.Who cares how he coached lowly Temple s defense.He hasn t come close to that HERE in Miami.Golden will be ousted himself sooner than later if HE keeps supporting a loser for a DC of the Miami Hurricanes.D Onofrio is just awful and cannot coach up his players...........AT ALL.

[Big Baby]

You can't make chicken salad out of chicken sh*t Pepe.

[Naples Jack]

With firemen ed retiring, who will be able to show the fans how to spell j-e-t-s ?

[Big Baby]

P-E-D-S PEDS PEDS PEDS that's the new mantra of Pats fans.

[FZB]

As for the Marlins, Baby had the best line.."fans weren't going to the games anyway"..I like "beisbol" but not like before, maybe I'll go to a game here or there but that's about it.

The Heat need to get their chit together on defense, I think we need a good ball on ball defender at the point guard position but I don't think anyone is available..

pepe and Kazaam, its obvious you two don't know too much about football, if you don't have players then your defense will suck, D'Onofrio didn't have too much to work with...The guy needs to be given a chance to right the ship

Naples Jack, I hope you have a good time here in Miami.

listen up, all you guys are acting scared like the Patriots are going to score fifty on us, I got news for you guys, we're going to beat the Patsies, guarantee.

that's right, I sait it.

[duke]

How 'bout Fireman Mark Sanchez?

[johnny]

al you people whining about golden are probably the same ones who would prefer mario cristobal for coach at UM, he had a good year with FIU didn't he

[Big Baby]

Fireman Boomer Esiason boy has he turned into a Jet homer that guy.

[Big Baby]

Better yet just put a Jet hat on all NY media members and ESPN employees and have them attend games together.

[Base Commander Ripper]

Gentlemen I don't have to tell you the way the commies er Patriots are rolling it could be the Battle of Berlin all over again.

[Base Commander Ripper]

Hell Fireman Rex would make a fine replacement for Fireman Ed who will be sorely missed lol

[Dal Maxvill]

Hows this for answer?
I had four different ticket pkgs to Marlins last season...
i will not go back to the stadium as long as
Dr. Evil and Mini-Me are running the team..

the right course of action?...hit him where it hurts....
in the ego...

[Rawpimple]

No Golden you SHOULD NOT be playing for anything with 5 losses. That is an embarrassment and no team should be rewarded. You are barely bowl eligible. Hell, Georgia Tech has to send in a petition to be able to go to a bowl game, if they lose the ACC Championship. That is a disgrace. 1 loss fine. 2 losses ok. 3 is very borderline. Anything more than that, you should be forced to stay home and not come anywhere near a conference championship game. 5 losses--gets you fired at NC State. Not Miami---they are pumped with 5 losses. They have a hot QB with 5 losses, very close to .500. I'd hate to see a cold QB for Golden.

[Rawpimple]

I don't think you need to tell fans in Miami not to attend a Marlins game, they are all doing it already. I think Miami-Dade High School football will outdraw most Marlins games next year. They need to consolidate the Rays and Marlins into one team. Both cities cant support their team.

[Rawpimple]

Caviar from a vending machine sounds sublime.

[Rawpimple]

The FSU coaching exodus begins. Stoops heading to Kentucky and Jimbo considering the Tennessee job.

More ACC coaches headed to the SEC.

The ACC may have to combine with the Big East. It's going down fast.

[Life is good!]

Whelp, another blog post up on the Miami Herald, time to troll some Miami fans into talking to me!

[FZB]

Hey pimple,

your kind of old school, don't you remember how bad your team was with the immortal Galen Hall as a HC?

I agree with you on the Canes or any other team playing in a bowl game with six losses, as for Golden, he is building the program back up and its going to take time, its not an excuse its reality, Coker and Shannon left the program in shambles and then he had that little Nevin Shapiro surprise, He is doing a very good job despite the negative recruiting and the pending NCAA sanctions.

we are very lucky to have him as our HC, its a shame a lot of people don't see it.

[Big Baby]

Nothing wrong with being a fan I like BC football but I'll never understand how people can be so passionate about major college sports it's largely a cesspool of suck up yahoo fans, sycophants and unethical goings on.

I will choose not to let my existence depend on how some 20 year old kid performs my ego is stronger than that.

Boosters are even worse what a sick world that is c'mon most of you are better than that I think or maybe not.

[Big Baby]

FZB I remember being in high school in FL. around 88 or 89' and seeing him on our campus for recruiting a blast from the past there.

[FZB]

So Baby, everyone says we're going to get ass-whupped on sunday, what do you think?

[Big Baby]

Miami 27

NE 23

[I am Kazaam]

Big Baby - did you go to Boston College? If not, there's your answer.

College football has the most passionate fans because they have a direct connection to the school, either they went there or their parents went there or they grew up in a town that revolved around the school.

[Ahhhhhhhh Life Is Good... U ?]

11-1 Sugar Bowl Bound and the Top 2013 Recruiting Class coming in...

[I am Kazaam]

OC - check this out:

http://www.oldspicesavestheworld.com/

[Big Baby]

Yeah you are right Kazaam in most of those towns there isn't a darn thing to do except watch the grass grow and worship 20 year old athletes makes sense now.

[I am Kazaam]

Haha, yea, doesn't get any better than anonymously trolling people on the internet, does it bud?

If you were actually a Gators fan you wouldn't care so much about UM. I mean, why would you, right?

[PaulyCane]

Al Golden said “our out of conference schedule was ridiculous. We played three teams that were No. 1 (Notre Dame, Kansas State, FSU).”

Note to Al. We played 8 games in the most ridiculous Conference in all of College Football. Enough with the excuses Coach.

[Rawpimple]

See that is the difference. BC football vs SEC football. The people in the Northeast don't give a crap about college football. They aren't very passionate about it. They like the pro game. I guess having the New England Patriots does that.
Same goes with the West Coast. The games are relatively boring. No one is very passionate.

The South and SEC in particular are fanatical about college football. People get into fights, get fired left and right, people die, trees die. The South is crazy about their football. Most passionate fans in all of sports.

[Life is gallo!]

Sugar Bowl bound!!

And look, the guy above, who's not me talking to myself and obviously a Canes fan since his name has the word cane in it, even admitted that the ACC is the worst conference in college football! Worse than the big east, cusa, sunbelt, mac, mwc, and wac!!!!

I'm on fire today!!!! Better hop back to that other blog and see if I can troll anyone else into talking to me!

[Big Baby]

Big Ten was awful this year also don't forget that.

[FZB]

pimple,

the people in the NE are college grads, the people in the SEC barely finished kinder-gaten.

plus they have babies with their cousins.

[Rawpimple]

Go to an SEC game. Most of the venues are incredible not to mention some beautiful women, but most of you don't care about that. Nothing compares to LSU, Alabama, Florida, Tennessee. Those stadiums are loud.

[Git Real Man]

College football has passionate fans because they are 18 -24 year old men who are very drunk and looking forward to where they will sleep on Saturday night.

College football is a figment of the media's imagination, always has been and seemingly always will be. While the "fan" watches ESPN for its sparking analysis of who deserves what, they fail to realize all the commentary is designed to do only one thing: sell ads.

[Golden is platinum]

Coach Golden is and will be the best thing to happen to the Canes in this decade.

[PaulyCane]

and 2 out of Conference games agaist the likes of Bethune Cookman and USF.

Come on Al.

[Miamifan90]

Yea! Miami plays in the worst conference in the country and played a terrible out of conference schedule to!

[OC Dolphin]

Kazaam, pretty funny stuff. The game sort-a sucks, but the Science Bear, the turkey and Mutombo are a crack up.

[the shadow knows]

MICKEY ARISON:BUTCH UP!!!!

http://miamiherald.typepad.com/gaysouthflorida/2012/11/carnival-apologizes-and-says-cruise-passengers-may-dress-in-drag.html

anyone for a (tom) cruise? the passengers previously disembarked with legionaires' disease, now they are really taking there chances!! daily worship services at the shrine to paul lynde, the first hollywood type i sighted with his "pals" at the all-american burger on melrose near la cienega; next came elton john (after he "married" that latin female) in a rolls packed full of sissies; then tom cruise in a potsche 911 driving with the two queerest looking guys with him- three guys in a two-seat convertible? don't ned to be a rocket scientist to figure that out; and i didn't watch "dallas" so i don't know the name of the actress who was sitting in the passenger side of a caddy convertible stopped at la cienega and stocker who took advantage of a just turned-to red signal to plant one on her sally the gallie pallie way down deep. growing up in LA one would see all the stars "come out"!!

[ALACHUA COUNTY LIBRARY HAS FREE INTERNET]

Rawpimple and Gallo want to be alone now, it's time for momma's nap boys!!

[the shadow knows]

BAD MISTAKE:

should have typed "taking their chances"- i am reverting to the level of high schoolers of today who have trouble with their/there/they're and where/we're/wear but get into college anyway. must have been the day spent chaperoning the 9th grade girls to "el mundo de las mariposas" in broward. needed a hit of blotter to really enjoy the fluttering colors.

[the shadow knows]

Kazaam and friends,

have the lousy stinkin jets finally wised up and realized that mark sanchez stinks, something the ole shadow was proclaiming before they even took him? he was responsible for the one loss his last year at USC (also the defense that couldn't find quiz rodgers) but SC had enough to put more than 20 points on the board against oregon state. are they actually gonna start tebow as i have been hearing/reading? and that magnificent signing of coach "at the end of the day"/3 points at a time to be their OC? woody johnson must have his head between that wife's (looks like a daughter, maybe he goes to church with mitt) pulkas when his staff lined up the dolphins former coach. i am surprised that rex and tony made it through superstorm sandy.

[OC Dolphin]

That's okay, shadow. No need to clarify. I've always excused (you're:) typos the resultant of typing on one of those small text type devises.

[Mr. Woodcock]

Dude, you don't have a clue. "The west coast games are relatively boring." The Pac 12 might not match the SEC in talent but they certainly are not boring. Their games are usually high flying affairs that many times end up in double and triple overtime contests. That style is not conducive to winning a championship but it certainly is more entertaining than the dog that LSU and Alabama put on in last year's championship game.

[Mr. Woodcock]

Rawpimple, the best thing about UF coeds when I drove up to Gainsville when I was in college was the fact that they all had false teeth that you could remove before insertion.

[the shadow knows]

Mr. Woodcock,

you tell 'em!!!!!! how about your faves, USC playing georgia drek in the sun bowl? the yellowjackets/engineers/wramblin' wreck may be bad, but monte kiffin will be lost trying to see where the ball is going in tech's option offense. if ga tech can complete ten passes they'll win by 20+.

[Lou Holtz]

I mush be conshthipated becaush for shome reashun, I can only go NUMTHER ONE!

[Big Baby]

Kazaam good point about family connections my uncle went to BC and my dad used to take me to games we would tailgate after hanging out in in my uncle's apartment near campus circa 1982 -84'.

I grew up liking Georgia as a favorite (Herschel Walker), Penn State and actually loved UM as a freshman in HS as favorites.

Liked FSU in college (sorry) and Florida after that I am all over the map but BC has stuck with me and I am thinking of going back to being a Georgia fan for some reason but BC will be number one I think I really don't care that much anymore but as a kid growing up I loved college football just don't watch much anymore.

[Huracan]

Hey you goat child, the problem with gaytords is that with a big school like yours you can't stand to see MIAMI U a private school with only 15,000 students have 5 National Championships and your Big goatie school not near that.

[Mr. Woodcock]

Frankly, I was more impressed that all the coeds up there all had false teeth. You just can't compete with that.

[Mr. Woodcock]

"Lakers, bad team man, bad *#)@*&% team, man."

[witz]

Choices offered in the Marlins survey above are simplistic. Fans can go to the games without paying Loria for tickets--just patronize the discounted secondary market outlets like StubHub et al. Bring your own food (loose fitting pants wth big cargo pockets hide contraband well)and spend as little as possible at the food stands and other concessionaires.
Take shuttles or car pool to avoid paying Loria to park your car.
Don't buy the overpriced caps, shirts etc. at the stadium; you can buy good knockoffs at low retail prices in the open market; just try to avoid anything made in China because no matter where you buy it, it's sure to be junk and likely to be poisoned.
Finally, don't buy anything sold by the team's sponsors and let those sponsors know about it. That and MLB revenue sharing are Loria's main profit sources.
Finally, try on some basic decency for size: denounce David Samson (no p in the name) all you like but don't sneer at his short stature. That's just low and mean-hearted, reducing yourself and your views to the level of a neighborhood bully.

[Big Baby]

Seriously teams have deals to sell tickets through secondary markets did you ever think thst it's not so bad to start over when your team sucks?

[Rudy]

I would agree about the whole west coast thing. I moved out to the San Fran area about 10 years ago. I am about 45 mins away from stanford and about 30 mins from Cal. I think I was living here for 3 years before I even realized Stanford was in the area. I didnt even meet a Stanford fan until being out here for 4 years. I knew about Cal a little sooner just because its actually called Cal Berkeley and Berkeley was a pretty big area. Football overall isnt really that big of a deal out here. I maybe see one bumper sticker, flag or any other football item maybe once every other month. The niners are a lil more popular right now just because they are doing good finally. But even then the hype I hear would be about the same as FIU or the marlins once you get at least 5 miles away from the stadium on any day other then sunday

[Faymous]

What Marlins fans should do at the VERY least boycott Opening Day. At least that will send a message, but really it's too late. The Marlins TEAM is bigger than their owners, so I will continue to support them by catching games on TV and reading up on the team and how they're building the farm system back up or whatever they're trying to do. But I will not spend another DIME on anything Marlins related until Loria sells the team.

That said, I would not have renewed my season tickets anyway. Turned out that I could have gotten any ticket I wanted for $1 on Stubhub, plus a $10 handling charge, and sat anywhere I wanted. Instead I paid $20 a ticket and sat anywhere I wanted.

I did, however, try and sell my new Ramirez jersey on eBay after he was traded. I started the bidding at $10 and didn't get a single bid. It still hangs in my closet, without as much as a scruff mark it's so new.

sigh :/

[the shadow knows]

Rudy (?),

CAL BERKELY??? c'mon!! anybody in my generation knows that "cal" is berkely and all the others have UC in front of their locations, such as UCLA,UCSD,UCirvine... cal doesn't need no stinkin' berkeley to be attached except by out-of-staters who don't know that berkeley is the mothership of all the UCs. have a good day!

[the shadow knows]

Kazaam,

with charles barkley calling the game on tomorow night, i might have watched except that my favorite player on the collegiate level the last few years, kawhi leonard of the "they got screwed against Uconn" SDSU aztecs is hurt i believe and won't play. steve fisher has a really grewat team that year and they were much better than Uconn who won except for that horrible game-changing technical called when one of the aztecs who was looking past the ref accidentally bumped into him. one of the worst calls, along with the "roughing the passer" that saved the dolphins sunday of the past few years.

[FZB]

Well, our 2013 schedule is out (Dolphins) and it looks "mucho tough"...

http://miamiherald.typepad.com/sports-buzz/2012/11/dolphins-get-tough-2013-schedule-barkley-on-heat-fins-canes-heat-marlins-chatter.html

[Rudy]

I only added the whole berkeley part in there because thats the only way i knew it was in this area, I and everyone else knows it as only CAL, but when driving down I80 and seeing the Berkeley signs it was only then that I knew how close to CAL I was. The point is, unless you are a student there, or a an alumni I really dont see any kind of support or excitement from the community. Heck the only thing I hear about CAL in the news or on the radio here is when there is some other hippie protest.... Like this morning when I heard some people chained themselves to a building. Yea I originally from out of state... Hence why I'm reading the Miami Herald. I was also out of state when I was in Louisiana for the first time, and I knew exactly where LSU was about 200 miles before I got near it, I couldn't go 2 or 3 miles down the highway without seeing a LSU or other team flag flying from a car. And it wasn't even football season... Same with pretty much all of the states in the south... Even worse with high school football, There is a bunch of high schools pretty close by and don't think I have ever heard anything about them. Still can't believe they play their high school football games here on Saturday mornings

[Big Baby]

So Barkley says the Heat are the favorite and that the only teams that can "give them trouble" are The Spurs, Boston and Nets no mention of LA Lakers (or Knicks Kazaam) at all not good OC not good at all.

Really tough schedule for Fins next season FZB good thing we have all of those draft picks I think we will sign D. Bowe in the offseason also if he's not franchised not sold on M. Wallace Welker will be available should be an interesting offseason for the team interest will be high lots of FA's also but I think that we are building a contender.

[Big Baby]

My bet is KC will franchise Bowe and if we want him we might have to trade for him they won't let him walk G. Jennings also available but probably not worth the money he wants.

M. Wallace seems a bit inconsistent to me maybe we just draft a WR but not many great ones available right now the kid from USC maybe highest rated right now but he will be gone might have to go FA/ trade route for WR.

[the shadow knows]

Rudy,

i believe the LA city schools still play on friday afternoons or nights. they used to be independent but i believe are now part of the CIF. there are 50+ schools in the LA system and have enough teams to have had seven or eight leagues of six to eight schools apiece. sorry if i got riled about berkely, but as stated it would take non-californians to to cal anything other than...cal. welcome to our merry blogsite and let us know what is going on in the bay area; i hate stanford (am a USC grad) but love the way they play and the low-key, brilliant coach they've got. they are gonna destroy the bruins again.

[I am Kazaam]

Barkley picked the Knicks, Pacers, Celtics, and Thunder to beat the Heat last year. Wrong every round.

[Andrew]

D'Onofrio and Golden can whine all they want about having too many young guys. The fact is that those young guys did not show one iota of improvement over the course of the season. The stunk in the beginning, they stunk in the middle, and they stunk at the end giving up 45 POINTS TO DUKE.

They'd have to improve a LOT in the offseason just to be terrible. And since they didn't improve a lick this year from week 1 to week 12, I'm not counting on it.

[Big Baby]

I would be very surprised if Barkley picked the Knicks over Miami last year that would have been just dumb same for the Pacers.

[Caniac]

Going 7-5, losing to FSU at home, giving up 45 points to Duke is now considered a successful season. As someone pointed out on here, 7-5 and beating FSU gets you fired at NC State. At Miami, it's considered a success. Now you look at the recruiting going on right now and it is pathetic. Miami recruits itself so even if you have a coach that is an average recruiter, they should be brining in a top 20 class every year. A great recruiter top 10. Miami is like 50 something. I could say the future looks bright, if Miami was in the top 10 in recruiting, but it is not even close. Instead, other schools waltz into Miami, and steal our fertile ground. This program is broken, badly, and the higher ups, including Shalala need to do something to fix it and fix it now otherwise it is going to be a real struggle to get it back.

[OC Dolphin]

BB, Most everyone who follows or professionally reports on the Lakers are waiting to pass judgement after Steve Nash recovers from injury and is able to QB the team for a few weeks. Had Buss hired Phil rather than Mike, Nash's absence would not have been a factor. But you can't take the main D'Antoni ingredient out of the stew and expect it to taste anything other than sh**.

btw, watched them lose last night against Indiana. That was the worse professional shooting game I think I've ever watched, and I've watched plenty. The only exception was of course, Kobe, who had 40 while playing with a full blown flu. All the reporters who interviewed him after the game wore Andromeda Strain garb, as Kobe could barely speak while dropping down four octaves in a phlegm filtered utter.

[OC Dolphin]

shadow, I know how much you tend to favor females of narrow eyes. The running self reference among Bruin students is that UCLA really stands for - You See Lots of Asians. They all laugh at it.

[Big Baby]

No chance OC Nash is just too old to QB that team to glory it's over sorry bud.

[green]

The math doesn't work for BC to keep out UConn anymore. ... meaning BC would have to convince 4 other universities to keep out a school that's better than itself in every respect.

Posted by: I am Kazaam | November 20, 2012 at 12:32 PM

It would be a major surprise if Louisville gets the nod over UConn.

Posted by: I am Kazaam | November 20, 2012 at 01:14 PM

http://espn.go.com/college-sports/story/_/id/8685541/acc-votes-add-louisville-cardinals

Louisville will officially join the Atlantic Coast Conference
-- espn.com

I AM SHAM

[OC Dolphin]

BB, I'm sure you feel that way, but the last time I looked, Kobe and Howard were still top five talent. Nash was second (I believe) on the season assist totals, and MWP is playing 20 lbs lighter and is currently second only to Kobe as the team's MVP.

Nash will not be the problem as much as their shortage in bench support and odd-wheel Gasol, who suddenly finds himself not knowing what to do while standing in the middle of the Daytona Brickyard while a race is going on.

[FZB]

Guten Tag,

BB, the Dolphins schedule next year won't be easy but I think we'll be much improved, on the WR situation for next year I think I'll like to see the Dolphins go after G Jennings from GB, I think he'll be a good fit even if you have to over pay him.

Oye OC, sorry to tell you but the Lakers are done, specially if they deal P Gasol, they just don't have the personnel to play the new up tempo style..I don't think you guys can get passed the Thunder or Memphis or even the Clippers..

ps- if you need a point guard we'll trade you Mario Chalmers..lol

[OC Dolphin]

FZ, "You've got to dance with them whut brung you"

[Big Baby]

OC that team is old any way you look at it FZB is probably right they might be middle of the pack in the West this year not good enough maybe an overrated preseason dream team who knows.

Judging by what you said that coupled with having no bench is a bad combination.

Plus who can possibly root for that adolescent Dwight Howard after he shot his way out of Orlando ala Shaq.

[FZB]

OC,

the Lakers big problem is not the offense, is their defense, they are going to struggle there specially at playoff time.

[I am Kazaam]

Barkley didn't pick the Knicks but he said they would either win in 6 or lose in 7.

He picked the Pacers, Celtics, and Thunder outright.

[OC Dolphin]

Suave, FZ. You know not of what you speak of. Howard has only won the Defensive Player of the Year award three years in a row 09-11, and Artest once in 04. That may be the single most "fuera de base" statement you've ever made!

[Big Baby]

Artest also won the brawl at the mall or whatever they called that thing.

[FZB]

hehehe, te gusto esa?...

[FZB]

Louisville to the ACC is a surprise, I thought it would be UConn for sure..on the plus side they have a very good basketball program and their football team is on the way up, way better than Maryland.

now we wait for ND to get on board, it will take a while but I think it will happen eventually.

[Big Baby]

OC Rajon Rondo has 37 consecutive games with double digit assists he needs 9 more to tie Magic, 10 to break the record.

[Naples Jack]

Kazaam- The only thing uconn has over BC is mens+ womens basketball. At the time BC academics was a big factor with the acc. Uconn is a cesspool as far as academics go. The fact that uconn and Colhoun in paticular tried to screw them with the big east, pissed everybody off in the acc. Like I said before, it will be tough for them to get in the acc. Having Patino, and Louisville football was a good move by the acc.

[OC Dolphin]

BB, Rondo is a very good player. He may even trump Magic's record, but he will never be better than Magic Johnson.

[Naples Jack]

Rawpimple- As far as college football and the northeast goes, forget it. Every thing in the northeast is the pro game. I get the love affair with the SEC. Great conference for sports, but a wasteland for any social life that requires you wear anything but jeans, t-shirt, and a baseball hat. You look at Philly, boston, NYC, all major pro sports, plus the theatre and fine resturants. Then you look at all the top major academic colleges there, my only worry about colleges was my 2 kids getting a top education. As for me, pro football has it over college ball.

[Big Baby]

OC you insult my intelligence by stating the obvious.

[Mr. Woodcock]

OC, you got that right about the Asians. That day we went to see Jr. at UCLA I thought we were in a Charlie Chan movie. I've never seen uglier girls in my life. I kinda felt sorry for Jr. after all he could have had his picks of campuses, and oh my word, the blond honeys he could have had had he signed up for some southern comfort at Alabama, LSU, or Old Miss. "Hi ya'll sugar pie, my my but your handsome." Instead he got "Ching Chong Chang," whatever the f**& that means.

[OC Dolphin]

Sorry, BB. That was not my intention.

Just did some curious research and found that only two players in all NBA history averaged double digit assists throughout their whole career. The great John Stockton averaged 10.5 points over 19 years, and Magic Johnson with 11.2 and his shortened 13 years of play.

If you're curious, Rondo is at 8.2 over seven years.

[Big Baby]

Naples football used to be a bigger deal in the Northeast before it became all about the money BC versus Holy Cross etc.

Now all people care about is when do the playoffs start for the Patriots and who are they playing kind of sad but a product also like you said of having 4 major sports in your town to talk about.

BC football is big to it's loyal fans but you hear zero about it on sports talk radio.

[FZB]

Oye, deja a las pobres chinas tranquilas..

When my boy was at the U (medical school) I used to volunteer to drive him there all the time (specially in the summer) and I would make sure we always passed by the pool area just to check out the scenery, those NE chicks were walking around campus half naked..

not that there is anything wrong with that.

OC, is better for your boy that there are no good looking chick's at UCLA, that way he can concentrate better in school..know what I mean?

[OC Dolphin]

Woodcock, the thing is that -typically- asian women do not end up looking like Anne Ramsey, in Throw Mamma From the Train, when they get old.

http://s3.amazonaws.com/auteurs_production/images/film/throw-momma-from-the-train/w448/throw-momma-from-the-train.jpg?1289444493

[FZB]

viagra makes you perform better ...in the football field?, this story is a bit strange...

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/11/28/brandon-marshall-says-some-nfl-players-use-viagra-as-a-ped/

[Big Baby]

Yale versus Harvard is also a big game for alums I am probably missing a few others.

[Mr. Woodcock]

BB, I told you he blew a 56 on his last IQ test. He's been trying to lobby me to add a 1 in front of the 56 for two weeks. Even that spoiled brat Trust Fund has had the dignity to stay quiet and take his 44 like a man. Man up OC and quit your belly aching.

[Big Baby]

I thought Dashi blew the 56?

[Mr. Woodcock]

FZ, all the chinks looked like Duke's girlfriend in Doonesbury.