Greg Cote's Random Evidence of a Cluttered Blog

NBA Finals poll: Heat or Spurs? And in how many? Vote!; plus Finals betting odds, Biogenesis fallout, Canes' national-title outlook, Sad-O-Meter & more

THEM'S FIGHTIN' WORDS!: San Antonio's own Big 3 is on a regional Sports Illustrated cover this week, and is labeled 'The Biggest 3.' Ouch. Take umbrage, Heat Big 3. Take umbrage and seethe. Take umbrage, seethe and be fueled.

1) It is THURSDAY, JUNE 6. Watch for Heat-Spurs Finals Game 1 preview post in the blog by early afternoon today. 2) A Panthers/Sunrise arean source told me this Saturday's Fleetwood Mac concert has been canceled. 3) R.I.P. Deacon Jones, iconic name, QB-plunderer who coined the word "sack." 4) In The Previous Blogpost (ITPB): Heat Game 7 win, List: Home Game 7s, Marlins Sad-O-Meter.

TWITTER: @gregcote. INSTAGRAM: upsetbird. VINE: Greg Cote.

"A Florida woman, Gloria C. Mackenzie, 84, has claimed that $590 million Powerball jackpot. The happiest people on Earth today? Her heirs." --Greg Cote

Click Heat: Rising for my column off team's Game 7 victory.

THE NBA FINALS POLL: HEAT OR SPURS? HOW MANY GAMES?: Yes, I know. A Heat poll appearing in a Miami Herald blog will obviously skew toward Heat fans and hardly be a scientific cross-section. Sort of like taking a favorite-fast-food survey in a McDonald's. Nevertheless! Our polls generally draw about a 50/50 breakdown of votes from Florida and from elsewhere; more than just fans of Miami teams are readers here. In addition, you all have shown an impressive ability to answer honestly when I put out a call -- as I do here -- to please vote what you honestly predict will happen, not what you hope will. Besides, it's just a blog poll! Vote and say why.

Heat, LeBron top Finals betting odds: Our friends at Bovada have Heat a 5-12 NBA Finals betting favorite, with Spurs 2-1. LeBron James is a huge MVP pick at 4-9, followed by Tony Parker 9-2, Tim Duncan 7-1 and Dwyane Wade 8-1. Series scoring over/unders include LeBron 27.5, Parker 21.5, Wade and Duncan both 17 and Chris Bosh 14.5.

MIAMI AT CENTER OF LATEST BASEBALL SCANDAL: Various reports are that stars Alex Rodriguez and Ryan Braun are among some 20 players who will be suspended by MLB for their involvement in the Biogenesis Clinic scandal. A-Rod of course is Miami-raised, Braun is a UM alum and the clinic was located in Coral Gables. This story has us written all over it. Rodriguez, near the end of what should have been a first-ballot Hall of Fame career, could see that Cooperstown future obliterated by steroids. Braun, nearer the beginning of a promising career, also will never fully overcome the stain. Sad, sad. 

CANES FOOTBALL A RISING DARKHORSE FOR NATIONALTITLE: It's funny. The Dolphins are getting the hype this offseason but the betting odds (7.5 over/under on wins) says it's unjustified. That's a non- playoff number. The Miami Hurricanes have gotten far less local hype, but these numbers suggest they merit much more: Bovada's new national-title odds have UM tied for 11th at 28-1. Alabama a big frontrunner to repeat at 3-1, then it's Ohio State and Texas A&M at 13-2 and Oregon at 7-1. (Florida is 20-1, FSU 33-1). Canes also making noise in Heisman Trophy odds, with RB Duke Johnson (pictured) at 14-1 (tie/8th) and QB Stephen Morris 25-1 (tie/15th).

Adjusted baseball odds: Also from Bovada, Tigers now the World Series fave at 13-2, ahead of Braves and Cardinals at 8-1 and Rangers at 17-2. Marlins dead-last at 5,000-1. Any takers? 

UPDATED SAD-O-METER: MARLINS BACK ON LOSING TRACK: We have this new blog feature we update as long as Marlins' winning percentage is under .300 -- as long as the New York Mets' infamous 1962 record of 40-120 (.250) is within dubious reach. Now, three straight losses have set things wrong, putting the team back near pace to challenge the Mets' loss record. Updated Sad-O-Meter: Current record, 16-44 (.267). Season projection, 43.2 wins, 118.8 losses.

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G2: Pacers 97, Heat 93: Series tied 1-1 heading to Indy because LeBron needs more help; plus A-Rod's big sale, Heath Evans is evil & more

1) It is SATURDAY, MAY 25. Happy 72nd birthday (on Friday) to Robert Allen Zimmerman, one of my musical and cultural heroes. Long live Bob Dylan! 2) In The Previous Blogpost (ITPB): A 6-pack of observations on Heat Game 1 win, LeBron unanimous All-NBA, new Heat song, Urban Beach Weekend, Sad-O-Meter. 3) Join us on Twitter @gregcote and now on Instagram at upsetbird.

Click on LeBron: Help Wanted for my column off Miami's Game 2 loss.

G2: PACERS 97, HEAT 93: LEBRON'S 36 NOT ENOUGH AS SERIES TIED 1-1: Miami was too much a one-man show last night, with LeBron scoring 36 points but not getting enough help. James' two late turnovers were crucial mistakes, but it wouldn't have come down to frantic last possessions if more teammates had stepped up to augment James' effort. Miami made only 7 of 22 three-pointers, missed eight free throws, got out-rebounded, had more turnovers and had no answers in defending Roy Hibbert, who had 29 points on 10-for-15 shooting. Original post: Whether Miami was "lucky" to win Game 1 (103-102 in OT on a last-second LeBron layup) -- undoubtedly the cry out of Indianapolis -- is irrelevant. Whether by 30 points or one, the series is 1-0 Miami. Tonight is when the claim to series control is staked. Miami must win to keep it, because Indiana will feel like it is their's if the Pacers are 1-1 heading to two straight games up there. I like Miami to protect the home court again, mainly because the Heat are unlikely to again see Ray Allen, Shane Battier and Norris Cole a combined 2-for-17. Miami needs a bench beyond Birdman Andersen, who was the team's non-LeBron MVP in Game 1. By the way, the Heat-Pacers G1 national TV rating of 8.2 nearly doubled the 4.7 average from the first two games in the Western finals. That's the power and draw of LeBron and champion Miami. Oh, and I found it funny that Indy center Roy Hibbert took to whining on Twitter about a foul committed against him by Battier, writing, "That wasn't inadvertant. Battier knew what he was doing." I would think Roy's larger complaint would be against his own coach, Frank Vogel, for illogically taking him out of the game in the final minute, a move that backfired like a 1979 pickup truck.

HEATH EVANS' DOLPHINS-BASHING A TIRED ACT: It has become apparent NFL Network analyst Heath Evans (right) has an axe to grind (left) against the Dolphins. Dolfans who didn't blink might recall Evans
barely played fullback for Miami in 2005, appearing as a reserve in six games, carrying once for zero yards. Apparently being cut at midseason is something he has not forgotten. Evans' latest tirade came Thursday on WINZ-940, when he ripped every decision GM Jeff Ireland has made this offseason, saying irrationally of No. 1 draft pick Dion Jordan, "Any time he's in the game, he's a liability." The trouble is some of us in the media treat what Evans says as newsworthy. It's drivel. The only thing newsworthy about what Evans said yesterday is that he said it on a Dolphins-owned radio show. It was like hearing the Pope booed at Sunday Mass. Evans' Dolphins-bashing has become unprofessionally personal and so tired. My suggestion for Heath would borrow from the immortal words of Pat Riley: "Shut the f--- up."

A-ROD SELLS MIAMI SHACK FOR $30 MILLION: He was neighbors with the likes of Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh and actor Matt Damon before closing on the sale Friday. Now, for all we know, poor Yankee Alex Rodriguez is on the street, homeless. The place he just sold is pictured. It is very similar to my own home, other than it being about 51,000-square feet bigger and including nine bedrooms, 11 baths, European white-oak flooring, and a zen garden, rooftop deck and indoor batting cage. Unfortunately for A-Rod, the mansion's amenities do not include a hip that works.

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G5: Heat 94, Bulls 91. Miami rallies, advances to Eastern finals!; plus Wade poll, LeBron ranked #2, bad hotel, updated Sad-O-Meter & more

1) It is THURSDAY, MAY 16.Dolphins signed former Richmond QB Aaron Corp, as third-stringer or training camp fodder. 2) In The Previous Blogpost (ITPB): Heat's Game 4 win, Heat biggest-rival poll, '14 NFL draft, Sad-O-Meter, Jackmerius Tacktheritrix. 3) Join us on Twitter @agregcote.

Click on Wade Strikes Back for my column off last night's game.

G5: HEAT 94, BULLS 91: WILD GAME LEAVES MIAMI SMILING, AND MOVING ON (Heat win series 4-1, awaits Pacers-Knicks winner): LeBron James led Miami with 23, but Dwyane Wade's last six points (of 18) were some of the biggest of the night. Crazy game. Miami led by as many as 18 early, trailed by as many as 11 in the second half but flexed championship mettle late. Eastern finals will open in Miami on Monday or Wednesday. Original post: Evidently the NBA would not allow Chicago to formally concede and forfeit, so the Bulls are here for what should be a perfunctory Game 5 whipping to end this second-round series. We know that Derrick Rose and Luol Deng are once again out for the wounded, limping Bulls and that Kirk Hinrich is doubtful. The only real mystery tonight is whether Dwyane Wade, nursing a bruised right knee, will play or sit this one out. I think he should rest. Lebron and company can win without him. The only people who want to avoid a Game 6 back in Chitown more than Heat players are Miami media members such as yours truly. No cheering in the press box, but for a lot of us it'll be a night of inwardly rooting for our own best interests. Miami would win this series even if Bulls were at full-strength, but as is, save that Game 1 abberation, this matchup has proced almost as lopsided as the Bucks series. It's been more interesting because of the technicals, ejections and bad blood, but not much more competitive. Heat end it tonight, and await Pacers-Knicks survivor.

SHOULD DWYANE WADE AND HIS RIGHT KNEE PLAY TONIGHT?: I know. I Am Not Dwyane's Knee, you are (probably) not a doctor and nobody can be certain about this question. What we know is that Wade's right knee is far from 100 percent, that he is questionable as a game-time decision to play tonight, and that rest would seem to be a pretty logical Rx. Assume that Dwyane insists to Erik Spoelstra that he can play tonight's Game 5. If you're the coach, what do you do? You vote right here! This is a Flash Poll (patent pending). That means limited-time. Voting will shut off around mid-late afternoon so vote now, and say why.

Flash Poll: Call to sit Wade tonight wins by more than 2-to-1 margin. (I think most of us may have been wrong...) Results below:

Poll result: Knicks still biggest Heat rival: We asked and you said Miami's biggest NBA rival was the Knicks at 38.3 percent, followed by the Celtics at 32.4% and Bulls at 23.2. "Somebody else" drew 6.1%. 

LEBRON NO. 2 IN U.S SPORTS EARNINGS: Sports illustrated's 10th annual "Fortunate 50," newly out, ranks the top-earning U.S. athletes for 2013 in combined salary and endorsements, and Heat megastar LeBron James is ranked second at $56.55 million. No. 1 is boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. at $90 mill. Rounding out top five after LeBron are Drew Brees ($47.80M), Kobe Bryant ($46.85M) and Tiger Woods ($40.84M). Two other Miami-area athletes ton the list are Heat stars Dwyane Wade (11th, $28.68M) and Chris Bosh (47th, $18.55M).

THE MOST DISAPPOINTING HOTEL EVER: When traveling to Chicago, may I recommend that you avoid the Congress Plaza Hotel as if it were ablaze? I stayed there for Heat-Bulls Game 4. The independent (non-chain) hotel has a rich history. The hotel has an idyllic location, off South Michigan Avenue across from Grant Park. The hotel is otherwise a monumental letdown. I felt like I had been cast into The Shining. When wondering when the hotel was last refurbished, you don't wonder what year, you wonder what decade. Rooms are in disrepair, hallway carpeting is ancient, my floor's ice machine rattled and groaned and took about five minutes to spit ice, neither boarding-pass computer worked, and I couldn't get wifi because the front desk messed up which room I was in. Oh, almost forgot: I was charged $49 for early check-in -- an outrage. I was a registered guest. My room was available. But because I wanted to check in at 10 a.m. instead of noon I wasa charged an extra $57.04 (with taxes). That is the hotel's "policy," I was told. Nightmare. (It was probably a fitting omen that I had to cross a picket line to enter the place. Seriously). When next in Chitown, I'd sleep on a cot under the L before I'd stay at the Congress Plaza again.

THE MOST LIMITED-MARKET PRODUCT EVER: A company called Game Signs produces "enhancement stickers" (see left) for the fingernails of baseball catchers so pitchers as well as sign-stealing opponents can better read the signals. This is a blog, so you know I'm not making it up! 

UPDATED MARLINS' SAD-O-METER: We have this new blog feature we update as long as Marlins' winning percentage is under .300 -- as long as the New York Mets' infamous 1962 record of 40-120 (.250) is within dubious reach. Well, four straight losses have brought the S-O-M roaring back as the season hits its one-quarter mark. Updated Sad-O-Meter: Current record, 11-29 (.275). Season projection, 45.55 wins, 116.45 losses.

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G1: Bulls 93, Heat 86: Stunner! "Our backs are against the wall now." Champs must respond; plus D-Rose poll, the man who denied LeBron & more

1) It is WEDNESDAY, MAY 8. New blogpost coming later this morning! 2) The Steelers signed an offensive tackle named Guy Whimper. That's right: Guy Whimper. 3) In The Previous Blogpost (ITPB): LeBron's MVP, updated NBA playoff odds, Dolphins' stadium loss, Tyson Clabo, Orb, media bias, Sad-O-Meter retired. 4) Join us on Twitter @agregcote.

Click on This Just Got Interesting for my column off Heat's Game 1 Heat loss.

G1: BULLS 93, HEAT 86: MIAMI FLAT AFTER LONG LAYOFF (Bulls lead 1-0; Game 2 Wednesday in Miami): Too easy to blame the rest and the rust. Too convenient. That might explain the slow start for Miami Monday, but does it also explain the Heat leading by four after three quarters and then surrendering 35 fourth-quarter points? Miami shot poorly (39.7%), got out-rebounded and maybe underestimated the Bulls' will. "Our backs are against the wall now," said Chris Bosh. "We have to respond." The backs-against-wall thing might be a bit dramatic, or at least early. But the need to respond Wednesday in Game 2 is beyond paramount. ..... Original post: The Bulls are talking the talk, but when they try to walk the walk, the walk has a limp. Can an injured, hobbled Chicago squad coming right off a wearying 7-game series stand up to a rested, reigning champion? Let's find out! Bulls will be missing both Luol Deng and Kirk Hinrich tonight, and a couple of other guys, notably Joakim Noah (foot; pictured left in an intimate moment with LeBron James) are not 100 percent. Then there's the whole missing Derrick Rose drama. Da Bulls are feisty, though, still smarting over the 2011 playoffs when Chicago was top-seeded but got bounced by Miami in five games. That's when Noah called the flashy Heat "Hollywood as hell," remember? This time around, says Bull Taj Gibson, "Words cannot express how badly we want to beat them." Added teammate Marco Belinelli, "We're not going to be scared and our mentality is to win." OK good luck with that. Fully healthy (Rose, Deng) I do think Chitown matches up pretty well, as a rugged-defending, strong-rebounding team. They can stretch this series if Carlos Boozer comes up big and Nate Robinson is hot. But the Bulls just aren't healthy. Oh, and Miami ain't Brooklyn. Series pick: Heat in 5 games.

SHOULD DERRICK ROSE BE PLAYING?: It's the question Chicagoans have been wondering, and now it overshadows this Heat-Bulls playoff series that starts tonight. Derrick Rose, star guard, had his knee surgery almost exactly one year ago and is medically cleared to play but says he is not ready. "You want that (to play), but you've got to look at the big picture," he said over the weekend. "If I'm not healthy, no way I'm stepping on the court. I'm in control of the whole process." It is not ruled out that Rose might return later in this Heat series -- but not expected. Imagine if Rose were on your team. How would you feel about his continuing caution. Vote and say why.

MEET GARY WASHBURN, PROFESSIONAL SPOIL SPORT: The Boston Globe's Celtics writer Gary Washburn (pictured) has identified himself with a story today as being the one voter, of 121, who did not cast a first-place vote for LeBron James for NBA MVP. James would have been the first unanimous winner ever if not for Washburn, who voted for the Knicks' ball-hoggin' Carmelo Anthony. Washburn made two points in his mea culpa. One was that he was surprised to be the lone wolf, thinking that Kevin Durant, Anthony, CHris Paul and perhaps Kobe Bryant all would get first-place votes. (Dear Gary: No, because everybody else but you knew who the clear MVP choice was). His second point was, "I thought Anthony was the most valuable player to his team this season, not the best player in the league." (Dear Gary: Voters every year, including 120 of 121 this year, sort of see it as a league-wide award, not a team award). I was harsh last night in the blog to call the then-mystery voter an "idiot." I don't think Washburn, whom I do not know, is an idiot. I do think he's a guy who cast a really bad vote that he'll wear like an ill-fitting suit the rest of his career.

SERENA WILLIAMS SLAMMED BY PROTEGE: Rising American tennis star Sloane Stephens, 20, calls her former hero Serena Williams, 31, a fraud who has been unkind and shunned her. Surprising stuff (click here to read), because I saw Serena as a mentor to Stephens. Not shocking, though. Serena is a real diva and I have written as much, including noting during the recent Key Biscayne tournament here that she kept a room full of reporters waiting close to an hour without a word of explanation, let alone apology.

UPDATED BASEBALL AWARDS ODDS: From Bovada, favorites as of today: NL MVP, Braves' Justin Upton 9-2; Cy Young, Dodgers' Clayton Kershaw 3-1. AL MVP, Tigers' Miguel Cabrera 2-1; Cy Young, Red Sox's Clay Buchholz 11-4.

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It's UM-UNC in ACC title game!; plus March Gladness: Early Christmas for Dolphins' Tannehill, Heat hit 21, USA out in WBC, Jeff Gordon & more

HAIKU ADVISORY! You didn't think I forgot did you? Our blog's annual March Madness Haiku Challenge is coming very soon. Stay tuned!

 

[It is SATURDAY, MARCH 16. Those new Notre Dame basketball uniforms (right) remind me of a glowstick I had as a kid. 2) Pope Francis I in power three full days now and still no perceptible change in the Catholic Church! 3) In The Previous Blogpost (ITPB): Dolphins/Mike Wallace, Heat 20th straight, Welker, Marino, new pope, World Baseball Classic, Spoelstra's girl. 4) Join us on Twitter @gregcote.

Dolphins stock rising: New Super Bowl betting odds from Bovada show Dolphins have rocketed from 60-1 to 35-1 because of free-agency moves. Updated favorites are Broncos and 49ers at 7-1 and Patriots at 15-2. Champion Ravens have fallen 14-1 to 20-1.

GREAT SCOTT! DURAND'S 32 LIFTS CANES TO ACC TITLE GAME VS. UNC: Miami's Durand Scott popped a career- high 32 points this afternoon and UM beat North Carolina State, 81-71, in the ACC tournament in Greensboro, N.C. That puts Canes in their first ACC championship game, tomorrow vs. North Carolina's Tar Heels, who beat Maryland 79-76. Canes were 2-0 vs. UNC this season, winning 68-59 and 87-61.

MERRY MARCH CHRISTMAS, RYAN TANNEHILL. UNDER YOUR TREE: WEAPONS!: Dolphins made the splash of free agency in landing the Steelers' Mike Wallace. Yesterday they added Brandon Gibson, a 51-catch guy for Rams last year, and tight end Dustin Keller, the ex-Jet. They spent big to re-sign their own Brian Hartline. And Davone Bess returns. [Click on Money Man for the recent column by me on how the Dolphins are hoping -- and paying as much as praying -- that Wallace is for Tannehill's career what the Marks Brothers were for Dan Marino] When all of the free agency dust has settled and the pluses and minuses are weighed, this will be clear: Miami set out to make QB Ryan Tannehill's second season easier than his first, and they have. Jake Long and Reggie Bush won't be easy to replace, and holes such as cornerback remain on defense (Brent Grimes visited yesterday), but the Dolphins have bull's-eyed their priority, which was to give Tannehill more and better targets. (In the better category, consider that Keller had 241 catches for 2,876 yards in 72 games for Jets, vs. Fasano's had 177 for 2,104 in 76 games for Dolphins.

HEAT MAKE IT 21 STRAIGHT!: Heat won its 21st straight victory last night at Milwaukee, comfortably, 107-94, and an interesting subtext was that the Bucks (as No. 8 seed) would be the Heat's opening playoff opponent if the standings hold. And that seems very likely, with Miami all but locked in as the top seed and Beer Town all alone for now at eight. Milwaukee had split two games with Miami this season. Last night might have been an indication how hard the Heat will have to work when the playoffs begin, and if so, the indication is the first round could be the breeze we suspected. LeBron James and Chris Bosh each with 28 last night. Dwyane Wade had shot better than 50 percent with 20-plus points in 11 straight games, the longest streak by a guard since some guy name Michael Jordan 1995-96. He got his 20 last night (right at 20) but narrowly missed the 50 shooting number at 8-for-17.

EMBARRASSING!: U.S. OUSTED IN WBC: [Update: U.S. falls last night to underdog Puerto Rico at Marlins Park, 4-3. P.R. advances to World Baseball Classic semifinals in San Francisco along with Dominican Republic. Americans are eliminated, making it a third straight WBC with the country that invented baseball not even reaching the final. Abner Doubledlay is up in heaven kicking over chairs]. Adapted original post: Our poll result directly below is mirrored in U.S. television ratings for the World Baseball Classic, which are modest at best. But this isn't about us, folks, hard as that sometimes is to wrap our heads around. The WBC's reason for being is to grow the sport where it isn't as big. So it is far more important to MLB that a Japan vs. Chinese-Taipei game in this tournament drew a 43 rating on Japanese TV -- A U.S. Super Bowl-type rating. It is far more important that the games are embraced avidly in the Dominican and Puerto Rico, target spots for long-range expansion. And it is far more important that WBC successes by countries like Netherlands and Italy have planted seeds of interest there. Meantime, I was unabashedly cheering for the U.S. team. I was watching on TV, bellowing jingoistically for the Americans. Came close to breaking out a "U-S-A!" chant at some point, although that typically requires a few beers.

Poll result: Minimal interest in World Baseball Classic: We gave you four choices to describe your interest level in the WBC. Only 9.9 percent had "strong" interest, 21.1% "moderate" and 26.9% "minimal." The other 42.1% called their interest "non-existent."

JEFF GORDON'S TEST DRIVE: Seen this yet? It's brilliant. A spoiler-alert wouldn't help because as soon as you click on the video RIGHT HERE the secret is out. NASCAR star Jeff Gordon -- in disguise -- takes a Camaro out for a test drive and scares the holy s--- out of the (supposedly) real-life salesman in the passenger seat (pictured) who (supposedly) doesn't know he's being punked in an ad/stunt for Pepsi Max. I have since heard that the salesman was an actor and that Gordon doesn't even do all the driving in the video. No matter. It's fun. The good stuff starts about two minutes in. Enjoy.

Poll result: Strong excitement/support for Dolphins signing Mike Wallace: We invited you to describe your feeling about the signing and Wallace's talent, and 44.5 percent said "excited/elite," with 37.7% "happy/very good," 10.4% "satisfied/pretty good" and only 7.4% answering "unimpressed/overrated."

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How excited are you by Dolphins landing Wallace? Poll. Vote!; plus 20th straight for Heat, Welker, Marino, new pope, WBC poll, Spo's girl & more

[It is THURSDAY, MARCH 14. New blogpost coming later today. 2) New Pope! New Pope! Jorge Mario Bergoglio -- henceforth Pope Francis; why not Pope Jorge!? -- has become the first Latin American and first Jesuit to become pontiff. He's a young pup, only 76 (!). Second in the voting: Edwin Pope. 3) In The Previous Blogpost (ITPB): Heat win again, UM hoops, Tiger at Doral, Heat Big 5@60, Reggie Bush. 3) Join us on Twitter @gregcote.

Bettings odds for Wallace's 2013 Dolphins stats: Courtesy Bovada, betting over/unders for Mike Wallace in 2013 have been set at 62.5 catches for 925.5 yards and 6.5 TDs. Guaranteed that Miami (team and fans) are counting on the 'over' on each.

Pats lose Welker to Broncos: Wes Welker leaving Patriots for a two-year, $12 million deal to join Peyton Manning's Broncos feels like a win for the Dolphins. It weakens New England's hold over the AFC East. Supposedly Tom Brady -- who restructured his contract to save cap money with the idea of keeping Welker -- is irate. Cannot fathom that Pats would not match or surpass a Denver offer that, in annual salary, pays Welker slightly less than Brian Hartline's new deal with Miami.

BLOCKBUSTER! DOLPHINS LAND MIKE WALLACE AND MORE: Click on Buying Hope for my column off the signing of Mike Wallace. Dolphins' free agency began big as Miami closed the deal on the prized receiver Wallace (pictured) and also landed inside linebacker Dannell Ellerbe to replace newly departed Karlos Dansby -- a big, and unexpected, signing. Miami also added FA linebacker Philip Wheeler and re-signed safety Chris Clemons. A big day for Miami. Wallace wore No. 17 for the Steelers. That's Ryan Tannehill's number. Somethin' gotta give. The Dolphins hoped they'd have a chance to face that minor issue, and now will. (Wallace said Tannehill can keep it if he'd like). Not everyone, though, agrees Wallace is good enough to merit the windfall of as much as $65 million over five years Miami is giving him. Setting aside the money factor, how good do you think Wallace is? Take a dip in our poll and say why.

DAN MARINO NEEDS YOUR HELP. (ACTUALLY, YOUR VOTE): We still love our Danny Boy, right Miami? Right South Florida? No, he never won a Super Bowl. Yeah, his infidelity scandal flared across our sky. Like Miami itself, Dan Marino isn't perfect ... just spectacular. So now it's time for Dolfans to show some love. ESPN.com is hosting a vote for the cover of Madden 25, the anniversary edition of the wildly popular NFL video game. It is set up as an NCAA-styled 64-player bracket (now isn't THAT original!!) and first-round voting is underway through March 20. Marino, perhaps under-ranked as a no. 4 seed, must defeat No. 13 Reggie Wayne, the ex-Hurricane, to advance in the Old-School Bracket, where he eventually would meet, we presume, top seed Joe Montana. (Uh oh). Ray Lewis is a No. 2 seed. Other Old-School ex-Canes in addition to Lewis and Wayne are Jim Kelly (7th seed), Clinton Portis (12th) and Cortez Kennedy (16th). On the New-School side, Dolphins QB Ryan Tannehill is, alas, a 16th seed going up against a No. 1 in Robert Griffin III. The only New-side ex-Cane is No. 12 Jimmy Graham, facing No. 4 Julio Jones. Click on Madden25 to vote. (This vote means something to Marino. He's been re-Tweeting mentions of it, at least...)

WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC: HOW MUCH DO WE CARE?: I'm torn on this third World Baseball Classic - - second-round games are going on this week at Marlins Park -- and on the WBC in general. It beats the hell out of the mundane inconsequence of regular spring-training games, but I have never quite embraced it as anything really important. I root for the U.S. team but find myself following the results more than watching them. I'm curious how you all feel about the WBC. And my curiosity, of course, is the petri dish for a blog poll! Vote and say why.

 

HEAT STREAK HITS 20!, SPO UNVEILS GIRLFRIEND: Heat last night won 98-94 at Philly for a 20th straight victory, only fourth team ever to do so. In honor of reaching 19 we'd linked to a live version of Steely Dan's "Hey Nineteen"; click here. Meantime, we'd like to introduce to the blog Heat coach Erik Spoelstra's girlfriend, Nikki Sapp, whom he unveiled at the recent Reid/Fiorentino fundraiser. Spo, very eligible bachelor, is 42. Sapp (no, wiseguy, she isn't 19) is 26. She was a Heat dancer in 2006, pictured as such at right in her, um, blonder days. Boom-chick-a-boom-boom! They've been dating two years.

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Weighing how far Heat, Canes will go. Poll. Vote; plus Tiger roars at Doral, latest NCAA outrage in UM case, Chavez, irate Dolphins & more

[1) It is SATURDAY, MARCH 9. Busy all weekend down at Doral golf but will try to publish a spankin' new blogpost by Sunday morning. 2) Dolphins and WR Brian Hartline agree to new five-year contract, also re-sign backup QB Matt Moore. 3) In The Previous Blogpost (ITPB): Word to the'Wolves, Dan Sileo, Heat 16th, lunatic diplomacy, golfers rapping, Downton Abbey. 4) Join us on Twitter @gregcote]

"OK, so it turns out this was probably a crappy idea for a poll. Go ahead and vote anyway." --Greg Cote 

WHAT'S MORE LIKELY: HEAT REPEAT TITLE OR CANES IN FINAL FOUR?: Heat won a 17th straight game last night, extending their club record in dispatching Philly, and clinched a playoff spot in doing so -- for those who had any doubts about that. There have been some sketchy/narrow wins along the way , like that 1-point home win over lousy Orlando on a LeBron James layup with three seconds left, but 17 is 17. On the collegiate side of town the Miami Hurricanes seem to be headed in the wrong direction as the regular season wraps up today vs. Clemson, with three losses in the past four games after the 71-69 home loss to mediocre Georgia Tech. UM got LeBroned on a buzzer-beater as the school was denied its first outright ACC regular-season title. Now the No. 6-ranked Canes can expect to tumble out of the top 10 in the new polls Monday. In terms of this poll question, I don't think it's as simple as Hot Heat/Cold Canes. I like the Heat's title chances more, no doubt, but still think the Canes are very capable of a deep run into the Final Four in a crazy, wide-open season without a clearly dominant team. Your vote and thoughts are invited.

ON LATEST NCAA EMBARRASSMENT IN UM CASE: This truly is becoming a farce. Now it turns out a former NCAA official wrote a letter to the judge who sentence Nevin Shapiro beseeching leniency so that Shapiro might serve as a consultant to the NCAA or as an educational speaker to its members. The dunce who wrote the letter is former director of enforcement Ameen Najjar. Just one more reason -- of many -- why the NCAA should credit UM for "time served" (self-imposed sanctions) and end this mess with no further penalties except those it might impose upon itself.

MIAMI'S SWEETEST 16'S: In honor of the Heat's winning streak reaching a sweet 16, I chose the most notable players to have worn No. 16 for each of our four pro franchises. (It hasn't been a very common number). DOLPHINS: QB David Woodley (1980-83) -- Led Miami to losing 1982 Super Bowl before giving way to some guy named Dan Marino. MARLINS: SS Edgar Renteria (1996-98) -- One-time all-star best known for winning hit in 11th inning of Game 7 in '97 World Series. PANTHERS: RW Nathan Horton (2003-10) -- Former No. 1 pick is fifth in club history with 142 goals. HEAT: Oddly, no Heat player has ever worn No. 16.   

TIGER SHOWS RORY THE WAY AT DORAL: Dream pairing launched the PGA Tour's World Golf Championships event at Doral with world No. 1 Rory McIlroy and No. 2 Tiger Woods (pictured) in a threesome with English star Luke Donald. Tiger leads the event by two strokes heading into today's/Saturday's play. I'm down there columnizing today and Sunday. Meantime, click on The Weight of No.1 for my preview column. It was on the struggling McIlroy, who found becoming No. 1 much easier than being No. 1.

CHAVEZ DEATH A MISSED OPPORTUNITY FOR RODMAN?: Now that Dennis Rodman has met with and effusively praised North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un, an enemy of the United States, he might have embarked on a world tour of lunatic diplomacy, providing propoganda platforms for other controversial leaders who are seen as critics and adversaries of the U.S. Alas, too late now to get with Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez, who passed away Wednesday at 58 after battling cancer. Chavez is pictured in happier times with his ally, friend and fellow baseball fan, Fidel Castro. (P.S., Marlins played the Venezuelan national team Wednesday and declined a request for a moment of silence. I found hilarious the reason: "There wasn't enough time to honor the request." Yes, because it takes a lot of intricate planning to do nothing but be quiet for about 10 seconds!)

DOLPHINS BLAST MYSTERY POLL: A mysterious new poll whose sponsor is unknown has found that 73 percent of likely Miami-Dade voters in a referendum would oppose the proposed tax-break plan that would pay for almost half of the $400 million in Dolphins stadium improvements. And the Dolphins are irate. Club president Mike Dee called it a "ginned-up" poll with slanted questions, becoming the first man in decades to use the phrase "ginned-up." A previous poll found 100 percent opposition to the tax break, but the only voter polled was Norman Braman. Not sure how the question in this latest poll was phrased, but I believe it might have been: "Would you support giving almost $200 million to fat-cat Dolphins owner Stephen Ross while God-fearing folk in your own neighborhood are forced to eat cat food?"

WHADDYA MEAN ELTON JOHN IS A DIVA!?: Reports out of Brazil are that Elton John -- in the country for a Saturday concert -- has demanded a separate room for his array of dozens of fancy eyeglasses at the five-star Ouro Minas hotel in Belo Horizonte. That is  because the glasses apparently must be kept at exactly 60.8 degrees Fahrenheit. I do not find Elton's demand for a separate room crazy at all. What I do find outlandish is that the eyeglasses have run up $3,000 in charges from their room's mini-bar. 

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War! UM vs. NCAA. Shalala vs. Emmert. Poll. Vote!; plus Heat make trade, FAU and prisons, Dolphins, Marlins, Lena Dunham, Ron Fraser & more

[1) It is THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21. My latest guilty pleasure is the HBO series 'Girls' and its star, Lena Dunham (pictured). The show is what we used to call a chick-flick and Lena is few guys' idea of classic-sexy, but I find both very appealing. 2) Giancarlo Stanton got beaned on the helmet by a fastball yesterday at spring training and walked away as if a marshmallow had hit him. That kid might be our biggest, strongest, most imposing pro athlete after LeBron James. 3) Thanks to ESPN for having us on Outside The Lines this week to discuss the UM/NCAA developments. 4) In The Previous Blogpost (ITPB): "Hurricane Donna" Shalala blasts NCAA, Canes win again, Lil Wayne's war on Heat, Fixing NBA All-Star Weekend, Dolphins, yelling goats. 5) Join us on Twitter @gregcote]

My new column: NCAA buffoonery casts UM as sympathetic victim: Click on headline to access. Column is online and in Thursday's inky pulp editions.  

"HURRICANE DONNA" TAKES GLOVES OFF VS. NCAA, BUT WHO'S RIGHT?: U-Miami president Donna Shalala said, "We have suffered enough," after a 2-year NCAA investigation in the Nevin Shapiro case that led to significant self-imposed penalties such as a two-year football postseason ban. She calls for no additional penalties and I agree, factoring in not only the self-imposed sanctions but the shady reputation of the accuser and the NCAA's own well-documented and major internal wrongdoing that tainted the investigation. These are extraordinary circumstances for which there is no template. But NCAA president Mark Emmert disagreed with Shalala and pushed forward with a Notice of Allegations that likely will result in yet-unknown additional sanctions. Who's right? I hestitated with this poll because I try not to post questions for which I think I know the answer. Then again, around 50 percent of our poll votes typically come from outside Florida; it isn't as if only Canes fans will be voting. There also is a fair argument on either side and some gray area. For example, though I agree with Shalala, I could see UM getting very minor added sanctions, perhaps. Anyway, cast your vote and say why you did.

HOT HEAT MAKE MINOR DEADLINE-DAY TRADE: Heat today traded reserve/D-League center Dexter Pittman and a 2013 second-round draft pick to Memphis for rights to center Ricky Sanchez, currently playing in Argentina. It's unlike Sanchez ever will play for Miami. Deal was done to open a roster spot for Heat to add a veteran big man, possibly Kenyon Martin. Meantime, the Heat played a home game in Atlanta last night based on what it sounded like, and Miami made it a season-best eight wins in a row, staying hot as play resumed after the break. LeBron James was held to only 24 points. The bum!

OWLCATRAZ: FAU ALIGNS WITH CONTROVERSIAL PRISON COMPANY: This might have been a feel- good story: FAU selling naming rights to its Owls football stadium to GEO Group, a locally based company that privately runs prisons. It begged humor. Call the stadium Owlcatraz. Call coach-emeritus Howard Schnellenberger "The Warden." Put the cheerleaders in vertical stripes and the mascot in a county-issue orange jumpsuit. Stuff like that. The problem is GEO Group is controversial for abuses and treatment at its prisons, spawning outrage such as is reflected in the cartoon pictured. I have doubts whether this deal will stand because of the objection to it. I have doubts whether a public university should align itself with a notorious company that has the attention of human-rights and immigration-rights groups.

DOLPHINS ON FREE AGENCY, DRAFT: On free-agency: GM Jeff Ireland from the NFL Combine in Indianapolis today said re-signing DT Randy Starks was a priority, leaving the impression the franchise tag might be considered for him. He said team wants RB Reggie Bush back but at the right price. Said they want OT Jake Long back too but implied that injury concerns limit the price they'll pay. On the draft: Our fly-on-the-wall Dolphins front-office source (who will not appreciate being referred to as a fly) tells us Miami likely will not draft a receiver at No. 12 because the plan is to re-sign Brian Hartline and hard-pursue Mike Wallace in free agency. Mel Kiper and others keep pushing Tennessee WR Cordarrelle Patterson but Dolphins consider him a project and want right-now impact. Offensive line is likelier with the top pick because the draft is very deep there and because chances of retaining Long are very iffy. Pass-rush help or a trade-down also are options being mulled.

ODDSMAKERS HAVE MARLINS SKIRTING 100-LOSS SEASON: Latest World Series odds via Bovada have Blue Jays the pick at 7-1, then Tigers 8-1, Dodgers and Nationals both 17-2 and Angels 9-1. Miami is 100-1, tied for next-to-last ahead of only the 200-1 Astros. Victory over/unders have Marlins at 63.5, a nice way of saying 98.5 losses. (Odds for upcoming World Baseball Classic have USA a 5-2 favorite, followed by Dominican Republic at 13-4 and Japan 7-2).

RON FRASER CELEBRATION OF LIFE: It'll be Saturday at the Knight Sports Complex on campus marking the great life of the former UM baseball coach who died last month at 79. The event is from 4-6 p.m. and free; doors open at 3. That night's 7 p.m. home baseball game vs. Wisconsin-Milwaukee also will be in Ron's honor.

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Shamed Dan Marino has done enough to be forgiven. Agree? Poll. Vote!; plus Super Bowl pick, Smirk Friday, LeBron upset, Lance Effect & more

[1) It is FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 1. This is a jockey's favorite month, because it's the shortest. God that was awful! 2) In The Previous Blogpost (ITPB): A-Rod/Ray Lewis accusations, Smirk Wednesday, Cats slipping. 3) Join us on Twitter @gregcote]

Super Bowl predix: Upset! Ravens, 24-21: The favored 49ers might have an overall talent edge, but Ray Lewis gives the Ravens an emotional/intangible advantage, which often is big in a Super Bowl. Also think Joe Flacco has the vertical passing game to penetrate San Fran's D. Click on Super Bowl Gem for the full prediction capsule.  

MARINO LOVE-CHILD A SCANDAL, BUT FORGIVENESS TRUMPS SCORN: I have my say in my newest column today; click Marino Deserves Forgiveness to read. Do you agree? Vote in our poll below and say why you feel as you do. Original post from yesterday: Dan Marino, maybe the biggest sports figure in South Florida history, has been exposed by the New York Post for having fathered a love-child in 2005 and paid millions to the mother to support the child and to keep quiet. She evidently did not keep quiet. Full story here. Marino, a CBS analyst since 2003 who is to be involved with Sunday's Super Bowl broadcast, apparently had an affair with a CBS production assistant, Donna Savattere, then 35, that resulted in the birth of daughter Chloe. The mother and daughter are pictured. The news broke on Marino's 28th wedding anniversary to Claire; they have six children including two adopted daughters. Marino, when confronted with the news, owned up to it, saying, "This is a personal and private matter. I take full responsibility both personally and financially for my actions." Now, my take: Marino is enough a public figure to make this newsworthy, but I feel bad for Dan, for Claire and their family. He made a mistake eight years ago. He's human. This does not change his standing as one of the NFL's all-time great quarterbacks or as a Miami icon. Neither does this erase any of the good works he has done in the community in raising funds for great causes; I don't know of any athlete we have had who's done more. Some will think less of Marino and that is their right. He has paid millions in this matter, and now he is paying far more, with his embarrassment and with the tarnish on his name. How if at all does this matter affect your opinion of Marino? Vote and say why.

Smirk Friday: Super Bowl With a Smirk, here to tweak the self-imortant NFL and gravitas of its big game, is back today to refute speculation that Beyonce lip-synched replies to questions at her Halftime Show Press Conference. We have details on that, plus Ali, overweight cheerleaders, bowling, Tazon Latino, puppies, football laces and, as always, much more. Click on Smirk Friday for the full column.

Smirk Thursday: Smirk's Thursday menu included the lavish New Orleans arrival of the Roman Numerals (that's right), Beyonce, fake tickets, John Harbaugh's apparent sexiness, astrology, chicken, Hungary and, as always, much more. Click on Smirk Thursday for the full column.

LEBRON JAMES UPSET HE'LL MISS SUPER BOWL: The Heat play at Toronto Sunday and will miss most if not all of the Super Bowl because the team will be en route back to Miami on a private jet with no Wi-Fi or satellite TV. "How disgusting is that!?" James said. LeBron, a huge football and Cowboys fan, said, "If the Cowboys were in the Super Bowl I'd stay there for the game."

THE LANCE EFFECT: A-ROD, LEWIS DENIALS HARDER TOP ACCEPT: Lance Armstrong has made it harder for us to believe athletes when they say "I didn't do it," as Alex Rodriguez (Biogenesis) and Ray Lewis (deer-antler extract) have this week. I explore that here: Click on The Lance Effect for the full column.  

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A-Rod's Biogenesis, Ray Lewis' deer-antler extract: World gone mad!; plus Smirk Wednesday, Ken Dorsey & more

[1) It is WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 30. Pictured left and right are Kate Upton from her Mercedes-Benz Super Bowl ad, and Beyonce as she would look if playing referee and running back at the same time. Why? Just because. 2) Former UM quarterback Ken Dorsey named today as new QBs coach for the Carolina Panthers. 3)  In The Previous Blogpost (ITPB): Heat at White House, Super Bowl matchup poll, Pro Bore, Smirk, Cats, runners. 4) Join us on Twitter @gregcote]

BIOGENESIS AND DEER ANTLERS: A-ROD, RAY LEWIS MAKING THE WRONG KIND OF NEWS: Is it me, or has the first month of 2013 been exceptionally bizarre in our little Sports World. In newspapers they used to call us the "toy department." Now the toy aisles are filled with guns (real ones) and drugs. Now the toys come in such weird packaging like Lance Armstrong's shamed confession and Manti Te'o record-setting naivete. A week ago the NCAA accused its own investigators of wrongdoing in the Miami probe. Of course it did! And now: A double scoop of strange involving two superstars with strong Miami ties. Ex-Hurricane Ray Lewis of the Ravens makes unfortunate Super Bowl Week headines when Sports Illustrated accuses him of using a banned substance found in, of all things, deer-antler extract. And Yankees icon Alex Rodriguez is the most prominent name in a Miami New Times expose about a now-shuttered PED-peddling Miami "anti-aging" clinic called Biogenesis. For what it's worth, A-Rod denies any involvement with Biogenesis and Lewis denies what he is accused of. It's a bad climate for denials, though, isn't it. In sports, our benefit of doubt is spent. Call it the Lance Effect.

Smirk Wednesday: Super Bowl With a Smirk, here to tweak the self-important NFL and the gravitas of its big game -- think of us as a whoopee cushion in church -- is back today with a menu that includes deer-antler extract, Media Day, the NFL Experience, national anthem, media party, Psy's pistachios and, as always, much more. Click on Smirk Wednesday for the full column.

Poll result: Super Bowl matchup better than most: We asked in the previous blogpost how 49ers-Ravens rates as a SB matchup and 44.5 percent said better than most, 41.5% said about the same, and 14.0% said worse.

CATS ON ICE! SLIPPING, FALLING...: Since their exhilirating season-opening home win your Florida Panthers have now lost five games in a row by a combined score of 23-5. This truncated 48-game NHL season will seem shorter and shorter and then too short for teams that fall too far behind early. Anybody seen a panic button?

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