Greg Cote's Random Evidence of a Cluttered Blog

G2: Pacers @ Heat: Tonight is about control, and needing a bench beyond Birdman; plus A-Rod's big sale, Heath Evans is evil & more

1) It is FRIDAY, MAY 24. Happy 72nd birthday, 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.

G2: PACERS @ HEAT: TONIGHT'S WINNER GETS TO FEEL IN CHARGE: 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 yesterday at 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 today/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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G1: Heat 103, Pacers 102 (OT). LeBron does it again!; plus poll disses Shula, Super Bowl vote no big deal, Tiger v. Sergio & more

BLOG NOTE: Not sure who is seeing this and who isn't, or whether glitches are contained. My blog is among a few at MiamiHerald.com that have been wracked by technical issues all day, a problem not yet entirely resolved. My understanding is the blog may be accessed from some smart-phones and tablets (etc.), but not always from PCs or laptops. Hopefully we'll be fully back up soon. Apologies in the meantime.

1) It is WEDNESDAY, MAY 22. "Stay white, Miami!" --Micky Arison, 2006. Watch for our Heat-Pacers Game 1 post right here by around mid-afternoon. 2) Gut feeling. Newly retired Brian Urlacher is not a Hall of Famer, although it's arguable. 3) In The Previous Blogpost (ITPB): Miami suffers Super Bowl shutout, fishing with Lauren Tannehill, Chicago pays off Heat bet, Sad-O-Meter. 4) Join us on Twitter @gregcote.

I'm now on Instagram. Follow at user name: upsetbird

Spurs up 2-0 in West: Miami's presumptive foe in the NBA Finals is looking like San Antonio now, although Memphis indicated in last night's overtime loss that it can enter next two home games with confidence.

Click on No Drama, Just Dominance for today's preview column by me on the Heat-Pacers series. I pick Miami in five games.

G1: HEAT 103, PACERS 102 (OT): LEBRON'S 30 POINTS, BUZZER-BEATER LIFT MIAMI: Wild, ultimately thrilling night downtown, with LeBron James' 30 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists lifting Miami -- and his driving layup winning it as time expired. THIS is why he's the best, the NBA's MVP. Game 2 here Friday. Makes you wonder if this loss will leave Indiana dispirited, or feeling it can win this series. I suspect the latter. After two lopsided series, it feels like the playoffs have finally begun! (Watch for game column online). ..... Original post: As I count the reasons Miami will beat Indiana in five games in the Eastern Conference finals starting here tonight, I must include the reason embodied by these two players as they enjoy an off  day with their families on South Beach. The Heat has superior abs. Our players' six-packs are eight-packs. It helps that the abs shown happen to be attached to LeBron James and Dwyane Wade, two other reasons to favor the Heat. Miami also leads Indiana in beaches. On a more serious note, the Pacers' weakness is their bench, a Miami strength. Also think Indy's penchant for protecting the paint will open up 3-point shots for the Heat. It'll be interesting to see if Chris Bosh can draw Roy Hibbert out of his comfort zone, and also how effective LeBron will be against an unusually strong defender in Paul George, who bothered James into 14 turnovers in three regular season meetings.

YEAH BUT PACERS DOMINATE HEAT IN COACHES WHO CAN SPIN A BASKETBALL WHILE BRUSHING TEETH: Indiana coach Frank Vogel did this on David Letterman's "Stupid Human Tricks" segment as an 8th-grader in 1986. Click HERE to see the video.

SHULA 5TH-GREATEST COACH: DISS, OR FAIR?: It's an ESPN poll to select the 20 greatest NFL coaches from a ballot of 50. Bearing in mind that Don Shula has won more games than anybody, I thought it odd that the initial graphic for the poll showed Tom Landry front and center, flanked on one side by Vince Lombardi and Chuck Noll, and on the other by Bill Belichick and Bill Walsh on the other. (No Shula). When last I checked the voting, Shula was running in fifth place after (in order) Lombardi, Walsh, Belichick and Noll. Rounding out the top 10, after Shula, were Landry, Paul Brown, Joe Gibbs, George Halas and Bill Parcells. Also of note, Jimmy Johnson was running in 13th place.

POLL RESULT: DEAR NFL: KEEP YOUR SUPER BOWLS. WE DON'T CARE ALL THAT MUCH: Oh, the Dolphins and South Florida businesses care that Greater San Francisco and Houston beat Miami for the 2016 and '17 Super Bowls, for sure. But the South Florida infantry of citizens and Dolphins fans? Not so much. We asked in the previous blogpost how important it is to you that SoFla host a Super Bowl. The results: "Very important," 33.4 percent. "Somewhat important," 19.0 percent. "Not important at all unless the Dolphins are in it," 47.6 percent.

HERE'S A HOLE. CRAWL IN IT, SERGIO: This Tiger Woods-Sergio Garcia tiff is lowering itself to deliciousness. Golf is rarely this much fun. Sergio escalated the unfriendliness yesterday when he was asked kiddingly if he'd be inviting Tiger over for dinner and said, "He can come over every night . We'll serve fried chicken." (To Sergio's credit, at least he didn't include watermelon for dessert). Sergio later apologized, sort of, lamely saying, "There was no way the comment was meant in a racist manner." (Really, Serg? Seriously!?) Tiger justifiably Tweeted that the comment was "wrong, hurtful and clearly inappropriate." Garcia is pictured at left eating KFC (Kentucky Fried Crow). Quick scorecard: Woods, 14 career majors. Garcia, zero majors, zero class.

MARLINS SAD-O-METER BACK ON 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. After an aberrant two-game winning streak, yesterday's loss has the S-O-M back on track. Updated Sad-O-Meter: Current record, 13-33 (.283). Season projection, 45.78 wins, 116.22 losses.

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Super Bowl shutout for Miami! Do you care much? Poll. Vote!; plus fishing with Lauren T., Heat-Pacers poll result, Chicago pays for lost bet & more

1) It is WEDNESDAY, MAY 22. Condolences and thoughts to the victims and loved ones of the terrible Oklahoma tornado tragedy. 2) In The Previous Blogpost (ITPB): Yapping Frank Vogel, Heat-Pacers series preview, MIA-IND poll, Sad-O-Meter. 3) Apparently Reshad Jones has showed up at Dolphins camp. OH THANK GOD!! 4) Join us on Twitter @gregcote.

Me on Instagram: User name is Upsetbird in case anyone wishes to follow. Photos will be partly personal, partly work-related, occasionally embarrassing, mostly unneccesary.

"Our players' names." -- Pacers coach Frank Vogel, when asked on 790 The Ticket what was the most unknown thing about his team.

Poll glitch: Note, more than 150 of the first votes cast in the Super Bowl poll below do not appear in the results shown below. However, we have them and they'll be included in the final results reported. The results that do not appear were 52 votes for "very important," 30 votes for "somewhat important" and 69 votes for "not important unless Dolphins are in it." Keep voting. Thanks.

SOUTH FLORIDA RESIDENTS (FANS) REALLY CARE THAT MUCH ABOUT HOSTING A SUPER BOWL?: [Miami loses to Santa Clara for SB 50 and to Houston for SB 51, as expected] Original post: Games will be awarded today at 2 p.m., live on NFL Network] Dolphins executives and South Florida Super Bowl Host Committee folks are in Boston today for the NFL league vote on awarding Super Bowls 50 and 51, the 2016 and '17 games. Santa Clara, CA/49ers is a huge favorite to defeat Miami/Dolphins for the prestigious Golden Anniversary game. The loser (almost certainly us) will then face Houston/Texans for the other game. Miami is more competitive for thatone, but I'd guess Houston wins it after the Dolphins spent the past several months complaining how we'd never get another SB without stadium renovations, which were rejected. (Sounds like a self-fulfilling prophecy). These votes are very important to the Dolphins and to the local business and tourism communities; hotels and major restaurants have a vested interest. But how important are these votes to you? To the average citizen or fan? I wonder about about that. I think SoFla cares intensely that the Dolphins are in another Super Bowl, but not so much whether the game is played here or not. Am I right? Tell me, and the Dolphins. Vote and say why.

FISHING WITH LAUREN TANNEHILL: The recent FinsWeekend annual fundraiser is a major fundraiser for the Miami Dolphins Foundation and this year raised more than $700,000 for local charities. We here at the Random Evidence blog like to support those great causes particularly when it provides an opportunity to run a photo of blog favorite Lauren Tannehil. Part of the event included a fishing tournament, and here Lauren is pictured at left holding a large fish and standing next to quarterback-husband Ryan. It is a beautiful photograph, courtesy the Dolphins. At right, that same photo is made even more beautiful by creative cropping.

UPDATE: CHICAGO SETTLES BET WITH HEAT'S 'GOOD EFFORT KID': Told you during the Heat-Bulls series about a bet involving Chicago radio station WGN and Jack Meyer, 10, of Coral Gables. Jack came to attention in last year's playoffs for consoling players with "Good job! Good effort!" following a loss. The bet: A Chicago deep-dish pizza and 20 Chicago-style hot dogs against a Cadillac from Jack's uncle's dealership. (That's how confident Jack was). He won, of course. The station paid up. The photo is proof.

Poll results: Heat beats Pacers in 6: We asked and you said Heat in 6 games by a 45.4 percent plurality, with Miami winning in 5 games at 33.2%. Much smaller numbers see Heat sweeping in 4 games (5.4%) or winning in 7 games (4.3%). The other 11.9 percent see Indiana winning. Predictably the second-most votes after Florida have come from Indiana, and 88.3% of the overall votes for the Pacers are from that state.

TWO-GAME WIN STREAK THREATENS 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, two straight wins are imperiling the S-O-M. Updated Sad-O-Meter: Current record, 13-32 (.289). Season projection, 46.8 wins, 115.2 losses.

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It's Indiana! Heat-Pacers in East finals; plus Heat bigger faves than ever to repeat, D-Wade prom video, Oxbow, Sad-O-Meter & more

1) It is SATURDAY, MAY 18. Sesame Street is introducing a new character named Armando or "Mando," which may or may not be an homage to Herald sports writer Armando Salguero. Mando is pictured at right. (Is it me or do half of the Sesame Street characters sort of look like this?) 2) Former NASCAR driver Dick Trickle dead at 71 of reported suicide. Sad story. All-time great name, Dick Trickle, but a sad story. 3) In The Previous Blogpost (ITPB): Heat Game 5 win, Wade health poll, LeBron No. 2 in money, most disappointing hotel, catchers' fake fingernails, Sad-O-Meter. 4) Join us on Twitter @gregcote.

Another year, another horse fails to win Triple Crown: Affirmed in 1978 remains the last to do it after Kentucky Derby winner Orb finished a disappointing fourth in today's Preakness Stakes, won by Oxbow with ancient Gary Stevens aboard. Orb started on the rail and really struggled to extricate himself from traffic.

Hit Wade Strikes Back for my column off Wednesday's Heat win.

"David Beckham is retiring? What a big, big loss for the sport of underwear endorsing." --Greg Cote

UPDATED: HEAT CRAZY-BIG FAVES TO REPEATS AS CHAMPS: If you want the other side you stand to make some big bucks. Are you that daring? New from Bovada, championship odds on the five teams still alive show Heat at 1-3, Spurs 5-1, Grizzlies 6-1, Pacers 20-1 and Knicks 40-1. Miami odds to win East and get to Finals: 1-9. Man! Based on the public perception that sets the odds, let's just go ahead and plan that parade right now. I'm just sayin'.

EASTERN FINALS SET: HEAT VS. PACERS: Indiana beat visiting New York 106-99 tonight to win the series 4 games to 2. Miami will host Eastern finals Game 1 vs. Pacers on Wednesday night. The series suggests Pacers are a better team, although that is debatable. Both teams fared well against Miami this season, Indy going 2-1 against the Heat and the Knickerbockers 3-1. The other factor in answering the poll question below was the vantage point of your vote. It might have been based on which team you think would be an easier draw for the Heat. Or you might have voted for what you think the more exciting series would be. On the latter criteria the clear preference would seem to have been New York, a bigger rival with more starpower and boorish fans in constant need of shutting up. Based on results, your choice was pretty clear. Enjoys the Eastern finals anyway.

UPDATE: HEAT MIDDLE-FINGER LADY: South Florida's most famous birder is keeping sharp between playoff series. After honing her skills against the Bulls' Joakim Noah, Middle-Finger Lady now prepares for Indiana or New York in the next round. Pictured left, MFL transmogrifies into a clownishly grinning LeBron James in a final, parting-shot farewell to Noah. At right, Middle-Finger Lady inexplicably proffers the Flying Digit to an adorably dumbfounded polar bear.

DWYANE WADE: PROM DATE: What cute story. Archbishop Coleman Carroll senior Nicole Muxo posts a YouTube video asking Heat star Dwyane Wade to be her prom date. He calls her cell phone with his regrets, then moments later walks into the Friday ight event in Coral Gables, shocking her. Later Wade Tweeted, 'I had a blast at Prom. Never be 2 scared to ask.' The couple is pictured on the dance floor. This, among a million other reasons, is why South Florida loves Dwyane Wade.

Click HERE for a 3-minute video on how Wade pulled off his big prom surprise. Good stuff.

LATEST TRAVAILS OF CHAD JOHNSON: Free-agent receiver Chad (nee Ochocinco) Johnson lessens his chances of ever playing again with a warrant for his arrest for failing to report to his probation officer stemming from the domestic violence issue that got him cut by the Dolphins. The latest misstep is indicative of Johnson perhaps suffering from DAS, Dumbass Athlete Syndrome. There is no known cure.

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, six straight losses with last night's have brought the S-O-M roaring back as the season inches past the one-quarter mark. Updated Sad-O-Meter: Current record, 11-31 (.262). Season projection, 42.43 wins, 119.57 losses.

BACKSTORY: COMPANY NAMES: Took this pic on my phone camera as proof there is a baked-goods company operating in South Florida under the name Bimbo. (Primary dictionary definition: "A foolish, stupid or inept person.") I am envisioning the initial meeting of company investors. "OK, first things first," says the boss. "We need a name that represents who we are. Thoughts?"

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G3: Heat 104, Bulls 94. Miami in control as Bosh and Cole -- that's right, Bosh and Cole! -- spark road triumph; plus 'Good Effort' kid, Dolphins missteps & more

1) It is SATURDAY, MAY 11. In The Previous Blogpost (ITPB): A jam-packed thrill ride! Heat win Game 2, Middle-Finger Lady, D-Wade's wardrobe, Lil Wayne runs with Bulls, Dolphins threats, Charles Ramsey's 'Dead Giveaway,' Sad-O-Meter. 2) Look for Marlins Sad-O-Meter update in the blog on Saturday. 3) Join us on Twitter @agregcote.

Click on When Push Comes To Shove for my column from Chicago off last night's Heat Game 3 victory.

Live from Chicago: Checked into my hotel about two miles from the arena. Dreary day in Chitown, misting rain. Fortunately, they tell me this evening's game was to be played indoors. A bit of Harold's Chicken Shack for lunch, perhaps?

G3: HEAT 104, BULLS 94: MIAMI TAKES COMMAND OF SERIES WITH HUGE ROAD WIN (Heat leads 2-1; G4 Monday night in Chicago): Here's what is most impressive to me. LeBron James shoots 6-for-17, Dwyane Wade scores a mere 10 points and yet Miami wins by double digits on the road. Yes, Chicago is depleted, still m issing three key players. Admire their fight. But also admire the Heat's fight, and resourcefulness. Chris Bosh steps up big with 20 points and 19 rebounds, and a clucth Norris Cole was just as big with 18 off the bench. Huge, huge win. Watch for my column off tonight's Game 3 win posting online soon ..... Original post: I don't know how this playoff battle can get any more volatile than it was in Miami's series-evening Game 2 win here Wednesday, but no doubt the Chicago crowd will do its part to amp up the intensity even more tonight. Should Derrick Rose actually play, as is rumored, the roof is liable to blow clear off the arena. I'll be at the game columnizing, and happily, as Chicago is a great city and this should be a great game, an event. Winner gets to feel it is in control; loser gets to feel genuine pressure. Bulls should be back closer to full strength, but if Miami shoots and defends as well as it did in Game 2, the Heat will not be beaten. Have a feeling the crowd will feed the Heat as much as it does the homies. Miami plays well angry. Booing in a hostile arena, that's nourishment.

EXCLUSIVE!: RETURN OF THE "GOOD JOB GOOD EFFORT" KID: You may remember Jack Meyer, the 9-year-old from Coral Gables who flared as a media sensation and Heat good-luck charm during the 2012 playoffs with a YouTube video (click here) that caught Jack (pictured right) consoling dispirited Heat players with, "Good job! Good effort!" after a home playoff loss to Boston. Well, Jack's back, now 10, and in the news again after Chicago's WGN radio phoned him this week to make a friendly bet. The bet: If Miami won Game 2, Jack would get 10 Chicago-style hot dogs. If Chicago won, WGN's Jon Brandmeier would get Jack's dad's 2013 Cadillac STS. Hmm. Either that was a bad bet, or Jack was that confident. Now they've got a double-or-nothing bet on Game 3: Jack gets 20 hot dogs and a deep-dish pizza, or the radio guy gets any car he wants from Jack's uncle's Cadillac dealership. Sounds reasonable. [Postscript: The Good Job Good Effort Kid is roughly the same age as Heat good-luck national anthem singer Julia Dale (left). Hmm. Arranged marriage, anyone? Burnie officiates, DJ Irie leads the wedding band, Birdman as best man, Pat Riley on the toast. I'm just sayin'!]

HEAT AVIARY UPDATE:

BIRDMAN

BIRDWOMAN

 

 

 

 

 

 

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN ... YOUR PALM BEACH DOLPHINS!: Doomsaying Dolphins president Mike Dee is at it again. Just a few days after calling the future of the franchise "bleak" because its stadium-renovation plan died in Tallahassee, Dee on Thursday hinted the club might consider switching counties and exploring a new stadium in Palm Beach. Asked directly of that possibility, Dee said, "We're open-minded to all long-term solutions." This strikes us as a major public-relations misplay. At a time when Dolfans finally are feeling optimistic about the team, the owner and president are grousing, threatening, wringing hands and saying how shaky the future is. Wrong, wrong message.

On Dolphins' Super Bowl L bid: Host city for the 50th Super Bowl will be awarded May 21. The 49ers' new stadium in Santa Clara is expected to win, but South Florida is bidding, too -- even though the Dolphins just spent the past four months barking about how their dilapidated stadium would never get another Super Bowl. Self-fulfilling prophecy, anyone? The SoFla bid for the golden-anniversary SB includes celebrity football games aboard an aircraft carrier docked by the Heat arena. File it under: Strange Ideas That Will Never Come To Fruition.

MAXIM HOT 100 TOPPED BY ... REALLY!?: Miley Cyrus -- overcoming that overbite that makes her a little too toothy for some of us -- is the sexiest woman alive for 2013, according to a fan vote. She is pictured, as sexified as she can be. Rounding out top five: Selena Gomez, Rihanna, Mila Kunis, Jennifer Lawrence. My pick, in 8th place, Kate Upton. Other notables: MMA fighter Ronda Rousey 29th (because guys dig a woman who can beat them into submission), Andy Roddick's Brooklyn Decker 59th, and (seriously) Manti Te'o's invisible girlfriend 69th. Nominated but denied the Hot 100: D-Wade's girl Gabrielle Union. Gabby must be pretty pleased about losing to a woman who does not exist. I must say, between Miley Cyrus winning and a hoax finishing 69th, I believe I may have lost all respect for something probably not meriting much in the first place come to think of it.

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G2: Heat 115, Bulls 78. Champs strike back!; plus bizarre story behind Middle-Finger Lady, Lil Wayne, Dolphin threats, Charles Ramsey song & more

1) It is THURSDAY, MAY 9. The national group, People Who Feel Sorry For Jodi Arias, will be meeting tonight in that phone booth over there. Plenty of room. 2) Marlins closing off upper deck for some games to make crowds seem bigger. What a major inconvenience for the six fans who've been sitting up there! 3) In The Previous Blogpost (ITPB): Heat's Game 1 loss, Derrick Rose poll, the non-LeBron voter, Serena 'n Sloane, baseball awards odds. 4) Join us on Twitter @agregcote.

Click on Sense Of Order Restored for my column off last night's Heat's series-evening Game 2 rout.

Well I reckon this here photo from Wednesday's Game 2 pretty much shows how much Heat fans in general love Joakim Noah and how cute we think his adorable little hair-bun is!!!: (I can't be sure, but I think her middle finger might actually be lodged in Noah's right ear). Dear Joakim: We sure appreciative your constant sneering, whining and arm-flapping. We wish your hair-bun would catch on fire. Love, Miami.

[Postscript: Bizzare backstory to Middle-Finger Lady: She is Filomena Tobias, her daughter told the Sun-Sentinel today. Name ring a bell? Her wealthy husband Seth drowned in his Jupiter swimming poll in 2007. No foul-play was determined, but his four brothers sued Filomena in civil court claiming she drugged him and caused his drowning. The guy pictured with her fiance, the VP of an Atlanta wealth-management firm. The daughter said, "She's embarrassed [by the photo] but she's being a good sport. All she has to say is that people need to get a life." Here is The Herald's story].

News Mashup: What if the Heat's Middle-Finger Lady had been in Cleveland during Charles Ramsey's hero interview?: I believe this woman has found a possible new cottage industry as the Irate Lady who appears in all circumstances and situations angrily delivering da bird.

Wade strikes back in post-game attire: LeBron James had the crazy interview-session garb after Game 1, all floral and bird-y. Challenged, a sartorially splendid Dwyane Wade (pictured) struck back impressively last night with a shirt/light jacket combo that looked like it was the creation of Versace on hallucinogens.

G2: HEAT 115, BULLS 78; MIAMI EVENS SERIES 1-1: LeBron James' 19 points and Ray Allen's 21 off bench lead six Heat players in double figures as Miami win by the biggest margin in club playoff history and deals Chicago its worst playoff defeat. Brutal game. Nine technical fouls and second each leading to ejections of Bulls Joakim Noah and Taj Gibson. Headed to the Midwest now at 1-1 as speculation continues to swirl about a dramatic Game 3 return by Derrick Rose. Column off tonight's game should be posted soon. Original post: You can partly blame the rest/rust factor for Monday's 93-86 Game 1 Heat loss that featured clanky 39.7 percent shooting and unusually disjointed defense. Or you can simply target the fact that Heat 3-point specialists Shane Battier, Ray Allen and Mike Miller were a combined 4-for-15 beyond the arc. If each hit just one more 3, Miami wins. But I look to other stats that must be corrected tonight in what, realistically if not literally, is a must-win for Miami. Chicago outrebounded the Heat 46-32; that gap must narrow. Four Bulls had more boards than Chris Bosh. Step up, Bosh! And this: Dwyane Wade took zero free throws Monday, and LeBron James took fewer than either Nate Robinson or Jimmy Butler. That must change. Miami can't rely on making 3's so much that it concedes the paint. The Heat need a manlier, more aggressive mindset on both ends of the floor. They'll have it tonight. I see Miami -- team and fans -- showing up a lot better than in Game 1. They'd sure as hell better.

Just to be annoying, Heat nemesis Lil Wayne hops on Bulls bandwagon: As if Miami didn't have enough incentive tonight to even this playoff series after dropping Monday's opener? Rapper Lil Wayne hates the Heat and shows it at every turn, including boasting on-stage that he'd had relations with Chris Bosh's wife. Here Wayne is pictured celebrating with Bulls players after Game 1, courtesy Bulls guard Rip Hamilton, who posted the pic on Instagram. Wayne, referencing Nate Robinson's 24-point second half, also Tweeted, Nate the Great! Somebody show this photo to LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and maybe especially Bosh. They play better angry.

ON DOLPHINS' THREATS, ROSS' ODDLY TIMED PHILANTHROPY: What a strange time for the very top of the Dolphins organization in the wake of its stadium-renovations defeat in Tallahassee. Two quick thoughts. On the Dolphins' threats: Club president Mike Dee, asked about team's long-term future in Miami, said ominously, "I wouldn't want to prognosticate what the future holds but it is clearly bleak." Hmm. My friend Danny Webster tells me "bleak" means "without hope or encouragement, depressing, dreary..." Is that really how the franchise wishes to portay the state of the franchise? That's dumb, and unnecessarily upsetting to customers (a.k.a. fans). That attitude is mindful of the kid who didn't get his way so he threatened to take his ball and go home. It also sounds like a defeatist attitude. Time to be grownups about this, Dolphins. (Dee is pictured with owner Stephen Ross, their smiles belying the bleakness all around them). On Ross' oddly timed philanthropy: Comes word this week that Ross, 73, has joined the Warren Buffett/Bill Gates initiative in which the wealthiest of the wealthy pledge to donate at least half their money to charity over time or posthumously. It's a billionaires philanthropy club, a wonderful thing. Good for Ross. But the timing only underlines how well he can afford to pay for the desired stadium renovations himself. Ross is pledging to give away more than $2 billion when it would take only a fraction of that to refurbish his stadium to a Super Bowl-attracting, future-assuring shine. Maybe the smart, pragmatic billionaire businessman should consider that whatever money he did spend would come back to him in increased franchise value. That, in turn, would help ensure the club's long-term future here beyond Ross' eventual death -- something he claims he wants. Do what made you a billionaire, Mr. Ross: Get it done. Meantime, enough with the threats about leaving. South Florida deserves better.

HEAT'S SPOELSTRA SECOND IN COACH VOTE: NBA yesterday announced Denver's George Karl was its 2012-13 coach of the year, with Miami's Erik Spoelstra finishing second. Not a surprise.

"DEAAAD GIVEAWAY!" THE MARVELOUS CHARLES RAMSEY: Ramsey (pictured) is the Cleveland neighbor-turned-hero who this week rescued those three young women who'd been held captive for 10 years. The crime was horrific. But Ramsey's description of his role in the rescue is exceptional. It is entertaining, even funny. Click HERE to watch and listen. Ramsey colorfully references McDonald's, eating ribs, salsa music and "big testicles." He ends by saying, "I knew something was wrong when a pretty little white girl runs into a black man's arms. Dead giveaway. DEAAAD GIVEAWAY!" In a later interview, Anderson Cooper asked Ramsey if he wanted a reward and he said, "I get a paycheck. Give the reward to the rescued women." Charles Ramsey, you're my hero. McDonald's, give this man free cheeseburgers for life! (Yes: I am aware Ramsey is an imperfect soul reportedly with domestic-violence arrests in his past. No: It does not diminish his role in this matter, or the fab interview he gave). In the spirit of celebrating Ramsey's role in this -- not making light of the crime -- we present two alternate versions of the interview:

* Charles Ramsey interview remix: Songified. (Grade: A-plus) 

* Charles Ramsey interview animated: Crazy Taiwanese Style. (Grade: B)

Poll results: Deeply divided on Derrick Rose drama: We asked, and 46.6 percent said the medically-cleared Bulls guard should be playing, but 45.2% supported his decision not to, and 8.2% were undecided.

UPDATED: MARLINS "SAD-O-METER" RETURNS! (UNFORTUNATELY): We have had 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 reach. Well, the Sad-O-Meter disappeared for a little bit but three straight losses including yesterday's shutout in San Diego have brought it back. Updated Sad-O-Meter: Current record, 10-25 (.286). Season projection, 46.29 wins, 115.71 losses.

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Who's the idiot? LeBron 1 vote shy of unanimous for MVP; plus new NBA playoff odds, Dolphins' big loss, Tyson Clabo, Sad-O-Meter retired & more

1) It is SUNDAY, MAY 5. Happy Cinco de Mayo! 2) NCAA refuses to dismiss UM case in advance of June hearing. "No duh," says rest of America. 3) Click on Random Evidence for today's Sunday notes column, leading with Heat playoffs. 4) In The Previous Blogpost (ITPB): The building and branding of Dion Jordan, Bulls-or-Nets Heat poll, Susannah Collins, Tim Tebow prank. 5) Join us on Twitter @agregcote.

LEBRON MVP VOTE: NEW PROOF THAT 1 OF EVERY 121 PEOPLE IS A MORON: Heat's LeBron James got 120 of 121 frst-place votes for league MVP today, denying him the first unanimous vote in NBA history even though he was deserving. A funny Internet rumor spread that my colleague Dan Le Batard cast the lone vote for Carmelo Anthony. It wasn't true. That didn't stop it. "Probably a writer out fo New York," surmised LeBron, likely more accurately. LeBatard, sensing Twitter gold, didn't deny the initial speculation, merely re-Tweeted it. Deadspin said it was so. One of life's small pleasures is watching self-important Deadspin say, "Ah, um, uhh, oops. My bad!" Anyway, the mystery lunatic-voter is still out there. Oh he WILL be found!

HEAT-BULLS ON DECK; NBA NEXT-ROUND PLAYOFF ODDS: Second-round pairings and betting odds via Bovada, by conference, entering second-round play: Eastern: Miami over Chicago: Heat a prohibitive overall favorite at 2-11 to win East, 4-9 to repeat league title. Bulls are 40-1 to win East, 75-1 overall. There are no early indications Derrick Rose will play vs. Miami, but the fact he might will be an intriguing cloud hanging over this series. New York over Indiana: Knicks are 6-1 to win East and 14-1 to win league. Pacers are 12-1 and 25-1. Western: San Antonio over Golden State: Spurs are a big 5-7 pick to win West and 11-2 to win it all. Warriors are 9-1 in conference, 40-1 in league. Oklahoma City over Memphis: Thunder is 3-1 in West, 9-1 in league. Grizzlies are 5-1 to win West, 14-1 to win it all.

A WORD TO ROSS AND TO NFL IN WAKE OF DOLPHINS' LEGISLATIVE DEFEAT: Although it sounds as if Florida House speaker Will Weatherford (the smug-looking guy on the far right) may have done a bit of backstabbing up there in Tally, I can't get as worked up or disappointed as I'm sure Dolphins owner Stephen Ross is over the sudden collapse of his plan for massive stadium renovations. That's partly because the plan faced a likely defeat in a Miami-Dade referendum vote even if the Legislature had let it get that far. A quick word to Ross (near right), and to the NFL. To Ross: Understand that most Dolphins fans think the stadium is fine as is (and it is), and are hugely more concerned about the Dolphins getting in the Super Bowl than they are about the stadium hosting Super Bowls. As long as your emphasis is on a winning team, you'll be fine with Dolfans even if there is no canopy to shade them. To the NFL: Threatening to withhhold future Super Bowls if this renovation didn't pass sounded a bit like extortion to folks down here, and that didn't play well. Miami -- even with Dolphins stadium as is -- should continue as a main-rotation factor in the awarding of Super Bowls. This is a destination city. That won't change. Also, a league that just awarded an outdoor Super Bowl to New Jersey -- where snow is very possible and freezing temps all but assured -- ought not wring hands over the idea a Miami Super Bowl might face the threat of rain. If the NFL wants to do what's best for the league and for fans, it should swallow its pride over this legislative defeat and get back to realizing Miami was, and is, a Super Bowl-caliber host.

Dolphins sign Clabo: That's Tyson Clabo, the long-time ex-Falcons right tackle, 31, a one-time Pro Bowl guy (2010) who'll help the blocking front. Good signing.

ORB TAKES KENTUCKY DERBY: Orb, third-to-last early, saves energy for a brilliant finish and comfy win. Smartly run race. Good to see the Florida Derby as the springboard here. Pictured: A familiar former FAU football coach, Mr. Howard Schnellenberger, takes in the race today with his properly be-hatted wife Beverlee. Original post: The 139th running is today to launch racing's Triple Crown season, and my rooting interest probably is the betting favorite, Orb. I always root for our Florida Derby winner to represent. I have a funny feeling, though, that 5-1 shot Goldencents may carry the day. It's Rick Pitino's year, and he's part-owner. I always put more stock in gut feelings and supersition in horse racing than in other types of betting. Is that weird? Doubt that'll change until the horses start talking.

DOES MEDIA HAVE PRO-GAY, ANTI-CHRISTIAN BIAS?: A reader passed this political cartoon along to me, and I found it thought-provoking enough to post in the blog. I don't know that Christian vs. gay is a parallel discussion. Christian vs. atheist or gay vs. straight would be parallel. I'd also point out that something very unusual is more newsworthy than something common, and so Tebow's religious beliefs are much more common than Collins' ground-breaking revelation. Nevertheless, the cartoon makes its point very well.

UPDATED: MARLINS "SAD-O-METER" IN HIBERNATION: We have had this new blog feature we updated as long as Marlins' winning percentage was under .300. The New York Mets' 1962 record of 40-120 (.250) is widely regarded as the worst season in modern MLB history and Marlins had been on pace to threaten for awhile. But Miami is now at 10-22 (.313) after today's win, so our Sad-O-Meter is on indefinite hiatus.

Poll result: No contest. Bulls tougher next foe than Nets: We asked, and by an 84.8 percent landslide you said Chicago would be a tougher next playoff opponent for the Heat than Brooklyn. (They meet in Game 7 tonight in the Kings County borough for the right to face Miami).

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Dion Jordan: Building a beast and brand; plus Bulls-Nets. Who'd give Heat tougher time? Poll. Vote!; also Susannah Collins, Tebow prank & more

1) It is SATURDAY, MAY 4. Happy quatro de Mayo! New blogpost coming later today. 2) In The Previous Blogpost (ITPB): Heat's preference for next round, Dolphins' biggest-need poll, NBA gay player backlash, Sad-O-Meter, glowing sheep. 3) Join us on Twitter @agregcote.

LeBron to collect fourth MVP award on Sunday: ESPN citing "sources" in saying it'll be official on Sunday. ESPN sources also indicate the sun'll come up tomorrow.

Click on Waiting For A Game And A Challenge for my most recent column, on the Heat's long wait for a second-round oppoent that, either way, doesn't look too scary.

THE BUILDING (AND BRANDING) OF DION JORDAN: The Dolphins' No. 1 draft pick is missing this weekend's rookie camp as he recovers from shoulder surgery, but I use the occasion to share two things about Jordan I find interesting. 1. Building a Beast On the Field -- Jordan has trained with MMA legend Chuck Liddell and Fox Sports' Jay Glazer (also a former fighter) on his aggressiveness and hand-work. Glazer has taught him to attack blockers with "hammer-fist" techniques. "Why would you not want to make it a bad day on that [blocker's] forearms," says Glazer. 2. Building a Brand Off the Field: Jordan enlisted Tallahassee-based public relations firm 180 Communications for "media training" to better tell his story and grow his profile in Miami. His training specialist, Elton Gumble, says Jordan's is "a story that could rival Michael Oher's Blindside for popularity." Jordan's mother lost custody due to drug addiction when he was 12, and at 17 he suffered burns on 40 percent of his body in an explosion when he and friends tried to siphon gas from one car to another in a buddy's garage by using a vaccum cleaner. ("Dumb idea," Jordan admits). Gumble sees his story as one of perseverence and overcoming odds, and thinks he'll be active locally working with burn victims and inner-city kids. Of course, it will take his becoming a star commensurate with the third overall pick to fully provide that forum. It'll be interesting to watch his potential -- on and off the field -- play out.

BULLS OR NETS? WHO'D GIVE HEAT A BETTER SERIES?: I know, I know. Heat fans are supremely confident, and should be, and so the natural reaction is to harrumph and say what difference does it make because neither Brooklyn nor Chicago -- who play a Game 7 Saturday for the right to meet Miami -- will seriously challenge the Heat. Neverthless, one of them would give Miami a tougher time for whatever reasons. Which one? Vote and say why. (I know "Neither one" would win here; that's why it isn't a choice...)

THE STRANGE TALE OF SUSANNAH COLLINS: She's a Chicago hockey reporter fired this week by Comcast for saying during  a live report in front of the Blackhawks dressing room that the Blackhawks had enjoyed "such a tremendous amount of sex during the regular season." Now, while that may be true, Collins (pictured) meant to say "success" and quickly corrected herself. The blooper (click here) went viral. But that isn't what got her fired, exactly. The misspeak going viral led to a probe of Collins' past that included some mildly risque sports videos done in 2009-10 as part of the Sports Nutz for Middlebrow Media. Click here for those. She'll be out of work for about a minute and a half.

TIM TEBOW TO THE DOLPHINS! WHY IS THIS GUY TAKING CREDIT FOR AN ABSURD RUMOR?: Miami New Times online has a story by a Ryan Yousefi headlined, "Tim Tebow to the Dolphins! How I Trolled Twitter Into Believing An Absurd Rumor." Two thoughts here. 1) It wasn't that asburd. What this guy Tweeted on Thursday found whatever traction it did largely because Tebow's own agent, Drew Rosenhaus, had said on WQAM the day before that he "wouldn't be shocked" if Miami showed interest. So the speculation already was out there. I'd been deflecting Tebow-to-the-Dolphins rumors and email inquiries from the moment the Jets cut him. 2) Sounding a false alarm on Twitter is so easy that any giggling adolescent with too much free time can do it. You Tweet, "OMG. [Famous Celebrity] just died!!" and chances are the celeb's name will soon be trending. This Tebow stunt, despite the bow for applause, hardly invented or perfected the art of Twitter pranking.

Poll result: Left tackle Dolphins' biggest need by far: We asked what Miami's biggest remaining need was, post-draft, and 68.0 percent voted left tackle, followed by 10.9% cornerback, 7.9% running back, 5.9% tight end and 1.0% linebacker. Another 6.3% voted "something else."

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Good news on Heat's preference for next round; plus Dolphins' biggest need (with poll), Tebow rumor, Broussard, Sad-O-Meter, glowing sheep & more

1) It is THURSDAY, MAY 2. Happy dos de Mayo! 2) Always been a big Snoop Dogg fan. Now here is the reincarnated, reggae-fied Snoop Lion: Here Comes The King. 3) Panthers not making the NHL postseason? Unfortunate. Me not having to feign interest in the Stanley Cup playoffs? Priceless! 4) Click on Weatherman Battles Hiccups on Air for funny vid. 5) In The Previous Blogpost (ITPB): NBA's gay player, Dolphins' SB odds, Ed DuBois, Sad-O-Meter. 5b) Join us on Twitter @agregcote.

Dolphins/Tebow rumor: How'd it start? I mean beyond ther usual Internet nonsense? Agent Drew Rosenhaus said on WQAM this week he "wouldn't be shocked" if Miami showed interest in free agent QB Tim Tebow. That's how. Drew was doing what good agents do: Trying to drum up business. Tying to create the illusion of smoke so there appears to be fire. Most who follow the team closely would be far more shocked than Rosenhaus if Miami showed any interest. Bet against it. Big.

HEAT (AND FANS) SHOULD HAVE CLEAR PREFERENCE IN BULLS-NETS SERIES: [Update: Nets beat Bulls tonight to tie series 3-3, with Game 7 in Brooklyn]. What opponent should Heat players and fans most want to face in the second round starting Monday in Miami? Players would never say it because to do so would build confidence in the team they'd least like to play or incentive in the one they'd prefer. (Also, the confident Heat "fears" no team; Miami instills fear in others). But there is no doubt the Heat matches up better with Brooklyn than Chicago and should hope the Nets -- who tied the series tonight and now host Game 7 -- can win one more. Miami was 3-0 vs. Brooklyn this season by an average margin of 18 points, but only 2-2 vs. Chicago, which ended Miami's 27-game win streak. But it's more than that, and more than the possibility (however remote) that Bulls star Derrick Rose could make his lonnnnng-awaited return in the next round. It is that Chicago defends Miami's strength better than any team in the NBA. LeBron James driving and then kicking it out for an open corner-3 (Ray Allen's moneymaker) is a huge part of the Heat's game. Miami shot 44 corner 3's in swamping Milwaukee in the first round, or 11 per game. But Chicago's defense this season allowed an NBA-low 3.6 corner-3 attempts per game. ESPN.com statwonk Tom Haberstroh has more on this here. Defensively the Bulls were better than the Nets this season in most categories, but it is their denying the corner-3 that would most challenge the Heat. Also worth noting, Chicago outrebounded Miami by 36 (175-139) in the four season meetings, and limited the Heat to 30 percent on 3-point shots (21-for-70), versus Miami's 41% on 3's against everybody else. Don't get me wrong. Miami still would be a heavy favorite to beat the Bulls, and deservedly. But the challenge would be a stark contrast to the playoffs' "soft opening" in that sweep of the Bucks.

DOLPHINS' BIGGEST REMAINING HOLES, POST-DRAFT: Left tackle seems to be getting most of the current attention and tryout calls (which must make Jonathan Martin feel like crap), and I can understand that. But for me there are other roster soft spots of some concern. They include cornerback, where starters Brent Grimes and Richard Marshall would hardly count among the NFL's best tandems; tight end, where Dustin Keller is a marginal upgrade over departed Anthony Fasano; and perhaps running back, where Lamar Miller and Daniel Thomas leave Miami lacking proof. Also wonder if we might add linebacker, where Koa Misi and newcomers Dannell Ellerbe and Philip Wheeler have much to prove in an overhauled unit. What do you think is the Dolphins' biggest remaining area of concern and why?

Poll note: One choice above is garnering roughly two-thirds of all the votes. There is a phrase in the business for something like that. The phrase is, "Lousy poll idea."

PETITION TO SUSPEND BROUSSARD CIRCULATING: ESPN basketball analyst Chris Broussard is under fire for calling out-of-the-closet NBA player Jason Collins a sinner and saying his homosexuality is an "open rebellion to God and Jesus Christ." The faith-based group Faithful America (click for the petition) is collecting online signatures calling for ESPN to suspend Broussard for what the group's executive director Michael Sherrard called allowing Broussard to "mischaracterize our faith and use the teachings of Jesus as the basis for gay-bashing." Faithful America's slogan is, "Love thy neighbor. No Exceptions."

MARLINS "SAD-O-METER" LIVES ON: We have this new blog feature we're updating as long as the Marlins' winning percentage is under .300. The New York Mets' 1962 record of 40-120 (.250) is widely regarded as the single worst season in modern MLB history and the Marlins had been on pace to threaten that ignominy. A recent three-game win streak almost tipped the Fish up over .300 to at least temporarily shut down our Sad-O-Meter, but tonight in Philly made it two losses in a row. So: MARLINS SAD-O-METER: Current record, 8-21 (.276). Updated season pace, 44.69 wins, 117.31 losses.

SOUNDS LIKE A BAA-AAAD IDEA: Scientists in Uruguay have engineered a "genetically modified" sheep that glows in the dark. (And you became a scientist for what exactly!?) WWMT? [What Would (Ron) Magill Think?] Click here for the story. Remember. This is a blog. I couldn't say it if it weren't true.

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Significance of NBA's first gay player (and the reaction); plus Nets stay alive to face Heat, Dolphins' new SB odds, Ed DuBois & more

1) It is WEDNESDAY, MAY 1. Another year, another Greg Cote snub in the Tony nominations. 2) "I am no better, and neither are you." --Sly Stone, 1968. This for the intolerant: Everyday People. 3) Played golf Sunday at Jacaranda for a great cause in the Angela Kramer-White Memorial Tournament. I played lousy; however, I did win closest-to-the-beer. 4) In The Previous Blogpost (ITPB): Grading Dolphins draft, Canes avert shuout, Heat sweep Bucks, Shane Larkin, Marlins Sad-O-Meter. 5) Join us on Twitter @agregcote.

Nets stay alive to face Heat guillotine: Brooklyn beats Chicago 110-91 at home to shave Bulls' series lead to 3-2. Winner faces Miami. Game 6 Thursday night in Chitown.

Click on The First Steps Forward for my latest column, on the bravery of Jason Collins and why this is important for pro sports and for the cause of equal rights.

WIZARDS CENTER: "I'M GAY": Free agent 7-foot center Jason Collins, who finished this season with the Washington Wizards, reveals himself as the cover subject (pictured) of the May 6 issue of Sports Illustrated newly available. His story begins: "I'm a 34-year-old NBA center. I'm black. And I'm gay." Click here for the whole story; it is as compelling as you'd imagine. Collins has seldom been an important player on the court. He last started in the 2006-07 season and has become an end-of-the-bench journeyman. His career scoring average is 3.6 points. But he has become an important player now, near the end of that career, by becoming the first active, openly gay athlete in one fo America's big-four team sports. Does this have the same impact as if a rising star had come out? No. But it still is a significant watershed in that a door that always has been shut has now been nudged ajar. Somebody had to be the first. Good for Jason Collins. Update: There has been widespread praise and support for Collins on Twitter and then there as this from Dolphin Mike Wallace: 'All of them beautiful women in the world and guys want to mess with other guys ... I just don't understand.' Wallace soon deleted the Tweet and quickly apologized. Hey you're not all alone, Mike. Chris Broussard today on ESPN called being gay "an open rebellion to God." What century is this again!?

DOLPHINS' SUPER BOWL ODDS: Courtesy the good folks at Bovada, updated post-draft Super Bowl betting favorites are 49ers at 6-1, Broncos 15-2, Patriots 8-1 and Seahawks 9-1, with Miami a modest 40-1 (tied for 18th). Pats/Dolphins are 1-2 in AFC East well ahead of Jets at 75-1 and Bills at 100-1.

Dolphins' pre-training camp dates announced: Rookie minicamp will be May 3-5. OTA offseason workouts will be May 21-23, May 29-31 and June 3-6. And mandatory minicamp will be June 11-13.

Poll result: Dolfans pleased if not quite thrilled with draft: We asked for grades, almost 3,000 of you and counting have responded and a plurality of 48.4 percent gave Miami's draft a "B." "A" (26.1%) outpolled "C" (21.3%), while only 4.2% voted "D." So roughly three-quarters voted A or B. Is that fairly interpreted as pleased-but-not-quite-thrilled overall?

THE REMARKABLE ED DUBOIS: I met Ed (pictured) several years ago researching a 50-years-later column on a Miami team that won the 1958 Little League World Series. Ed was a member of that team who went on to a colorful career as a private investigator whose work in the 1990s partly inspired the new Mark Wahlberg/Dwayne Johnson film, Pain & Gain. Actor Ed Harris portrays the role of DuBois in the movie. DuBois, also a songwriter, has a new country-rock feel song called Pain & Gain. Click on the title to download.

UPDATED: MARLINS "SAD-O-METER": We have a new feature we'll update in the blog throughout the season as long as the Marlins' winning percentage is under .300. The New York Mets' 1962 record of 40-120 (.250) is widely regarded as the nadir in its class -- the single worst season in modern MLB history. Now, your Marlins are threatening that ignominy, despite a season-best two-game winning streak. (The sad face is now for Giancarlo Stanton getting injured yet again). Marlins Sad-O-Meter: Current record after last night's win, 7-19 (.269). Updated season pace, 43.62 wins, 118.38 losses.

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