Greg Cote's Random Evidence of a Cluttered Blog

Grade owners Arison, Loria and Ross. Three polls. Vote!; plus Bonds/Clemens hall snub, Musberger & the beauty queen, Heat, 'Bama/UM & more

1) It is WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 9. Heat today signed forward Jarvis Varnado to 10-day contract. 2) From Bovada: Alabama an early (really early) 5-1 favorite to repeat as national champ, following by Oregon 8-1 and Ohio State 17-2. Florida and FSU lurking at 14-1. UM Canes tied for 11th at 25-1. 3) Join us on Twitter @gregcote]

Roll Tide! Miami crowns unfavorite son Saban; UM gets a hard lesson: You could have an arduous debate whether Monday's 42-14 rout was due to Alabama's wonderfulness or Notre Dame proving overrated. I'll take the former. Click on Give The Devil His Due for my column off the game centered on Saban's continued reign. Another quick thought more parochial: 'Bama destroyed the Irish; Irish dominated the Canes this season. I think we just got a measure on how far UM is from being championship caliber.

GRADE MIAMI'S BIG 3 SPORTS-TEAM OWNERS: They have been in the news lately. Dolphins owner Stephen Ross had his postseason state-of-the-team address this week (he likes his Philbin/Tannehill frontline and says he'll open his wallet to win). Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria, of course, was at the center of the latest cost-cutting, angering many fans. Even Heat owner Micky Arison, more of a background guy, made news with a Tweet tweaking Heat fans for not being satisfied. [I am purposely but without malice excluding the Florida Panthers' owner Cliff Viner, who simply is not known to nearly the degree of the other three]. Arison, Loria and Ross are pictured, left to right. This is not a poll on your favorite or least favorite team, but on these three men and their ownership/leadership. I invite you to step back and look at all of the Big 3 owners with fresh eyes and a big-picture perspective here. For example, should one weigh credit for the new ballpark against any animus toward Loria? By however you think a team owner ought to be judged, give a grade to each and say why. There are three polls below, followed by other bloggy stuff.

 

HALL VOTERS TAKE EASY ROAD ON BONDS/CLEMENS, BUT NOT RIGHT ONE: Today nobody was elected for induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame for the first time since 1996 -- with notable snubs led by first-time balloteers Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens, the Steroids Era poster children. Click on Voters Predictable, But Not Right for my latest column, online now and shipping to Thursday's inky pulp editions. Craig Biggio's 68.2 percent of the vote came closest to the required 75%. Clemens (37.6) and Bonds (36.2) garnered around half the needed support. Local aside: Of 37 men on the ballot, 11 including "Mr. Marlin" Jeff Conine got zero votes.

ON MUSBERGER AND THE BEAUTY QUEEN: I tried to avoid this topic but ESPN forced my hand with its stupid public apology for Brent Musberger's comments about Miss Alabama during Monday's BCS National Championship at Dolphins stadium. You are in a coma in Tibet if you don't know by now that Miss A is Katherine Webb and that she dates 'Bama QB AJ McCarron. Well, of course, she was shown on screen for about 30 seconds during the game -- it was a game where diversions from the actual football were welcome -- and a very-impressed Musberger called her a "lovely lady" and said "What a beautful woman!" and added: "Wow. Whoa!" It was cartoon-sexist but also harmless, like a playfully lecherous wink from Gramps, especially from a 73-year-old broadcaster who also used the word "youngsters" in the same sound bite. But hypocritical ESPN huffed and puffed and said, "We apologize that the commentary in this instance went too far and Brent understands that." Two thoughts. 1) ESPN should apologize for itself, if anything. It was in their production meeting that someone surely mentioned the need to exploit capitalize on the star player having a sexy girlfriend. 2) Have we really reached a point where a TV commentator cannot remark favorably on the appearance of a woman who exploits trades in her own good looks? Seriously? This woman promenades in bleepin' BEAUTY PAGEANTS! Her entire being and life's goal is encapsulated by a sash that reads, AREN'T I HOT!? She is Miss !@#$ing Alabama! But old Brent can't say she's beautful!? Good lord on a horse.

HEAT OPEN ROAD TRIP BADLY: Miami lost 87-77 in Indy last night, a season low for points scored, but the story again was rebounding, or lack of. Heat got out-boarded 55-36, including 22-7 on the offensive end. Warning signs, or at least concern signs, continue for Miami.

Birdman to Heat?: Miami worked out and is considering signing unemployed center Chris "Birdman" Anderson, 34, the former Denver free-spirit who is an aggressive rebounder (a Heat need) but mostly known for his tattoos, evolving hair styles and, well, weirdness. He'd be an interesting hire. For the rebounds, and for the variety. Maybe a jolt in the dressing room would do the team some good.

SAFE-DRIVING SONGS: A study by London Metropolitan University (which obviously has more grant money than it needs) has determined the 10 songs most conducive to safe driving. It's related to heartbeat or pulse rate or some such thing. Click here for the story and list. Hint: One of the song's lyrics is (or should be): "Hold me closer, Tiny Dancer. Don't hit those other headlights on the hiiiighway..."

FUNNY FAKE ADS THAT SEEM REAL: Many know that the Chick-fil-A restaurant chain is owned by a very conservative family that leans on the Bible to oppose homesexuality. It is why many boycott Chick-fil-A and why others have rallied behind it. With all that in mind, I find this spoof ad funny.   

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Defeat, anger, now silence: Heat cancel Friday practice, media session; plus rank of Dolphins' Ross among NFL owners, ESPN Hispanic strategy & more

[1) It is Saturday, May 19. Defrocked Dolphins safety Yeremiah Bell signs with Jets, and Miami's best rivalry just got a shade better. 2) It's a perfect day to join us on Twitter @gregcote. Click Perfect Day to hear Lou Reed perform his magnificently sad song live. 3) R.I.P., Donna Summer, taken by cancer at 63. 4) Drinks on me if Ed Reed really retires].

Click Heat: Ice Cold & Wrong Kind Of Hot for my column from Indianapolis off Thursday's loss.  

PLOT THICKENS: HEAT CANCEL FRIDAY PRACTICE, MEDIA SESSION: The Heat canceled a scheduled early-afternoon practice yesterday in Indianapolis and subsequent media availability. It might not mean too much. After all, the pacers had the day off, too. But it is tempting to read a lot into it considering Miami is coming off a huge Game 3 loss that clearly showed signs of internal strife including Dwyane Wade (in the midst of a 5-point game) having heated words with coach Erik Spoelstra. Other media reports also indicate Udonis Haslem is upset with his diminished role in this postseason. 

G3: PACERS DOMINATE SECOND HALF, CRUSH HEAT: Indiana wins 94-75 for as 2-1 series lead as Miami is held to 32 second-half points. Mario Chalmers big with 25 points and LeBron James adds 22 but Dwyane Wade a ghost with five points on 2-for-13 shooting. ..... It's 43-43 at halftime despite Dwyane Wade with 0 points. (And despite Dexter Pittman starting at center). ..... Pregame: Coach Erik Spoelstra just said: "As we get into the game that's when we have to do reads [on lineup changes]. We have to do that more than ever now. With Chris [Bosh] out, everything is on the table. The game will dictate. We don't have a history or a long blueprint with this dynamic." There is a fine line, is there not, between adapting-as-we-go and flying by the seat of one's pants? Original post: I have just arrived in Indianapolis for tonight's Game 3 of Heat-Pacers in the NBA playoffs' second round, the teams square at 1-1. It feels like (doesn't mean it is) the fulcrum game that will determine the favorite to win this best-of-7 and advance. A lot of extraneous noise followed Miami's home loss the other night, such as who took the last shot (Mario Chalmers!?) and how LeBron James and Dwyane Wade -- despite their combined 52 points -- failed to come up huge in the closing minutes. Of course the more telling bottom line is that, without injured Chris Bosh, Miami looked like a two-man team with no No. 3 raising his hand and stepping forward. Chalmers? Udonis Haslem? Mike Miller? Shane Battier? Anybody? Somebody other than LeBron or Dwyane will stand up tonight or the Heat's grand championship plan will seem in jeopardy.

LEBRON AMONG 17 ATHLETES ON 100-MOST-POWERFUL-CELEBS LIST: Remember when Forbes was a serious business magazine? Now Forbes puts out lists like its latest: the 100 Most Powerful Celebrities. No. 1 overall is Dolphins-ownership-favorite Jennifer Lopez, calling into question the entire list. The slew of athletes on the list are: 12. Tiger Woods, 15. LeBron James, 27. Kobe Bryant, 31. Roger Federer, 32. David Beckham, 33. Manny Pacquiao, 40. Peyton Manning, 44. Cristiano Ronaldo, 47. Rafael Nadal, 48. Phil Mickelson, 50. Lionel Messi, 52. Floyd Mayweather, 60. Tom Brady, 63. Alex Rodriguez, 71. Maria Sharapova, 77. Serena Williams, and 87. Li Na.

DOLPHINS' ROSS LAGS 25TH AMONG NFL OWNERS: That's via biglead.com but the estimation seems reasonable, with a mention of the botched Jim Harbaugh non-hiring and the appraisal, "[Ross] seems willing to spend big, but not necessarily how to spend it." Bookending the rankings: Patriots' Robert Kraft predictably No. 1 and Browns' Randy Lerner dead last.

LE BATARD FRONTS ESPN'S HISPANIC STRATEGY:  ESPN president John Skipper in a new interview portrays Dan Le Batard Is Highly Questionable as a key to the network's very targeted efforts at increasing its footprint among Hispanic viewers. Pictured: an and his father, "Papi," on the unqieu fake-kitchen set.  "We as a company need to get a higher participation by Latino viewers in the U.S.," Skipper said. "We under-index with Hispanic viewers. They are 12 to 14 percent of the population and our average show is more like 6 to 8 percent Hispanic. The LeBatard show immediately has the highest composition of any show we have among Hispanic Americans. So that show has the purpose of beginning to help Latinos understand that ESPN is for them, which is also why we are hiring more Hispanic talent. We have commercials in Spanish. We are doing a lot of La Liga games in Spanish. Given the importance of that portion of our population over the next few years, we have to embrace that, and that is what LeBatard is about."

SAINTS CONTINUE SPIRALING DOWN COMMODE: Wasn't enough that head coach Sean Payton is suspended for the year. Wasn't enough that several players are serving Bountygate suspensions. Wasn't enough that star Drew Brees is upset (very) over his contract status. No, that isn't enough turmoil. So now Jonathan Vilma (the ex-Cane) is suing NFL commissioner Roger Goodell for defamation! Paper-bag time? Aints redux?    

LATEST NUDES ON BEACHES: Expedia commissioned a Harris Poll to determine which of 21 countries has the most nude-beach-friendly people. Germany led with 15 percent saying they had nudied at the beach. The U.S. tied for seventh at 2%. Most of those were probably vacationing German tourists.

WAYNE GRETZKY'S DAUGHTER: It has come to my attention that Wayne Gretzky's daughter, Paulina, is the person pictured at right in the middle, and so I pass it along for your edification on the off chance you might find yourself on Jeopardy and hear Alex Trebek reveal the category "Athletes' Hot Daughters." I would imagine that Wayne's pride over the dissemination of this photo is all but indescribable.

Click back. Will updating and adding to this latest blogpost...

NBA or MLB: Who has best (or least bad) All-Star Game? (vote now); plus Marlins' Big 3 Danica/Daytona, Canes, Oscars, Homeless Voice & more

[Join us on Twitter @gregcote]

NBA AND MLB VIE FOR LEAST-AWFUL ALL-STAR GAME: Thought we'd chew over all-star games as the Heat's Big 3 prepare to play in the NBA's version tonight in Orlando. All-Star Games get slammed by the media, some deservedly. But I actually think two of the four major-sport ASG's are pretty good and legit for what they are. I would eliminate from contention the NFL's absymal, roaring anticlimax of a Pro Bowl and the NHL's utterly forgettable pick-up skate. Baseball at least gives you a game that matters by awarding home-field advantage in the World Series (plus a Home Run Derby that probably is the best of all the ancillary events attached). Basketball simply gives fans what they want: A nonstop display of skills, showmanship and parading alley-oops against a backdrop of barely-there defense. The timing of this little boutique poll favors the NBA stars game but I'm still curious how many of you prefer baseball's Midsummer Classic. Who knows? Might even be a few fans of the Pro Bowl or NHL game floating around. Vote now and say why. [See related 'The List' at end of this blogpost].

MARLINS HAVE A BIG 3, TOO: The current March 5-dated ESPN the Magazine "Analytics Issue" may be the most unreadable, tedious wonk/stats amalgam in the history of magazines, but redeeming it somewhat is an early Top 100 fantasy baseball ranking. Miguel Cabrera and Albert Pujols are 1-2, but the Marlins' own Big 3 emerges, with Hanley Ramirez 12th, Jose Reyes 20th and Mike Stanton 24th ... but no other Miami guy among the hundred.

CANES AT COMBINE: I find it curious that members and entities of the University of Miami athletic department are Tweeting updates on how Hurricanes football players who left early are faring at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis. These are the same handful of players whose ill-advised departures -- only RB Lamar Miller has even an oustide prayer of going in the first round -- has weakened the 2012 team and privately upset coach Al Golden. Not saying they are traiterous enemies of the state now. Just saying it's weird for UM to applaud players whose decisions and departures hurt UM.

DAYTONA 500: Tony Stewart begins defense of his Sprint Cup championship today in Daytona, Carl Edwards is on the pole, Jimmie Johnson tries to get his mojo back, Dale Earnhardt Jr. tries to sate his legion of fans -- a lot going on as NASCAR begins its year. But my main focus of interest will be on the Sprint Cup debut of Danica Patrick (pictured), who is racing against not only other drivers but also all the hype. She has a chance to assert herself today, or to leave doubts. I root for her to do well, but also am amused by her assertion she'd rather the media didn't dwell on her sex appeal. Dear Danica: Are you for real? Seriously? With all the photo shoots you've done (see right) that make your sexiness the main point? And those GoDaddy ads? You can't play the Kim Kardashian hot card and beg to be taken seriously all at once. Well, until you start winning, at least.

HOMELESS VOICE: GET OFF MY INTERSECTION, PLEASE: What I am about to write is politically incorrect and will cast me as heartless to some. But it needs to be said. The people from Broward-based HomelessVoice.org hawking their newsletters for donations at intersections (see photo) should not be there. They are a nuisance and a blight; worse, they are a traffic and safety hazard. The disarming, I'm-no-threat wave they give you and the bright-colored vest they wear does not disguise the simple fact these folks are panhandling at major intersections. That their cause may be good is not the point. They should not be fund-raising at intersections, that's all. I am stunned that liability-conscious cities like Plantation allow it. There are plenty of other, safer ways and locations to help the homeless than for an organization to put them and drivers at risk in traffic.

GUILTY PLEASURE: THE OSCARS: I'm not a huge movie guy. The Help is the only nominated film I've seen that comes to mind (White Woman Solves Racism!), although I'll get around to Moneyball and a couple of others. But I do enjoy watching the Oscars. Ididn't say the pregame show, the "red carpet" nonsense. My least favorite, most annoying question in all the universe is, "Who are you wearing!?" Why are you caring!? might be the proper reply. 

The List bonus: Top 10 Greatest Oscars: My ranking, excluding the Academy Awards icon itself (himself?): 1. Oscar Wilde, writer; 2. Oscar the Grouch, Muppet; 3. Oscar Robertson, basketball; 4. Oscar Mayer, business (hot dog guy); 5. Oscar de la Hoya, boxing; 6. Oscar de la Renta, fashion; 7. Oscar Madison, TV character; 8. Oscar Hammerstein, music; 9. Oscar Peterson, music; 10. Oscar Gamble, baseball. Bonus fact: Oscar is the most popular male name in Sweden.

THE LIST: ALL-STAR GAMES IN FLORIDA: Eight all-star games in the Big Four sports have been played in our state including four in South Florida, in all sports except baseball. A chronology:

Year   Game          Location

1974   Pro Bowl      Miami

1977   Pro Bowl      Tampa

1990   NBA             Miami

1992   NBA             Orlando

1999   NHL             Tampa

2003   NHL             Sunrise

2009   Pro Bowl       Miami

2012   NBA             Orlando

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NBA lockout: Lay the blame (with poll); plus LeBron James a Seahawk?, Tim Tebow an actor?, Cruz control redux, Hank Jr. & more

[Join us on Twitter @gregcote]

Click on Villains Everywhere for today's latest column by me, on neither side being "right" in NBA lockout, and on Ain't No Sunshine for my previous column on Dolphins leading the sad state of our state.

NBA LOCKOUT: ENOUGH, ALREADY!: Owners and players failed to reach labor peace by yesterday's self-imposed deadline, and commissioner David Stern canceled the first two weeks of the regular season. More may yet be lost. I have avoided blogging much on the lockout, but the very idea that two sides of grown men can't agree on how to share billions of dollars is fairly disgusting, and now the season itself is being impacted. I feel for the people being locked out, but I don't mean the players, I mean you, the fans. Time to have your say. Who's most to blame? Is it the league and owners like the Heat's Micky Arison? Or is it players like Dwyane Wade and LeBron James? Vote and say why.

LEBRON JAMES ... SEATTLE SEAHAWK?: LeBron James on Twitter this week inquired about the NFL deadline for signing free agents, playfully hinting he might be interested in switching leagues during the NBA lockout. The notion is not preposterous, considering LBJ is a former all-state high school receiver and, at 6-9 and 250 pounds, can be pictured as a tight end skying over undersized (compared to him) defenders. So Seattle Seahawks coach Pete Carroll -- probably playfully but maybe not -- Tweets this photo. Fun! This is precisely what the PR-addled Miami Dolphins should have done, either seriously or in jest or a little of both.

TIM TEBOW ... ACTOR?: Speculation is afloat that Gator-turned-Broncos QB Tim Tebow is (for some odd reason) being considered to replace Bruce Willis' character in future Die Hard films. Tebow currently stars in Try Hard, playing an under-skilled NFL quarterback who gets by on gumption and resolve and is wildly popular for not being Kyle Orton. I'm not sure about Tebow portraying Willis' hard-bitten character, though. Not sure at all if those bad guy-terrorists will be swayed by his handing them leaflets advising they put their trust in Jesus.

ME, PICKS: Had a bad Week 5, going 8-5 straight-up and 6-7 against the spread, including a really horrid Upset of the Week call with Titans over Steelers. Oy. Details (unfortunately) coming on this Friday's NFL predictions page.

ME, FANTASY: Better. Greg's Lobos won, 139-86, improving to 3-2 on the season. The squad was led by 28 as expected from Aaron Rodgers and a big unexpected 27 Benjarvus Green-Ellis.

UPDATED BCS CHAMPIONSHIP ODDS: From our friends at Bodog, the college football title pack is led as expected by Alabama at 7-4, Oklahoma at 3-1 and LSU at 9-2. Top five completed by Wisconsin at 7-1 and Boise State at 10-1. No Florida school on the radar at even 125-1 or better. 

HANK JR. DUPES FANS, DEADSPIN ON "NEW" SONG: Hank Williams Jr. is trying shamelessly to capitalize on his being fired by ESPN from its Monday Night Football intro over comments insulting President Obama. On his website hankjr today: "In light of the recent Hank Jr. and ESPN news Hank has recorded a song called 'Keep The Change'..." That of course implies the song is newly written about the ESPN controversy and, sure enough, the website Deadspin takes the hook with an item about the song calling it "an Obama/Fox & Friends/ESPN diss track." Um, anybody care for the truth? The song was inspired by the singer's opposition to Obama's election, the title of it a play on the president's "Change" campaign theme. But the song was written in 2008, long before this latest controversy and having zero to do with ESPN's actions. Hank's newly recorded version adds a late, cursory mention of the latest controversy. Click here for a YouTube video of Hank Jr. singing his "new" song more than two years ago in Evansville, Ind.

BASEBALL: BACK TO CRUZ CONTROL FOR TEXAS: Two nights after Nelson Cruz whapped the first walkoff grand slam in postseason history, his three-run homer last night carried the Rangers over Detroit 7-3 for 3-1 ALCS lead for Texas. A possible clinching Game 5 is today at 4:15. In the NLCS St. Louis won 4-3 last night for a 2-1 lead over Milwaukee, with Game 4 tonight at 8. Your rooting interest, if you don't give a crap, should go here: 1. Milwaukee. City has had Brewers since 1970 and seeks first World Series title in only fourth playoff appearance. 2. Texas. Have had Rangers since 1972 and seek first WS crown, although reached finals last year. 3. Detroit. Had the Tigers since 1901 and have won four championships but none since 1984, and this is only third postseason bow since then. 4. St. Louis. Cardinals since 1900 and 10 WS titles, as recently as 2006. In context of this final four, rooting for St. Louis is like rooting for the Yankees.

COTE'S STATE OF THE STATE: Our latest updated weekly ranking of the seven FBS teams in our state, with previous week's rank in parentheses. Entering Week 7:

1. Florida Gators (1) 4-2, 2-2 SEC 

2. Miami Hurricanes (3) 2-3, 0-2 ACC

3. FSU Seminoles (2) 2-3, 0-2 ACC

4. S. Fla. Bulls (3) 4-1, 0-1 Big East

5. C. Fla. Knights (5) 3-2, 1-0 C-USA  

6. FIU Panthers (6) 4-2, 1-1 Sun Belt

7. FAU Owls (7) 0-5, 0-2 Sun Belt

WOMEN'S BREASTS!: Did I get your attention? I enjoy toying with the parameters of what being sexist means. Here is a link in which a writer (a woman , if that matters) discusses seven popular terms for female breasts. This does not bother me. I am amused what society tells us: That it is OK for women to accentuate and be proud of their assets, but that men run the risk of being labeled as sexist for openly admiring said assets. For example, the admittedly juvenile poster at right I find funny and not the least bit anti-women or sexist. Am I wrong?

THE REAL T-30: The Real T-30 is our weekly cumulative, consensus Top 30 college football ranking based on a combination of the three major polls: Associated Press, USA Today, ESPN. Points based on 30 for a No. 1 ranking, 29 for No. 2, etc. The combined ranking entering Week 7:

Rank   Team   Points   (Last week)

1   Oklahoma   620   (1)

2   Louisiana State   606   (2)

3   Alabama   601   (3)

4   Boise State   551   (4)

5   Stanford   529   (5)

6   Wisconsin   507   (7)

7   Oklahoma State   499   (6)

8   Oregon   451   (8)

9   Nebraska   410  (9)

10   South Carolina   382   (12)

11   Arkansas   381   (13)

12   Texas A&M   370   (10)

13   Virginia Tech   354   (14)

14   FLORIDA STATE   340   (11)

15   FLORIDA   262   (15)

16   West Virginia   239   (17)

17   Texas   237   (16)

18t   Clemson   218   (20t)

18t   Michigan State   218   (18)

20   Michigan   198   (24)

21   Baylor   185   (19)

22   Georgia Tech   164   (27)

23   Arizona State   156   (25)   

24   Texas Christian   149   (20t)

25   Ohio State   145   (22)

26   SOUTH FLORIDA   144   (23)

27   Illinois   133   (29)

28   Auburn   131   (26)

29   Mississippi State   90   (28)

30   Kansas State   75   (36)

38   MIAMI   13   (37)

41t   CENTRAL FLORIDA   7   (40t)

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Dolphins fans and "Suck For Luck": Legit feeling or wrong? (with poll); plus Henne out for year, Hope Solo waters lawn nude, Marlins logo confirmed & more

[Join us on Twitter @gregcote].

Click on At Last, Hope for my latest column previewing the new-look Panthers as NHL play begins. And on Casualties Of a Train-Wreck Season for my earlier column assessing Dolphins at the bye.

SHOULD DOLFANS JOIN THE "SUCK FOR LUCK" MOVEMENT?: A pithy slogan that rhymes has a shot to become instant gold in the Internet/Twitterific age, and so every NFL team that is really bad -- including this one -- finds many of its disgruntled fans chanting or at least advocating "Suck For Luck," i.e., abandoning hope in the name of the overall No. 1 draft pick and Stanford QB Andrew Luck. See, the beauty of being a fan (or in some cases, a sports columnist, for example) is that you can have it both ways. You get to be outraged at the idea your team would throw games or give anything but its best to try to win every week -- while at the same time rationalizing and sort of hoping that's exactly what happens. To be sure, landing Luck would be the ultimate consolation prize of this currently 0-4 Dolphins season, albeit one coming with the price of great embarrassment. But it also forces fans to be anything but real fans, to all but wish months more continued misery on their team and themselves. Not a tough call from an ethical vantage; you play to win, period. But a tougher call from a practical POV, with a legitimate next-Marino type prospect out there waiting to be somebody's savior (so why not ours, say the Dolfan Luckies). Weigh in on Suck For Luck. Vote and tell us why you come down on the side you do.   

NEKKID ATHLETES! WHOOO!: ESPN The Magazine's third annual Body issue is out today, with 22 athletes posing nude though strategically covered. Miami's Helio Castroneves is included but I of course was much more interested in ogling a thoughtful analysis of soccer goalie Hope Solo, who is pictured here. I especially enjoy the photo here of a nude Hope nonchalantly watering the lawn. I believe this photo might star in a future recurring dream of mine that I like to call, "Greeting the New Neighbor."    

HENNE OUT FOR SEASON: No big surprise, but ESPN'S Adam Schefter first reported today that Chad Henne will have surgery on his (non-throwing) shoulder and miss the rest of the season. As a backup to sudden-starter Matt Moore the Dolphins have brought back ex-Fin Sage Rosenfels. Yes, the Sage Rosenfels Experience is back! Miami preferred David Garrard but he demanded too much money. How fitting that Henne's injury -- possibly signalling the end of his Miami career -- happened because of a busted play.

MARLINS LOGO CONFIRMED!: The leaked though unconfirmed new Marlins logo at left appears to be the real deal, based on the logo at right that will appear on seats in the new ballpark. The color theme still is not confirmed, but the basic 'M' and stylized marlin in upper left confirm the basic design. 

ME, PICKS: Went a little crazy on some longshot upsets and limped in at 9-7 overall but managed 8-7-1 against the spread, finishing on the plus side with Colts with the points Monday night. Details on this week's Friday NFL predix page.

ME, FANTASY: Better news. Greg's Lobos won big, 186-100, eveming our season mark at 2-2. Got a huge 54 points from Aaron Rodgers and also 32 from Hakeen Nicks, 29 from the Ravens D/ST, and 23 from Greg Jennings. Go Lobos! Dammit.

TRIVIA DU JOUR: Bamboo Harvester was the name of the horse that portrayed Mr. Ed in the 1960s sitcom.

COTE'S STATE OF THE STATE: Our latest updated weekly ranking of the seven FBS teams in our state, with previous week's rank in parentheses. Entering Week 6:

1. Florida Gators (1) 4-1, 2-1 SEC 

2. FSU Seminoles (2) 2-2, 0-1 ACC

3. Miami Hurricanes (4) 2-2, 0-1 ACC

4. S. Fla. Bulls (3) 4-1, 0-1 Big East

5. C. Fla. Knights (5) 2-2, 0-0 C-USA  

6. FIU Panthers (6) 3-2, 1-1 Sun Belt

7. FAU Owls (7) 0-4, 0-1 Sun Belt

ARE YOU READY FOR SOME FALLOUT?: No Hank Williams Jr. warbling "Are you ready for some football?" last night on Monday Night Football. ESPN cut the intro after some comments derogatory to President Obama made on Fox News. There was a Hitler reference and another to The Three Stooges. Hmm. I'm a big fan of Hank Jr. -- looking at right a bit like Ben Roethlisberger after a long weekend -- but I also respect the prez (this one, and the office). I support Bocephus' right to pander to his Confederate Flag constituency but I also understand and agree with ESPN wanting to keep the smudge of partisan politics off its national brand. I'll continue to like Hank Jr.'s music; "Whiskey Bent And Hell Bound" for me is one of the truly great country songs. But I think I'll think a little less of the man behind that music.

HIGH FASHION: I think they call it high fashion because the designers were high when conceiving looks such as this one at left, seen at the recent Paris Fashion Week. The goal used to be "something the average woman would wear." Now apparently it's "something the average woman who is Lady Gaga would wear." I mean, seriously.

THE REAL T-30: The Real T-30 is our weekly cumulative, consensus Top 30 college football ranking based on a combination of the three major polls: Associated Press, USA Today, ESPN. Points based on 30 for a No. 1 ranking, 29 for No. 2, etc. The combined ranking entering Week 6:

Rank   Team   Points   (Last week)

1   Oklahoma   534   (1)

2   Louisiana State   517   (3)

3   Alabama   515   (2)

4   Boise State   474   (4)

5   Stanford   454   (5)

6   Oklahoma State   428   (6)

7   Wisconson   426   (7)

8   Oregon   386   (9)

9   Nebraska   360  (11)

10   Texas A&M   344   (8)

11   FLORIDA STATE   340   (10)

12   South Carolina   334   (12)

13   Arkansas   319   (14)

14   Virginia Tech   316   (13)

15   FLORIDA   251   (15)

16   Texas   211   (18t)

17   West Virginia   189   (17)

18   Michigan State   188   (16)

19   Baylor   156   (22)

20t   Clemson   149   (25t)

20t   Texas Christian   149   (18t)

22   Ohio State   145   (20)

23   SOUTH FLORIDA   144   (21)

24   Michigan   137   (25t)

25   Arizona State   119   (23)

26   Auburn   117   (27)

27   Georgia Tech   107   (29)

28   Mississippi State   90   (24)

29   Illinois   84   (32)

30   Missouri   58   (28)

37   MIAMI   13   (36)

40t   CENTRAL FLORIDA   7   (39t)

Click back. Will be adding yet more stuff to this latest blogpost...

Trying on Dolphins optimism to see how it fits; plus Henne's QB ranking, Hope Solo as God intended, Schnellenberger, caddie, Rodman, Le Batard & more

[Follow me on Twitter @gregcote and I promise not to take out a restraining order unless you start following too closely].

Note: Our separate post on tonight's Dolphins @ Atlanta preseason opener will publish in the blog at 6:30 p.m., one hour before kickoff. Watch for it. 

TRYING ON DOLPHINS OPTIMISM TO SEE HOW IT FITS: Pessimism seems to cloak Dolfan Nation as the preseason begins tonight at Atlanta, and I aim to do something about it in today's latest column. Click on All That Could Go Right to read and then drop a comment here on what you think. Y'all must be hungry for the optimism; the column is the most-read thing on all of MiamiHerald.com. I know much of the negativity is rooted in lack of faith or at least uncertainty in QB Chad Henne, and headlines like the one just below don't help. But even Henne makes my list of things that could go right, all over the field and even off it. Ah, optimism!  

HENNE RANKED NO. 31 STARTER. OUCH. (IT'S 32-TEAM LEAGUE!): This doesn't prove anything but offers more anecdotal evidence why so many Dolfans seem gloom-struck. On the eve of the Dolphins' preseason opener, USA Today debuted its new NFL quarterback power rankings and Miami's Chad Henne is ranked a dismal 31st of 32 projected starters, ahead of only Redskins' Rex Grossman. Seems a bit harsh to me. Wow. The top five in order: Pack's Aaron Rodgers, Pats' Tom Brady, Saint Drew Brees, Colt Peyton Manning and Eagle Mike Vick. Others from AFC East: Jets' Mark Sanchez overranked at 11th, and Bill's Ryan Fitzpatrick checking in 24th.

SCHNELLENBERGER DOWN TO FINAL SEASON: Up at FAU, Howard Schnellenberger annnounced yesterday that 2011 will be his final season before retiring as a coach. Not surprising, but still news considering he has coached since 1959 and meant so much in South Florida, Coral Gables to Boca Raton. Congrats are due (in advance) for a monumental career that helped shape Miami Hurricanes football before growing FAU's program from nothing. Click on Ode to Howard for today's column by me.

HOPE SOLO NUDE! PINCH ME: My favorite female athlete is about to make a lot of people horny happy. America's Goalkeeper, U.S. World Cup soccer star Hope Solo, Tweeted that she had posed au natural for the next ESPN The Magazine "Body" issue. Of course that's strategically nude, tease-y more than explicit. But still! Hope then Tweeted this photo, an outtake from the shoot that shows her romping in a fountain with her white bathrobe flying up and her appearing to be wearing nothing underneath. It's at a time like this I thank God my wife never reads my blog.

DEAR STEVE WILLIAMS: Many of you know Williams is the caddie fired recently by Tiger Woods, the two of them pictured in halcyon days. The caddie has since fired back sans-class at his 13-year benefactor. Steve, first, a reminder. You are a bleepin' caddie, merely that. You are a glorified man-servant paid to carry another man's golf bag, an inherently humble job that does not jibe in any reasonable way with your obviously inflated sense of self. You are interchangeable, literally. No extraordinary talent is associated with your role. A golfer -- let alone one as experienced and accomplished as Woods -- does not need you to read his distance or to make his club selection. He does not need you or a weatherman to know which way the wind blows. (Sorry, Dylan). You are there to be his pack-mule, to rake a sand trap, maybe to glare menacingly at a photographer whose camera whir threatens to dare disturb your boss' pre-swing ritual. The luckiest person in all of sports is the valet caddie raking a cool 10 percent off his lord's big checks. Tiger made you rich, Stevie. How about you take some of that money and buy a little humility.

THE DENNIS RODMAN SHOW: Friday, 10 new inductees will enter the Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Mass. Nobody will notice nine of them, because one of them will be Dennis Rodman. It is ironic that Rodman (pictured) enters for the quiet, overlooked talents of defense and rebounding, because his persona is arguably the most look-at-me outlandish in sports history. There is no amount of tattoos, hair dye or body piercings that Rodman hasn't tried, and no clothing (or lack of) has been too odd or risque. Rodman, 50, wanted to roll into Springfield on a parade float but couldn't get a permit. So he says he'll helicopter in, bring costume changes and be accompanied by acrobats. I love that this guy is going as himself into the hallowed hall. He's a blast of punk rock in a quiet church. This might be the first time in history a bunch of bronze busts have looked mortified.

LE BATARD'S NEW TV SHOW: Dan sent me the 25-second opening of his new show, Dan Le Batard Is Highly Questionable, debuting Sept. 12 on ESPN2, and I like it. Wish I could show it to you here but the Worldwide Leader has an army of lawyers. I will say it's very Miami, visually and musically, and nothing like your standard TV-show intro. Which is good. Le Batard in his career has enjoyed a Midas touch earned with talent and ingenuity, but this will be his biggest professional challenge. I like his chances.

Click back. Will be adding more to this latest blogpost...

Heat dream-team debut tantalizes; plus baseball playoff picks, pictures of naked female athletes, Bonamego, Moss, sad Panthers outlook & more

[Note: Our Wednesday live online chat is taking the day off today so we'll see y'all back in the chat-hut on Oct. 13. Find the latest Dolfan Satisfaction Meter results (oy!) in the blogpost directly below this].

HEAT DREAM TEAM: FIRST IMPRESSION? WOW!: I covered the home exhibition bow of the reconfigured, dream-team Heat on Tuesday night and if you (or my fellow mediaites) think the story was Dwyane Wade "tweaking" his hamstring, y'all are way off. They'll baby the injury and treat it with caution and he'll miss a couple of weeks but be ready in plenty of time for the real season. No biggie. Here was the story arising from this fake-game win over Detroit: After three years of it being Dwyane-or-bust, a virtual one-man team, the 2010-11 Heat are a very good team even without D-Wade. So imagine how good they'll be with him. The new two-thirds of the Big Three were terrific, with LeBron James and Chris Bosh combining for 38 points in slightly more than a half each. Man! It only took one preseason game, and with Wade largely absent at that, to tell me this season is going to be as big and as fun and as hate-the-villain as we expected. Maybe moreso. Can't wait. LeBron is a monstah. (Tuesday night was almost enough to make you forget Monday night. I'm thinking with a practice or two LeBron could master Dolphins special-teams pretty well. Now all Tony Sparano has to do is get Pat Riley to sign off on it). You watched the Heat game. You know you did, either there or on TV. My LeBron-oriented column off the game is online and in Wednesday's pulp edition. Click on It Begins to read it. But that's just me. What were your initial impressions?

[Update: NBA.com's annual general manager survey is out, 28 GMs participated, and the Lakers are the pick to win the title, with 63% to the Heat's 33%. Kevin Durant is the strong pick for MVP with 67% to Kobe Bryant's 26%. Not much love for Miami in these numbers and even less for LeBron. Then again, NBA GMs are the guys who wish they could have accomplished what the Heat did accomplish, so this vote being slightly flavored with sour grapes is a possibility, it says here].

BASEBALL PLAYOFF PREVIEW: DIVISION SERIES: Here is our token, half-assed preview of the baseball playoffs. Here is who wins each series to save you the bother of actually watching...

Rays over Rangers in 5 games -- Yes, yes I am aware Texas won Game 1 today, 5-1, thank you. But I still like Tampa Bay in the series. Cliff Lee is it for Texas in terms of scary starters. Rays have lousy fans but a better overall team. (Rays the Bodog.com betting favorite of the two going in, 9-2 to 11-1, based on odds of each winning the World Series). 

Yankees over Twins in 4 -- I give the Twins a chance if they get into their bullpen with a lead, and Lord knows a Red Sox fan like myself will be rooting against the Pinstripes. But NYY has such an offensive advantage, especially with Justin Morneau unavailable to Minny. (Yanks the betting fave, 7-2 to 8-1, based on each's odds of winning the WS).

Phillies over Reds in 3 -- Marlins fans will hope not, but I see a Philly sweep in the most lopsided of the four division series. Philadelphia's strength, starting pitching, is Cincy's weakness, and that disparity at that position has the power to make a short series short, indeed. (Phils the betting fave, 2-1 to 11-1, based on WS odds for each).

Braves over Giants in 5 -- Many won't agree with the pick, but I'm hunching Bobby Cox's managerial life gets an extension. Similar teams, both with solid starting pitching and so-so offense. A coin flip for what, for me, is the closest series and toughest to pick. (Giants the betting fave, 7-1 to 12-1, based on odds of each winning the WS).

[Trivia: Three former Miami Hurricanes are in the 2010 baseball playoffs. They are Giants LF Pat Burrell (UM 1996-98), Giants 1B Aubrey Huff (1997-98) and Twins 3B Danny Valencia (2005-06)]. 

HEY, GET YOUR NAKED FEMALE ATHLETES HERE!: ESPN The Magazine's latest "The Body Issue" hits newsstands this Friday Oct. 8 so here are a couple of photos from the issue to wet the appetite. Pictured left: WNBA star (if that isn't an oxymoron) Diana Taurasi. And below: the entire U.S. women's water polo team. Looking at the way they are posed, front to cheek, ought we be thankful it isn't the men's water polo team? I'm just asking. And wouldn't you have thought there might have been one prude on the women's team? Just one? A Mormon? A Republican? Somebody who said nah...idon'tthinkso? Evidently not. Quick impression: That's some thigh musculature going on there! I'd say a lot more but this is a family blog, sort of. What do you think of a sports magazine doing skin, by the way? What's next? Clothed athletes in Playboy? A celibate Kardashian? [Note to self: In your next life, come back as an ESPN The Magazine photographer].

ISN'T THAT SPECIAL? DOLPHINS SACK BONAMEGO: Twelve hours after the Monday night debacle the Dolphins fired special-teams coach John Bonamego. It was time. Wasn't as if his units were stellar prior to one bad game. Bonamego is pictured at right with his twin, the Addams Family's Uncle Fester.

ODDS SAY PANTHERS ON THIN ICE YET AGAIN: With NHL season close, oddsmakers at Bodog.com make the Florida Panthers a longshot 80-1 to win the Stanley Cup -- tied for 26th longest odds of 30 clubs. Cats are judged dead-last in the Eastern Conference at 55-1, and last in the Southeast Division at 25-1. The over/under on Panthers standings points (71.5) also is the lowest in the league. In other words, money flowing into Las Vegas gives Panthers fans about zero hope to finally end the 10-year playoff drought. (Fans, move into single-story houses and ground-floor apartments -- avoid high ledges!) Individually, Stephen Weiss (pictured left) is predicted to be the team's leading scorer with an over/under of 60.5 scoring points, while Tomas Vokoun (20-1) and Erik Gudbranson (18-1) are periphery contenders, respectively, for top goalie and top rookie.

RANDY MOSS TRADE: Patriots and Vikings mulling a Randy Moss trade. On the wrong side of the hill or not, Dolphins would be happy to not play him twice a year -- ever after shutting him out Monday night. Timing of this news is weird. In the context of Moss' history, it makes you think the guy maybe threw a postgame fit Monday after being only thrown-to once all night.   

FANTASY REPORT: OFF THE SCHNEID!: The Bad Newz Fennelz finally won, 95-93, on the wing of LeSean McCoy's 30 points, although I held breath and got lucky Monday night as even a slightly bigger game by Ronnie Brown would have beaten me. My other team, Greg's Lobos, also emerged from Week 4 at 1-3 after a 123-102 loss. Rashard Mendenhall's 21 wasn't enough. Thanks for the fat zero, Moss.

THE LIGHTER SIDE OF PREPARING FOR IN-FLIGHT CATASTROPHE: Flight attendants for Cebu Pacific Air give in-flight instructions (in the unlikely event of a drop in cabin pressure, et cetera) while dancing to Lady Gaga. Could I say it in a blog if it weren't true!? Click here for the YouTube vid. My question: In mid-crash, are they dancing to "I'm Goin' Down" by Bruce Springsteen?

THE LIST: DOLPHINS' WORST BACK-TO-BACK HOME LOSSES: The past two losses to the Jets and Patriots are in some pretty bad company. Most points allowed by Miami in back-to-back home losses:

95 points (1968, Games 2-3; 47-48)

78 points (1995, Games 10-11, 34-44)

72 points (2010, Games 3-4, 31-41)

71 points (1968, Games 1-2, 24-47)

68 points (1993, Games 13-14, 21-47)

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GREG COTE: READ columns and blog in The Miami Herald and MiamiHerald.com, including general sports columns, Friday NFL predictions page and Sunday "Random Evidence" notes. FOLLOW on Twitter. WATCH for occasional appearances on ESPN's Outside the Lines and elsewhere. LISTEN on 790 The Ticket's weekly Dolphins pregame show and Tuesdays around 4:20 p.m. JOIN in live chat every Wednesday noon to 1 p.m. CONTACT at gcote@miamiherald.com.

Time for Dolphins to kill the Wildcat? (with poll); plus Heat world domination, blood-sucking teenagers & more

 

IS DOLPHINS' 'WILDCAT' FORMATION WORTH SAVING? It failed the other night and in some ways contributed to Miami losing. It has seen diminishing returns since being introduced out of desperation in 2008 and enjoying the surprise element. Defenses seem to have caught up to it. Without a true passing threat/option it seems one-dimensional, predictable. And now -- with Brandon Marshall here and with Chad Henne developing -- it seems counter-productive, almost like a momentum killer. I'm not saying scrap it altogether, but without a passing element it just seems like a superfluous gimmick to me. I'd use it as a rare novelty, like and end-around, but never when the offense is clicking and Henne has a hot hand. ow do you feel about the Wildcat in 2010? Take a dip in our poll and say why.

SIGNS OF HEAT WORLD DOMINATION: With training camp underway up in the Panhandle, the Worldwide Leader, ESPN, has officially decided that the Heat, mainly because of LeBron James, is big. I mean ESPN-big. So its website will ramp it up and devote dedicated coverage to the Heat this season, and to help do so they have pilfered hired Michael Wallace, The Miami Herald's Heat expert. Mike will leave us in a couple weeks. Ouch. Guess my newspaper won't be covering the Heat this season. Just kidding. Click on Three-King Circus for my column off Monday's media day. And thanks to Tony Kornheiser for having us on his national radio show to discuss ... what else! Tony and many others are convinced Pat Riley is waiting/plotting/planning to swoop in and grab the coaching reins from Erik Spoelstra. I don't believe that. At all. I just don't.

[Heat addendum: Club announced that more than 20,000 individual-game tickets were sold Tuesday, the first day of such sales, a record number. Hottest sellers: Opening night Oct. 29 vs. Magic, and March 10 vs. Lakers].

NFL 18-GAME SEASON A DONE DEAL: So says Colts president Bill Polian. Let me ask you this: If your favorite running back or receiver runs or catches for 56 yards in a game, has he had a good day? Nah, pretty mediocre right? Average 56 YPG over 18 and you have your 1,000-yard season. So much for the fading glory of that defrocked standard of excellence.

FANTASY UPDATE: WIN, LOSE: Greg's Lobos (now 1-2) got off the schneid and won, 125-106, with Drew Brees, Cedric Benson and Rashard Mendenhall combining for 71 points. My other team, Bad Newz Fennelz (0-3) lost again, 114-85. Got buried nder the Austin Collie avalanche. Weak games from LeSean Jackson and Marques Colston didn't help.

QUICK QUESTION: How much of an a-hole do you have to be to refer to yourself as "The Situation"?

SEGWAY OWNER DIES DRIVING SEGWAY OVER CLIFF: Click here if you don't believe me.

DIVORCE TRIAL UPDATE: Cannot confirm. But I just heard that, because of a weird mixup in the contentious divorce trial of Frank and Jamie McCourt, the Los Angeles Dodgers have been awarded to Elin Nordegren.

NEW YORK FOOTBALL COACH MOONS CROWD: I read this story and was shocked to learn the coach was not Rex Ryan!

PARENTS, DOES YOUR TEENAGER SUCK?: Better be on the alert! Read this and shake your head at humankind's propensity for being really, really stupid.

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GREG COTE: READ columns and blog in Miami Herald and MiamiHerald.com, including general sports columns, Friday NFL predictions page and Sunday "Random Evidence" notes. FOLLOW on Twitter. WATCH for occasional appearances on ESPN's Outside the Lines and elsewhere. LISTEN on 790 The Ticket's weekly Dolphins pregame show and Tuesdays around 4:20 p.m. JOIN in live chat every Wednesday noon to 1 p.m. CONTACT at gcote@miamiherald.com.

Stunner: Documents confirm Marlins profitable (with Jeffrey Loria poll); plus Nick Saban impersonator (with vid) & more

[Thanks to all who joined us today for Live Chat Wednesday. We do it each week from noon to 1 in the Q&A Forum. Click HERE to join live, read past transcripts or to post questions any time. Also follow at Twitter.com/gregcote. Want to weigh in on the Dolphins? See the post directly below this one].

MARLINS OWNERSHIP CRIES POOR BUT MAKES NEAT PROFIT: [Click on Crying Poor With Pockets Full for today's column by me on leaked documents revealing the Marlins' financial state] Perfectly timed with the Marlins literally giving away fan favorite Cody Ross in part to save a few bucks, Deadspin.com today reveals formerly private financial statements for several MLB teams including the Marlins and -- imagine that! -- it turns out our little team is making quite a profit while crying poor. Click here for the overview and here to go right to the Marlins' Consolidated Balance Sheets for 2008 and 2009. Crunch all the numbers and here's what stands out: The Marlins' operating income (tantamount to net profit) the past two years totaled $48.9 million. That's largely because of a player payroll so low in 2008 that baseball publicly admonished the Marlins and ordered them to start spending more. That's why the profit was $37.8 million in '08 and "only" $11.1 million '09 because of a modestly increased payroll. Bottom line: The Jeffrey Loria ownership for years has chosen to increase overall profit rather than put more of that toward bigger payrolls and better teams. Loria's ownership has not been all bad. The 2003 World Series title was on his watch, and he should get some credit for the new stadium coming in 2012. Still, the big picture is of an owner who for years has been seriously underspending on the product he presents to fans and, relative to other teams, continues to underspend. But that's just me. Take a dip in our poll and you grade the Marlins' owner.

[Quick aside: Attended my wife's high school reunion Saturday night and was told (not for the first time) that I looked like Jeffrey Loria. Except that the woman, possibly hammered, called him Jim Loria. I wish my personal profit margin also looked like Loria's].

SABAN IMPERSONATOR: Alabama walk-on receiver Rob Ezell does a spot-on imitation of coach Nick Saban. Click here for the YouTube video. (Crimson Tide a consensus No. 1 in the preseason polls. Like Miami's Hurricanes checking in a pretty impressive No. 13 in the first AP poll. Been awhile since I've looked forward to a UM season this much).

GET IN LINE, TOM BRADY: Patriots QB Tom Brady tells Boston's WEEI radio, "I hate the Jets." Get in line, pal. You know how people (other than the team's fans) hated the 1986 UM Hurricanes and hate the new dream-team Heat now? I'd nominate Rex Ryan and his 2010 Jets for the list.

JAY MARIOTTI'S ARREST: ESPN curmudgeon Jay Mariotti was arrested over the weekend on a felony charge related to an apparent domestic dispute. Must have been somewhat serious because the bail he made was a fairly steep $50,000. Is it official now? Has every ESPN announcer been arrested? I think that's the only network where each on-air personality gets his own wardrobe consultant, makeup artist and defense lawyer.

VIEWER BUSTS LADY GOLFER: LPGA Hall of Famer Juli Inkster was disqualified from the Safeway Classic when a TV viewer reported she used a weighted "doughnut" during a practice swing, a rules violation. I'm not sure which is more shocking: That Inkster would do that. Or that an LPGA tournament had a TV viewer.

EGG RECALL CONTINUES: The national recall of millions of eggs continues due to a salmonella outbreak. I have no punchline or anything to add. I've just been looking for an excuse to post a photo of a smiling, waving cartoon egg wearing sneakers.

BEER UPDATE: Greg Cote, who dislikes people who speak in the third-person but is doing it now, is a Miller Lite man but this weekend tried for the first time a Harp, the Irish lager, and rather enjoyed it. 

Click back. I'll be adding much more stuff to this post thoughout the day Monday.