Greg Cote's Random Evidence of a Cluttered Blog

NFL Week 10 picks: Dolphins in a rout; plus Dwyane vs. LeBron poll, Lingerie Football League, Taylor Swift, Tony Gonzalez nekkid & more

Happy Friday the 13th, everybody! I read that 60 million Americans refuse to drive or leave the house on this day. If I believed that it would be depressing. Are you one of those nutcases superstitious people?

[Can't get enough Dolphins? Our midseason poll on the team's biggest problem may be found in the blog post directly below this].

NFL WEEK 10 PICKS: DOLPHINS SLAP LOWLY BUCS: Let me attempt to un-do Tony Sparano's entire week of talks to his team by saying the Dolphins should be overconfident, take Tampa Bay lightly and look past this game. I'm kidding. Sort of. But this is a game in which the Ronnie & Ricky Show will dominate the Bucs' run-defense and Miami will win, 31-3. It's true because I say so. Click on Week 10 Gems for all the latest NFL picks, and on Midyearies four our Friday Page column of midseason awards and more.  

DWYANE VS. LEBRON: It was Wade 36, LeBron 34 last night even thought Cleveland won the game. I don't think Dwyane Wade will ever be seen, nationally, as the NBA's greatest player or biggest star. I think the overlapping careers of first Kobe Bryant and then LeBron James have kept that distinction from Miami's No. 3. I may be wrong. At any rate, with James (oh yeah, almost forgot, and Shaq) visiting the Heat, I thought it might be fun to ask in a poll whom Heat fans would rather have: Dwyane or LeBron? Vote and say why. Click here for the column by me on the possibility the Heat will have both next season. I think it is Pat Riley's dream to try to make it happen. Do you think it can?

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MIAMI CALIENTE BACK IN ACTION: The Miami Caliente, our Lingerie Football League team, is back in action tonight/Friday at the Sunrise arena. I know this because Tina Caccavale (#11, pictured) personally told me in an email. I have a long-standing policy of publicizing and trying to promote in any way I can events involving women who look like this in lingerie. The LFL is struggling for acceptance despite billing itself as the "true" fantasy football. I would offer the league another selling-point motto: "Lingerie Football: Where Wardrobe Malfunctions Are Encouraged!" Or, here's another one: "Lingerie Football: Where the Touchdowns Are Not Nearly As Exciting As Watching Players Slap Each Other On the A-- After the Touchdowns."

TAYLOR SWIFT TAKING OVER WORLD:

Pop-country singer Taylor Swift, 19 (pictured), dominated this week's CMA Awards in Nashville, unfortunately. It seemed like she won every award. I knew the fix was in when she even won Male Vocalist of the Year. Does anybody else think Taylor is odd-looking with those perpetually squinty eyes? Also, I propose that Taylor Swift and Miley Cyrus combine forces and put out music as Tayley Swifrus or Milor Cyrift on their own exclusive radio station so they are not heard anywhere else.

STEVE PHILLIPS' MISTRESS BREAKS SILENCE: Brooke Hundley, the mistress of fired ESPN analyst Philanderin' Steven Phillips, appears on Good Morning America. Click here for video. Aside to Steve: When planning your next affair. make a mental note to at least make it a hottie. 

CHIMP-ATTACK VICTIM REVEALS FACE: Click here for story and video. WARNING: Do not click to watch video without knowing the woman's face was badly disfigured in the attack.

THE PETA NUDIE ADS JUST KEEP ON COMIN'!: I love making fun of PETA and its nudie ads. Love the whole idea that the group has developed the thoroughly illogical leap that nothing says you support animal rights like getting nekkid. The latest ad pictured here stars Falcons tight end Tony Gonzalez and his wife, who evidently would rather go nude than wear fur. Me? I certainly would rather see her go nude than wear fur. Him, I'd prefer to see wearing fur.

I AM NOT QUITE SURE...: ...how this guy fares in job interviews. Although I would think he at least has a fighting chance at Benihana's.

Click back. Adding more stuff to this post later.

Twitter.com/gregcote

LeBron to Heat?; plus Dolphins lose; New Mexico women's soccer video; Marlins' 2010 odds; UM hoops ranking; newspapers saved by weeds & more

King James joining D-Wade in Miami?: A speculative piece on ESPN.com about the future of LeBron James quotes sources as saying the Miami Heat is very much in the running to pair King James with Dwyane Wade next season. Click here to read. Will it happen? Check back in about eight months. Fun to consider in the meantime? Oh yeah.

NFL Week 9 picks: It pains me to inform you today that the Dolphins will lose Sunday up in Foxboro, 31-24, beating the point spread but not the Patriots. Tom Brady is at the top of his game, Nuevo England's defense is very good, and Pats at home off a bye is a lot to overcome. Your thoughts welcome. Click on Week 9 Gems for all of this week's selections. Click on Edge Is Iffy for our Friday Page NFL notes column leading with the Hall of Fame chances of recently cut ex-Cane Edgerrin James -- shaky to doubtful, those chances, despite his ranking 10th all-time in career rushing yards. You think James should be or will be Canton-bound?   

Dolphins now 60-1 to win Super Bowl: Bodog's updated Super Bowl odds show Saints the favorite at 3-1, followed by 5-1 Colts, 11-2 Patriots, 8-1 Vikings and 10-1 Steelers. Miami's 60-1 ties for 18th.

New Mexico women's soccer video: Have you seen it? Click here. Wild. No. 15 in the red for New Mexico should be suspended from the team, kicked out of school, prevented from ever having children, and be made to listen to a continuous loop of Whitney Houston music.

Pete Rose "Bruno" outtake: Click here for video of a two-minute scene starring Pete Rose that did not make the final cut for the movie, "Bruno."

Marlins 25-1 to win 2010 World Series: Yankees are an 11-4 fave to repeat, says Bodog, followed by 13-2 Red Sox, 9-1 Phillies and 10-1 Angels and Cardinals. The Marlins' 25-1 ties for 13th overall but is third in NL East behind 15-1 Mets and 18-1 Braves.

Tim Lincecum busted for pot: Imagine Giants ace pitcher Tim Lincecum being found out to be a marijuana smoker! Shocking! Although maybe a little less shocking when you see photos of Tim like this one that should be captioned, "Hey, man, pass me another brownie, dude."

"We're No. 56! We're No. 56!": Preseason rankings in ESPN The Mag's men's college basketball preview issue have the Miami Hurricanes 56th in the void of Jack McClinton. The good news? That'd still make the NCAA Tournament. Gators (32nd) and Seminoles (35th) aren't expected to be much better.

Thanks for the memories, Jeremy! (That's sarcasm): Marlins trade outfielder Jeremy Hermida to Boston for two young lefthanders. It was time to untether from Hermida's unfulfilled potential. Maybe the Fenway ambience will inspire something better, but five years of underachieving is a lot to get past. 

Weeds to rescue newspaper industry?: It is a sad fact that newspaper circulation is declining nationwide, which analysts blame on the Internet and the economy but which I blame on people being too damn cheap to spend a quarter. At any rate, it has come to my attention that wet newspapers are an excellent weed deterrent. I am totally serious. Google "weeds and wet newspapers" if you don't believe me. So here's what you do: Subscribe to The Miami Herald, clip out and frame Greg Cote's columns for an at-home shrine as you normally would, and overlap the rest of the paper around your plants, soak with water, and cover with mulch. Voila! Your weeds are gone, and the newspaper industry enjoys a roaring rebound coast to coast as Americans finally get wise on this whole computer fad.

Scott Rothstein linked to 1919 Black Sox scandal?: Let me admit I have no specific proof that disgraced Fort Lauderdale lawyer and accused scam artist Scott Rothstein (pictured) is a distant relative of Arnold Rothstein, the club owner behind ther 1919 Black Sox thrown-World Series scandal. But neither have I seen any indication the two are not related. (Arnold Rothstein, of course, was the inspiration for Jay Gatbsy's crooked business partner Meyer Wolfsheim in F. Scott Fitzgerald's "The Great Gatsby." Scott Fitzgerald ... Scott Rothstein ... eerie, isn't it?)

On Meb Keflezighi: Meb Keflezighi won the New York City Marathon and feelgood headlines trumpeted his being the first U.S. runner since 1982 to win. Hmm. Meb was born in Eritrea (formerly part of Ethiopia) and learned to run there before coming to this country at age 12. Those headlines may have been literally correct since Keflezighi became a citizen, but should "first American since..." designations be reserved for those born and raised here? I'm just asking.

Latest round of thanks...: ...include Allentown (PA) Morning Call, Belleville (IL) News Democrat, Boston Globe, Boston's WBZ-FM, CBS-4 "SportsZone," Hartford Courant, Los Angeles Times, Merced (CA) Sun-Star, Sacramento Bee, St. Louis Post-Dispatch and, as always, 790 The Ticket.

Click back. Might be adding more stuff.

Twitter.comgregcote

Hurts to say, but credit to Yankees; plus litmus test for Dolphins; Joey Porter 2nd-dirtiest; Scott Rothstein shames local stars; Alan Ogg & more

[Hey it was LIVE CHAT WEDNESDAY in the Q&A Forum! Thanks for joining us today from 1-2 p.m. Click HERE to join live each week, to read past transcripts or to post questions any time].

Credit to Yankees. (Oh that hurt): I sure rooted for the Phillies last night to make it a true Fall Classic by gifting us with baseball's first seven-game World Series since 2002. Also I rooted for the Phils because, as a lifelong infantryman in Red Sox Nation, I instinctively root against the Yankees in any way possible. Having said that, give NYY credit. They had the best team, played like it, and deserve the title. Resist any urge, please, to now complain that the Yankees "bought" the title with their spending. Please! That's what good franchises and good owners are supposed to do! They are supposed to spend enough to win big. It would be disengenuous of me to constantly complain about the Marlins' cheap ownership (which I do), then turn around and fault a team for over-spending. Besides, spending alone guarantees nothing, as the Yankees themselves proved most of this decade. You still have to prove it on the field. There, your fat wallet can't swing the bat for you or make a 3-2 pitch. So, with grudging respect from a Red Sox fan, I say congratulations Yankees.

Pats the ultimate test awaiting Dolphins:

The Jets bring the noise, annoyance and nonsense to the Dolphins' schedule, for sure. But the Patriots -- led by genius-coach Bill Belichick and pretty-boy QB Tom Brady (pcitured) -- bring the true test, the measuring stick. That's why this coming week defines the season and its playoff hopes for Miami. Click here for today's column by me on the Dolphins' biggest game of the season.

Scoop! Porter a dirty player!: A new Sports Illustrated poll of NFL player names Dolphin Joey Porter tied for second-dirtiest with 6% of the vote, equalling Albert Haynesworth. Dirtiest of all? Hines Ward. Story here. 

Chris Chambers available. but goes elsewhere: The Chargers cut ex-Dolphins wide receiver Chris Chambers. Wouldn't he have been an upgrade to Miami's WR corps? Yes. Wasn't he still good enough to be in the mix with Camarillo/Bess/Hartline/Ginn? Yes. Alas, the Chiefs claimed Chambers off waivers.

Blog exclusive!: Dolphins wide receiver Brian Hartline and two team cheerleaders today were caught in broad daylight (pictured) stealing items from a Rooms to Go truck and -- whu? Wait. Really? Oh. Sorry. Umm, it turns out this was not a daylight crime at all, but rather an off-day charity event.

Disgraced lawyer embarrasses local sports: Apparent financial shenanigans by disgraced Fort Lauderdale lawyer Scott Rothstein (pictured), of the firm Rothstein Rosenfeldt Adler, has links to major South Florida players in sports. Rothstein has appeared in advertisements with Dan Marino and Alonzo Mourning, for example, and the RRA firm also is a major advertiser with local sports clients including the Panthers. Click here for the news story on the man who has embarrassed local sports by association.  

Heat novelty player dies: Sad news. Former Heat reserve center Alan Ogg has died at 42. Click here for the story.Ogg played for Miami in 1990-92 and became something of a fan favorite because of his odd surname and 7-2 frame. Fans would chant his name lately in games, hoping he'd get some garbage time.

Poker question: I'm not a huge poker player, so let me ask you something. When competing in a tournament, is it permissable to intentionally distract your opponent with (to use a totally random example) your choice of attire? I'm just wondering.

Why? Because if I am dead, how much enjoyment will I get out of a $5,000 casket?: So let me go out on the cheap.

Click back. Will be adding more stuff here later.

Love,

Twitter.com/gregcote

NFL Week 8 picks: Jets beat Dolphins; plus Ted Ginn a bust? (with poll); Heat outlook (with poll); Yanks even series, Griese, dog-Pope & more

DOLPHINS, FAVRE LOSE: Building a moat against sharply incredulous e-mails or comments, I would remind that predicting a Dolphins loss is not the same as wishing for one; well, except to the extent that once the choice is made I do root for my picks. Nobody dislikes the J-E-T-S! or their annoying, bellicose fans more than I. But intangibles here side with NYJ and I make it 27-20. [Your dissent is welcome. How do you see the game going and why?] Click on Week 8 Gems for all my latest picks, which include Brett Favre losing the Favre Bowl at Lambeau Field, and Bills beating Texans in our Upset of the Week. "Aawwk!" Click on Favre-Cam for my Friday Page NFL notes column.

HEAT OPEN "BRIDGE" SEASON:

I say that because expectations are modest (Sports Illustrated and ESPN The Mag both pick Miami for No. 8 playoff seeds) and all eyes are on the 2010-11 season and whether Dwyane Wade will re-sign and what blockbuster Pat Riley will conjure in free agency. This season is like a way-station. Although the development of Michael Beasley and Mario Chalmers certainly will weigh in Wade's stay-or-go decision. (I like getting Beasley in the starting lineup and accelerating that progress; sorry Udonis). Weigh in on what you realistically expect of this season and why. [Thursday update: Heat opened with a big home win over Knicks last night, on a combined 69 points from Wade, Jermaine O'Neal and Beasley. Here's the wet blanket. Knicks are sub-awful. Click here for my column off the game].   

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THE REFERENDUM ON TED GINN JR.: It's time to call Ginn a draft bust. Sorry. Watching his Sunday performance help bury the Dolphins finally convinced me. Click here for my column on the matter. But that's just me. You count, too. What's your take on Ginn and why? Take a dip in our poll and expound.

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[Blognote: The above is our latest poll to blast past 1,000 votes in the first 24 hours. Keep 'em comin!]

WORLD SERIES: YANKS TIE PHILS, 1-1: I'll stick with my pick -- New York in six games -- less nervously now that Yanks won last night 3-1 on A.J. Burnett's gem to even the series 1-1. Swings to Philly for Game 3 Saturday night. This series is the choice from hell for someone like me, a born-and-raised Red Sox fan who counts the Marlins his second-most-passionately held team. Yanks-Phils are enemies I and II. Any way they can both lose? No? Consolation prize: No matter the outcome, I get to see either Yankees fans or Phillies fans dissolved to that exquisite combination of silent and sad.

WHIPPLE-SHANNON: My feeling is that Canes offensive chief Mark Whipple overreacted with his TV-captured sideline incredulity over Randy Shannon calling a timeout Saturday before Whipple would have liked. Also, I think too much has been made of it. 

BOB GRIESE'S 'OOPS' COMMENT: So on a college football telecast Bob Griese, a humor-challenged man attempting a quip, says that NASCAR's Juan Pablo Montoya isn't on some list because he's "out having a taco." OHMIGODPOLITICALLYINCORRECT! Bob cries our pardon on the air but it isn't enough so he's suspended by his backlash-fearing network for a week. Who's offended? More important, are we offended because Bob apparently mistook Montoya (who is Colombian) for Mexican? What if he'd at least been more accurate with his stereotype and said Pablo was "out having an arepa"? Better? Same? What if Bob had said a driver with an Irish name was "out having a potato"? Are we too sensitive? I think so. I may be wrong.

TWITTER CLAIMS LATEST VICTIM: Chiefs running back Larry Johnson, disciplined by team for berating coach Todd Haley on his Twitter page and later for using a homophobic slur. Offending-by-Twitter is to me a bit worse than a Griese-esque off-the-cuff remark because taking the time to make something fit within 140 characters requires thought and cannot be claimed to be spontaneous. Dear Athletes: The stereotype that sports stars in general are not all that bright is gaining some of its best evidence in the way so many of you Tweet yourselves in the foot. Funny!

DEAR GREG...: ...Your blog's OK but would be much better if occasionally you would show a picture of a housewife baking a pie. Thank you.

MAN'S MOUTH FULL OF COCKROACHES: I have given instances before of Guinness having way too many categories for world records. Need one more example? A man from Lansing, Mich., named Sean Murphy has set a Guinness world record by stuffing 16 live Madagascar hissing cockroaches into his mouth. The story and unfortunate video may be found here. On a scale of sad spectacles to get attention, this isn't quite as sad as lying about your young son being carried away by a hot-air balloon. But almost.

ESPN FIRES PHILANDERER STEVE PHILLIPS: Speaking of dumbasses.

McGWIRE CRAWLS OUT OF EXILE: And in other baseball news, Mark McGwire has been hired as the Cardinals new hitting coach by manager Tony LaRussa, apparently the only man left on Earth who doesn't believe that Mr. I'm Not Here To Talk About The Past is a PED-tainted cancer whose very association might embarrass a club.

MY DOG IS DRESSING AS THE POPE FOR HALLOWEEN: What. You didn't believe me?

[Twitter.com/gregcote]

[Blognote: Our Collball Week 9 post leading with UM at Wake Forest will be up Saturday morning].

Should Dolphins honor Super Bowl losers? (with poll); plus NFL Week 7 picks, Isiah-Magic, lukewarm Heat, designer homeless blankets & more

DOLPHINS UPSET SAINTS. BANK IT!: Yeah you heard right. Dolphins stop Drew Brees, whup best team in football. Agreed? Click on Week 7 Gems for all of this week's prognosticatory marvels. Also check out my "National Foreign League" Friday-page column (click here) on the London-loving, globe-conquering NFL.

IN PRAISE OF SECOND PLACE?: The Dolphins, during Sunday's game here against the Saints, are honoring the club's 1982 and 1984 AFC Championship teams. Another way to put that might be, they are honoring the teams that lost the Super Bowl those seasons. Hmm. Really? Seriously? Have we become that desperate as a franchise to cheer something? I mean, I can see a franchise bereft of a Super Bowl title doing cartwheels over a runnerup finish. But a club with back-to-back championships including a Perfect Season (however distant) might want to keep the bar raised sufficiently high as to not start celebrating the "almosts." I may be wrong. How do you feel? I know this: Super Bowl losers get rings, too, and Dan Marino never wears his. What does that tell you?

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THIS WHOLE ISIAH-MAGIC TIFF: I would begin by saying that, generally speaking, when something in a forthcoming bad sports book causes two former athletes to get into a media shout over something that happened ALMOST 20 YEARS AGO, I don't pay much attention. Not a big fan of corned beef rehash. I'll make a begrudging exception here only because Isiah Thomas is the FIU basketball coach now and so therefore marginally relevant locally. So if he's pissed "hurt" about something Magic Johnson says in a new book written by Magic and Larry Bird (via an actal writer who actually wrote it), then, OK, whatever. Click here for the new old-news story about this. Now let's get back to things happening this century, yes?

LUKEWARM HEAT: The Oct. 26 Sports llustrated NBA preview issue, whose theme is how so many teams have gotten better, forecasts the Heat to finish 8th in the East -- the bare edge of the playoffs -- with concerns about the supporting cast around Dwyane Wade. I'm not saying expectations are modest, but I do think the club could have aimed higher for a marketing slogan than, "We'll Be Better Than the Panthers!" Pictured at right: Heat guard Chris Quinn channels a 1940s mob apprentice-hitman. UPDATE: Just got some odds from Bodog. Heat 45-1 to win it all, tied for 11th best odds but well down from the favored lakers (2-1), Cavaliers (10-3) and Celtics (4-1). Miami 20-1 to win the East, where Cavs, Celts and Magic are prohibitive frontrunners. Scoring-average over/unders are 28.0 for Wade (No. 1 in the league), 15.6 for Michael Beasley, 13.4 for Jermaine O'Neal and 10.2 for Mario Chalmers. Wade is third pick for MVP after LeBron and Kobe. Heat over/under on wins is a mediocre 40.5.

BEDDING INSPIRED BY THE HOMELESS: Evidently it is becoming trendy to support the plight of the homeless (click here for story) by sleeping under expensive covers designed (see photo) to sort of look like cardboard boxes or something. For me, the only disconnect is, you are sleeping under these covers in a $400,000 home, with a flat-screen TV murmuring in the background as a BMW awaits in the circular drive. It would make as much sense (meaning none) to design cardboard boxes to look like designer comforters on behalf of the homeless. Also, I understand Bentley is coming out with a new model whose front grill is designed to look like a purloined shopping cart.

KATE HUDSON HAS YANKS 1 WIN FROM SERIES: Or so it says here. Kate Hudson always struck me as the kind of woman who would sleep in an expensive blanket designed to look like cardboard. I may be wrong.

AWW. POOR BERNIE MADOFF: Sorry, Bern (click here), but I just Googled the phrase "may you rot in hell" and saw your picture. 

RICHARD LEWIS VS. ROBIN WILLIAMS: Saw Lewis, one of my neurotic-comic heroes, a couple of weeks ago at Hard Rock Improv. Front-row seats (he looks his age; 62), and he was terrific. Saw Williams, not a hero, but a manic-comic I've admired, at the larger Hard Rock Live. Went in thinking Lewis was a tough act to follow. Went in expecting Williams, I dunno why, to sort of coast or be an SNL caricature of himself. Well -- blown away. Robin Williams was constant, laugh-out-loud funny. What a great performer, and great show. Of course I may or may not have been unduly influenced by having a VIP pass and, during the post-show meet-and-greet, being surprised to hear a long and surprisingly thoughtful response when I asked him, "Did you enjoy making Birdcage as much as I enjoyed watching it?"

PEOPLE I WOULDN'T WANT TO BE RIGHT NOW:

HEADLINES YOU THOUGHT YOU'D NEVER SEE: One in a series.

Click back. Might be adding more stuff to this post later. Then again, I always say that.

[Twitter.com/gregcote]

Marino says Colts can match '72 Dolphins (with poll); plus BCS disses UM, Sanchez stinks, pinkmania, House of Tripe, gettin' it in the can & more

[Note: Postseason Baseblog 10-20 updated in post directly below this].

MEDIA PUTS '72 DOLPHINS ON ALERT!:

It starts. The perfect-season talk. Our own Dan Marino: "I'm picking Indianapolis (as most likely). Peyton Manning is playing better than anybody in the league right now. Their defense is playing good, only giving up 14 points in a game.  If they can play like that all year, defensively, they'll have a chance to win every game because of Peyton Manning." Bill Cowher, also on CBS: "I'm going to say the New Orleans Saints. When you look at their schedule, every game they have is going to be in a warm weather city. This team is built for the dome, built for the warm weather. I love this defense. It leads the league in takeaways. It’s the most balanced New Orleans team right now that they've ever had down there. I think they have a chance." Greg Cote: "Everybody is full of crap because nobody will finish unbeaten. Back to your naps, '72 Perfectos. Champagne ready. Will bother you at around 12-0 if needed." 

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BCS RANKING DISSES CANES: Miami showing up 10th in the first (of eight) Bowl Championship Series rankings disrespects the Hurricanes a tad, considering UM is 8th in The AP poll and 9th by USA Today. But The U remains in a position -- with luck -- to play itself into the BCS championship game if it wins out. Remember that the SEC title game figures to be a play-in game for Florida and Alabama, with the loser likely out of the national-championship game. Miami -- even at 12-1 with an ACC title -- might need Texas to lose to make the BCS' final two. Not impossible to get there from No. 10, though. Consider that LSU reached the BCS title game from an inital BCS ranking of 12th in 2003.

SETTING RECORD STRAIGHT ON "COTE GOURMET": It has come to my attention there is a popular French bistro in Miami called Cote Gourmet. I must deny rumors that I am affiliated. To set the record straight, my only foray into the restaurant business was the 1990s local chain, Cote's International House of Tripe, which failed despite a massive marketing campaign (right) centered around the catchphrase, EAT TRIPE.

FANTASY NIGHTMARE: I am here to report my fantasy teams still suck. The Bad Newz Fennelz fell to 1-5 with an 82-41 loss. Because I was away for the weekend I forgot to update my team, so Drew Brees (on a bye the previous week) did not start. Ouch. My family-league Greg's Lobos doing a bit better, improved to 3-3 with a 135-116 win led by Randy Moss' 38 points. 

JETS FANS MUST REWRITE CHANT: The Jets lost a third straight game on Sunday and rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez -- hailed as the next Broadway Joe Namath just a few weeks ago -- suffered five interceptions. New Jets chant: "P-I-C-K ... PICK!" 

ENOUGH WITH THE PINK, ALREADY: I love women (married one) and think breast-cancer awareness is one of the great, important causes. But enough with the pink shoes, wristbands, cap bills and other stuff in NFL games. No man looks good in pink; not even Dennis Rodman. It works as a one-time, single-weekend thing, NFL. Also, while I'm at it, throwback uniforms -- and that includes the AFL 50th Anniversary duds showing up sporadically this season -- mostly look horrendous and should be burned in a public ceremony.

PANTHERS, HEAT LOOKING FOR PICK-ME-UPS: When last I checked the NHL Panthers were off to a 2-4 regular season start and last in ther division, and the Heat were 1-4 in the preseason. C'mon, fellas. Give us at least a reason to occasionally divert our attention from football. Otherwise, see y'all in a few months.

R.I.P., JASPER HOWARD: Never met the former Edison High football star-turned-UConn defensive back killed over the weekend, but all accounts paint him a terrific young man. These kinds of tragedies always feel that much worse when they happen on a campus. Condolences to his loved ones.

THE LATEST THANKS...: ... for growing the meager product go out to, among others, Bayou Buzz, Belleville News Democrat, Boston Globe, Boston Herald, Chicago Daily Herald, Gazette Online, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, San Antonio Express, San Diego Union Tribune, Seattle Times, SportsBusiness Daily, Wall Street Journal and, as always, 790 The Ticket.  

GETTIN' IT IN THE CAN: Click here for the new Bud Light Lime commercial that some stations are refusing to air because of its double-entendre alluding to, well, you know. Pictured at left from the ad, a young woman who speaks of getting' it in the can for the time -- and enjoying it. Funny? Offensive? Neither? I find it amusing on first watch but tire of it pretty quickly, as I would an SNL skit that goes on too long.

Click back. Might add more stuff to this post later.

Dolphins kidding themselves on WRs; plus Fredi avoids axe (with poll), Clinton loves my blog, Twins win, Miami most attractive, world's smartest hat & more

IT'S LIVE-CHAT WEDNESDAY! OH BOY! Join us live from 1-2 p.m. today in the Q&A Forum chatroom or post questions early, both by clicking HERE.

[Twitter.com/gregcote]

"WE'RE NO. 8! WE'RE NO.8!": Breaking news! The Sporting News' new list of Best Sports Cities for 2009 lists Miami No. 8, up from 22nd in 2008. Top three: Pittsburgh, Philly, Boston. No. 399, dead last: Auburn, NY. Complete list here. "We're No. 8!"

DOLPHINS' LACK OF DEEP THREAT A GROWING PROBLEM: Dolphins coach Tony Sparano must be kidding he says he is satisfied with his wide receivers. I explore Miami's definite weakness in this column online and in today's paper. What they have is not good enough, and, through trade, draft or free agency, they need to make a priority of fixing the problem. (As a postscript, one of the players I mention in the column as someone who could help, Cleveland's Braylon Edwards, is being traded to the stinkin' J-E-T-S. The clubs agreed to a deal this morning).

FREDI AVOIDS THE AXE: My newspaper reporting now that Fredi Gonzalez has avoided the axe and will be back for a fourth season as Marlins manager. It seemed almost too surreal to believe that club owner Jeffrey Loria (who previously fired NL manager of the year Joe Girardi) reportedly was now considering firing the overachieving Gonzalez despite the team's 87-75 record with the majors' lowest payroll. It was true, though, and don't let David Samson or anyone else now spin it differently. The club did seriously consider a change. And did speak with Bobby Valentine about the job. I make my feelings known in this column. Now it's your turn. Take a dip in our poll. Choose sides and make your case (or tell us how it feels on the fence). Was Loria right to consider a managerial change or is it right that Fredi's back? [Postscript: Pitching coach Mark Wiley and first-base coach Andy Fox were relieved of their duties today. The decision was not Gonzalez's].

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(Speaking of the Marlins, click on Next Big Thing? for one more reason to be optimistic about the team's future).

BILL CLINTON LOVES MY BLOG!:

Click here for a video in which former Pres. Bill Clinton praises The Miami Herald on a recent visit to Miami. OK, I know that maybe technically he isn't saying he loves my blog in that he doesn't specifically mention it. But I think the implication is pretty clearly there.

TWINS WIN PLAYOFF: Moments ago the Twins beat the Tigers in extra innings in a tiebreaker to advance to the playoffs and lose to face the New York Yankees. The moral of the story, kids, is that if you blow a .26 BAC on the Breathalyzer like Miguel Cabrera, your team will lose a tiebreaker, too. Look for a baseball playoffs post in the blog sometime tomorrow.

FANTASY UPDATE: I STILL SUCK: My Bad Newz Fennelz fell to 1-3 with a 74-51 loss. Never a good sign when Chris Cooley is your leading scorer with 14 points. My smaller-league Greg's Lobos also are now 1-3 after a 160-82 pounding, despite 24 from Payday Manning. Me and the Dolphins, 1-3.

MIAMI HAS MOST ATTRACTIVE PEOPLE: Travel + Leisure's 2009 survey results indicate Miami ranks No. 1 in Most Attractive People, despite the city's proximity to Greg Cote. Miami makes the top-five is six other categories, ranking 2nd in Most Stylish, Best Stylish Boutique Hotels and Best Singles/Bar Scene; 3rd in Best For a Wild Weekend; and 5th in Best Big-Name Luxury Hotels and Best Weather. Miami is expected to dominate the competition next year in a brand new category, Best Obsession With Celebrity by a Pro Football Franchise.

IRVIN BARELY SURVIVES: Michael Irvin tonight barely survived to dance another day. Was down to the final two, facing elimination on only the third week of Dancing With the Stars, but was spared. A judge last night said Irvin "lacked rhythm."

UNLEASH THE BEAS: Glad to see the Heat finally (apparently) ready to go with Michael Beasley as starting small forward. Yes, the team will sacrifice some defense, at least until Beasley gets comfy with the position and role. But thet upside is greater: 1) More offensive pop. 2) Somebody defenses must worry about besides Dwyane Wade. And 3) an acceleration of Beasley's growth into the star Miami envisions.

EVERT, NORMAN SPLIT: Sports super-couple Chris Evert and Greg Norman are divorcing after only 15 months. Norman's adult children are said to be at the core of the acrimony. Evert and Norman are pictured here in happier, more tranquil times, over lunch, casually discussing Greg Cote's blog.

VOTE VONTAE!: Dolphin Vontae Davis is a finalist for NFL Pepsi Rookie of the Week after his interception-touchdown vs. the Bills. Dolfans may stuff the ballot for him at NFL.com.

DOLPHINS OWNER WORLD'S BEST TENNIS PLAYER: Serena Williams reclaims No. 1 ranking in women's tennis. That's pretty good, what with all the responsibilities and time-consuming duties associated with being a Dolphins' part-owner.

RUSH LIMBAUGH BUYING RAMS?: The ultra-conservative talk-radio gasbag, pill-poppin' Rush Limbaugh, is part of a group trying to buy the St. Louis Rams. You know what that would mean. Correct. Every play would be run to the right. (The photo is on the far left, just to annoy Rush).

WAKE-UP HAT: Saw a story about a new invention. A hat designed to to wake up drowsing drivers. And I'm thinking ... what a perfect gift for my readers!

Coghlan for rookie of year, dammit!; plus Heat poll, Vick explains himself (with video), Olympics vote & more

[Thanks to all live-chatters today. Huge response. We do it every Wednesday from 1-2. To join live then, read past transcripts or post questions at any time, click here].

[Can't get enough Changing of the Chads? Our Chad Henne/Dolphins poll is still rockin' the vote in the blog post just below this new one].

COGHLAN DESERVES NL ROOKIE HONOR: As a voting member of the BBWAA I have gotten emails from other teams touting their rookie of the year candidates. Bad strategy, other teams. I dislike obvious electioneering. But the hard-sell is moot at any rate. The Marlins' Chris Coghlan is the choice here, for reasons logical, not parochial. He is fifth in the NL with a .319 average, and also leads all NL rooks in at-bats, runs, hits and on-base percenbtage. No player, rookie or veteran, either league, has been a hotter hitter in August and September. And yet I get a sense either of two pitchers, Phillie J.A. Happ (12-4) or Brave Tommy Hanson (11-4) could edge out Coghlan for the award. It would be a shame. Coghlan is an everyday player who solved the Marlins' leadoff problem, has played strong outfield defense, and, after league batting champ Hanley Ramirez, is right there with Josh Johnson for team MVP. Coghlan is one of the young commodities you think of when you take stock of this team's future and feel good. He has been the unexpected delight of this playoff-less yet solid Marlins season. Time to reward him.

HEAT'S BIGGEST ASSET OTHER THAN WADE: I mean, Dwyane Wade is a given. But other than Miami's superstar scorer, what is the franchise's top commodity as preseason practice begins. What do you feel the best about beyond D-Wade? Take a dip in our poll and explain why.   

Online Surveys & Market Research

FANTASY FOOTBALL UPDATE: I meant to mention earlier: My fantasy teams suck. Well, slow starts anyway. Am 1-2 in both leagues. My Bad Newz Fennelz lost 68-54, with Vincent Jackson and his paltry 13 points my leading scorer. (What were the odds I'd get three points combined from Drew Brees and a now-injured Frnak Gore?) In my smaller, family league, Greg's Lobos lost 144-114 despite 38 points from Peyday Manning.

PRAISE GOD AND PASS THE IMAGE-REBUILDING: MICHAEL VICK IN CHURCH: Vick speaks recently in a D.C. church, explaining why he got into dog-fighting and so forth. Click here for the 2-minute YouTube video.

PANTHERS OPEN REGULAR-SEASON FRIDAY: Shhh. Let's keep it among ourselves.

ODOM-KARDASHIAN MARRIAGE DOOMED: Experts do not like the chances (read why) of basketball star Lamar Odom and celebrity-for-no-reason Khloe Kardashian staying married. Greg Cote reacted by saying, "Who gives a crap!" 

HEADLINES I NEVER THOUGHT I'D SEE (one in a series): Maybe this headline helps explain why the U.S. hasn't won the women's World Cup since 1999. Program needs to get younger.  

CHICAGO VS. RIO DE JANEIRO: The big vote to award the 2016 Summer Olympics is Friday -- not much time left to bribe the IOC judges! -- and Chitown and Rio are considered too close to call for the win, with Tokyo and Madrid the distant longshots. I rarely get excited about things happening nine years hence but find myself chanting "U-S-A!" I was doing that just this morning in my Dunkin Donuts and the Persian clerk looked me funny. I like Chicago's chances, because, between Michelle Obama's guns and Oprah Winfrey's girth, I figure the Girl From Ipanema (pictured) doesn't stand a chance.

TRICK OR TREAT!:

Halloween is coming up and I have already picked my costume. I am dressing up as an infant hot dog.

EMPIRE OF THE SUN: Any fans out there of Empire of the Sun (pictured), the Australian trippy-pop duo? Was just told by a music-industry friend that they'll play in live in New York, Mexico -- and Miami -- in November.

Click back. Will be adding lots more stuff to this post with alacrity.

Monte Clark dies; plus yay or nay on Serena (with poll); fundraiser to help Riley?, Marlins playoff chances 4.8%, see-through pants & more

MONTE CLARK PASSES AWAY: Monte Clark, a great Dolphins assistant coach of the Super Bowl-winning '70s, has died at age 72. The announcement was made today by the Detroit Lions, for whom Clark was head coach in 1978-84. Here, Clark was offensive line coach in 1970-75 and again in 1995, a big part of the great line-led ground attack that made Miami a back-to-back champion. Clark died of bone-marrow malignancy after battling lung and liver diseases. He was one of Don Shula's main right-hand men in the glory years and, to me, his stature in club history rises to the level of deserving a brief announcement and moment of silence at Monday night's home opener.

[I have just been made aware (meaning I just saw it on the Internet) that Mary of Peter, Paul & Mary has died. I am not sure why this makes me sad,but it does].

TITANIC TWIN-BILL: Hurricanes Thursday night vs. Georgia Tech and Dolphins Monday night vs. Colts prepare for home openers that are hugely important even for so early in the season. I say why in this column online now and shipping to Wednesday's paper.

RILEY, SPOELSTRA TAKING PAY CUTS: President Pat Riley, coach Erik Spoelsta and other Heat front-office people are taking pay cuts as a nod to the economic downturn. A brilliant public-relations gesture if nothing else. Wondering if we should organize a fundraiser so that their customary lifestyles need not be curtailed. I am concerned. I thought I just saw a disheveled, tattered-looking Riley at  an intersection on Biscayne near the arena, holding a cardboard sign that read, "Will Administrate For Food." [By the way, click here for the latest on some business-related lawsuits pending against Dwyane Wade. My favorite? The Heat's own attorney  misspelling Wade's first name in the legal brief].

YAY OR NAY ON SERENA WILLIAMS: I think most people like Serena Williams but I also think lots of people really dislike here, seeing her as arrogant or as not fully committed to tennis. Her profane outburst in the U.S. Open this weekend opened the floor for debate.. What say ye on Serena Williams? Take a dip in our poll.

Online Surveys & Market Research

TIME TO WRITE-OFF MARLINS?: I know. Miracles happen. But Florida's playoff chances have sunk to 3.3 percent, according to coolstandings. It's now 1.6% for the division title and 1.7% for the wild card. Oy![Update: With developments last night, today's (Thursday's) current odds are now 4.8%, at 1.4-div and 3.4-wc].

UM FOOTBALL? THERE'S AN APP FOR THAT (SOON): Good news. The Miami Herald's Dolphins iPhone app has been so popular (more than 7,000 sold and counting), that we are about to also launch football apps for UM, Florida, FSU and FIU. Stay tuned.

MICHAEL JORDAN'S PARTING SHOT: Thought Jordan's Hall of Fame acceptance speech wasn't so much classless and simply unbecoming. 

WEEK 1 NFL PIX RESULTS: I went 11-5 overall on my Friday-page NFL picks in Week 1, and 5-11 vs. the spread. I ain't bragging about the first, and looking for a hole to hide in over the second.

FANTASY FOOTBALL UPDATE: I'm in two leagues and off and running at 1-0 in both. In my little six-team family league, Greg's Lobos won 115-80 led by Randy Moss' 26 points, Tony Gonzalez's 18 and Peyton Manning's 16. In my 12-team league, my Bad Newz Fennelz won 131-94 behind Drew Brees' 45 points (praise be Drew!), Frank Gore's 18 and Chris Cooley's 16.

IDIOTS ON PARADE: Weirdest thing. Just for fun I Googled the word "idiot," and -- I don't know why -- this guy's picture came up.

BRAIN DRAIN IN UKRAINE: Ukrainian officials have turned down Elton John's bid to adopt an HIV-infected infant. Sure. Because why would that country want one of its children to be cared for by a man who has raised tens of millions of dollars for AIDS research and whose wealth and generosity would lavish that child with every advantage possible!? Better the child should grow up laboring on a potato farm in Donetsk making three hrivnas a day.

MEN'S SEE-THROUGH SUITS: Proving again that something can be true and still be ludicrous. Trying to imagine the brain-storming session at which men's see-through suits (pictured left) are first mentioned, and everybody in the room thinking how stupid the idea is but being afraid to say so. Of course, if the trend should ever reach women's clothing, then we've got something!

Click back. May be adding stuff to this post later.

Twitter.com/gregcote

Will Heat lose Wade? (with poll); plus tonight's NFL pick, Marlins, racism in tennis, Marino, Hitler ad & more

Mission Statement: I refuse to allow the onset of the NFL and college football to turn this into a one-dimensional blog. Won't happen! Not gonna do it! I pledge at least one blog post per week (and hopefully more) not primarily focused on Dolphins or Hurricanes. I may fail at times but, in the immortal words of Elvis Costello, my aim is true.

[Follow the "Countdown to the Upset Bird" in the post directly below this one. Click on Tonight's Game for my Titans-Steelers pick].  

DWYANE WADE WILL PLAY THE FIELD: Heat star Dwyane Wade is saying today, for the first time definitively, that he will indeed not extend his contract with Miami before possibly doing so next summer. He may become an unrestricted free agent on July 1, and what he is doing is smart, not selfish. It is prudent business. Wade's stance is no big surprise, but it does deliver a new reality: the Heat will have to work and compete with other teams to keep him, and how things go this coming season could be a factor in his future decision. NBA teams have a financial edge designed to give them an advantage in keeping their free agents, but no guarantees here. In fact a recent ESPN national poll found most basketball fans believe Wade will go elsewhere after one more year in Miami. I don't agree. Do you? Take a dip in our poll.

Online Surveys & Market Research

MARLINS BETTER-POSITIONED FOR DIVISION THAN WILD CARD?: [Update: A second straight over the Mets last night, and now my pet site coolstandings has the Marlins' playoff chances creeping up to 6.7 percent. That's 4.0 to win the divsion, 2.7 for the wild card). I am beginning to get that feeling, and the reason is simple math. Florida must leapfrog two teams in the wild-card race, and has no games left vs. either Colorado or San Fran, meaning no direct say in the matter. But the Marlins have six games left vs. Philly for the NL East lead. Might take a six-game sweep or at least 5-1, but it feels like that is where the best (albeit slim) chance is.

DISSING THE DOLPHINS?: The latest anecdotal evidence of the low regard for the Dolphins nationally: The Sporting News lists the NFL's 100 best players, and only one Dolphin (Joey Porter, 48th) makes it. 

ON TENNIS, U.S. OPEN AND RACE: Read an interesting column on AOL.com that I'd recommend. (Click here). It proposes that a U.S. Open women's final between star Serena Williams and Cinderella teen Melanie Oudin (pictured) -- now moot because Melanie lost today -- would have found America rooting for Oudin not because she was the underdog but because she is white. I find that hard to believe but hard to deny in equal measure. So many readers hate any reference to race (I got criticism in Tuesday's UM game column for mentioning it regarding Jacory Harris), but it's a subject that ought not be taboo if discussed rationally.

FAVRE EDGES MARINO AS ACTOR: MovieTickets.com recently polled thousands of moviegoers on which of five football players has had the best big-screen cameo. The results: Brett Favre in "There's Something About Mary" (29%); Dan Marino in "Ace Ventura: Pet Detective" (27%); Terry Bradshawin "Cannonball Run" (24%); Lawrence Taylor in "The Waterboy" (13%); Tom Brady in "Stuck on You" (7%).

SALE OF PANTHERS IN JEOPARDY: Does this really even qualify as news? Given our NHL club's track record this decade, let's just assume that whatever could go wrong will, unless we learn otherwise.

HITLER/SAFE-SEX AD CAUSES STIR: OK normally I wouldn't run an exceptionally creepy photo that appears to depict Adolf Hitler having sex. But I found it the best way to illustrate this story about a controversial safe-sex ad running in Germany, an ad from which this clip is taken. The ad's catch-phrase is "AIDS is a mass murderer." Bad taste or no? Something we can all agree on: If only Hitler's mother had worn a condom.

[Much less controversial than Hitler in my blog would be you signing up for free to follow at Twitter.com/gregcote. Among other advantages, you'd get instant notification of when my NFL predictions are posted each week].