HAIKU ADVISORY! You didn't think I forgot did you? Our blog's annual March Madness Haiku Challenge is coming very soon. Stay tuned!
[It is SATURDAY, MARCH 16. Those new Notre Dame basketball uniforms (right) remind me of a glowstick
I had as a kid. 2) Pope Francis I in power three full days now and still no perceptible change in the Catholic Church! 3) In The Previous Blogpost (ITPB): Dolphins/Mike Wallace, Heat 20th straight, Welker, Marino, new pope, World Baseball Classic, Spoelstra's girl. 4) Join us on Twitter @gregcote.
Dolphins stock rising: New Super Bowl betting odds from Bovada show Dolphins have rocketed from 60-1 to 35-1 because of free-agency moves. Updated favorites are Broncos and 49ers at 7-1 and Patriots at 15-2. Champion Ravens have fallen 14-1 to 20-1.
GREAT SCOTT! DURAND'S 32 LIFTS CANES TO ACC TITLE GAME VS. UNC: Miami's Durand Scott popped a career-
high 32 points this afternoon and UM beat North Carolina State, 81-71, in the ACC tournament in Greensboro, N.C. That puts Canes in their first ACC championship game, tomorrow vs. North Carolina's Tar Heels, who beat Maryland 79-76. Canes were 2-0 vs. UNC this season, winning 68-59 and 87-61.
MERRY MARCH CHRISTMAS, RYAN TANNEHILL. UNDER YOUR TREE: WEAPONS!: Dolphins made the splash of free agency in landing the Steelers' Mike Wallace. Yesterday they added Brandon Gibson, a 51-catch guy for Rams last year, and tight end Dustin Keller, the ex-Jet. They spent big to re-sign their own Brian Hartline. And Davone Bess returns. [Click on Money Man for the recent column by me on how the Dolphins are hoping -- and paying as much as praying -- that Wallace is for Tannehill's career what the Marks Brothers were for Dan Marino] When all of the free agency dust has settled and the pluses and minuses are weighed, this will be clear: Miami set out to make QB Ryan Tannehill's second season easier than his first, and they have. Jake Long and Reggie Bush won't be easy to replace, and holes such as cornerback remain on defense (Brent Grimes visited yesterday), but the Dolphins have bull's-eyed their priority, which was to give Tannehill more and better targets. (In the better category, consider that Keller had 241 catches for 2,876 yards in 72 games for Jets, vs. Fasano's had 177 for 2,104 in 76 games for Dolphins.
HEAT MAKE IT 21 STRAIGHT!: Heat won its 21st straight victory last night at Milwaukee, comfortably, 107-94, and an interesting subtext was that the Bucks (as No. 8 seed) would be the Heat's opening playoff opponent if the standings hold. And that seems very likely, with Miami all but locked in as the top seed and Beer Town all alone for now at eight. Milwaukee had split two games with Miami this season. Last night might have been an indication how hard the Heat will have to work when the playoffs begin, and if so, the indication is the first round could be the breeze we suspected. LeBron James and Chris Bosh each with 28 last night. Dwyane Wade had shot better than 50 percent with 20-plus points in 11 straight games, the longest streak by a guard since some guy name Michael Jordan 1995-96. He got his 20 last night (right at 20) but narrowly missed the 50 shooting number at 8-for-17.
EMBARRASSING!: U.S. OUSTED IN WBC:[Update: U.S. falls last night to underdog Puerto Rico at Marlins Park, 4-3. P.R. advances to World Baseball Classic semifinals in San Francisco along with Dominican Republic. Americans are eliminated, making it a third straight WBC with the country that invented baseball not even reaching the final. Abner Doubledlay is up in heaven kicking over chairs]. Adapted original post: Our poll result directly below is mirrored in
U.S. television ratings for the World Baseball Classic, which are modest at best. But this isn't about us, folks, hard as that sometimes is to wrap our heads around. The WBC's reason for being is to grow the sport where it isn't as big. So it is far more important to MLB that a Japan vs. Chinese-Taipei game in this tournament drew a 43 rating on Japanese TV -- A U.S. Super Bowl-type rating. It is far more important that the games are embraced avidly in the Dominican and Puerto Rico, target spots for long-range expansion. And it is far more important that WBC successes by countries like Netherlands and Italy have planted seeds of interest there. Meantime, I was unabashedly cheering for the U.S. team. I was watching on TV, bellowing jingoistically for the Americans. Came close to breaking out a "U-S-A!" chant at some point, although that typically requires a few beers.
Poll result: Minimal interest in World Baseball Classic: We gave you four choices to describe your interest level in the WBC. Only 9.9 percent had "strong" interest, 21.1% "moderate" and 26.9% "minimal." The other 42.1% called their interest "non-existent."
JEFF GORDON'S TEST DRIVE: Seen this yet? It's brilliant. A spoiler-alert wouldn't help because as soon as you click on the video RIGHT HERE the secret is out. NASCAR star Jeff Gordon -- in disguise -- takes a Camaro out for a test drive and scares the holy s--- out of the (supposedly) real-life salesman in the passenger seat (pictured) who (supposedly) doesn't know he's being punked in an ad/stunt for Pepsi Max. I have since heard that the salesman was an actor and that Gordon doesn't even do all the driving in the video. No matter. It's fun. The good stuff starts about two minutes in. Enjoy.
Poll result: Strong excitement/support for Dolphins signing Mike Wallace: We invited you to describe your feeling about the signing and Wallace's talent, and 44.5 percent said "excited/elite," with 37.7% "happy/very good," 10.4% "satisfied/pretty good" and only 7.4% answering "unimpressed/overrated."
Click back. Will be updating/adding to this latest blogpost...
Radio Tuesday!: Tuesday means I'm back in-studio today with Le Batard and Stugotz on 790 The Ticket/FM 104.3 starting at 3. Ears welcome.
[1) It is TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 26. Happy 85th birthday to New Orleans legend Fats Domino (pictured). Chubby Checker tried to borrow his name and sound but there was and is only one Fats. Click HERE for his unmistakable signature song. 2) Jimmie Johnson won the Daytona 500 but Danica Patrick won much respect with her eighth-place finish off the pole position. She is a huge shot in the arm for NASCAR. 3) Speaking of women, I think I could beat up Ronda Rousey. Not really. I just like to annoy UFC fans. 4) In The Previous Blogpost (ITPB): On LeBron James maybe leaving next year, Canes lose, kvetching Perfectos, Marlins' young talent. 5) Join us on Twitter @gregcote]
"I'm a little worried about my weight. You know how Life of Pi was a big Oscar winner? I'll be starring in Life of Pie." -- Greg Cote
JEFFREY LORIA'S STUNNING LACK OF SELF-AWARENESS. (OR COULD IT BE THAT HE JUST DOESN'T GIVE A S--- WHAT FANS THINK?): On behalf of the newspaper industry I'd like to thank Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria for Sunday's full-page "Letter To Our Fans" ad that ran on page 21A of
The Miami Herald and also in the South Florida Sun-Sentinel and Palm Beach Post. We all can use the revenue. As for the content of the letter? That was combative, found Loria blaming everyone but himself for his abysmal public image, and left most fans I've talked to or heard from just shaking their heads. Loria just doesn't get it. "Something needed to be done," he writes. OK, but did that mean gutting the roster? Did that mean paring the payroll back to embarrassing meagerness? "Acquiring high-profile players just didn't work," he writes. Because you didn't acquire the right ones, perhaps. So go out and get better ones, don't scrap the entire higher-payroll philosophy after one stinkin' year. That higher payroll, by the way, was an assurance Loria made in order to get that new ballpark built. It was a public trust he has broken. It was something unaddressed in that self-serving open letter. It was not unaddressed last evening when I and other media meet with Loria for the first time in months. Take our poll, and see more on last night's Loria meeting just below the poll.
LORIA AT THE DIAMOND CLUB: THE OUTTAKES: Jeffrey Loria, club president David Samson and a few other Marlins officials met with a select group of media including myself last evening at Marlins Park. Click on Owner In Denial for my latest column, filed following that meeting. Included is Loria's reaction to the poll results directly above. Here are some outtakes from the Loria-Samson meeting, things that
wouldn't fit or didn't belong in the column: 1. I asked Samson directly if it wasn't accurate that the stadium was built on the promise of higher payrolls. He called that "accurate with an asterisk," saying, "We miscalculated" the revenue. 2. Samson said paid attendance was 2.2 million in year one of the new park but that the actual turnstile count was 1.4 million. 3. Samson said
the tone of Loria 's open letter, perceived as combative, was partly a reaction to the "constant personal pounding" his boss has taken. 4. Samson on Giancarlo Stanton's future: "It takes two people to sign a long-term deal." In other words, no amount of money will keep Stanton if he wants out. 5. Loria and Stanton were in Europe at the same time recently and the owner invited the player to dinner at the Eiffel Tower and said they had a wonderful time. I think it might take the Eiffel Tower to re-sign Stanton. 6. Loria's new PR
firm happens to be called Jeffrey Group, named after its founder, not Loria. The firm specializes in Latin America and U.S. Hispanics, an indication of markets the Marlins want to hit hard. 7. Loria labeled as a "smear campaign" the Dolphins' effort to win public funding for stadium improvements by putting the Marlins' ballpark deal in an unfavorable light. 8. Loria said Jose Reyes was "inaccurate" in saying Loria advised him
to buy a home in Miami two days before he was traded. 9. Loria: "It's not a fire sale. It's called hit the restart button." 10. Finally, apropos of nothing, the fastidious Samson selects what to wear from a prearranged order of clothes. Monday evening his socks were a pinkish red. "Maybe fuscia," he said. I'm not sure Samson is a great club president. But he is an interesting person.
HEAT HITTING REPEAT-LEVEL STRIDE: Miami ran its victory streak to a season-best 11 games Sunday and
Dwyane Wade lately is looking like the pre-LeBron dominator he was. We assume LeBron's nightly MVP-caliber output, but Wade showing he can still reach those elite levels is nourishing news. National media continue to harp on Heat's lack of size and insufficient rebounding, but I see a confident, championship team priming itself for a repeat run.
Poll result: Support for LeBron even if he left next year: I wrote an unpopular column on the likelihood from my view that LeBron James will return to Cleveland after next season, with a companion blog poll. I asked how you'd feel if that happened and 38.5 percent said they'd be positive and not begrudge him, vs. only 17.4% who said they'd see him as turning his back on the Heat. Another 25.7% said mixed feelings or didn't want to think about it yet, and 18.4% said the answer was to be determined by results this season and next.
HURRICANES FOOTBALL, MEN'S BASKETBALL:Football: UM completes its 2013 schedule. The seven home games are Aug. 30--FAU; Sep. 7--Florida; Sep. 21--Savannah State; Oct. 5--Georgia Tech; Oct. 26--Wake Forest; Nov. 9--Virginia Tech; and Nov. 23--Virginia. The five road games are Sep. 28--USF; Oct. 17--North Carolina; Nov. 2--FSU; Nov. 16--Duke; and Nov. 29--Pittsburgh. Men's basketball: Canes fall in polls: Miami dips from No. 2 to No. 5 in the latests Associated Press poll. The drop is to 7 in the USA Today coaches' poll and to 8 in the ESPN.com Power Rankings, all following the weekend loss at Wake Forest. The AP drop is pretty modest, and that's still the Big Daddy poll.
"WHO ARE YOU WEARING!?": This one question, asked of an actress on a red carpet, embodies much of what the rest of the world both envies and hates about America. The excess and ostentatiousness. The celebrity-worship so absurdly out of control there actually might be avid interest in what designer made Janie Pretend's gown. What a hoot! That's what made last night's Oscars so much fun. Hollywood needsa big female superstar who won't play along, who when asked "Who are you wearing" answers "Target" and then rails against the question. Found it intersting that Argo won Best Picture. Just saw it. Liked it. Didn't love it, or think it was transcendental in the way you hope Oscar champs might be. Quick aside for my right-leaning readers always needling me about my (apparent) left-leaning tendencies: the late video intrusion of First Lady Michelle Obama was spectacularly unnecessary and quite ridiculous.
LATEST AWFUL IDEA FOR TV SHOW: CELEBRITY DIVING!: God I wish I were kidding, but ABC in March
will premiere Splash, a new reality show in which ex-Olympian Greg Louganis (pictured) judges 10 celebrity divers. (No, seriously!) The show has a screwball chance because half of the contestants will be curvy young women in swimsuits, including Miss Alabama Katherine Webb. (At least we know Brent Musberger will be watching). Divers also will include Kareem Abdul-Jabbar -- Huh? Whu!? -- Ndamukong Suh and Louie Anderson. Counting on the latter two for cannonballs.
"DEAR GREG...": "...Your blog's OK but would be better if occasionally you would show a picture of Jim Carrey wearing giant prosthetic feet to Elton John's Oscars party. Thank you." Hmm. No promises, but let me see what I can do.
Click back. Will be updating/adding to this atest blogpost...
[1) It is TUESDAY, JANUARY 1. Happy New Year, everybody! 2) Find results of season-final Dolfan Satisfaction Meter poll in blogpost directly below this. 3) Join us on Twitter @gregcote]
HEAT CHAMPIONSHIP DOMINATES AS 2012 MIAMI SPORTS STORY OF YEAR: We asked you previously to name the year's top national sports story and you did (results at bottom of this blogpost). Now we asked you to select the 2012 Miamisports story of the year, and of 16 choices the Heat's LeBron James-led NBA title won clearly with 22.3 percent. I personally chose the Top 16 local stories of the year and invited you to pick your top five (5). The consensus of all of you would shape what the biggest or most significant story was and set the order. I had an order in mind but our list below and in the poll is chronological so you won't be unduly influenced by somebody else's ranking. The real race was for second place, with the opening of the Marlins' new ballpark (12.6%) edging the Dolphins drafting Ryan Tannehill and the Marlins' latest fire sale (both 12.5%). Here is a brief synopsis of the contenders, followed by the poll...
Orange Bowl Game Sets Records (January): Miramar's Geno Smith leads West Virginia past Clemson, 70-33, record for points in bowl game.
Dolphins Hire Joe Philbin (January): Miami hires Green Bay's offensive coordinator, never before a head coach, to lead its new era.
Dolphins Trade Brandon Marshall (March): Team trades talented but mercurial receiver to Bears for two third-round draft picks.
WGC Golf At Doral (March): England's Justin Rose wins annual World Golf Championship event on Doral's Blue Monster course.
Peyton Manning Turns Down Dolphins (March): Miami seeks Manning in free agency, is seen as early frontrunner, but loses him to Denver.
Sony Ericcson Tennis (March): Novak Djokovic and Agnieszka Radwanska win title in sport's "fifth major" on Key Biscayne.
Miami Hosts Wrestlemania (April): WWE's 28th Wrestlemania is hosted by South Florida for first time, held at Dolphins stadium.
Marlins New Stadium Debuts (April): Opening night had glitches, but team finally had new downtown ballpark after years of failed efforts.
Panthers Make NHL Playoffs (April): Hockey club ends league's longest drought, qualifies for Stanley Cup playoffs for first time since 2000.
Dolphins Draft Ryan Tannehill (April): Miami spends first-round draft pick (8th overall) on a quarterback for first time since Dan Marino in '83.
Heat Wins NBA Championship (June): MVP LeBron James leads Miami past Oklahoma City for his elusive first NBA title, city's second.
Guillen Fired After Nightmare Year (October): Marlins fire manager, hire Mike Redmond, after big payroll and high hopes end in last place.
Marlins' Latest Fire Sale (November): Stars Jose Reyes, Josh Johnson and others shipped to Toronto in a blatant cost-cutting that angers fans.
Homestead Ends NASCAR Year (November): Star Jeff Gordon wins race but Brad Keselowski owns day, capturing first NASCAR season title.
Hurricanes Self-Impose Bowl Ban (November): UM removes self from second straight bowl, awaits NCAA sanctions in Nevin Shapiro probe.
Postscript: No, I didn't forget about Marlins on The Franchise or Dolphins on Hard Knocks; those made-for-TV dramas just didn't make the cut. (This was going to be a Top 15, but I decided to include Wrestlemania for a bit of serendipity!). Did I leave anything out? Should I have included FIU firing Mario Cristobal?
Vote-percentage explainer: We invite readers to vote for as many as five choices in the above poll. If all voters cast the maximum five votes, the highest overall percentage for any one story would be 20 percent. The Heat-championship count of more than 20 percent means that story is being included in a vast majority of top fives and also garnering votes of those who opt to choose fewer than five stories.
Poll result: Penn State scandal named 2012's top national story: In the previous blogpost I let you vote on The Associated Press list of the year's Top 10 national sports stories (you may still vote), and the Penn State/Jerry Sandusky scandal was named the biggest with 31.3 percent, followed by the London Olympics with 16.8% and Lance Armstrong's fall from grace with 11.8%. Rounding out the top five were Peyton Manning's resurgence (9.2) and Saints' Bountygate (8.5).
Check back often to monitor evolving results in our year-end Miami poll...
1) It is WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 21. See results of latest Canesfan Satisfaction Meter in blogpost directly below this new one. 2) Check out our video channel at YouTube/TheGregCote (under construction; new vids soon) and join us on Twitter @gregcote]
Marlins' salary-dump trade:Team confirmed that the controversial, locally unpopular 12-player trade with Toronto is now official. The commissioner's office investigated the trade but, as expected, did not veto it.
SHARP DIVISION OF OPINION PRECEDED CANES' POSTSEASON BAN: University of Miami announced a second straight football postseason ban Monday morning, meaning the Canes will go consecutive seasons
without a bowl game for the first time since 1981-82. The move is not unexpected and is smart. Tough medicine, but smart. The university's statement noted this will "allow the football program and the university to move forward in the most expedited manner possible." In other words, get past this mess sooner. Put it in the rear-view and have a fresh slate. "We will get it fixed," said coach Al Golden (pictured) after Saturday's 40-9 win over South Florida made UM bowl-eligible. All of this is self-imposing results to the continuing NCAA
investigation in the matter of Nevin Shapiro, the rogue booster turned jailed Ponzi scheme thief. UM is counting on two straight self-imposed bowl bans lessening eventual penalties handed down by the NCAA. I am told by a source privy to the internal discussions there was sharp debate over whether to self-impose a ban. Not last year, but this time. "One school of thought was that giving up a possible berth in a BCS bowl would give us 'extra credit' with the NCAA," said the source. "But then the argument was that the BCS bowl is the reason to play. We win an ACC title that's our biggest moment since the last national championship." UM did what was right. Miami would have had to win at Duke next week to get into the ACC title game, where the Canes would have been a clear underdog to Florida State. And with five (or possibly six) losses, the bowl game preceding that for Miami would have been a minor one. What do you think UM should have done? I have already had a recent poll on this -- 54.9 percent supported a ban, 36.7% wanted to play and 8.4% were undecided -- but your reaction to the latest news is invited.
NFL PIX 'N FANTASY: DOUBLE-GOOD!: The fates must have picked Thanskgiving week to look benevolently upon me. NFL predix: A very solid week by me on my Friday Page last week, going 12-2 overall and 9-4-1 vs. the spread. Leading my parade: Outright upset bull's-eye on Jets winning in St. Lou. Fantasy: Hallelujah! Greg's Lobos finally snapped the losing streak and improved to 3-8 with a 107-100 win. Got a silly-good 47 from Andre Johnson but still needed 12 off David Akers' foot Monday night to clinch it.
NORTH MIAMI EMBARRASSES ITSELF, AWARDS KEY TO CITY TO KARDASHIANS: The vapid sisters famous for no discernable reason -- Kim, Khloe and Kourtney Kardashian -- were awarded the key to the
city of North Miami yesterday, also for no discernable reason. I have no doubt the Kardashians were thrilled, if only because the word "key" begins with a K. Key-giving North Miami mayor Andre Pierre presided over the ceremony, enabling residents with one more reason to enthusiastically bounce him from office. The Kardashians were honored ostensibly because they are filming part of their E! reality show in North Miami. Either that, or Snookie wasn't available. My immediate reaction when I heard the Kardashians were getting a key to the city? Change your locks, everybody!
MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET (A REVIEW): We and two other couples took in Million Dollar Quartet at the Broward performing arts center the other day, the musical set in one mid-'50s night at Sun Records studio in Memphis, the only time Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins and Jerry Lee Lewis all were together. It does not rise to the level of Jersey Boys as theater, or as a story, but I'd nevertheless recommend it highly. Elvis and Cash are performed particularly well, stunningly so, and Lewis is a scen-stealer. One quibble: I'd cut a few songs and add a bit more story and a bit less music.
KESELOWSKI A FRESH, NEEDED CHANGE FOR NASCAR: Spent the day down at Homestead-Miami
Speedway Sunday and produced this column off the race on Brad Keselowski (pictured), who was crowned Sprint Cup season champ. Writing NASCAR is out of my comfort zone but I enjoy it. Most of the drivers are great to deal with, and you can't but help have a different perspective on sports watching these guys perform. Football players risk a knee injury? These guys risk more. Keselowski, 28, is a gust of fresh air. Jimmie Johnson, Tony Stewart, Jeff Gordon and that older guard are still around, but the new champ -- youthful, funny, cocky, a Twittering fool -- is a nice change. Now we see if he's a shooting star or has the staying power to be a multiple champ.
SOPY RANKINGS (WEEK 12): UM'S MORRIS IN DEAD-HEAT FOR LEAD, TITLE: This college football season has marked the blog debut of our weekly State Offensive Player of the Year (SOPY) rankings, which I like to call the "Sunshine State Heisman." Our chart encompasses the most productive
seasons of any quarterback, running back or receiver from the state's seven FBS teams: Miami, Florida and FSU, FIU and FAU, and South Florida and UCF. (Note: Rankings consider only passing, rushing and receiving, not returns). Our formula awards one point per offensive yard gained running or receiving and a half-point per yard passing, plus six bonus points for touchdowns thrown or scored. Because our rankings are cumulative, players on a bye week take a temporary hit that evens out over course of season. After Week 12 it's Florida State's E.J. Manuel and the Canes' Stephen Morris (pictured) in a virtual tie at the top. The SOPY Top 10 entering Week 13:
Rank (LW) Player, Team-pos. SOPY Pts. Week=Year
1 (1) E.J. Manuel, FSU-qb 81 = 1,705.5
2 (3) Stephen Morris, Miami-qb 201.5 = 1,705
3 (2) B.J. Daniels, South Florida-qb DNP = 1,585.5
4 (4) Blake Bortles, UCF-qb 82.5 = 1,452
5 (5) Jake Medlock, FIU-qb 180 = 1,395.5
6 (6) Graham Wilbert, FAU-qb 188.5 = 1,392.5
7 (7) Jeff Driskel, Florida-qb DNP = 1,170
8 (9) Mike Gillislee, Florida-rb 136 = 1,142
9 (8) Latavius Murray, UCF-rb 73 = 1,122
10 (--) Duke Johnson, Miami-rb 77 = 1,038
Bubble: Chris Thompson, FSU-rb, 965.
State of the State rankings: 1. Florida (10-1); 2. FSU (10-1); 3. Miami (6-5); 4. UCF (8-3); 5. South Florida (3-7); 6. FIU (3-8); 7. FAU (3-8).
Click back. Will be updating/adding much to this latest blogpost...
IT'S RADIO TUESDAY: I'll be in-studio again today with Dan Le Batard and Stugotz on 790 The Ticket and FM 104.3 from 3 p.m. 'til 6 or so. Ears welcome.
[1) It is TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 13. Jeremy Lin: Nuthin' but ... air! 2) See results of latest Dolfan Satisfaction Meter (ouch!) in blogpost directly below this newest one. 3) Visit our video channel at YouTube/TheGregCote (under construction; new vids coming soon) and join us on Twitter @gregcote]
IT'S NASCAR WEEK IN MIAMI! (HOW MUCH DO YOU CARE?): The 2012 NASCAR season ends Sunday down at Homestead-Miami Speedway, and even non-gearheads might have to acknowledge it is a huge
deal that we have the season-ending race that crowns the champ. This year Brad Keselowski enters with a 20-point lead over five-time champ Jimmie Johnson, meaning Keselowski needs only a 15th place finish or better to win the season title. That might make this race seem anti-climactic, except this is NASCAR, where the chances of Keselowski being wrecked out of a race -- of his own error or intentionally -- cannot be discounted. Just look at this past weekend, when four-time champion Jeff Gordon intentionally wrecked
Clint Bowyer, fully admitting it, and causing a melee between the two crews on pit road and in the garage. Gordon was fined $100,000 and docked 25 standings points. He should have been suspended. Now Bowyer is not ruling out retaliation Sunday at Homestead. Maybe auto racing is not your thing, but one thing NASCAR isn't is dull. Speeding, recklessness, road rage .. the perfect event for Miami! I follow NASCAR casually throughout the year but get amped for this annual Homestead crescendo. Do you? Vote in our latest poll and say why.
NFL PIX 'N FANTASY: A mediocre meh and more misery. NFL predix: Am neither clicking-heels nor
sullen over a 9-4-1 mark straight up and 6-8 against the spread. Nailed another Upset of the Week with Saints beating Falcons ("Aawwk!"), but got blindsided by that Dolphins loss. Greg's Lobos: My fantasy team continues to suck royally, now 2-8 after a 142-91 defeat. My mainstay Aaron Rodgers had a bye so I gambled. I signed and started Ryan Tannehill (silly me), figuring the Titans defense was historically bad. And how'd that work out!? Please don't answer.
'THE BIG THREE KILLED MY BABY': This is not an indictment of the Heat's LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, who have -- to my knowledge -- never killed anyone's baby. (LeBron has no time for such shenanigans; too busy dropping 32 second-half points on Houston last night). But I was reminded the other day that the White Stripes once recorded a song called "The Big Three Killed My Baby." It was about the auto industry, not a darkly prescient ode to the Heat. Click here to listen.
On Heat's biggest challenge: In terms of likely NBA Finals foe, it isn't Memphis, despite the recent win over Miami. It isn't Oklahoma City, already vanquished and weakened by the James Harden trade. It could become the L.A. Lakers. But right now it's San Antonio. As for the Lakers, the problem isn't the coach, the problem is an old starting unit coalescing with little help from a roster lacking depth.
ROCKET MAN BURE ENTERS HOCKEY HALL: Congrats to the Russian Rocket, Pavel Bure, for his induction into the hockey hall of fame. His three-plus seasons with the panthers included NHL goal-scoring titles with 58 and 59 in 1999-00 and 2000-01. For those two seasons Bure was Marino-esque and LeBron-like in terms of sheer goal scoring.
SOPY RANKINGS (WEEK 11): NOLES' MANUEL BACK ON TOP: This college football season has marked the blog debut of our weekly State Offensive Player of the Year (SOPY) rankings, which I like to call the "Sunshine State Heisman." Our chart encompasses the most productive seasons of any quarterback, running back or receiver from the state's seven FBS teams: Miami, Florida and FSU, FIU and FAU, and South Florida and UCF. (Note: Rankings consider only passing, rushing and receiving, not returns). Our formula awards one point per offensive yard gained running or receiving and a half-point per yard passing, plus six bonus points for touchdowns thrown or scored. Because our rankings are cumulative, players on a bye week take a temporary hit that evens out over course of season. After Week 11 it's Florida State's E.J. Manuel back on top. The SOPY Top 10 entering Week 12:
Rank (LW) Player, Team-pos. SOPY Pts. Week=Year
1 (2) E.J. Manuel, FSU-qb 141 = 1,624.5
2 (1) B.J. Daniels, South Florida-qb BYE = 1,585.5
3 (3) Stephen Morris, Miami-qb 138.5 = 1,503.5
4 (5) Blake Bortles, UCF-qb 164 = 1,369.5
5 (4) Jake Medlock, FIU-qb BYE = 1,215.5
6 (6) Graham Wilbert, FAU-qb 161 = 1,204
7 (7) Jeff Driskel, Florida-qb 131 = 1,170
8 (10) Latavius Murray, UCF-rb 135 = 1,049
9 (8) Mike Gillislee, Florida-rb 53 = 1,006
10 (9) Chris Thompson, FSU-rb DNP = 965
Bubble: Duke Johnson, Miami-rb, 961.
State of the State rankings: 1. Florida (9-1); 2. FSU (9-1); 3. UCF (8-2); 4. Miami (5-5); 5. South Florida (3-6); 6. FAU (3-7); 7. FIU (2-8).
Click back. Will be updating/adding to this latest blogpost...
[1) It is Thursday, March 1. Click here for my latest column previewing South Florida's busiest, most varied sports month. 2) R.I.P., Davy Jones (pictured), original Monkee. 3) Radiohead opened tour this week in Miami. I'm weird with Radiohead. Never been a huge fan overall although "Creep" absolutely is one of my favorite songs of all-time. 4) Join us on Twitter @gregcote]
Time for Dolphins to be bold, get Griffin: Click Not Manning or Flynn -- RG3 to read my Wednesday column on the Dolphins quarterback saga. Now what is your opinion? Vote in our poll below and say why.
DOLPHINS WEIGHING HUGE TRADE-UP TO NO. 2 FOR RG3: ESPN reported that St. Louis, holding the draft's overall No. 2 selection, definitely plans to trade the pick, that Cleveland (picking 4th), Washington (6th) and Miami (8th) are the most likely trade partners, and that negotiations with all three already have taken place. The Rams are using as a framework for their demands what the Chargers got from the Giants in 2004 for the rights to Eli Manning. That was two 1st round picks, a 3rd round and a 5th round. Clearly the Dolphins still prefer a healthy Peyton Manning, led by an enamored owner Stephen Ross. A rumor out there -- and only a rumor -- is that Manning, WR Reggie Wayne and center Jeff Saturday would come as a package deal. Miami could puruse Green Bay free-agent Matt Flynn if they can't reel in Manning. But negotiations to trade up to No. 2 for Griffin III (pictured) suggest that could be an aggressively pursued option if the Manning/Flynn options do not pan out, or even a preferred option, perhaps. The news that St. Louis will trade the No. 2 pick advances this story and in my mind sort of elevates Griffin back up to the level of Manning and Flynn in terms of viable possibilities for Miami. The question: Should the Dolphins spend two 1sts -- including the swap of firsts with St. Louis -- plus a 3rd and a 5th (or thereabouts) to get Griffin or would Manning or Flynn or something else be a wiser option? Take a dip in our poll and say why.
'MARLINSANITY' MAKES COVER OF SI: Marlins fans who are believers in the Sports Illustrated cover jinx should say a prayer. Ozzie Guillen and Jose Reyes appear on the current issue's cover with the banner 'MARLINSANITY,' reflecting how wild and crazy this season could be (as I'd written in a recent column. Here is the cover.
THREE EX-CANES ON COLLEGE HALL BALLOT: The 84 newly announced 2012 nominees for College Football Hall of Fame include ex-UM quarterbacks George Mira (1961-63) and Vinny Testaverde (1984-86), and ex-Canes coach Jimmy Johnson (1984-84). The '90s Gators QB Danny Wuerffel is only other state-school guy on the ballot.
NASCAR'S DAYTONA NIGHTMARE: Ever since 9/11 I stopped applying words like disaster too casually to sports, and certainly in auto racing the word only applies to a death or terrible injury. But the Daytona 500 opening NASCAR's 2012 season surely qualifies as a nightmare for the sport. Delayed by rain and then by a bizarre accident involving a track-drying truck, a race scheduled for Sunday finally ended in the wee hours of Tuesday morning. That Matt Kenseth won seems superfluous. The story was the calamity that overshadowed and diminished the sport's signature race and the start of a new season. Having said all that, TV ratings were stout all things considered.
MARLINS AND EMILIO: Marlins announced today that Emilio Estefan will produce the club's April 4 Opening Night Festivities.
TRUMP BUYING DORAL: Donald Trump and His Bizarre Hair are buying Doral golf resort including the famed Blue Monster course for $150 million. Off-the-board certain is that the place will be rechristened to include the word "Trump." Less likely but certainly possible is that Trump, never far removed from ostentatiousness and oneupmanship, will order all of the fairways and greens covered in a undulating carpet of money.
BABY ON BOARD!: I thought those distinctive yellow car-window signs had gone out of fashion along with the trendiness of the word "yuppie" but I've noticed several 'Baby On Board' signs just lately and am reminded how they annoy me. They imply that I am a naturally reckless driver but will be more careful because of your precious cargo. Guess what? A baby on board is equally precious to me as anybody else on board. I am not more or less careful based on who my fellow motorists might be. (Are you?) The 'Baby On Board' signs convey, falsely, that one car's occupants are more important than another's. A 'Baby On Board' sign to me is roughly as mildly offputting and not much different than if suctioned to the back window of my car was a sign reading, 'WHITE MAN ON BOARD.' You get me?
PANTHERS' QUIET GAMBLE: Florida Panthers standing pat with no pre-trade-deadline deals will be second-guessed if the team falls short of ending its long NHL playoff drought, especially considering the the intensely close battle and the Cats' general lack of scoring punch. GM Dale Tallon is all in on the hand he has. Let's see how it plays out.
MORE THAN D-WADE'S GIRLFRIEND: Gabrielle Union is best-known as an actress and longtime girlfriend of Dwyane Wade (pictured) but deserves credit for her activism, too. She was among a panel speaking yesterday in Washington at a Capital Hill briefing on preventing teen dating violence. Click here for more. I spend a lot of time needling and poking fun in this blog but good-doing gets occasional credit, too.
NOTE TO CEMETERY EXERCISERS: This week I saw three people abreast walking briskly through a cemetery. Exercising, they were. How rude, I thought. How gallingly disrespectful. Imagine you are at a gravesite quietly paying respects to a loved one as joggers pound past. What's next? Cemeteries overrun by picknickers? Frisbee dogs? How about I bring my 9-iron to a cemetery and start hitting range balls using Uncle Fred's grave as a tee box? A simple rule: Only dead people, people visiting dead people and employees should be in cemeteries. Walkers, joggers and exercisers, go to a local park and let the deceased rest in peace you self-absorbed cretins.
Click back. Will be updating and adding to this latest blogpost...
"The Oscars and NBA All-Star Game on at the same time. It was confusing. I just asked Dwyane Wade, 'Who are you wearing?'" --Greg Cote
[1) Rick Santorum called President Obama a "snob" and now he's attacking JFK. Somebody tell Rick to get back on the meds. 2) Votes still accepted in our all-star-games poll in post directly below this latest one. 3) UM women, after loss at Duke, fall 5th to 7th in latest poll. 4) Join us on Twitter @gregcote]
DWYANE AND LEBRON'S BIG (AND WEIRD) WEEEKEND: Kobe Bryant has a nasal fracture, or what the old folks like to call a broken nose. That is because the Heat's Dwyane Wade momentarily forgot about the code that says nobody plays defense in an NBA All-Star Game -- let alone hard-foul defense. That the West beat the East 152-149 Sunday would verify the no-defense part. Except midway through the third quarter in Orlando, as Bryant attempted a layup, Wade fouled him from behind, over the shoulder (pictured), about as flagrant a foul as you'll see in an all-star game. Bryant's nose was bleeding within seconds. D-Wade never offered an apology. The Heat happen to play the Lakers in L.A. this coming Sunday, when Wade surely can expect some sort of physical payback. The All-Star Game also was spiced by The Shot Not Taken by LeBron in the final minute. I write about Wade and James' interesting Sunday in my latest column, newly online and shipping to Tuesday's pulp editions. Click on Never a Dull Moment for that column.
Heat, LeBron huge picks for title, MVP: Latest odds from Bovada have Heat a huge 7-5 favorite to win NBA championship, followed by Oklahoma City at 17-4, Chicago 5-1, L.A. Clippers 12-1, and L.A. Lakers and San Antonio 14-1. Miami's LeBron James is a prohibitive 1-2 betting pick for MVP, followed by Kobe Bryant 9-2, Kevin Durant 6-1, Chris Paul 9-1, Derrick Rose 15-1 and Dwyane Wade and Dwight Howard both 20-1.
Chris Bosh and custody: Click here for a part of the Heat star's life he'd probably prefer to not see splashed across TMZ.com.
HURRICANES 2012 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE: It is made official today and here it is, with all games Saturday except the one noted otherwise and with home games in all caps: Sept. 1 @ Boston College; Sept. 8 @ Kansas State; Sept. 15 vs. BETHUNE-COOKMAN; Sept. 22 @ Georgia Tech; Sept. 29 vs. NORTH CAROLINA STATE; Oct. 6 @ Notre Dame; Oct. 13 vs. NORTH CAROLINA; Oct. 20 vs. FLORIDA STATE; Nov. 1 (Thursday) vs. VIRGINIA TECH; Nov. 10 @ Virginia; Nov. 17 vs. SOUTH FLORIDA; and Nov. 24 @ Duke. All starting times are to be determined. In addition, UM's Spring Game will be April 14 and the ACC Championship Game is Dec. 1 in Charlotte. Quick observations: Kansas State, Georgia Tech and Notre Dame make a tough three-game road stretch, but getting FSU and Va-Tech at home is a big break.
FAMOUS ATHLETES POSING: For no reason at all, here is a picture of Serena Williams, Tim Tebow and Venus Williams last night at the Vanity Fair Oscar party. Serena (far left) looks like she could kick the crap out of me and possibly out of Tebow as well.
UM HOOPS (AND FANS) LOOKING THE PART: UM upsets No. 16 Florida State here yesterday despite the suspension-absence of Reggie Johnson, so thrilling the packed house that fans jubilantly stormed the court afterward. For that moment, this looked and felt like a college basketball town, and the Canes looked and felt like a squad deserving of an NCAA Tournament bid. UM's men, remember, also upset No. 5 Duke this season, up there amid the Cameron Crazies. Alas, coach Jim Larranga's group has lost its five other games against ranked opponents, and the 17-10 overall mark with two games left likely will leave Miami just outside the big bubble and settling for the NIT. (Meantime the national-title-dreaming UM women have won 40 consecutive home games. Extraordinary).
Haith on Reggie Johnson: Former UM coach Frank Haith, now at Missouri, says here he is cooperating with the NCAA over the matter that caused current Canes center Reggie Johnson to be suspended.
LORIA RAISES THE BAR FOR MARLINS: Owner Jeffrey Loria on Sunday called this the "strongest" team in his 11-year ownership entering a sesaon, and considering that would include the 2003 World Series champions, consider the bar officially raised. Loria is routinely overly optimistic in the spring, which leads to his managers tending to not last long. Clearly, though, an NL East title or wild-card playoff spot are not merely hoped for but absolutely expected. Are you listening, Ozzie Guillen? [Pictured, an aerial view of the new ballpark].
RAIN 1, DAYTONA 0: NASCAR's season-opening Daytona 500 postponed by rain until tonight for first time in race's 54-year history. Looking for a breakthrough by Dale Earnhardt Jr. or Danica Patrick. Didn't say expecting one. Said looking for one.
ON J-LO'S LEFT NIPPLE: Hey now there's a read-me headline! Normally I don't deal with gratuitous naughtiness in this blog :D but I figure since Jennifer Lopez is in the Offical Coterie of Stephen Ross Celebrity Friends of the Dolphins, it's practically a sports story. So I am dutybound to report that the edge of J-Lo's left nipple appeared to peek from her dress (see screen grab) during last night's Academy Awards as she presented (Irony Alert!) the award for Best Costume Design. Click on the pic to see a larger version. Twitter lit up with this apparent wardrobe malfunction, verifying once again that people who use Twitter lead the league in free time.
On Billy Crystal: Oscars host Billy Crystal looked mummified and that one hug-a-black-woman joke hit an off key as mildly racist, I thought. Still, always have to shake my head when something like "who is Billy Crystal" starts trending on Twitter. Dear People Unaware of Anyone Under 40: Here's what you do. You Google the words 'Billy' and 'Crystal' before broadcasting your comically narrow-minded youthfulness. (Trending next on Twitter: "What is Google.")
CELEBRITIES ARE DIFFERENT THAN YOU AND I: We conclude our Oscars report by mentioning that a movie called Hugo kept winning and I kept annoying my wife by saying, "Isn't that about a killer whale?" Also I was surprised Meryl Streep beat that black actress from The Help who pronounced the word children chirren. The fact that Celebrities Are Different Than You And I was evident not only at the Oscars but in the many exclusive after-parties. What I mean is embodied in this photo, which pictures, left to right: Elton John holding the World's Most Spoiled Baby, Fran Drescher holding a truly fightening looking miniature dog-bear that might or might not be a stuffed animal or a bizarre puppet, and Katy Perry with metallic-blue hair.
Click back. Will be updating and adding much more to this latest blogpost...
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
Click back. Will be updating and adding to this latest blogpost...
[Note: See latest results of Dolfan Satisfaction Meter in blogpost directly below this one. Also, join us on Twitter @gregcote]
UM MADE RIGHT CALL. DID CANES' SENIOR CLASS REALLY DESERVE BOWL GAME, ANYWAY?: Miami became bowl-eligible at 6-5 Saturday and on Sunday withdrew itself from bowl consideration -- which might be shocking but for the circumstances that make it the right call. The circumstances, of course: The ongoing NCAA/Nevin Shapiro investigation. The self-imposed ban is a smart strategy and the right call for many reasons. Mainly, it will mitigate in UM's favor as the NCAA weighs penalties of its own. Also, even with a 7-5 record it would have been a lousy or at least minor bowl anyway. One also could argue (and I do, right here) that the Jacory Harris-led senior class ostensibly being penalized didn't do much to deserve a bowl reward anyway, either on the field or as the team leaders under whose watch the Shapiro manure continued to spread. Swallowing a self-imposed bowl ban now theoretically will mean UM will be bowl-eligible in a future season a year sooner than it otherwise might have been. Coach Al Golden (pictured) said he supports the school's decision. But I also understand many fans might disagree with the bowl-ban, feeling that UM seniors earned this bowl and that fans deserve to enjoy a bowl experience this season expressly because likely NCAA sanctions are ahead. How do you feel? Take a dip in our poll and say why.
STEWART WINS ONE FOR THE AGES: Tony Stewart talked a good game and drove a better one. And NASCAR and Homestead-Miami Speedway got an instant-classic finale Sunday with the audacious Stewart outdueling points leader Carl Edwards to win his third career season crown in a 1-2 finish. What a race! I'm a casual race fan, not a gearhead, but this was exciting. Click on Tony the Tiger for my column off the race. NASCAR needed somebody to break the rather boring Jimmie Johnson dynasty, and Stewart has the attitude and personality, the resume' and the racing chops to make him the right man.
LEBRON, D-WADE'S 'HOMECOMING TOUR': With the NBA lockout dragging on endlessly and annoying the crap out of everybody, Heat's LeBron James and Dwyane Wade have pairted with Carmelo Anthony and Chris Paul to headline a four-game Homecoming Tour Dec. 1 in Akron (James' home), Dec. 4 in New Orleans (Paul), Dec. 7 in Chicago (Wade) and Dec. 10 in East Rutherford, N.J. (Anthony). I find two things interesting about this tour: 1) Will leftover Cleveland animus make for any hostility in Akron? And 2) Three of the four headlining players have last names that also are first names: James, Paul and Anthony. Actually, Wade also can be a first name, too. At least Wade Phillips' parents thought so.
FAKE DOCTOR FIXES WOMAN'S FLAT BUTTOCKS: Here is yet another only-in-South Florida tale that reads like a chapter in a madcap Carl Hiaasen novel. A fake doctor who happens to be a transgender female and a woman desiring buttocks augmentation intersected and the unhappy result was that the faux-MD injected Fix-a-Flat into the woman, resulting in what is pictured and nearly killing her. Story here. (Raise your hand if you remember when most women thought their a--es were too big). I cannot confirm this but I heard that when the victimized woman was asked about the symptoms of having a Fix-a-Flat derriere she replied, "I feel tired."
Click back. Will be adding more stuff to this latest blogpost...
[See latest Canesfan Satisfaction Meter poll results directly below this in the blog. Also, join us on Twitter @gregcote]
Vote now in latest Dolfan Satisfaction Meter poll in separate blogpost directly above this one.
G10: BUFFALO @ DOLPHINS: CAN MIAMI MAKE A MIRACLE HAPPEN?:Final: What a royal a-- kicking by surging Dolphins, a third straight win putting season record at 3-7. QB Matt Moore was terrific, and the defense pitched a third consecutive TD-shutout. And now the question must be asked, remote as the possibility still is: Can Miami make history by running the table, ending 9-7 and maybe sneaking into the playoffs? I'm just askin'. ..... 4Q: Weird. Ex-Dolph Tyler Thigpen finishing game at QB for Buffs, and ex-Bill JP Losman mopping up for Miami. ..... Daniel Thomas tackled in end zone for safety; score now 35-8. Dolphin defense TD-shutout streak now into 12th quarter. ..... 3Q: Lex Hilliard recovers blocked punt for TD and 35-6 lead. Incredible. ..... Half: Wow. Did not anticipate such a rout. Matt Moore has been fantastic: 11-for-14 for 148 yards and three TDs. And Dolphins defense is halfway toward pitching its third consecutive TD-shutout. ..... 2Q: Bills cash last-second 56-yard FG. ..... Davone Bess 4-yard TD pass from Matt Moore inside of two minutes, a score set up by Yeremiah Bell interception. ..... Charles Clay 12-yard scoring pass from Matt Moore for 21-3 lead. Moore with excellent game so far. My prediction not looking real good right now to say the least. ..... 1Q: Fins 14-3 after Reggie Bush 5-yard TD run in final minute. Shayne Graham XP kick, in for injured Dan Carpenter. ..... Anthony Fasano 1-yard TD pass from Matt Moore ends impressive first drive for Miami and makes it 7-3, after Buffs opened with 30-yard FG. ..... Original post: Well beating the Buffs today wouldn't constitute a miracle, no. But running the table from 0-7 would. Making history by finishing 9-7 and being in the wild-card hunt would. Preposterous to even mention? Yes, frankly, but after two straight wins coach Tony Sparano has his players thinking that's possible. Every NFL precedent says it is not. The odds of it would be astronomical; then again, less than two games ago. Could be a moot thought anyway because I have a feeling the Bison win today, ending Miami's two-game W-streak. Fred Jackson has been the best running back in the NFL today and I think he'll get Ryan Fitzpatrick and that offense untracked. Suck For Luck might be out of realistic play, but a top-5 draft pick is still in the mix for those thinking consolation prize. Pick: Bills, 23-20.
CANES SMART TO SAY THEY WON'T PLAY IN BOWL GAME: Miami has withdrawn itself from bowl consideration due to the ongoing NCAA/Nevin Shapiro investigation, although bowl-eligible at 6-5. It's a smart move for all kings of reasons. It would have been a lousy/minor bowl game, anyway. More than that, a self-imposed penaloty such as this will mitigate in UM's favor as the NCAA considers penalties of its own.
VROOOM! NASCAR, HOMESTEAD GET DREAM FINALE: Three points, two drivers, one race. Tony Stewart beat Carl Edwards tonight to win both the Ford 400 at Homestead and the NASCAR season Sprint Cup championship. Click on Perfect Ending for my advance column on the race. I was down here columnizing live for Monday's paper, too. To Dolfans this was the "other" big sporting event in town, but in terms of the crowd it drew, the spectacle and national interest, the race going on an hour's drive south of the game was the bigger deal, by a lot. Edwards had a three-point lead, the pole position and a history of running better on this track. I just had a feeling, though, that Stewart would prevail for his third career belt. (After bombing on my Dolphins pick, at least it was good to be right about something).
