Dolphins QB in five years (with The Daily Poll), nude tennis, UM baseball, my acting career and more
[Wednesday evening bulletin: So Memphis' Joey Dorsey predicts teammate Derrick Rose will fall to the Heat because Chicago will take Michael Beasley No. 1? In Pat Riley's dreams].
A whole spankin' new mess o' miscellania...
The most intriguing buildup to Dolphins training camp (if we can get past the Jason Taylor soap for a blessed, bleepin' minute) is the looming quarterback battle. Who, if anyone, has your confidence at this point? Vote in our poll and expound with a comment.
Nudie alert!: It has come to the attention of the Random Evidence blog staff (that's me)
that U.S. tennis pro Ashley Harkleroad, 23 (pictured), will appear without benefit of clothing in the upcoming August Playboy. This is nothing that we approve of or endorse, of course, but we shall reserve final judgement until carefully (and repeatedly) scrutinizing the visual evidence upon the day of its publication.
UM baseball regional: I don't get this propoganda about UM baseball drawing a tough regional beginning Friday. Huh? Opening with Bethune-Cookman? The three opponents with a combined 63 season losses? Looks to me like the Canes got the creampuffs an overall No. 1 seed should. It'll be The U in a diamond waltz.
Hoops, puck playoffs: Celtics-Pistons and Lakers-Spurs in the NBA semifinals and Detroit-Pittsburgh in the Stanley Cup Finals have my interest more than most years. The difference? Basketball is giving us real competitiveness. Hockey is looking like quick work for the Octupi.
Golf in the Olympics?: Oy! What say?
The glamorous life of a sports writer: So I call UM today trying to set up an interview tomorrow with football coach Randy Shannon for a column in Thursday's paper about his just-completed goodwill tour in the Middle East, only to be told that's not possible but that Randy might be available Tuesday. Gee, thanks 'Canes!
Owls land a big one: I know about the controversial side of Mike Jarvis. I'd still call him a great hire by FAU as new men's basketball coach. He left St. John's in disgrace in December '03 after off-court incidents by players, and his program retroactively forfeited 43 wins involving a player being paid by a member of Jarvis' staff (although Jarvis was cleared of personal wrongdoing). I also know Jarvis is 364-201 all-time at St. John's and before that Boston University and George Washington, with nine NCAA Tournaments and four NITs in 18 full seasons. That's solid. No doubt Jarvis will try using his small-scale comeback in Boca Raton as a stepping stone back to the big time. Meantime, FAU's program will be better for it.
More Things You Don't Know About Me: Famed movie director Sydney Pollack just died. I could say, "He directed me in Absence of Malice," and it would be the truth, sort of. Anybody see that movie? it was filmed in 1981 at The Herald, and I was an extra. I appear, literally for about one second, shown sitting on a desk reading a newspaper. Regrettably, the role led to neither a brief torrid affair with a then-cute Sally Field (left, from the film), nor to other movie offers.
What!? You're kidding!: Question: What group holds its monthly meetings in a Mini Cooper with room to spare. Answer: The Society of People Surprised That Joakim Noah Smokes Pot.
Culinary tip du jour: Ask your butcher or supermarket meat manager for a "chuck eye" cut of steak. It is nearly identical to the more common ribeye, but about $3 per pound cheaper. Seriously. You'll thank me.
Question du jour: What is less respectful, and also looks more ridiculous, than Hulk Hogan wearing his do-rag in a courtroom while testifying for his son? (It's a rhetorical question whose correct answer is, "Nothing."). Click here for an audio snippet of Hoganville.
Check back. More crap later.