Marve mad and outta here (with poll); plus Barkley cop mug, Nix nixed, Week 17 results & more
The latest lil' slew o' miscellania, all free and just for you...
What a shock (not)! Marve to transfer!: Breaks the news today that Miami Hurricanes QB Robert Marve has requested and been granted his release, meaning he is an ex-Cane as of today. I'd surmised initially that Marve after sitting out a year would end up in Florida Gator clothes -- but that was before the development that revealed stipulations limiting where he could transfer and preventing him from going to an ACC school, SEC school or anywhere else in Florida. The Marve family is angry about that and fighting those restrictions, with Marve's father charging they reflect Randy Shannon's "contempt for and arrogance toward" his son. Strong words. My take: The ACC restriction is perfectly reasonable. The others are not. What's your view?
Take a dip in our Marve poll and elaborate if you'd like both on him leaving and on the controversy over UM's stipulations.
[Blognote: Y'all have made the above our 44th blogpoll to surpass 1,000 votes within the first 24 hours -- this one blasting past in just a few hours. En fuego. Keep 'em coming!]
Barkley busted: Charles Barkley got popped for DUI (police mug at left, courtesy our pals at TheDirty.com). Cops must have detected Barkley slurring, and not been aware that's how he sounds even when sober.
Pro Bowl in Miami. Yippee?: The NFL has confirmed reports the league is dumping Hawaii as its Pro Bowl site in favor of the Super Bowl city, beginning with the 2009-season game to be held Jan. 31, 2010 at Dolphin Stadium. Are we excited? The Pro Bowl has always struck me as something players are delighted to be chosen for but don't much care about playing in. And that fans don't much care to watch, either. Putting it under the Super Bowl Buildup umbrella will help, but probably just somewhat.
Wrong mix: UM kix out Nix, seeks quick fix: I suppose congratulations are in order for Canes fans upon the firing of offensive coordinator Patrick Nix. That's based on a Dec. 9 poll in our blog that found 61 percent wanting Nix out, 27% with mixed feelings and only 12% support. I have no problem with this move. UM's offense needs a clear direction/identity, more invention and obviously sharper clock management. Nix didn't bring it. Here's hoping the yet-unnamed new guy will. By the way, Randy Shannon's many critics will be amazed how much better he'll seem as a head coach with an offense firing on all pistons. [Postscript: The Marve transfer is a blessing for the new OC. It will give him a freer hand and unburden him from the need to coddle two QBs and their fathers].
Countdown to the Orange Bowl (Not So) Classic: Cincinnati and Virginia Tech and their fans are in town readying for Thursday night's OB game and I could not be any less interested. Sorry, OB Committee. But with the Dolphins preparing for their first home playoff game in what seems like 48 years and us hosting the BCS National Championship game a few days later, Cincy and V-Tech could only be more overshadowed if the game were being played in a dark, empty stadium at an undisclosed location. Pictured at right: Obie, the game's mascot, laying down from exhaustion after having to spend an entire week feigning enthusiasm.
Week 17 results: Each Tuesday during NFL season I keep you posted on how I'm faring with my Miami Herald prognosticating and my two fantasy teams -- despite the public humiliation. FRIDAY PAGE: Closed the regular season with a solid 11-5 mark overall and an 8-7-1 against the line. PIGSKIN CHALLENGE: I can't find the results anywhere online. Thank God for small favors. DOLPHINS: Misfired (again) on feeling Miami would lose at NYJ, leaving me 6-10 (holy crap!) predicting the Dolphin game in each Sunday's paper. FANTASY: Season has ended. Sweet mercy.
I'm either really old-fashioned or I'm right, but...: ...whatever happened when having a child out of wedlock was seen as, well, sort of a social disgrace? Now (thinking of Sarah Palin's daughter's kid) it is reported with the barest mention of marital status. I am not sure society at large benefits from this development. Am I being intolerant? Or am I right?
Click back. Will be adding more stuff to this post later.