[1. Loving this rush of wintry temps. 2. You can still endure enjoy the Christmas holiday video from me to you in the blogpost directly below this. 3. Reminder no live chat today. The Wednesday chats return next week. 4. Join us on Twitter @gregcote]
Bulletin: Norris Cole Elected Mayor of Miami: The Heat's rookie point guard is going to deserve his way into the poll below before long if he keeps this up. His 20 points and clutch late baskets helped lift the Heat over Boston in last night's home opener. The more wide-open, aggressive offense was a pleasure to watch. Click here for my column off the game.
HEAT, HEAT. HEAT-HEAT-HEAT. HEAT-HEAT-HEAT-HEAT -- HEAT HEAT! WHO'S YOUR FAVORITE PLAYER AND WHY?: I'm not being divisive here as the Heat prepare for tonight's home opener vs. Boston. I'm just curious. No doubt in my mind Dwyane Wade will win this poll but I wonder what kind of inroads LeBron James might be making. There was a '60s TV show called My Favorite Martian, so by that standard a poll that could be called My Favorite Heatnik seems fairly reasonable. (Speaking of divisive, not sure I'll reprise last season's King-o-Meter, an ongoing statistical comparison of James and Wade. Or maybe I'll present the numbers monthly. Yeah, that sounds right). Anyway, by however you define "favorite," take a dip in our poll (players are listed alphabetically) and say why.
BREES BROKE HIS RECORD, BUT MARINO'S SEASON STANDS TALL: Took almost three decades, but Dan Marino's 1984 record of 5,084 passing yards finally fell last night, to uber-prolific Drew Brees of the Saints. Brees now has 5,087 yards with a game to play. Both guys' passer ratings are almost identical -- Marino's was 108.9, Brees' is 108.4. Everyone mentions how rules-changes limiting defenses make it easier to pass nowadays -- and that is true. But I would also note that Marino set his record in 564 pass attempts, and Brees needed 622 throws to beat it. That's pretty significant. An extra 58 attempts is tantamount to an additional game or two. Bottom line: The record has changed hands, but Marino's 1984 remains a marvel.
LONG, MARSHALL MAKE PRO BOWL: Tackle Jake Long and receiverBrandon Marshall make the AFC pro Bowl team. Neither is a big surprise. Long will make it by rote, by habit, most years he is healthy. Marshall, with fairly strong numbers, benefitted from the fact no WR in the conference -- other than the Pats' Wes Welker -- stood out as an obvious choice. RB Reggie Bush had a case but came on too late. Miami's defense was good enough, especially against the run, for a selection, but no one man stood out.
ME, FANTASY: Mercifully, my fantasy season has ended. I won my final (consolation-round) playoff game, 143-130, but stunk overall with a 5-11 record despite having our league's individual scoring leader in Aaron Rodgers. Let's move on. Quickly.
ME, NFL PICKS: Went 9-7 straight-up last week (not good enough) on our Friday NFL predictions page, but went 10-6 (good enough) against the spread. Having a very solid year ATS, topping 55 percent. Details and fresh picks coming on this Friday's page.
Click back. Will be adding more stuff to this latest blogpost...
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