1) It is MONDAY, APRIL 7. WR Nate Burleson turns down Dolphins for Cleveland for the prospect of more playing time. Logical. 2) Click on Random Evidence for the latest Sunday notes-column package, leading with a week of heaven for basketball junkies. 3) In The Previous Blogpost (ITPB): Final Four, Marlins Big 2 poll, Kiper on Dolphins draft, thank you Zo/Letterman & more. 4) Follow on Twitter @gregcote.
HALL OF FAME: ZO GRACIOUS, AS ALWAYS: Alonzo Mourning spoke for the first time today about his pending Aug. 8 induction into the Basketball Hall of Fame, and said, "I stand here on the shoulders of so many people. I'm very, very grateful. Zo, now a Heat executive, especially thanked his family, his Georgetown coach John Thompson, Pat Riley, and his cousin Jason Cooper, who donated the kidney for Mourning's 2003 life-saving operation. Mourning will be remembered for overcoming kidney disease, for helping win the 2006 NBA championship, and for his post-career philanthropy that continues. The Hall of fame has only confirmed what Heat fans have long known about the man. "If my life ended today, " he said. "I've lived a storybook life. I think I've had a lot of angels n my life." Zo is the fourth Heat family member to be enshrined, after Riley, Bob McAdoo and Gary Payton.
WON 'N DONE! UCONN BEATS EVIL KENTUCKY!: UConn wins 60-54 tonight. No predictions from me. Not after I misfired on both of Saturday's semifinals. I had Florida and Wisconsin. Instead the two upsets made it 22 upsets (by seeding) in 62 NCAA Tournament games, or a Cinderell-O-Meter reading of 35.5 percent. However I most certainly did have a rooting interest, and it was UConn by default. I disdain what Kentucky and John Calipari stand for. "One and done" is a mockery of what college sports and the "student-athlete" should be about. You may disgree. Check back tomorrow for our pregame poll result.
HEAT DRAMA WEEK: WILD RIDE BEGINS WITH DEFEAT OF KNICKS: Miami beat the visiting Knicks 102-91 yesterday behind LeBron James' 38 points (still no Dwyane Wade) in a revival of a former bitter rivalry that still percolates pretty hot. Tuesday the Heat host the Brooklyn Nets, who are 3-0 against Miami this season. Wednesday Miami visits Memphis, which is fighting for its playoff life. Then Friday the Heat host the Pacers in what could be a winner-take-all for the Eastern Conference's No. 1 seed. I'd contend the Heat has never had a bigger, more dramatic regular-season week. Let's go!
UNFORTUNATELY, CANES JUST GOT INTERESTING: We've been joking how this spring has been "splendidly boring" for Al Golden's Miami Hurricanes, with no NCAA cloud and no controversies. Well, unfortunately, things got interesting fast with the injury to starting quarterback Ryan Williams. The fifth-year senior caught an awful break with a reported ACL tear injury in his right knee requiring surgery. No prognosis yet, but an extended recovery of four-plus months may be anticipated. That means redshirt freshman Kevin Olsen is the likely starter now, for the forseeable future, and likely tino the start of the upcoming season. A huge blow for the 2014 Canes, and you have to feel badly for Williams, who waited in line for this opportunity only to see it taken from him.
Poll result: Marlins should keep Jose over Giancarlo: We asked which of Marlins' Big 2 you'd prefer the club spend big to keep long-term, and it was 73.98 percent for Jose Fernandez, 26.02% for Giancarlo Stanton.
Click back. Will be updating/adding to this latest blogpost...
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