GREG COTE'S RANDOM EVIDENCE BLOG: MIAMI. SPORTS. AND BEYOND.
1) It is THURSDAY, DECEMBER 31. Happy New Year's Eve, all. Make it a safe one. Lots of amateur drinkers out tonight. 2) Panthers have won seven straight hockey games. ICYMI, click on Surging Cats for my recent column. 3) Brent Grimes' "apology" for his wife slamming Ryan Tannehill was pretty tepid. And still no apology from Miko. 4) In The Previous Blogpost (ITPB): Open letter to Miko Grimes, hot Panthers relevant again, NFL pix 'n Greg's Lobos Week 16 results & more. 5) Follow us on Twitter @gregcote. Also on Facebook, Instagram, Vineand Periscope.
Landry, Jones share Dolphins MVP award: Receiver/returner Jarvis Landry and strong safety Reshad Jones split Dolphins' MVP award announced today. Hate ties, but both are legit choices. That neither Ryan Tannehill nor Ndamukong Suh won says much about why Miami is 5-10 and looking for a new coach.
ORANGE BOWL/CFP SEMIFINAL: CLEMSON 37, OKLAHOMA 17 (Final): Clemson proved it had no business being the betting underdog in this College Football Playoff semifinal, winning all over the field in a 37-17 domination of favored Oklahoma. The Tigers won where it gets physical, rushing for 312 yards and limiting OU to 67. The Sooners averaged 52 points its previous seven games but was shut out in the second half Thursday. Clemson impressed more than Oklahoma disappointed on this New year's Eve. Click on Clemson Turns Disrespect Into Orange Storm for my column from the stadium on tonight's game. ..... Original post: To the sport, it's a College Football Playoff semifinal in the new era's second year. To Miami, it's the 82nd Orange Bowl, the continuation of a tradition conceived in the 1930s to draw attention and boost tourism. To the No. 1 Clemson Tigers and No. 4 Oklahoma Sooners, it's the win they need to reach the Jan. 11 championship game in Glandale, Ariz., vs. tonight's Alabama-Michigan State Cotton Bowl winner. Click on Miami Sets the Stage for my column previewing the game. Expect fireworks from two quarterbacks who combined for 65 touchdown passes this season. Clemson, though unbeaten and top-ranked, is a betting underdog; the buzz is that Oklahoma is right-now better. I don't buy it. My pick: Clemson 34-31.
YOU PICK THE 2015 NATIONAL SPORTS STORY OF THE YEAR: Welcome to our annual year-ending blog vote. The top 10 stories in our poll are not mine; they are from The Associated Press official annual ranking for the calendar year. I list them alphabetically, not in order, so as not to prejudice the jury. I want this to be your independent vote and not influenced by The AP's rank. I am purposely not including a synopsis of each story, figuring that if the ballot phrase alone is not sufficient, chances are the story mustn't have been that big or important to you. VOTE FOR YOUR TOP THREE and check back to monitor evolving results. And remember, this is a national list, so please consider your vote in that broad context. We'll ask your vote on the top 10 Greater Miami/South Florida sports stories of 2015 in the coming days. For now, let's go nationwide. Ready? Go!
Vote for the top three (3) biggest stories:
Revisit our blog a lot because we constantly update and add to our latest posts...
GREG COTE'S RANDOM EVIDENCE BLOG: MIAMI. SPORTS. AND BEYOND.
1) It is TUESDAY, DECEMBER 29. No radio today for me. We'll be back in-studio with the Dan LeBatard Show as usual next Tuesday. 2) Thanks to ESPN News for having me on last evening to discuss the Dolphins/Miko Grimes controversy. 3) In The Previous Blogpost (ITPB): Dolphins lose to Colts with DSM poll, Hot Button Top 10 & more. 4) Follow us on Twitter @gregcote. Also on Facebook, Instagram, Vineand Periscope.
AN OPEN LETTER TO THE DOLPHINS AND TO MIKO GRIMES: May I call you Miko? I'd like to call you some other things, as I'm sure the Dolphins organization would, but for the sake of decorum we'll stick with Miko. I wonder how it feels to be a wife who publicly embarrasses her prominent husband (cornerback Brent Grimes) and in doing so also embarrasses the employer who is paying said husband rather lavishly? Miko, you are the loose cannon in the Dolphins family. I'd liken you to the slightly deranged aunt who the rest of the family is afraid to invite to the reunion for fear of what she'll say or do. Your latest public affront was to slam quarterback Ryan Tannehill and also several local writers who cover the Dolphins fulltime. I would call what you did unprofessional, but that would suggest you are a professional or have a profession beyond shaming your husband and the Dolphins. Imagine, say, the wife of Goran Dragic going on Twitter to call Dwyane Wade a has-been. Or a Marlin's wife engaging in a social-media war and calling Jose Fernandez a punk. This is what you are doing in classlessly calling Tannehill a bum. If the Dolphins had an organizational spine, they would be repudiating what you have done, Miko, and in the strongest words possible. From owner Stephen Ross to personnel boss Mike Tannenbaum to interim coach Dan Campbell -- all should be blasting you for your outrageous impoliteness. So should Tannehill's teammates be standing up against you. And so should your husband be privately advising you to please cease and desist while publicly expressing his own apologies. Of course the one who should be apologizing is you, Miko, but we know that won't happen. That would require the class you have well-demonstrated that you lack.
BRING BACK THE RUBBER RATS! PANTHERS RETURN TO RELEVANCE: The Florida Panthers were also-rans on Thanskgiving and NHL darlings by Christmas, with six straight wins and 12 in the past 15 games entering tonight's big home skate against Montreal. It was enough to squeez a rare hockey column out of me; click on Surging Cats to read in full. My theme: the Panthers are seldom the biggest story in town in this crowded sports market, but right now they are the best story in town. The team has not been this good, relevant or interesting since the rubber rats-strewn run to the 1996 Stanley Cup Finals. The reason has been a deftly mixed roster of rising young stars and veterans, the latter group led by goalie Roberto Luongo and ageless almost-44-year-old Jaromir Jagr (pictured), with whom I spoke for the column.
NFL PIX 'N GREG'S LOBOS FANTASY: WEEK 16 RESULTS:We update you briefly every Tuesday on how we did the previous NFL weekend with our published predictions and with our two Greg's Lobos fantasy teams: Pix: Not good enough: We went an OK 10-6 overall but only 7-8-1 against the spread -- even though we bull's-eyed our Upset of the Week with Jets over Patriots ("Aawwk!") and had three other 'dogs-with-points in the Falcons, Ravens and Rams. Greg's Lobos / family league: Win in final consolation game: The original Lobos won 108-77 behind Drew Brees' 30 points in the consolation bracket to finish 7-9 including the postseason. Congrats to league champion Dolphins AllICanSayIsWow (my nephew Joe) on a 132-122 title game triumph over Crown Me the Champ (my son Christopher). Greg's Lobos / radio-show league: Season finished last week: Congrats again to Mike's Lobos for defeating Charlie's Lobos 279-255 for the inaugural Lobos Fantasy League championship. We are all Lobos! Literally.
Revisit our blog a lot because we constantly update and add to our latest posts...
GREG COTE'S RANDOM EVIDENCE BLOG: MIAMI. SPORTS. AND BEYOND.
1) It is MONDAY, DECEMBER 28. Hope y'all had a wonderful long Christmas weekend filled with even more love than presents! 2) Click on Week 16 Gems for our latest Dolphins/NFL picks. 3) In The Previous Blogpost (ITPB): Hurricanes fall in Sun Bowl with CSM poll, team-inspiring-most-optimism verdict & more. 4) ICYMI, click on The Miami 25 for my ranking of the 25 biggest current names in South Florida sports. 5) Follow us on Twitter @gregcote. Also on Facebook, Instagram, Vineand Periscope.
ESPN SportsCenter on Dolphins' Miko Grimes matter: SportsCenter will report tonight at 7:40 on Brent Grimes' wife criticizing Ryan Tannehill. I'll be a guest by phone.
Canesfan Satisfaction Meter final results: See previous blogpost for our season-final CSM postgame poll results.
Live blog, postgame thoughts: Find our live in-game blog and postgame thoughts on today's Dolphins loss directly below the new DSM poll.
DOLFAN SATISFACTION METER: G15: 6.0%: Results are certified in the latest Dolfan Satisfaction Meter postgame poll, and they show 6.0 percent overall approval -- the combination of "very" and "somewhat" satisfied votes -- in the wake of Sunday's 18-12 home loss to Indianapolis putting Miami's season record at 5-10. The DSM, in its eighth year, is a continuous weekly gauge of how fans are feeling about the Dolphins and their direction. Right after each game I invite you to share your overall degree of satisfaction. Criteria for voting is your own, but I suggest fans consider the most recent game's performance and caliber of opponent, season as a whole, direction the club is heading and your overall degree of optimism -- all in the context of reasonable expectations. Results are certified official the day after one full day of voting. In this case that was around 8:30 a.m. today/Tuesday.
2015 DSM Results
Game 1: 31.0% (following 17-10 victory at Washington)
Game 2: 1.7% (following 23-20 loss at Jacksonville)
Game 3: 18.0% (following 41-14 loss vs. Buffalo)
Game 4: 2.7% (following 27-14 loss vs. N.Y Jets in London)
Game 5: 92.0% (following 38-10 victory at Tennessee)
Game 6: 96.1% (following 44-26 victory vs. Houston)
Game 7: 32.4% (following 36-7 loss at New England)
Game 8: 4.8% (following 33-17 loss at Buffalo)
Game 9: 44.6% (following 20-19 victory at Philadelphia)
Game 10: 3.8% (following 24-14 loss vs. Dallas)
Game 11: 3.7% (following 38-20 loss at N.Y. Jets)
Game 12: 17.3% (following 15-13 victory vs. Baltimore)
Game 13: 6.2% (following 31-24 loss to N.Y. Giants)
Game 14: 5.4% (following 30-14 loss at San Diego)
Game 15: 6.0% (following 18-12 loss vs. Indianapolis)
Next/final poll: Jan. 3 (season-ending poll following game vs. New England)
G15: INDIANAPOLIS @ DOLPHINS: AS ANOTHER NFL CALENDAR YEAR FIZZLES TO AN END IN MIAMI:Final thoughts: So many chances to win, but this is what bad teams do. So Miami falls to 5-10 with today's 18-12 home loss. Tannehill with a hollow 329 yards -- hollow because his job is to put up points, not stats. The day's saving grace for Fins fans? Carolina lost to Atlanta, ruining he Panthers' perfect season. So at least the '72 Dolphins won. Again. ..... Fourth Q: Done: Tannehill sacked on 4th-and-goal from Indy 5 in closing seconds. ..... Defensive penalties really hurting the Fins today. ... Miami within 18-12 but settled for a 20-yard FG on a 4th-and-goal from Indy 2. Might-shoulda gone for it there. ... Ouch. Miami now down 18-9 -- two scores -- after a 38-yard Indy FG mid-quarter. Can Tannehill lead a big comeback? ..... Third Q: MIA within 15-9 on 33-yard FG after Tannehill TD pass to Jordan Cameron negated by pass interference call against Jarvis Landry.Awful call. Officials blew it. .....Tannehill leaves field limping but stays in game. No Matt Moore. ..... Halftime: Miami has only 151 net yards of offense in trailing 15-6 at the half. And the ex's are killing Miami. Ex-Canes Frank Gore, Philip Dorsett and Andre Johnson and ex-FIU'er T.Y. Hilton have 157 combined yards, and ex-Fins Vontae Davis (interception) and Kendall Langford (sack) also are hurting the Dolphins thus far. ..... att Second Q: Matt Hasselback knocked from game with shoulder boo-boo; 3rd-stringer Charlie Whitehurst in for Indy. No matter. Gore 11-yard scoring run, his second TD. Ex-Cane is really hurting Miami and Colts now up 15-6 ... MIA within 8-6 on Lamar Miller 1-yard TD run followed by missed 2-point conversion pass. Standard call would have been extra-point kick there. Surprised they went for two so early in game. ... On the bright side. Fins far from out of it. Eight points (should be) a small hole against a bad Colts squad. ..... First Q: Good God, man! Tannehill picked off in end zone. Miami wastes 49-yard completion to DeVante Parker. I said before the 3rd-and-goal pass, "Watch them settle for a field goal." Gave 'em too much credit. ... Colts 8-0 now on Frank Gore 37-yard TD run through at least three missed tackles. Missed extra point. Bad, bad defense. ... Brent Grimes INT negated by his own penalty. ... World-safeties leader Miami is hit with another one. Colts, 2-0. You must be bleepin' kidding me. ... What the Dolphins have to play for? Avoiding a 10-loss season. Yes, It has come down to this. .....Pregame: Center Mike Pouncey the notable Dolphin inactive today. ..... Note: be live-blogging here during today's Dolphins-Colts game, with a running commentary including halftime and postgame thoughts prior to the appearance of the new DSM poll. ..... Original post: For the seventh season in a row a calendar year ebbs with another Dolphins season petering out playoff-less. Sad. Wouldn’t it be nice if the Dolphins gave their fans the Christmas gift of a playoff team once in a damned while? Instead it’s coal in the Dolfan stocking as a 5-9 Miami team hosts the Andrew Luck-less 6-8 Colts in the season's next-to-last game. Unlike Miami, Indy still is alive for a playoff spot, though ever so faintly. Despite that Miami is a narrow 2 1/2-point favorite today. I continue to believe that the Dolphins are closer to mediocre than to awful. Sad to say, I guess that makes me an optimist. (Maybe even a homer?) It is the Colts who have been closer to awful lately, with Matt Hasselbeck looking his age (40) in three straight losses. Now creaky Hasselbeck is forced to pitch again Sunday here because Luck, though close, isn’t fully healthy yet. Sidelight: FIU’s T.Y. Hilton returns to Miami for the first time as a pro. He’s been griping about Indy’s play-calling, but it is the Nags’ defense that’s been putrid lately. Ryan Tannehill could roll a 300 against this pass defense and Lamar Miller should find friendly running lanes, too. Indy's playoff prayer is that it must win out and hope Houston loses twice to sneak in. Won’t happen. Fins will see to that today. My pick: Dolphins, 27-17.
HOT BUTTON TOP 10 (DEC. 27): WHAT SOUTH FLORIDA SPORTS FANS ARE TALKING ABOUT: Our blog-exclusive Sunday feature is part week-in-review, part look-ahead. Hot Button means what's on our minds, locally and nationally, from a Miami perspective, as the sports week just past pivots to the week ahead. This week's HB10:
1. COLLEGE FOOTBALL: Four days until CFP semifinal in Miami: No. 1 Clemson and No. 4 Oklahoma arrived in town for their New Year’s Eve faceoff in a College Football Playoff semifinal in the Orange Bowl game at Dolphins stadium. Only thing keeping it from being the perfect matchup is that Miami fans don’t get a chance to boo Nick Saban.
2. HURRICANES: UM fails to end postseason drought in Sun Bowl: The Canes lost 20-14 against Washington State on Saturday in El Paso, losing a sixth consecutive bowl. UM’s last postseason win had been after the 2006 season. Counting interim guys, that was six coaches ago.
3. PANTHERS: Red-hot Cats try to extend win streak on Sunday: The Panthers have won five games in a row and 11 of their past 14 to surge within two points of second place in the NHL’s East playoff race entering Sunday’s game against Columbus. If the Cats were any hotter, the ice would be melting under their skates.
4. HEAT: Team stands precariously at season’s one-third mark: Entering Sunday's games, Miami is only a half-game from second place in the NBA East but also only two games from being off playoff pace. Remember phone booths? Picture 10 people crammed into one. That’s the Eastern Conference standings.
5. DOLPHINS: Miami falls to Colts Sunday in next-to-last game: You are a true Dolfan if you showed up Sunday to watch a now 5-10 Miami team host the Andrew Luck-less Colts and lose 18-12. For a seventh consecutive season, the Dolphins, in lieu of the gift of a playoff season, have rewarded their fans with a metaphorical lump of coal.
6. NBA: Steph tops LeBron in marquee Christmas matchup: Golden State topped Cleveland 89-83 in a Christmas rematch of the NBA Finals. What we learned: It's still Steph Curry's league, LeBron James.
7. NFL: Pro Bowl awards bring usual outcry: Center Mike Pouncey was the lone Dolphin chosen. Bengals QB Andy Dalton and Fins safety Reshad Jones were among notable surprise snubs as the NFL named its annual all-stars. The Pro Bowl. The honor every player wants, even though it's the game nobody wants to play in, or watch.
8. UM BASKETBALL: Canes men and women, both ranked, back in action: No. 13 men (10-1) host Princeton Tuesday, the No. 23 women (12-1) host North Carolina State Wednesday. Great season so far for Jim Larranaga and Katie Meier.
9. SOCCER: Blatter, Platini suspended eight years: Disgraced FIFA president Sepp Blatter and European chief Michel Platini received eight-year bans each for their roles in the sport's bribery scandal. Presumably the attempted bribes of the people suspending them did not work.
10. YEAR-END AWARDS: The AP anoints Curry, Williams: The Associated Press named NBA star Steph Curry and tennis star Serena Williams its make and female athletes of the year. "What's a horse gotta do to get a trophy," said Triple Crown winner American Pharoah.
Missing the cut: A drone carrying a TV camera nearly crashed into a World Cup skiier. Some sentences are so ridiculous they require no punchline ... Peyton Manning denies report he used human growth hormone. It'd be a bigger story, but the report is by Al Jazeera, a Qatar-based network ... Farewell, Frank Beamer ... Carolina Panthers go for 15-0 today in Atlanta ... Junior Orange Bowl tennis ended. By habit, disgruntled parents continued screaming over line calls ... Western Kentucky beat South Florida in Miami Beach Bowl. Marlins Park was half empty. As usual.
Revisit our blog a lot because we constantly update and add to our latest posts...
GREG COTE'S RANDOM EVIDENCE BLOG: MIAMI. SPORTS. AND BEYOND.
1) It is SATURDAY, DECEMBER 26. Hope y'all had a wonderful Christmas filled with even more love than presents! 2) Click on Week 16 Gems for this weekend's Dolphins and other NFL picks. 3) In The Previous Blogpost (ITPB): Team-inspiring-most-optimism poll, Heat win on Christmas, NFL Week 16 picks, NFL Week Pix 'n Greg's Lobos results & more. 4) ICYMI, click on The Miami 25 for my ranking of the 25 biggest current names in South Florida sports. 5) Follow us on Twitter @gregcote. Also on Facebook, Instagram, Vineand Periscope.
Our UM bowl-loss postgame thoughts: Find them below, right after the latest CSM postgame poll.
CANESFAN SATISFACTION METER: G13/BOWL/FINAL:Results are certified in the post-bowl, 2015 season-finale Canesfan Satisfaction Meter postgame poll, and they show 20.1 percent overall approval -- the combination of "very" and "somewhat" satisfied" votes -- in the wake of Saturday's 20-14 loss to Washington State in the Sun Bowl putting UM's final season record at 8-5. The CSM, in its seventh season, is your invitation after every Hurricanes game to vote on your overall satisfaction with the team and season in a continuing weekly gauge of how UM football fans are feeling. Criteria for voting is your own, but I suggest you consider the most recent game's performance and caliber of opponent, the season as a whole, the program's direction and your overall degree of optimism -- all in the context of reasonable expectations. Because this is the final poll, we suggest you place emphasis on the season as a whole. Results are certified official the morning after one full day of voting. In this case that was around 9 a.m. today/Monday.
2015 CSM Results
Game 1: 62.3% (following 45-0 victory vs. Bethune-Cookman)
Game 2: 34.2% (following 44-20 victory at Florida Atlantic)
Game 3: 35.9% (following 36-33 OT victory vs. Nebraska)
Game 4: 4.6% (following 34-23 loss at Cincinnati)
Game 5: 59.6% (following 29-24 loss at Florida State)
Game 6: 89.1% (following 30-20 victory vs. Virginia Tech)
Game 7: 54.3% (following 58-0 loss vs. Clemson)
Game 8: 82.7% (following 30-27 victory at Duke)
Game 9: 91.8% (following 27-21 victory vs. Virginia)
Game 10: 49.5% (following 59-21 loss at North Carolina)
Game 11: 63.4% (following 38-21 victory vs. Georgia Tech)
Game 12: 76.7% (following 29-24 victory at Pitt)
Game 13/Final: 20.1% (following 20-14 Sun Bowl loss to Washington State)
SUN BOWL: WASHINGTON STATE 20, HURRICANES 14:Postgame thoughts:A disappointing bowl result for Miami, considering the Canes were mere 2 1/2-point underdogs and felt confident they could end the school's bowl victory drought. Instead Miami falls to a sixth consecutive bowl loss today dating to UM's last postseason win in 2006, beaten by Washington State 20-14 in an unexpectedly low-scoring Sun Bowl. The game was played in dreary, rainy, chilly and then snowy conditions in El Paso, Tex. -- weather that certainly did not help UM's cause. The Canes tied it 7-7 in first quarter on Brad Kaaya's 4-yard scoring pass to Stacy Coley, but did not score again until the fourth quarter on Mark Walton's 5-yard run. The loss mostly was disappointing because it so easily could have/should have been a 21-20 comeback victory. UM had a tying/go-ahead late TD negated by a penalty. Miami then got the ball back for another chance inside Cougars territory but Joe Yearby threw an interception on a trick play. (Brave-daring call if it works, dumb-daring if it doesn't). Miami finishes the season 8-5, including 4-2 under interim coach Larry Scott after Al Golden's firing. New coach Mark Richt now formally takes the reins moving forward. ..... Original post: New Canes coach Mark Richt will be watching from afar, evaluating, as Miami attempts to finish only its third nine-win season since 2005. I like that Richt has deferred control today to interim coach Larry Scott. Classy. But I digress. The Hurricanes and Washington State Cougars both are 8-4 entering today's 2 p.m. Sun Bowl in El Paso, Tex. near the Mexico border, and both are looking to end long bowl droughts. Miami has lost five straight bowls since last winning one in 2006. Washington State last won a bowl game in 2003. The Cougars are slight (2 1/2 point) favorites and one reason might be that Pac-12 coach of the year Mike Leach vs. Scott seems a mismatch. Leach is someone Miami has liked and pursued for previous openings. UM is 4-1 under Scott since Al Golden's firing, though. The Canes like Scott and play for hard for him. The bigger reason the Cougars are favored is named Luke Falk. He is W-State's quarterback and he's been pretty much unstoppable, with 418 completions in 591 attempts for 4,266 yards, 36 TDs and only eight interceptions. UM's secondary better be rested and ready for what could be a shootout. Miami's strategy should be to pound the ball on the ground with Joe Yearby. This will take advantage of a W-State run defense allowing 200 yards per game, and also will serve to keep Falk off the field. This may very well be a home-pick by me, but I have a feeling the Canes will be very motivated to send Scott off a winner. I also think UM's pass defense is pretty good and will intercept Falk at least once. My pick: Hurricanes, 34-31.
Poll result: UM football, Heat, Panthers inspiring most optimism: We asked which of South Florida's Big 5 teams is inspiring the most confidence and closest to being really good, and Hurricanes football won with 44.6 percent. The Heat (32.0%) and Florida Panthers (19.4%) also had strong support. Trailing badly: Dolphins (2.1%) and Marlins (1.9%).
Revisit our blog a lot because we constantly update and add to our latest posts...
GREG COTE'S RANDOM EVIDENCE BLOG: MIAMI. SPORTS. AND BEYOND.
1) It is FRIDAY, DECEMBER 25. MERRY CHRISTMAS! 2) Click on Week 16 Gems Thursday Gem for tonight's Chargers-Raiders pick. 3) In The Previous Blogpost (ITPB): Dolphins lose in San Diego with DSM poll, Hot Button Top 10, your 2016 Cooperstown ballot & more. 4) ICYMI, click on The Miami 25 for my ranking of the 25 biggest current names in South Florida sports. 5) Follow us on Twitter @gregcote. Also on Facebook, Instagram, Vineand Periscope.
Heat win holiday game: Heat today beat New Orleans 94-88 in OT at the bayside arena behind Chris Bosh's 30 points and Hassan Whiteside's 17 rebounds and four blocks.
WHICH OF OUR BIGGEST SPORTS TEAMS IS CLOSEST TO BEING REALLY GOOD?: Who is inspiring the most optimism right now among Greater Miami's Big 5 teams: Dolphins, Heat, Marlins, Florida Panthers or Canes football? The timing is right to ask as 2015 segues to '16. Also, the Dolphins, Heat and Panthers are in-season, UM plays its bowl game on Saturday, and Marlins spring training will be here before you know it. Whose team's fans should be feeling the best, today, and about the near-term future. Take a dip in our poll, vote for your top two, and say why you voted as you did.
Vote for the top two:
MIKE POUNCEY IN, BUT MOST-DESERVING-DOLPHIN RESHAD JONES SCREWED OUT OF PRO BOWL: Conference-less Pro Bowl "captains" and selectors Jerry Rice and Michael Irvin have some 'splainin' to do. Only center Mike Pouncey made the Pro Bowl foer the Dolphins in the announcement show tonight on NFL Network. He's marginally deserving. But strong safety Reshad Jones (pictured) is -- clearly -- the only Dolphin who should have been automatic. He got screwed. Point-blank. Defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh and receiver/returner Jarvis Landry had a case. But Jones ... man. More than a hundred tackles, five interceptions (two returned for TDs), a couple of sacks. So much has gone wrong this Dolphins season. Jones has gone right. He should be Hawaii-bound. He could still make it as an alternate for somebody who is injured or fakes an injury to miss the game, but it won't be the same. Jones got passed over. And it feels wrong. It also feels like a guilt-by-association thing. Miami is lousy at 5-9; hence, one Pro Bowl pick. Carolina is unbeaten and has an astronomical 10 picks. Pro Bowl selections do not always fairly represent a team's talent level or popularity. Often they are a reflection of the team's season. Jones is a victim of that.
UPSET BIRD DAY: DOLPHINS/NFL WEEK 16 PICKS:Split start to our week Thursday night as we the Raiders won but failed to cover. Click on Week 16 Gems for all of our remaining latest picks and full prediction capsules. Highlights: Dolphins defeat visiting Saints; Arizona holds off Green Bay in Game of the Week; and Jets upend Patriots in our Upset of the Week ("Aawwk!"). Also, click on Dolphins in the Misery Index for our latest weekly Friday Page NFL notes column. It leads with our updated Fan Misery Index, quantifying -- and justifying -- why Dolfans probably feel so disappointed this holiday season.
NFL PIX 'N GREG'S LOBOS FANTASY: WEEK 15 RESULTS:We update you briefly every Tuesday on how we did the previous NFL weekend with our published predictions and with our two Greg's Lobos fantasy teams: Pix: Good. Solid: We niftied a 12-4 mark overall and a solid 9-6-1 against the spread, with Houston-Indy off the board when we played it. Called Redskins' outright (mini) upset over Buffalo, and rightly had Giants-with-points over Carolina in our Upset of the Week ("Aawwk!"). Greg's Lobos / family league: Loss in consolation bracket. Ugh: The original Lobos lost 127-109 in our playoff's consolation round despite 27 points from Drew Brees. We're now 6-9 on the year including postseason. Greg's Lobos / radio-show league: Congrats to champion Mike's Lobos!: The LeBatard Show's Greg's Lobos walloped Dan 221-102 in our two-round consolation playoffs, but the big news was Mike's Lobos whipping Charlie's Lobos 279-255 for the inaugural Lobos Fantasy League championship. We are all Lobos! Literally. Bowl grand finale.
Revisit our blog a lot because we constantly update and add to our latest posts...
GREG COTE'S RANDOM EVIDENCE BLOG: MIAMI. SPORTS. AND BEYOND.
1) It is TUESDAY, DECEMBER 22. Click on Week 15 Gems for all of our NFL Week 15 picks. 2) In The Previous Blogpost (ITPB): Your 2016 baseball Hall of Fame ballot and vote, Dolphins/NFL Week 15 picks, Pete Rose verdict & more. 3) Follow us on Twitter @gregcote. Also on Facebook, Instagram, Vineand Periscope.
It's Radio Tuesday!: I'm back in-studio with the Dan LeBatard Show With Stugotz today, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on The Ticket Miami (790) and 10-1 nationally on ESPN Radio, simulcasting on ESPNU and Fusion TV. I'll have a new blogpost here post-show, by mid- to late-afternoon.
"Would I trade Ryan Tannehill for Drew Brees, who is about to turn 37 and is five years past his prime? If drunk, perhaps." --Greg Cote
Miami's Top 25 Sports Figures: I rank the biggest-name Dolphins, Heat, Marlins, Panthers and Hurricanes, an impossible task, but somebody had to do it. Click on The Miami 25 to read the column and see the list.
Our Dolphins-Chargers postgame thoughts: Find them below, just after the new Dolfan Satisfaction Meter postgame poll.
DOLFAN SATISFACTION METER: G14:Results are certified in thelatest Dolfan Satisfaction Meter postgame poll, and they show 5.4 percent overall satisfaction -- the combination of "very" and "somewhat" satisfied votes -- in the wake of Sunday's 30-14 loss at San Diego putting Miami's season record at 5-9. The DSM, in its eighth year, is a continuous weekly gauge of how fans are feeling about the Dolphins and their direction. Right after each game I invite you to share your overall degree of satisfaction. Criteria for voting is your own, but I suggest fans consider the most recent game's performance and caliber of opponent, season as a whole, direction the club is heading and your overall degree of optimism -- all in the context of reasonable expectations. Results are certified official the day after one full day of voting. In this case that was around 6:30 a.m. today/Tuesday.
2015 DSM Results
Game 1: 31.0% (following 17-10 victory at Washington)
Game 2: 1.7% (following 23-20 loss at Jacksonville)
Game 3: 18.0% (following 41-14 loss vs. Buffalo)
Game 4: 2.7% (following 27-14 loss vs. N.Y Jets in London)
Game 5: 92.0% (following 38-10 victory at Tennessee)
Game 6: 96.1% (following 44-26 victory vs. Houston)
Game 7: 32.4% (following 36-7 loss at New England)
Game 8: 4.8% (following 33-17 loss at Buffalo)
Game 9: 44.6% (following 20-19 victory at Philadelphia)
Game 10: 3.8% (following 24-14 loss vs. Dallas)
Game 11: 3.7% (following 38-20 loss at N.Y. Jets)
Game 12: 17.3% (following 15-13 victory vs. Baltimore)
Game 13: 6.2% (following 31-24 loss to N.Y. Giants)
Game 14: 5.4% (following 30-14 loss at San Diego)
Next poll: Dec. 27 (following game vs. Indianapolis)
G14: SAN DIEGO 30, DOLPHINS 14: PLAYING OUT THE STRING:Postgame thoughts:Man, the Dolphins just suck. I hate to say it. San Diego had lost five straight home games. Before today. Hadn't scored a rushing TD since Week 1. Until today. Had gone 11 straight games without rushing for 100 yards. Until today. Miami has turned into the remedy for other teams -- the opponent you want to play. Very little offense today and not nearly enough defense. Same old story. And this was a bad opponent, remember. Wasted season. ..... Halftime: Embarrassment! Low keeps getting lower for Miami's season. ryan Tannehill only 74 yards passing at the half. Run game with 13 yards on 10 carries. Meanwhile the pass-D has been scorched for 203 yards by Philip Rivers. Unless you believe in miracles, and I doubt you do by now, Miami is headed for 5-9. ..... Pregame: I'll be updating the score live and be back with halftime and postgame thoughts prior to the DSM. ..... Original post: God, this is what the Dolphins have become. A 5-8 Fins team playing at a 3-10 Chargers team in the only NFL Week 15 game in which both teams are mathematically, scientifically and theologically eliminated from playoff contention. The only scintilla of drama we’ll find Sunday at 4:25 p.m. in San Diego is that the final road game of the year for Miami could be the last home game ever for Chargers fans, with the franchise plotting a move to new digs in Carson, Calif., south of L.A. That should add an element of emotion that could bolster the Bolts, while, oppositely, flying cross-country on a short week (after playing Monday night) figures as a detriment for the Fins. Yes, certain trends favor the visitors here. Miami has won nine of past 11 in occasional series, including 37-0 last season, and Diego has dropped five home games in a row. Also, Chargers have been held to three points in each of their past three losses. I have a hunch, though, that Philip Rivers’ offense will find its remedy in a Dolphins defense that has allowed 36, 33 and 38 points in three of its past four road games. If this is farewell, San Diego, Chargers will go out a winner, at least. My pick: San Diego, 24-20.
HOT BUTTON TOP 10 (DEC. 20): WHAT SOUTH FLORIDA SPORTS FANS ARE TALKING ABOUT: Our blog-exclusive Sunday feature is part week-in-review, part look-ahead. Hot Button means what's on our minds, locally and nationally, from a Miami perspective, as the sports week just past pivots to the week ahead. This week's HB10:
1. COLLEGE BASKETBALL: Welcome to Miami: Basketball Town USA: Remember when this was a football town? Might be again someday. Isn't at the moment. Saturday alone, the No. 15-ranked Hurricanes men improved to 9-1, the No. 23 UM women narrowly were beaten by No. 4 Baylor 88-81 for their first loss, and Florida and FSU were winners here in the four-team Orange Bowl Classic. Hoop City!
2. HEAT: Riley denies team is shopping Whiteside: As the Heat hosts Portland on Sunday, speculation the team might trade young center Hassan Whiteside is "B.S.," said club president Pat Riley. Which may or may not be execu-speak for, "We haven’t heard a good enough offer yet."
3. COLLEGE FOOTBALL: Six days to UM bowl game as postseason parade begins: Saturday saw the first six of 42 bowl games, with the Miami Beach Bowl coming up Tuesday and the Hurricanes set to face Washington State this coming Saturday (though without new coach Mark Richt) in the Sun Bowl in El Paso, Tex. That’s so close to the border you can see Mexico. Well, unless Donald Trump’s wall is already up.
4. PANTHERS: Red-hot Cats open homestand: Florida has skated to three wins in a row and nine in past 12 games and now begins a six-game homestand Sunday vs. Vancouver. Yet despite all the recent winning the Panthers are on the far edge of playoff contention, eighth in the East. Man, you tough with those postseason tickets, Lord Stanley!
5. DOLPHINS: Fins in San Diego as another disappointing season ebbs: Miami visits the Chargers on Sunday, playing out the string after Monday’s loss to the Giants eliminated Fins from playoffs for a seventh season in a row. "Grandpa, tell me again what it was like when the Dolphins were good!"
6. PETE ROSE: Purgatory continues as bid for reinstatement is denied: Banned from baseball since 1989 for gambling, all-time hits leader Pete Rose remains ostracized with this week’s ruling. Of course, the Hall of Fame independently could still put Rose on its ballot, but that’d make too much sense.
7. NBA: Cavs, Warriors on Christmas Day: It's the gift NBA fans will all unwrap together. There are five NBA games on Christmas but one of interest: Cleveland at Golden State, LeBron James at Steph Curry in a likely Finals preview. Hopefully LeBron isn't too "tired" to play.
8. MARLINS: Miami conspicuously absent from MLB's Cuba goodwill trip: MLB made its first trip to the island since 1999 with a goodwill tour including clinics, and participants included former Cuban defectors such as Yasiel Puig. Notably, the team closest to Cuba did not participate. See, it isn't true. The Marlins do occasionally do something smart!
9. SERENA WILLIAMS: Tennis star named SI's Sportsperson of the Year: Easy to defend Sports Illustrated's choice of Serena, who dominated women's tennis, although golfer Jordan Spieth had an argument. Also, I wonder if SI forgot that American Pharoah ended horse racing's 37-year Triple Crown drought?
10. STAR WARS: The Force Awakens sets box-office records: The new Star Wars film raked in some $250 million in its opening few days. More people have already seen the film than will attend every NFL game on Sunday. It's good for sports to be humbled every once in a while, right?
Missing the cut: Carolina Panthers go for 14-0 today. Champagne ready, '72 Fins? ... Suspended Florida QB Will Grier is transferring. Later, Gator ... Wonder how the NHL likes that its leading scorer, Patrick Kane, was investigated for sexual assault? ... NBA referee Bill Kennedy comes out as gay after a gay slur from Rajon Rondo ... Four major amateur golf tournaments are underway in South Florida ... Duran Duran will perform at the tennis Miami Open on Key Biscayne. Which would be exciting if this were, like, the 1985 Miami Open ... President Obama congratulated retiring soccer star Abby Wambach on a great career. Republicans demanded equal time, argued it wasn't so great ... Ray Rice still wants to play. Sure, because there's a lot of demand for aging running backs who both punched their girlfriend and averaged 3.1 per carry ... LeBron James collided courtside with the wife of golfer Jason Day and was assessed a two-stroke penalty.
Poll result: Griffey Jr. leads your 2016 Hall of Fame inductees: We asked who you'd vote into Cooperstown from among 12 top contenders on the latest ballot, and your top five were Ken Griffey Jr. with 18.6 percent, Mike Piazza 11.9%, Roger Clemens 10.8%, Barry Bonds 10.2% and Curt Schilling 9.2%. Based on the mentions per ballots cast, only Griffey's support translated to the 75 percent mininum required by the Hall of Fame.
Revisit our blog a lot because we constantly update and add to our latest posts...
GREG COTE'S RANDOM EVIDENCE BLOG: MIAMI. SPORTS. AND BEYOND.
1) It is SUNDAY, DECEMBER 27. Hope y'all are having a wonderful long Christmas weekend filled with even more love than presents! 2) Click on Week 16 Gems for today's Dolphins and other NFL picks. 3) In The Previous Blogpost (ITPB): Hurricanes fall in Sun Bowl with CSM poll, team-inspiring-most-optimism verdict & more. 4) ICYMI, click on The Miami 25 for my ranking of the 25 biggest current names in South Florida sports. 5) Follow us on Twitter @gregcote. Also on Facebook, Instagram, Vineand Periscope.
Voting continues in season-ending Canesfan poll: Find the latest and season-final Canesfan Satisfaction Meter poll in the blogpost directly below this new one. Vote and be heard!
Watch for latest Dolfan poll later today: The new Dolfan Satisfaction Meter postgame poll will appear right here soon after today's game ends. Estimated posttime: 5 p.m.
G15: INDIANAPOLIS @ DOLPHINS: AS ANOTHER NFL CALENDAR YEAR FIZZLES TO AN END IN MIAMI:Halftime: Miami has only 151 net yards of offense in trailing 15-6 at the half. And the ex's are killing Miami. Ex-Canes Frank Gore, Philip Dorsett and Andre Johnson and ex-FIU'er T.Y. Hilton have 157 combined yards, and ex-Fins Vontae Davis (interception) and Kendall Langford (sack) also are hurting the Dolphins thus far. ..... Second Q: Matt Hasselback knocked from game with shoulder boo-boo; 3rd-stringer Charlie Whitehurst in for Indy. No matter. Gore 11-yard scoring run, his second TD. Ex-Cane is really hurting Miami and Colts now up 15-6 ... MIA within 8-6 on Lamar Miller 1-yard TD run followed by missed 2-point conversion pass. Standard call would have been extra-point kick there. Surprised they went for two so early in game. ... On the bright side. Fins far from out of it. Eight points (should be) a small hole against a bad Colts squad. ..... First Q: Good God, man! Tannehill picked off in end zone. Miami wastes 49-yard completion to DeVante Parker. I said before the 3rd-and-goal pass, "Watch them settle for a field goal." Gave 'em too much credit. ... Colts 8-0 now on Frank Gore 37-yard TD run through at least three missed tackles. Missed extra point. Bad, bad defense. ... Brent Grimes INT negated by his own penalty. ... World-safeties leader Miami is hit with another one. Colts, 2-0. You must be bleepin' kidding me. ... What the Dolphins have to play for? Avoiding a 10-loss season. Yes, It has come down to this. ..... Pregame: Center Mike Pouncey the notable Dolphin inactive today. ..... Note: be live-blogging here during today's Dolphins-Colts game, with a running commentary including halftime and postgame thoughts prior to the appearance of the new DSM poll. ..... Original post: For the seventh season in a row a calendar year ebbs with another Dolphins season petering out playoff-less. Sad. Wouldn’t it be nice if the Dolphins gave their fans the Christmas gift of a playoff team once in a damned while? Instead it’s coal in the Dolfan stocking as a 5-9 Miami team hosts the Andrew Luck-less 6-8 Colts in the season's next-to-last game. Unlike Miami, Indy still is alive for a playoff spot, though ever so faintly. Despite that Miami is a narrow 2 1/2-point favorite today. I continue to believe that the Dolphins are closer to mediocre than to awful. Sad to say, I guess that makes me an optimist. (Maybe even a homer?) It is the Colts who have been closer to awful lately, with Matt Hasselbeck looking his age (40) in three straight losses. Now creaky Hasselbeck is forced to pitch again Sunday here because Luck, though close, isn’t fully healthy yet. Sidelight: FIU’s T.Y. Hilton returns to Miami for the first time as a pro. He’s been griping about Indy’s play-calling, but it is the Nags’ defense that’s been putrid lately. Ryan Tannehill could roll a 300 against this pass defense and Lamar Miller should find friendly running lanes, too. Indy's playoff prayer is that it must win out and hope Houston loses twice to sneak in. Won’t happen. Fins will see to that today. My pick: Dolphins, 27-17.
HOT BUTTON TOP 10 (DEC. 27): WHAT SOUTH FLORIDA SPORTS FANS ARE TALKING ABOUT: Our blog-exclusive Sunday feature is part week-in-review, part look-ahead. Hot Button means what's on our minds, locally and nationally, from a Miami perspective, as the sports week just past pivots to the week ahead. This week's HB10:
1. COLLEGE FOOTBALL: Four days until CFP semifinal in Miami: No. 1 Clemson and No. 4 Oklahoma arrived in town for their New Year’s Eve faceoff in a College Football Playoff semifinal in the Orange Bowl game at Dolphins stadium. Only thing keeping it from being the perfect matchup is that Miami fans don’t get a chance to boo Nick Saban.
2. HURRICANES: UM fails to end postseason drought in Sun Bowl: The Canes lost 20-14 against Washington State on Saturday in El Paso, losing a sixth consecutive bowl. UM’s last postseason win had been after the 2006 season. Counting interim guys, that was six coaches ago.
3. PANTHERS: Red-hot Cats try to extend win streak on Sunday: The Panthers have won five games in a row and 11 of their past 14 to surge within two points of second place in the NHL’s East playoff race entering Sunday’s game against Columbus. If the Cats were any hotter, the ice would be melting under their skates.
4. HEAT: Team stands precariously at season’s one-third mark: Entering Sunday's games, Miami is only a half-game from second place in the NBA East but also only two games from being off playoff pace. Remember phone booths? Picture 10 people crammed into one. That’s the Eastern Conference standings.
5. DOLPHINS: Miami hosts Colts on Sunday in next-to-last game: You are a true Dolfan if you show up Sunday to watch a 5-9 team host the Andrew Luck-less Colts. For a seventh consecutive season, the Dolphins, in lieu of the gift of a playoff season, have rewarded their fans with a metaphorical lump of coal.
6. NBA: Steph tops LeBron in marquee Christmas matchup: Golden State topped Cleveland 89-83 in a Christmas rematch of the NBA Finals. What we learned: It's still Steph Curry's league, LeBron James.
7. NFL: Pro Bowl awards bring usual outcry: Center Mike Pouncey was the lone Dolphin chosen. Bengals QB Andy Dalton and Fins safety Reshad Jones were among notable surprise snubs as the NFL named its annual all-stars. The Pro Bowl. The honor every player wants, even though it's the game nobody wants to play in, or watch.
8. UM BASKETBALL: Canes men and women, both ranked, back in action: No. 13 men (10-1) host Princeton Tuesday, the No. 23 women (12-1) host North Carolina State Wednesday. Great season so far for Jim Larranaga and Katie Meier.
9. SOCCER: Blatter, Platini suspended eight years: Disgraced FIFA president Sepp Blatter and European chief Michel Platini received eight-year bans each for their roles in the sport's bribery scandal. Presumably the attempted bribes of the people suspending them did not work.
10. YEAR-END AWARDS: The AP anoints Curry, Williams: The Associated Press named NBA star Steph Curry and tennis star Serena Williams its make and female athletes of the year. "What's a horse gotta do to get a trophy," said Triple Crown winner American Pharoah.
Missing the cut: A drone carrying a TV camera nearly crashed into a World Cup skiier. Some sentences are so ridiculous they require no punchline ... Peyton Manning denies report he used human growth hormone. It'd be a bigger story, but the report is by Al Jazeera, a Qatar-based network ... Farewell, Frank Beamer ... Carolina Panthers go for 15-0 today in Atlanta ... Junior Orange Bowl tennis ended. By habit, disgruntled parents continued screaming over line calls ... Western Kentucky beat South Florida in Miami Beach Bowl. Marlins Park was half empty. As usual.
Revisit our blog a lot because we constantly update and add to our latest posts...
GREG COTE'S RANDOM EVIDENCE BLOG: MIAMI. SPORTS. AND BEYOND.
1) It is SATURDAY, DECEMBER 19. In The Previous Blogpost (ITPB): Pete Rose/Hall of Fame poll, Heat/'Melo trade verdict & more. 2) Follow us on Twitter @gregcote. Also on Facebook, Instagram, Vineand Periscope.
"President Obama congratulated Abby Wambach for her great career. Republicans, demanding equal time, argued it wasn't that great." --Greg Cote
HERE IS YOUR BASEBALL HALL OF FAME BALLOT: As a veteran member of the Baseball Writers Association of America I am honored to have a Hall of Fame vote. My ballot is due back before Christmas. There are 32 names on it and I may vote for as many as 10. Of those 32 players, 17 are back for another try at the minimum 75 percent support required, and 15 are first-timers. But, realistically, only about one-third of eligible players get serious consideration and significant support. I have reflected that in your winnowed ballot below. It includes the 10 returning players who received at least 20 percent support a year ago, and the only two first-time candidates who I think could make it -- Ken Griffey Jr. and Trevor Hoffman. (Sorry, but long-time Marlins Luis Castillo and Mike Lowell are among those I excluded; they are consigned to the Hall of Very Good). Anyway, consider the 12 finalists listed alphabetically below and vote for as many as you think belong in Cooperstown -- but only for those you think do.
Vote only for the players you think belong in Cooperstown:
UPSET BIRD DAY: DOLPHINS/NFL WEEK 15 PICKS:Good start to our week Thursday night as we had the Rams winning and covering and they did both. Click on Week 15 Gems for all of our remaining latest picks and full prediction capsules. Highlights: Dolphins lose out west as Chargers get emotional boost from what could be the franchise's final home game in San Diego. Colts edge Texans in our low-records but high-stakes Game of the Week. The '72 Dolphins celebrate as the unbeaten Panther fall at the New York Giants in our Upset of the Week ("Aawwk!"). And the Steelers roll past Denver in our Game of the Week first-alternate. Also, click on Dolphins Pro Bowl Odds for my latest weekly Friday Page NFL notes column. I wrote that safety Reshad Jones should make the Pro Bowl and that three other Dolphins could.
Poll result: Strong support to let Rose on Hall ballot: We asked if you'd like to see banished Pete Rose allowed on the Hall of Fame ballot, and it was 73.8 percent yes to 25.1% no, with only 1.1% undecided. Click on Rose's Purgatory Should End to read this week's column by me. I can tell you from my email response that, while most may agree with me, those who don't are vehement in their objection. Still a very polarizing topic.
Revisit our blog a lot because we constantly update and add to our latest posts...
GREG COTE'S RANDOM EVIDENCE BLOG: MIAMI. SPORTS. AND BEYOND.
1) It is THURSDAY, DECEMBER 17. I'm up at Friday Page HQ today summoning my NFL Week 15 predictions. Click on Thursday Gem for my pick on tonight's Bucs-Rams game. 2) In The Previous Blogpost (ITPB): Heat/'Melo trade poll, Dolphins draft, Fins fans' grammar and randiness, Star Wars & more. 3) Follow us on Twitter @gregcote. Also on Facebook, Instagram, Vineand Periscope.
New World Series odds: Cubs and Giants are now World Series co-favorites at 6-1, via Bovada, then it's Red Sox at 9-1. In NL East it's Mets 14-1, Nationals 18-1, Marlins 66-1 and Braves/Phillies both 100-1.
PETE ROSE HAS DONE HIS TIME. PUT HIM ON HALL OF FAME BALLOT, ALREADY!: That headline summarizes my latest column; click on Rose's Purgatory Should End to read in full. You can see what’s coming in the case of MLB vs. Rose. You can guess how one of the most protracted sagas in American sports history will finally end. Rose’s lifetime ban from the sport will end when his life does. He will find forgiveness in death. The sport will welcome back its wayward son by inducting him posthumously into the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. That day, he’ll get the eulogy makeover. It will no longer be about his gambling problem way back in the late 1980s. Then it will be about the record 4,256 base hits. It will be about the man nicknamed "Charlie Hustle" sliding headfirst into history. What a shame to wait. How harshly and unnecessarily punitive baseball is being in its unwillingness to forgive. New commissioner Rob Manfred had the chance this week, in considering Rose’s appeal of his banishment, to say, "Enough." Instead, in affirming the ban would go on, Manfred all but assured that Rose, now 74, would die still ostracized. People convicted of murder in the U.S. serve an average prison sentence of 20 years 8 months, according to Department of Justice. Rose is still doing time more than 26 years later for betting on baseball games, including his own team, while managing the Cincinnati Reds. It is essential to note the Dowd Report found Rose only bet on his team to win. So there was never the suggestion of a scandal involving game fixing. What he did violated the sport’s rules against gambling, but hasn’t he served enough time? Lifetime sentences are not always literally that. Murderers can be paroled but Pete Rose can’t? It is hypocritical of Manfred and MLB to maintain this hardest possible line against the evils of gambling while being in a corporate bed with DraftKings, the daily fantasy site being systemically found to be a portal of illegal gambling, most recently by the New York Supreme Court. I get why Rose was punished, I just don’t get why he isn’t now reinstated when, at this point in his life, it would be a purely ceremonial gesture. I mean, Barry Bonds, who set home run records literally cheating opponents by using performance-enhancing drugs, can be hired as the Marlins hitting coach but Rose remains on the wrong side of baseball's locked gate? Certainly the deterrent effect — Rose an An Example — has served its purpose. He is why modern players know not to have a bookie or place wagers. From this point forward the only practical reason to continue Rose’s banishment is to continue to bar him from the Hall of Fame — a place where he belongs because, unlike the Steroids Era guys, Rose (A) did not cheat opponents and (B) has served his time. Rose is the only living person on baseball’s "permanently excluded" list, meaning he is not eligible to be on the Hall ballot. There may be wiggle room, though. Manfred noted his ruling was separate from the Hall of Fame, which is not owned by or run by MLB. The Hall in 1991 adopted a rule stating no banished players could appear on its ballot — but sometimes rules change, right? Sometimes exceptions are made. Plainly, Cooperstown has the right to put Rose on its Hall ballot if it chose to — and should. Let Hall voters (myself included) decide if the game’s all-time hits leader has been in purgatory long enough. I may be wrong, but I’m guessing enough of us think Rose has done more than sufficient time for his crime, and that the day at Cooperstown he deserves should not come to him posthumously. OK, the preceding is a condensed version of my column. Now it's your turn. Agree with me that Rose should be on the Hall ballot? Or disagree? Take a dip in our poll and say why you feel as you do.
Poll result: It's a big "no!" to Heat trading for 'Melo: We asked how you felt about a trade floated by ESPN's Chad Ford that would send Miami's Justise Winslow and Luol Deng to the Knicks for Carmelo Anthony. The response was huge, and it was 11.9 percent "Yes!," 5.6% "Leaning yes," 12.8% "Leaning no" and 69.7% "No!" Not surprised the no's won, but am surprised by the margin.
Revisit our blog a lot because we constantly update and add to our latest posts...
GREG COTE'S RANDOM EVIDENCE BLOG: MIAMI. SPORTS. AND BEYOND.
1) It is WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 16. Aside to Howard Stern. Can I have a loan? 2) See previous blogpost for latest Dolfan Satisfaction Meter results. Oh they're bad! 3) In The Previous Blogpost (ITPB): Dolphins lose to Giants with DSM poll, rarity of MIA-NYG series quantified, NFL Pix 'n Greg's Lobos Week 14 results & more. 4) Follow us on Twitter @gregcote. Also on Facebook, Instagram, Vineand Periscope.
And Dolphins' pick in McShay's Mock Draft 1.0 is...: Having a draft five months early isn't silly enough, so let's have one before the draft order is even determined. "OK!" said ESPN's Todd McShay today with his Mock 1.0. He has Ohio State (and St. Thomas Aquinas) DE Joey Bosa going No. 1 overall to Titans, and Miami selecting eighth overall and taking Notre Dame OT Ronnie Stanley. Quick reaction: Huh? Miami has so many needs, why would they spend a No. 1 on one of the few positions with solid starters?
HEAT TRADE WINSLOW AND DENG FOR 'MELO? ESPN WOULD DO IT. WOULD YOU?: The annual 'Melo-to-Miami rumor, reliable as a groundhog, has raised its head! ESPN Insider (and apparent wanna-be general manager) Chad Ford proposes this week that the Miami Heat get in a three-way trade with the New York Knicks and Sacramento. It's complicated but breaks down to this: Miami gets Carmelo Anthony, 31 but still a proven scorer, along with career backup guard Sasha Vujacic and young forward Cleathony Early. And the Knicks in return get Miami's No. 1 draft pick Justise Winslow, starting forward Luol Deng and also Birdman Andersen. Would you make that deal? I doubt I would give up Winslow's potential plus a starter for 'Melo at this point in the gunner's career. Plus, how is 'Melo going to get his shots on a team with guards who want the ball in Dwyane Wade and Goran Dragic and a scoring power forward in Chris Bosh? I'd almost rather have center Hassan Whiteside on the market than Winslow. Two factors suggest Whiteside is a lame duck. First, Miami has proved to be better defensively with him off the floor, which is odd and a bad sign for a shot-blocker who is there first for his defense. Mostly, it will be very difficult for the Heat to re-sign Whiteside long-term after this season and still have the financial flexibility to move forward as a player in free agency. But back to the trade that likely will never happen but is fun to talk about. Would you essentially trade Winslow and Deng for 'Melo? Take a dip in our poll and say why you feel as you do.
SCHOOLED! MIAMI FANS, ESPECIALLY DOLFANS, FARE POORLY IN SPORTS GRAMMAR:Grammarly.com ranks the 42 American pro-sports cities (NFL, NBA and MLB) based on a sample of 100 fan posts per team on social media, and Miami ranks a lowly 30th with an average of 8.14 mistakes per 100 words. (Click here for full list). Miami's score breaks down to 5.51 mistakes for Heat fans, 7.00 for Marlins fans and 11.90 for Dolphins fans. That latter figure ranks 85th of 92 teams overall. Oy. Like the Dolphins needed one more thing they weren't good at!? Wait. Shouldn't that be, "...one more thing at which they weren't good"?
On the bright side, Dolphins fans are very randy: Dating site okcupid.com surveyed users who identify with an NFL team and, to the question, "Would you consider sleeping with someone on the first date?," Dolphins fans answered yes 51 percent more than fans of any other team. Woo hoo! Was the survey taken on South Beach at 3 a.m? We can't know. A possible explanation for Dolfans' general horniness? Seven straight years about of the playoffs leave one seeking diversions from misery.
FAKE SPOILER ALERT FOR STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS:Stars Wars: Episode VII: The Force Awakens open in theaters to extremely high anticipation this Friday. Han Solo (Harrison Ford) and his supporters face a new threat from the evil Kylo Ren (Adam Driver) and his Stormtroopers. Stop reading immediately if you want to be surprised because I am about to give away the movie's big ending. OK, here it is: The butler did it.
Revisit our blog a lot because we constantly update and add to our latest posts...
