GREG COTE'S RANDOM EVIDENCE BLOG: MIAMI. SPORTS. AND BEYOND.
1) It is WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 16. Dolphins time! Know any die-hard Dolfans? Surprise and delight them with our new book on club's first half-century. Learn more or order here: Fins At 50. 2) In The Previous Blogpost (ITPB): Hot Button Top 10, Marlins/Derek Jeter poll, your verdict on Jay Cutler signing & more. 3) Join us on Twitter @gregcote. Also Facebook, Instagram, Periscope and Snapchat.
Cote on ESPN's Highly Questionable again today: It's Me-Week on HIghly Questionable, according to me. I was in-studio on ESPN's HQ show Monday and yesterday and will be again for a final time today, in the middle of Bomani Jones and Pablo Torre. Shows airs 4:30 p.m. back on the main ESPN.
Latest columns: On Dolphins, Hurricanes, Marlins: Our latest Sunday column quantifies how rare it is that the Dolphins and UM both are going into a season with new quarterbacks, and both can blame plain rotten luck. Click on Double QB Quandary A Rarity to read. And a Marlins doubleheader: Jeffrey Loria agreeing to sell to the group fronted by Derek Jeter makes us wonder, "What's next?" But first ... LET'S PARTY! Click on New Owner, New Hope to read. Also: Underappreciated nationally, overshadowed in his own city, the Marlins' Giancarlo Stanton is having one of the great seasons in Miami sports history, having hit his MLB-leading (and club-record) 43rd home run last night. My column is an unabashed appreciation. Click on A Diamond, Shining to read.
ME, PAPI AND 'HIGHLY QUESTIONABLE': It's been fun doing ESPN's Highly Questionable this week. And funny, too, reading some of the Tweets and other reaction from people convinced I'm embroiled in a hostile takeover to replace beloved Papi in the middle of that table. There is no replacing Papi. But, this week, I find
myself in between Bomani Jones and Pablo Torre on the set (pictured far left) as Dan and Papi are off on what I assume is vacation but on Papi's part also is an apparent contractual holdout. Fun fact: Bomani is way taller than Pablo and I but appears smaller in this photo. Magic? Also left, Papi and I, erstwhile friends, in happier days. It may surprise many of you to learn they asked me if I wanted to do this; I did not storm the studio heavily armed and commandeer the set. I considered the offer, quickly realized how much more TV pays than radio, and nonchalantly said, OH HELL YES!!! The producers have had me wearing a Papi-esque guayabera shirt and doing a few other Papi-esque things, which probably fanned the flame of controversy a bit. So did this: A LeBatard Tweet in which Papi accused me of being a "scab" for doing HQ in his place. Is Papi actually involved in a contractual dispute (#PayPapi) that has him off the air? No idea. No idea at all. Am I a "scab" for filling in for him, as Papi and a few of you have accused? That wounds me. Hence, the scab. Get it!?! Relax, all. It's just TV. It's just sports. I'll do my three lil' days of HQ this week and you'll likely not see me again on the tube (except on the televised radio show once a week). And soon, Papi will be back at the HQ desk. Well, I think. Probably. Maybe.
POLL RESULT: CONFIDENCE IN JETER STARTS WITH 'ANYBODY BUT LORIA' BOUNCE: We asked, "What best reflects your confidence that money-man Bruce Sherman and baseball-guy Derek Jeter will be successful Marlins owners?" Your verdict:
HOT BUTTON DAILY: WED 8-16-17: Today's sports events of most interest in SoFla:
1. San Francisco at Marlins, 1:10 p.m.: Fish (4-1), hot Stanton wrap up 6-game homestand.
2. Highly Questionable, 4:30 p.m.: I co-host again today on ESPN. My blog, my shameless plug!
3. Spanish Super Cup, 4:55 p.m.: Real Madrid-Barcelona in another El Clasico.
Select other recent columns -- Immortality Calling (with Jason Taylor in Hall, who's next?). Right Time, Right Quarterback (Dolphins should have gone with Kaepernick). Also: The Uncommon Pressure On the Miami Dolphins. He Missed a Heck Of a Game. Blockbuster Would Be Slumpbuster for Riley. Paroled But Not Free. Don't Hold Your Breath. An Ageless Wonder, Even In Defeat. All-Star Week Proves Miami's Baseball Potential as Loria Era Ebbs. The Gentleman-Athlete Earned Our Thanks. Heat Lose Twice On Hayward. Bam Is Due Benefit Of Doubt. Make Fun of the Farce, But You'll Watch. No Parade In Sight. A Fall From Greatness And From Grace. NFL's Moral Obligation. The Dolphins' Eight Ifs. Home Run For Miami. The Jose Statue's Positive Purpose. An American Tragedy. History Breathes at UM Sports Hall. Is There A Team Brave Enough for Kaepernick?. Thank You, Mae Riback. A Ghost Tour of Miami's Sports Past. The Miracle of Liberty City. Thank You, Edwin Pope.
Revisit our blog often because we update and add to our latest posts throughout the day.
Twitter @gregcote
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