GREG COTE'S RANDOM EVIDENCE BLOG: MIAMI. SPORTS. AND BEYOND.
1) It's SATURDAY, APRIL 20. It's 420 Day, when the cannabis culture celebrates its favorite hobby. Hmm. Based on folks I know who smoke weed, I believe every day is 420 Day. 2) Visit Hotel Robots! for the latest Back In My Day video that premiered on Tuesday's Le Batard Show on ESPN Radio and ESPNews. 3) Football is never done, and so it's always the perfect time to buy our 'Fins At 50' book for the Dolfans in your life. Learn more or buy on Amazon. 4) In The Previous Blogpost (ITPB): Tiger's unexpected day of triumph, your shocking verdict on Miami's G.O.A.T, Ryan Fitzpatrick at Augusta & more. 5) Join us on Twitter @gregcote. Also Facebook and Instagram.
DOLPHINS DRAFTING 13TH: TWO TIMES LUCKY, ONE HORRIFIC TRAGEDY: The Miami Dolphins were lucky to draft tackle Laremey Tunsil and lucky to draft linebacker/end A.J. Duhe. The drafting of running back David Overstreet in between ended in tragedy. Across a 40-year span, all those three had in common was that they all were selected No. 13 overall by Miami in the NFL Draft. With the Dolphin set to pick 13th again next week, we look back in our newest column at the three very disparate circumstances of the franchise's experience selecting at that spot. To read, visit Dolphins at 13: Twice Lucky, One Horrific Tragedy. Duhe, Tunsil and Overstreet are pictured left to right.
MIAMI LANDING TAGOVAILOA SEEMS LIKELIER AND LIKELIER: A tough 2019 schedule (see below), very low season expectations (win over/under of 5) and the way next week's draft seems to be shaking out -- all are reasons why Dolfans should be increasingly optimistic about the Dolphins landing dream QB Tua Tagovailoa in the 2020 draft. We explore deeply in our newest column, online now and in Friday's print editions. To read, visit Everything Aligning for Dolphins to Land Tagovailoa.
THE 'FORLORN FOUR.' LEAN TIMES FOR DOLPHINS, HEAT, MARLINS, PANTHERS: The Dolphins are re-tooling with a new coach, have Ryan Fitzpatrick & His Fabulous Beard at quarterback, are projected for an NFL-low five wins, and are crossing fingers to strike draft gold. The Heat missed the playoffs, have one or two sort-of stars, one or two could-be stars, but no real stars now that Dwyane Wade has retired. The Marlins were 4-15 when last I winced to check and are in the midst of a complete reboot in Year 2 of Derek Jeter. The Panthers, with Aleksander Barkov-led talent and a proven new coach, might have the best immediate prospects, which only means the Next Great Hope for any of our Big Four pro teams is resting with the franchise that last won a playoff series in 1996. This is my new column. Please visit Oh To Be Hated Again! Lean Times For Miami Sports to read.
DOLPHINS 2019 SCHEDULE: ONLY ONE PRIME-TIME BOW: NFL schedules out last night show Miami's only prime-stage game will be Monday Oct. 28 at Steelers, right after the bye week. Other notes: Five of first seven at home, but six of last nine on road. I have a deeper analysis and how the schedule affects hopes of drafting Tua Tagovailoa in 2020 in my newest column. To read, visit Everything Aligning for Dolphins to Land Tagovailoa.
LE BATARD TAKES HIS SHOW ON THE ROAD: Hey New Yorkers! (And others with money enough to travel!) May 18, Gramercy Theatre, New York City. Be there to catch a first-of-its kind live-on-stage version of the Dan Le Batard Show With Stugotz, including the Shipping Container, yours truly, and special and surprise guests. Visit Le Batard Takes Miami To Manhattan for my story on Dan's rather bold brand-building move. Tickets ($50) include the show and a post-show meet-and-greet with Le Batard and the whole crew. Tickets go on sale today/Thursday at 10 a.m. EDT right HERE. Act fast. Theatre only seats 500. (Actually 499 for some odd reason). Pictured is a promo for the show. Click on the image to see it larger. I don't know why they have me lounging casually on the roof of a speeding taxi. Looks dangerous. Also, possibly illegal. [UPDATE: Wow. This thing sold out in 2 minutes on Thursday!]
Our trilogy of Dwyane Wade Week columns: The Last Star: Post-Wade, Miami Sports Is Bereft / Wade Fittingly Goes Out A Winner And A 30-point Star / Thank You, Dwyane Wade, Miami's G.O.A.T.
Other most recent columns: Why Tiger's Masters Triumph Is About So Much More Than Golf / In Joel Quenneville, Panthers Get Their Riley, Their Shula / Analyzing, Predicting Dolphins' Next Starting QB.
I LOVE MAVIS (AND THIS NEW SONG): Staple Singers icon Mavis Staples, about to turn 80 and still going strong, has a new album out May 10 called We Get By. Here is a song from it called "Anytime." Love the track. Bass line slays, funk sweats, vocals are great. Enjoy.
Select other recent columns: Bosh Honored On A Wistful Night Of 'What If' / Beckham's Miami Soccer Odyssey Takes Latest Detour / Will Diaz's Canes Justify 'The New Miami' Hype? / Why Tannehill's Legacy Probably Isn't What You Think / Case For Kaepernick's Comeback As A Dolphin / 'Coach Crutch' Has Nova Southeastern Soaring / Dolphins Not Better Now Than When Last Season Ended / Trip to Miami Inspired a National Bobblehead Shrine / The Intrigue Left: Will LeBron Go Out On Top? / Transgender-Athlete Firestorm A Necessary Debate / Across the Rio Grande to the PGA Tour / From Dark and Empty to Top Of the World: Dan Le Batard at 50.
APSE-HONORED WORK: The Associated Press Sports Editors 2018 writing awards ranked us a Top 10 national sports columnist in the major-outlet category. Thanks, APSE. Here are the five nominated columns that earned the honor: At Doral, an annual tradition since 1962 is replaced by silence, and by what's missing / Marlins' Jose Fernandez statue is divisive yet has a chance to serve a greater purpose / NFL has moral obligation to help Buonicontis and Kiicks while it limits future suffering / What led to El Clasico Miami began with Joe Robbie's unlikely, accidental love of soccer / With 59 home runs, Stanton still had a magic season. Just hope this wasn't goodbye.
Revisit our blog often because we update and add to our latest posts throughout the day.
Twitter @gregcote
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