Bleacher Report - Articles by Andrew Robeson

Nebraska Cornhuskers Give Fans Plenty to Worry About: QB Situation in Limbo

Andrew Robeson — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 15:59:46 -0400

By the fourth quarter at Memorial Stadium, Husker fans had a lot on their minds.

What is Shawn Watson doing? Why can't any of the running backs hold onto the ball?

Has any respectable team ever kicked a field goal on first down in the third quarter? They haven't? Because I really think Pelini might want to consider it.

Can Suh play offense? He can't? Are you sure?

Lost in the confusion was the Huskers' quarterback dilemma. With everything falling apart in the Husker offense, people forgot for 57 minutes about the quarterback debate that had raged all week.

But in those final three minutes of the game Zac Lee threw two interceptions on key drives, and the conversation was back.

There are many problems with Nebraska's offense. The running backs fumble too much. The wide receivers can't catch. And there is no answer at quarterback.

Zac Lee couldn't handle the defenses of Virginia Tech, Missouri, or Texas Tech. But not even the cynics could have guessed Iowa State would shut him down.

Husker fans are beginning to throw in the towel on the season. Walking out of the game today people, were discussing the Independence Bowl and the New Orleans Bowl.

To think, just two weeks ago, we were dreaming of a BCS title game.

We should have known better.

Lee failed miserably at Virginia Tech, completing just 36.7 percent of his passes. That was the first indication he would not be able to handle Big XII defenses.

The second indication? The 42.4 percent completion percentage against Mizzou. But still, the Huskers stuck with their guy.

The guys on the team, the coaches. They all spoke out in defense of their quarterback. Luckily for Lee, people forget about two sub-par performances thanks to a comeback victory against Mizzou where he threw three TDs in the fourth quarter.

Touchdowns and victories will earn you a reprieve. Losing to Texas Tech, and not producing a single touchdown,...well that will put you on the hot seat again.

Still the Huskers stuck with Lee.

Even after his three interceptions against Iowa State, coach Bo Pelini made excuses for his quarterback. ""We didn't play well around Zac. We had dropped balls and bad execution around him," said Pelini.

What Pelini has to realize now is that Husker fans want a change. If he leaves Lee in there, fans take that as a message that he fine with losing. As a coach, the last thing you need is the Nebraska fan base going against you.

Pelini has to make a change at quarterback for the sake of the team, and for the sake of the fans.

The fans want to see what Cody Green has. For a full four quarters. Not mop-up duty, but meaningful minutes.

Yeah, we know there are weaknesses in his game. Let him work them out so maybe next year, he will be ready to take over the offense.

The Huskers have already lost enough this year. They cannot afford to lose their fans next.

Nebraska Cornhuskers' Ndamukong Suh Has Nation's Best Fans

Andrew Robeson — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 01:17:56 -0400

Lane Stadium is supposed to be one of the hardest stadiums for road teams in the nation, yet the Huskers almost won there.

Their defense dominated the game for 59 minutes, led by the one-man wrecking force Husker Nation knows as Suh.

Even in fabled Blacksburg, VA, you could hear the Husker faithful react to all eight of his tackles. You could hear the Husker faithful react to all four of his pass break ups.

"SUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUH"

After the Huskers won on the road in Missouri, the attention really began to turn to Suh. The anchor of the No. 2 scoring defense in college football had this time recorded six tackles, forced a fumble, and broke up a pass.

But the biggest play was when Nebraska's big, athletic defensive tackle jumped above the line to snare a Blaine Gabbert pass and put the Huskers in position for the go-ahead touchdown.

Nebraska fans were fired up, and anyone who has any experience with Nebraska fans knows that is a dangerous thing.

The idea that was born has taken on a massive life in a short time. What Huskers fans want is simple: a Heisman for Suh.

Less than a week after the Missouri game a "Ndamukong Suh for Heisman" Facebook group was approaching 20,000 members. To give you an idea of just how much that is, a "Tim Tebow for Heisman" group had just over 400 members and "Jimmy Clausen for Heisman" had a little over 800.

Nebraska fans are determined, and like all good campaigns Suh's camp even has a Web site ready for him at www.suhcampaign.com. One friendly wager prior to the game at Mizzou left a Missouri fan site as the "Home of the Ndamukong Suh for Heisman Committee."

As presenting sponsor of the Heisman presentation, Nissan was given one vote for the Heisman winner. When they turned around and gave that vote to fans in a online poll, Suh was not even in the nine listed names.

Think that deterred Suh fans? They flooded the write-in ballot until Suh's name was added to the list. At last check Suh had 26 percent of the total vote, and was 18,000 votes ahead of second place Tebow.

Last time I checked, Tebow had a lot more star power than Suh. So what is going on here?

There should be no surprise that the Husker fan base is capable of this kind of campaign for one of their players.

But those unfamiliar with Suh have to wonder what it is about him that drives his fans to such lengths.

Maybe it's that he has almost twice as many tackles for loss as the next guy on the team and looks to lead his team for a second consecutive year.

Maybe it's that as a defensive lineman he is leading the team in tackles, for the second year in a row.

Maybe it's that he is once again leading the team in sacks, AND tied for the team lead in interceptions.

Maybe it's that his seven passes defended not only give him the team lead, but rank him sixth in the nation. The next closest linemen? You won't find one ranked above 97th.

Maybe it's just the grit and determination he shows every time he steps on the field. Regardless of the score, regardless of the situation Suh can be found giving it all.

Husker fans love and respect Suh, and now they want the nation to.

In years past, it probably would not have been a big deal had one Husker player led the team in all those departments. But when one player is leading the No. 2 scoring defense in the nation in all those categories, it takes on some meaning, doesn't it?

Suh deserves his spot in the discussion.

But prior to this week, only Husker Nation thought so. However, with the recent surge of Suh support on the web, some analysts are beginning to take note.

For the first time this year, Suh broke into the CBS Heisman Watch after their poll of columnists landed Suh in the five spot. ESPN's Heisman Watch also welcomed Suh as he broke into their expert's No. 5 spot.

Just last week, Suh was non-existent on Gene Menez's Sports Illustrated Heisman Watch. This week, Menez had a change of heart, and Suh soared to the No. 2 spot. Only Jimmy Clausen was left ahead of him.

The combined effort of Suh on the field, and his fans off the field have vaulted him into the national discussion. Suh's fanbase is not going anywhere, and it can only get bigger the better he plays.

If Suh steps up in Big XII play, he can go as far as this Husker team will allow him to.

A big game at Texas Tech sure wouldn't hurt, but the problem with being a defensive player is—one poor game takes him out of the discussion.

Not to mention one big game for Clausen or Tebow could lock a Heisman up for them.

Don't believe me? Tebow has had a mediocre year at best, yet he is still at near the top at every discussion. Analysts are just waiting for him to give them a reason to vote for him.

Suh has to hope the quarterbacks of this year's class continue to be mediocre. In the meantime, he needs to put up some monster stats.

Suh would become only the second defensive player to ever win the award. Maybe it's time Charles Woodson got some company.

Bonus quote: I got in touch with the creator of Suh's Facebook group. Here's what he had to say. "I had been thinking about creating the group before the first game on September 5th. I want to say it was the day after or that Monday that I officially created the group. So roughly on September 7th the group was created. I had told all my close buddies that I was gonna do it and they were all for it so I did it. Knowing that the Heisman trophy is appointed to quarterbacks and running backs so often, I thought to myself that the Heisman is awarded to the "Best Player in the Country". I remember in 1997 Charles Woodson won the Heisman and he played as a defensive back and a wide receiver. I also remember a couple years back a defensive tackle by the name of Glen Dorsey from LSU (defensive coordinator was Bo Pelini) was in the discussion for Heisman until he got hurt. I just thought that Suh was worthy of being recognized because of his impact on the defensive line. Also last year he played some fullback on goal line situations. So there Suh is a two way player like Woodson was in '97 (maybe not quite as big as impact that Woodson was but its still something to put in affect). Granted Suh has not played fullback yet this year, he has still put himself above any other defensive player if not ANY player in college football with his impact on every game.

Lastly I am just amazed on the outcome so far. Suh has been phenomenal and i remember the night of the Missouri game when there was 1405 members! There has not been a game since then and there are roughly 22,000 members!!! I just cant thank the members enough for helping get the group out there. From the wall posts to the videos to the links where you can actually vote for Suh, the members have been unbelievable!! I cant thank them enough for the support of "Ndamukong Suh for Heisman".

*As of Oct. 15th the group now has 25,000 members

**As of Oct. 15th Suh now leads the Nissan vote by 32,000 votes and 22 percent over Tebow

Marlins-Phillies: Four-Game Series Will Dictate Second Half

Andrew Robeson — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 19:40:50 -0400

Four games—that's how far back the Marlins are off the Phillies at the All-Star break.

It's also how many games the Marlins will play against the Phillies in Miami to start the second half.

For the Marlins to be contenders, they need to win this series.

Splitting simply will not be enough.

Four games is hard to make up, especially with the Phillies playing the way they have as of late. The Marlins have the best chance of making up ground when the two teams go head-to-head.

After the Phillies series, the Marlins head out west for six games against the Padres and Dodgers. The Marlins historically struggle on the west coast, and it's unlikely they would go better than 3-3 on the trip.

At the same time the Marlins will be on that six game trip, the Phillies have a seven-game home stand.

You can see where the Marlins could drastically lose ground to begin the second half. Anything less than three wins against the Phillies could end the Marlins' playoff hopes early.

If the Marlins win one or less game in the four game series—well, you get the picture.

Now you know what Larry Beinfest is talking about when he says he's waiting to see how the Marlins do the next few weeks.

Florida Marlins' Pitching Staff Dictates Success

Andrew Robeson — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 12:54:52 -0400

One thing is for sure about these Florida Marlins: They are streaky.

They were the hottest team in baseball in April. Then in May they flat-lined and fell several games behind the NL East leading Phillies. Then in June they were one of the hottest teams in baseball again.

Now the Marlins find themselves one game out first in the NL East with a bright future.

Why a bright future you ask?

Because the much-hyped Marlins pitching staff is finally living up to its expectation.

Josh Johnson has been consistent all year long. Johnson struggled his last game out against the Nationals, but this is not anything worth worrying about. His struggles were cause more by the Heat than any long-term problems with his mechanics.

Johnson is 7-1 this year with a 2.76 ERA.

Ricky Nolasco has been incredible since he was sent down to Triple-A New Orleans to re-find his fastball. Yes, his fastball. Hard to believe a major league pitcher would need to re-find his fastball, but Nolasco has been much more successful throwing his fastball 65 percent of the time whereas early in the season he was throwing it 50 percent of the time.

In Nolasco's last four starts he finds himself 3-0 with a 1.73 ERA.

For the Marlins to be successful Johnson and Nolasco need to be dominant. Going into the year they were supposed to be co-aces, and lately that is how it has been. Now it needs to continue.

Andrew Miller has had his fair share of struggles in the majors, and to be honest I never thought he would have much success. Lately though, he has been a nice surprise for the Marlins. Since going on the disabled list Apr. 20, with a 6.94 ERA, he has gone 3-3 while lowering his ERA to 4.42.

In games Miller starts the Marlins are 7-7, and he has been showing potential to be even better as of late. However, he is still having trouble throwing late into games as he has only thrown seven innings twice this year. His walks are still high, but this is a much different Andrew Miller the Marlins have been getting.

Another nice surprise has been rookie Sean West. On the year, he is 3-2 with a 4.06 ERA. West has had flashes of brilliance; against the Giants he lasted eight innings while only allowing two hits and no runs. However, he has also had some problems as he has failed to last five innings in three of his eight starts.

I am not convinced that West is a long term solution, but he does have a bright future. Hopefully he can continue to be a slightly above .500 pitcher for the Fish.

Lastly, Chris Volstad has been a huge disappointment. He is 5-8 with a 4.85, and at the rate he is going he will the next Marlins starter in the minors or on the disable list. Volstad has only won one game in his last six starts and could be in danger of losing his spot in the rotation.

If Volstad had been pitching like expected, say an 8-5 record, the Marlins would have full control of the NL East. Either Volstad needs to come around, or the Marlins might try Burke Badenhop out of the bullpen to replace him.

Badenhop is 5-3 with with a 3.48 ERA as a long reliever. In his one start of the year he threw five innings while defeating the Phillies.

All in all the Marlins have four strong starters right now. Volstad has the stuff to be the fifth man, but the Marlins can not afford to sit around waiting for him. If the Marlins were to sure up their staff through a trade they could easily have the best staff in the league.

If the Marlins starters continue to perform, the Marlins will continue to climb.

The Williams Sisters: The Great Equalizer of the Sexes

Andrew Robeson — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 12:42:47 -0400

I am not going to lie to you: I do not watch women play sports as often as I watch men play.

I will watch women's track at the world and national level, and I will watch women's swimming at the world and national level.

And I will watch tennis whenever the Williams sisters play.

To give you an idea of how much I like men's tennis, I only bother to watch it when Nadal, Federer, or Roddick are on the court.

Maybe it's that equal appeal that causes tennis to distribute equal prize money to both its men and women, despite the fact women usually play less rounds and thus spend less time on television than men.

Venus and Serena dominate their sport like very few have. When they are in opposite sides of the bracket, it is expected that they will face in the finals.

Of the last nine Wimbledon Finals, Serena and Venus have won seven between them.

Their dominance is something that is well known and much discussed, so it raises new questions.

The only interesting matches these two have are when they play each other.

Tennis just recently agreed to play men and women equally, so is now the time to allow women into the men's bracket?

Michelle Wie has played on the PGA tour. After having the displeasure of seeing her "highlights" on the tour I think its time for the Williams sister to give us something worth watching.

Go against the men. After years at the top it is the only thing left to do.

The Williams have proven they are the best at women's tennis. Now it is time for them to break the sex barrier in tennis and go play against the men.

However, there are of course a few things that would have to be considered.

Would the Williams have the endurance to survive a tournament that consisted of best of five matches rather than best of three?

My answer is yes. They are world class athletes. They might need more rigorous training, but they could do it.

Just yesterday Serena told reporters at Wimbledon, "Yeah, I'm ready for five-set matches."

This was after she beat Victoria Azarenka in two sets which lasted one hour and 13 minutes.

I believe Serena when she says she is ready, and I assume if she is ready than so is Venus.

Next, one would wonder if Serena and Venus could handle the higher speeds of the men's matches.

Once again I think this is an obstacle they could overcome. They both routinely reach 120 mph on serves and women of less talent are able to return their serves.

With their athleticism I think they could learn to handle serves at speeds they have never seen before. These girls already cover the court against each other with ease at the same speeds seen out of mediocre men's players.

So will it happen?

Maybe, but not a major. I doubt either Williams could make it past the Round of 16 in a major just because of the extra stress on their body and the talent they would be facing.

Even if they did have a legitimate shot at winning a men's title, it still may not be worth it for them to try.

In the women's brackets one of these two is almost guaranteed a million dollar check at the end of every final. If they were to try to win in the men's bracket they would be forfeiting some of that money, but then again they make most of their money off the court.

If they were ever to try it maybe they would choose the Key Biscayne tournament since it is a local tournament, for them, that they routinely play in.

As for the barrier, I think the tennis world would be forced to accept Serena and Venus if they ever made a push to play with the men. They are women's tennis biggest names and to deny them would be horrible PR for the sport.

I would love to see them do it and if Serena and Venus want to do it, they can.

And there is never a better time than the present.

Mark DeRosa: Why the Marlins Missed the Boat

Andrew Robeson — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 10:44:46 -0400

Mark DeRosa is a guy with a quality bat who can play multiple infield positions. His .270 average, 13 home runs, and 50 RBI (at the time of his trade) would be welcome in many lineups.

Yet, he was traded for a relief pitcher with an ERA north of five and a player to be named.

That got me wondering—why didn't the Marlins go after this guy?

Now that the Marlins have found a leadoff man in Chris Coghlan, there is no longer a need for Emilio Bonifacio in the everyday lineup. If the Marlins had replaced Bonifacio with DeRosa, their lineup would have gotten exponentially better.

DeRosa can hit for average, and he can hit for power. DeRosa would have been great hitting between Coghlan and Ramirez—but I guess it is too late for that now.

Here is how the Marlins lineup could have looked if they acquired DeRosa.

1. LF Chris Coghlan .359 OBP

2. 3B Mark DeRosa

3. SS Hanley Ramirez .339 avg., 12 HRs, 52 RBI

4. 1B Jorge Cantu .280 avg., 9 HRs, 46 RBI

5. CF Cody Ross .273 avg., 13 HRs, 46 RBI

6. RF Brett Carroll .333 avg. against lefties; Ross Gload .295 avg. against righties

7. C Ronny Paulino .288 avg. against lefties; John Baker .256 avg. against righties

8. 2B Dan Uggla .334 OBP, 15 HRs, 45 RBI

This lineup assumes a few things.

First, it assumes the Marlins had acquired DeRosa, which they obviously did not.

It also assumes that manager Fredi Gonzalez corrects his current lineup, which has Uggla batting fifth, Ross batting sixth, and Carroll/Gload batting eight.

The changes I made were based on the fact that Ross has been on a tear as of late, and putting him behind Cantu would not only increase Ross' opportunities, but also Cantu's.

It is time that Uggla is dropped in the lineup, as no pitcher who can throw off-speed pitches is afraid to face a guy batting .223. In the eight-spot, Uggla could serve as a second cleanup guy.

It is also time that Jeremy Hermida is removed from the Marlins lineup for good, as Carroll and Gload have both been more productive in right field—not to mention both are defensive improvements over Hermida.

Looking at how Hermida could have been removed from the team without much effect, the Marlins should have tried to use him to bring DeRosa in from Cleveland.

Hopefully, the Marlins will use Hermida in the near future to acquire someone to replace Bonifacio in the lineup.

Uggla could also be used to trade for a third baseman or outfielder, as Coghlan could easily make the move to his natural second base position.

I'll save the Uggla/Hermida talks for another article.

Fredi Gonzalez Wearing Thin on Marlins' Fans

Andrew Robeson — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 17:33:51 -0400

Maybe if the Marlins had not spent two weeks in first place fans would have a little more patience with manager Fredi Gonzalez.

Expectations were set high after the Marlins started the season five games up on their division opponents after two weeks. That lead disappeared quickly as the Marlins played like the Nationals for an entire month. Fans looked for someone to blame, and Fredi Gonzalez received much of it, but for good reason.

Even as the Marlins have climbed their way back into the thick of things I still have a problem with the way Gonzalez is managing.

Let's take a look at the game from last night.

The first problem is that Emilio Bonifacio is still at the major league level, let alone starting a game. Bonifacio has been horrendous since beginning the season on a tear. Last night he came up twice with the bases loaded and hit two double play balls. Luckily one was botched due to a poor play by Orioles shortstop Robert Andino.

Bonifacio is also a defensive liability as he leads all MLB third basemen in errors. The Marlins could easily improve their defense and offense with several simple moves. The first move would be to make Wes Helms the starter at third. With everyday action his average would come up and he is a proven veteran.

The other two moves would require Jorge Cantu to move back to third and replacing him with either Ross Gload or Gaby Sanchez at first base. Any of these situations would be better than the current one.

The next problem was Matt Lindstrom coming out for the ninth inning. He is a closer with an ERA over five. Yeah, I know he has amazing stuff, but sometimes stats mean more than how hard a guy throws. Leo Nunez, Renyel Pinto, or Dan Meyer are all more suitable for the job now.

Go with a closer by committee if you have to. When lefties are coming up (Ryan Howard and Chase Utley?) send Meyer or Pinto out for the ninth. When righties are coming up send out Nunez. Even after Lindstrom blew a three run lead Tuesday night against the Orioles Gonzalez said "We're going to keep running [Lindstrom] out there."

Then there is the matter of Jeremy Hermida. Yes, I know, he was a top prospect years ago. But, his time is up. I am tired of watching this guy roll over and lazily ground-out time after time.

Brett Carroll (.280 average) and Ross Gload (.303) both bat much better than Hermida (.257). And they are playing off the bench which makes it more difficult to get in a groove. Give them an everyday opportunity and see what they can do!

Another matter to wonder about is why John Baker is still the everyday catcher. Josh Johnson, the team's ace and one of the best pitchers in the league, prefers to be caught by Paulino which says something about his pitch calling and defense.

Then there is the fact Paulino has a batting average .032 higher than Baker's. His home-run and RBI totals are similar to Baker's despite only having two-thirds the amount of at-bats as Baker. Why don't you give Paulino some consistency Fredi?

Gonzalez must not be watching these games like everyone else. How is it that something is more obvious to fans than it is to the man who runs the team on a daily basis?

To fully understand why Gonzalez is a poor coach look at how he uses Josh Johnson. Johnson has already undergone Tommy John surgery after having arm problems early in his career. Less than a year after his return Johnson is among the league leaders in pitches per game.

Are you kidding me? What the heck are you doing Fredi? Trying to get his arm to fall off?

Some of these situations are pointless, as Fredi allowed Johnson to throw a complete game against the Toronto Blue Jays last week despite the Marlins' eight run lead and Johnson's high pitch count.

Pitchers never want to come out of a game. They will keep pitching until their arm is shot; I am serious. It is a manager's job to tell a pitcher when they are done, and Fredi often fails to do that.

Fredi has been a poor coach and unless he turns things around do not be surprised if he meets the same fate as Joe Girardi. I know the baseball world might not believe, but these Marlins are underachieving, and for that I blame Fredi.

Undrafted But Not Unwanted: NBA Style

Andrew Robeson — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 22:20:07 -0400

The NBA draft will go two rounds this year. Sixty players will be drafted, and after they are, there will be hundreds of college and international athletes left looking for a job.

When a draft is so short, there is room for mistake. A team could draft two players and have them both be busts. Or, a solid player could go undrafted.

After the draft, teams will begin to hold workouts for the guys who were not picked. Some will get contracts, others will go to Europe. Of those who get contracts, some will become a start for their team.

Here is a look at the top five players currently in the NBA who went undrafted.

5. Udonis Haslem

So I admit to playing favorites with my No. 5 pick here, but getting to watch Haslem play routinely for the Heat has been a pleasure. The guy hustles every time he is on the court, regardless of the score. When you see him play you know he had to fight to get where he is as he does not take even a play for granted. Undrafted and overweight out of the University of Florida he started playing professional ball in Europe before the Heat signed him. So far in his NBA career he is averaging 10.0 points a game and 8.1 rebounds. His career field goal percentage is at 50 percent and there are few players in the game who play their role as well as he does.

4. Bruce Bowen

I was kind of surprised to learn Bowen was undrafted. When I think of defense, Bowen is one of the first names that comes to mind. Defense in the NBA is somewhat of a lost art, but Bowen is still masterful at after 15 seasons. He only averages 6.1 points a game and shoot 40 percent from the field, but his nominations from 2001-2008 to the NBA All-Defensive Team earn him the four spot on this list.

3. Brad Miller

I never really thought much of Miller until I watched his post-season with the Bulls. I knew he was a powerful force as an NBA big man, but I did not know about his long range shot. Miller has averaged 12.1 points and 7.8 rebounds a game for his career. Miller has been in the league over 10 years and is still one of the games dominant big men. His play has earned him two All-Star nominations to date.

2. Jose Calderon

Watching this guy play is a sight. After six seasons in Europe he was able to adapt his style of play incredibly to the NBA. Calderon's career stats in the NBA are not all that impressive, but last year he showed us just how good he can be. After winning the job of starting point guard from T.J. Ford, in Toronto, Calderon averaged 12.8 points and 8.9 assists in 2009. In international play Calderon has helped Spain to emerge as a power. Did I mention he owns the NBA free-throw shooting percentage record?

1. Ben Wallace

Shocked he was not drafted? So was I. Wallace is a four-time Defensive Player of the Year which ties him for the record with Dikimbe Mitumbo. He also has been on the All-Defensive team six times. Aside from his defensive skills he has also been on the All NBA Team five times. Wallace has averaged 6.2 points, 10.3 rebounds, 2.2 blocks, and 1.3 steals a game for his career.

Hope you enjoyed my top five. I know there are arguments for Marquis Daniels, Raja Bell, and Mike James (the first undrafted player to average 20 points a game over an entire season), but these are who I thought were most deserving.

Undrafted But Not Unwanted: Miami Dolphins Style

Andrew Robeson — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 18:57:32 -0400

It is hard to believe that after all of the research and time NFL teams put into the NFL draft, talented players could be missed. This past year 256 players were drafted, yet some team out there may have made their best pick in the days after the draft.

It is the days following the draft where teams go over their lists and see what players they were following and eventually went undrafted. Matt Stafford and Mark Sanchez were supposed to be the sure quarterbacks of the '09 draft. But, who knows if ten years from now John Parker Wilson, undrafted out of Alabama, or Graham Harrell, Texas Tech, will be considered the best quarterback from the '09 class?

Who knows if the Denver Broncos will make Kestahn Moore, an undrafted running back out of the University of Florida, their next unheralded star player?

At this point in time it is truly impossible to know who the stars will be. That is what the past tells us.

Top draft picks could be the next Ryan Leaf or Lawrence Phillips. Undrafted players could be the next Kurt Warner or Rod Smith.

After months, possibly years, of tedious research no NFL teams thought Kurt Warner was worth drafting. The same year he went undrafted, Heath Shuler was the first overall quarterback taken.

Heath who? I have never even heard of this guy. Kurt Warner on the other hand, well I am well aware of his two MVP awards. I am well aware of his Super Bowl victory and the Super Bowl MVP award he won for his performance.

So that's one exception, but nobody thought Hall of Famer Warren Moon was worth drafting either. Rod Smith amassed over 10,000 receiving yards in his career after going undrafted.

I am not trying to make the argument that great players are being missed yearly. However, significant role players and the occasional gem are often available after the draft is over.

Having the Miami Dolphins as my home team has made me realize this.

First I saw them pick up Adewale Ogunleye. An injured defensive end out of Indiana University. Three years after they signed him, he would lead the AFC in sacks.

Their next diamond in the rough find was Wes Welker. The Dolphins gave him his first opportunity in the NFL and he proved a reliable receiver. I still do not know why the Fins let him slip away, but as we all know Welker has put consecutive 1,000 yard seasons for the Patriots.

Last year the Miami Dolphins made a miracle run to the playoffs. Three of their key players were undrafted.

Davone Bess was signed as a wide receiver after going undrafted in 2008. He would prove to be the Fins' most reliable receiver as he filled in admirably when Greg Camarillo was lost to injury. While starting only six games Bess had 54 receptions for 554 yards.

Dan Carpenter was signed in 2008 to compete with Jay Feely for the kicking job. Little did Feely know that Bill Parcells would go with the rookie out of Montana. Carpenter was perfect from inside 40 yards in 2008 and 9-of-13 from 40-plus yards. Pretty good if you ask me.

While the Dolphins were not responsible for the original signing of Lousaka Polite, they did bring him prior to their 2008 run. Dolphins' fans love Polite for extending several drives with his proficiency on third-and-one plays. Polite was seven-of-eight on third or fourth-and-one runs.

Anyone who follows the Dolphins knows that these undrafted players were integral to the Fins' success in '08. So what about you? What have undrafted players done for your favorite team?

Josh Johnson: Establishing Himself Among the League's Elite

Andrew Robeson — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 12:39:17 -0400

It is hard for a baseball player to get attention playing in South Florida. You have to be good, real good, before the baseball world starts to notice.

Just ask Josh Johnson. He is one of baseball's best pitchers, yet even the local Miami Herald did not include him in a comparison of the league's best.

Last season, he returned to the Marlins after undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2007 after beginning the season 0-3 with a 7.47 ERA. Look at what the kid has done since then:

In 2008, he posted a 7-1 record with a 3.61 ERA. The ERA was not great, but the record was. Those who saw him pitch knew Johnson had special stuff.

So what has he done almost halfway through the 2009 season? He is 7-1 once again, but this time he has knocked his ERA down to 2.66. Opponents are hitting a poor .219 against Johnson, and he has only walked 25 through 105 innings.

Almost two years removed from his Tommy John surgery, Johnson is leading the league in innings pitched as well as quality starts. Johnson ranks third in the NL for wins, and his strikeout totals come in seventh. Even his 7-1 record is a little unfair, as the Marlins are 12-3 in games that he starts.

So, why isn't Johnson's name mentioned along with the likes of Halladay and Greinke?

Johnson, if used properly, should have a long and illustrious career. When considering his impressive record, it should be noted that Johnson, more times than not, is facing the ace of other team's staffs.

I throw in there "if used properly" because already I do not like how Fredi Gonzalez utilizes Johnson. Johnson is among the leaders for pitches per game, and he has already had a major surgery on his arm.

Just last week, Gonzalez sent Johnson out to finish a complete game against Toronto, even though the Marlins had an eight-run lead and Johnson's pitch count soared into the 100s.

Johnson is something special. As a Marlins fan, I have seen a lot of special pitchers come and go. I have also seen how some great pitchers have had arm problems because of how their arms are abused in South Florida. Dontrelle Willis, AJ Burnett, and Josh Beckett have all had injury problems after being part of the Marlins' 2003 champions staff.

Johnson could be the best pitcher to ever play for the Marlins, surpassing the likes of Josh Beckett and Kevin Brown. Hopefully, the Marlins decide to lock him up with a new stadium on the horizon. When the end of the 2009 season starts to come around, expect Johnson to be right at the top of the debate for NL Cy Young.

How the Miami Dolphins Won the Ryan-Crowder Battle

Andrew Robeson — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 15:06:39 -0400

What do coaches get paid to do?

They get paid to run practices, they get paid to draw up plays, they get paid to keep their team focused, they get paid to represent their organization.

Up in New York, Rex Ryan has been miserably failing at doing his job. Last time I checked, head coaches were not supposed to make comments that you could confuse for something Joey Porter, Terrell Owens, or Chad Johnson might say.

Ryan has been engaged in a war-of-words with middle linebacker Channing Crowder of the Miami Dolphins. Ryan recently said of Crowder, "I've walked over tougher guys going to a fight."

I think I have heard something like that before. I am just having trouble remembering if I heard it in my fourth or fifth grade class.

Seriously Rex?

I understand that coaches are expected to fire their teams up, but right now this whole thing just looks horrible for Ryan and the Jets. The Jets and Dolphins will not even face each other until October 12, which is a good four months away.

A little pre-mature aren't you, Rex?

The week before a game, maybe that is the time for some trash talking. Head coaches though? They are supposed to save their trash talking for the locker room.

So what began this all saga?

Rex Ryan was running around making Super Bowl predictions for his Jets, and well, Channing Crowder took offense.

Crowder reacted to Ryan's outlandish predictions by saying, "I know it's his first chance to be a head coach, and I know he's excited about life. But, like I said, I've never played a football game in June in my whole life. So congratulations to him. He's the OTA, the OTA Super Bowl winner."

And Crowder was right. Football games do not get played in June. Ryan does not even have a game on his record yet, and he is talking about Super Bowls?

Maybe this all stems from the fact the Dolphins chose Tony Sparano over Ryan a year ago for their head coaching position. Ryan's comments sound more bitter than anything.

As the war progressed, Ryan at one point said he did not know who Crowder was. Crowder astutely responded that a head coach should know the starting middle linebacker of their rival team.

I know I am biased, but to me it seems like Crowder made a fool of Ryan.

Who was the one to bring up fighting? No, not the tough linebacker—the guy who gets paid to coach was the first one to bring up an actual fight.

Are the Jets proud of this guy or wondering why the hell they hired him?

Channing Crowder, who gets paid to beat the heck out of guys, out-witted and out-smarted an NFL coach.

Crowder also decided to be the bigger man and end this little feud.

That is just one aspect of how the Dolphins won this battle.

The other aspect is that members of the Dolphins front office refused to get involved, whereas members of the Jets front office were in the middle of it.

So who looks more respectable? The Dolphins or the Jets?

I think it is obvious, but you tell me.

The Return of Jameer Nelson Has Ruined Rafer Alston

Andrew Robeson — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 23:06:39 -0400

Much has been made about Jameer Nelson's surprise return to the Orlando Magic for the NBA Finals. Nelson was having an All-Star type season before his "season ending" injury four months ago.

However, after his injury the Magic brought in Rafer Alston to play the point, and he was the guy who took the Magic through the playoffs.

So, who gets the minutes?

The better player or the guy who was actually on the court when the Magic slayed King LeBron?

What should have happened was Jameer Nelson taking Anthony Johnson's minutes.

Although Nelson is better than Alston, why mess with a winning formula?

All that went out the door in the second quarter of Game One.

Nelson played the entire quarter while Alston watched.

Now, let me tell you something about Rafer Alston.

He is a head case.

A nut.

Someone who hates authority and does not always get along with teammates.

When general manager Otis Smith was discussing the trade that brought Alston to the Magic, he referred to him as "Plan F," as in the plan that came after A,B,C,D, and E.

When Alston was asked to discuss his reputation, he said "Sometimes I allow my emotions to get the best of me."

However, something is different about Alston's relationship with Stan Van Gundy. The only times Alston has made it out of the first round of the playoffs, Van Gundy has been his coach.

These two had a relationship that no other coach had been able to have with Alston. There was mutual respect and Alston performed at his peak for Van Gundy.

In Game Six of the Eastern Conference Finals, Rafer Alston played 38 minutes, had 13 points, and the Orlando Magic won.

Game Five against the Cavs?

Alston had three points and the Magic lost.

Game Four?

26 points and a Magic victory.

While there are definitely other factors, there is some correlation between Alston's success and the Magic's success.

So, let's get back to the discussion here.

Van Gundy pretty much benched Alston for the entire second quarter of Game One. With Alston's fragile mindset, you know that had to do something to his game.

While Alston was not having a great game to begin with in Game One, he quickly deteriorated after Nelson replaced him.

He shot two-of-nine from the field and missed numerous open shots.

Van Gundy openly insulted Alston after the game for his poor performance.

Come on Stan.

Do you not realize what you did this guy?

He got you here, not Jameer Nelson.

With your team down, it should have been Alston on the court.

Not Nelson.

We all know Nelson is better, but, even saying that, who takes four months off and comes out sharp?

Nelson played well, but still only shot three-of-nine from the field.

Alston's ego is hurt, and once that happens his game goes with it. It already looks too late to get him back on his game, even as Van Gundy went to Alston in the clutch in Game Two rather than Nelson.

In Game Two, Alston had one field goal on eight attempts while Nelson was one for three from the field.

Neither were on the court for the final minutes of the fourth quarter as Van Gundy instead opted to have shootings guard J.J. Redick and Courtney Lee on the floor.

The Magic managed to stay in the game with the help of their big men Dwight Howard, Hedo Turkoglu, and Rashard Lewis. However, it is difficult to win games when you only get eight combined points from your point guard position over five quarters.

Rashard Lewis, you know the small forward who was busy scoring 34 points and grabbing ten boards, had more assists with seven than the Alston and Nelson combined, which was five.

So, what did Stan accomplish?

He alienated his starting point guard to test out how good his backup was.

I hate to say it, but the Magic should have kept to their original story.

Jameer Nelson?

No way is he available for the Finals.

NBA Finals: Why Is There a Two-Home, Three-Away, Two-Home Game System?

Andrew Robeson — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 19:31:29 -0400

The other day I made the mistake of predicting the Orlando Magic winning their series against the Lakers in six games.

My reasoning? Well, I thought the Magic would beat the Lakers, but thought the Magic could not beat the Lakers in Game Seven in Los Angeles.

"So why could they win Game Six in L.A.?" my friends quickly asked me.

Oops.

After watching several playoff series go to seven games, I had gotten accustomed to the system of two-home, two-away, one-home, one-away, one-home the NBA uses before the Finals.

So that got me wondering. Why does the NBA change the format for the Finals?

The first thing I found out was that the NBA made the switch to the current format for the Finals in 1985. Guess which commissioner made that decision?

David Stern.

At the beginning of his job as commissioner, Stern made the decision to move the current system because "[it] reduced travel and would give players more rest and encourage media attendance."

Paging David Stern: Travel methods have gotten a lot better since 1985. Oh, and the media attendance is not really a problem anymore.

Personally, I prefer the system the NBA uses throughout the playoffs. It gives the away team three games to win on the road before their final game at home.

As a player or coach, I would much rather have three chances to win the away game necessary for an underdog to win a series before my final home game.

If the Magic lose tonight, then they must win all three of their home games and then return to L.A. to win Game Six or Game Seven. Or they could win two at home and then win both Game Six and Game Seven, but the likelihood of that occurring is small.

The current system for the Finals gives an advantage to the home team that is greater than four home games. It makes it very difficult for the underdog to win unless they win one of the first two games.

Anyone who watches the playoffs knows that home court advantage grows as a series gets older. The fans in L.A. will be much crazier in Game Six than they were in Game One.

So why doesn't the NBA switch to the format used for the playoffs prior to the Finals?

I do not expect you to be surprised by the answer, as it is obviously money.

But now it must be shown how the current system produces more money, which just helps illustrate why it is unfair.

The current system guarantees a longer series. It makes it less likely that the home team will win its first two games and then win two of the next three on the road. Thus, instead of a five-game series, it makes it more likely there will be a six or seven-game series.

At the same time, it makes it less likely that the away team will be able to win the series as previously mentioned.

What the NBA fails to realize is that even if they were to go to the two-two-one-one-one system, the series is still likely to go to at least six games. However, this system gives the away team a more fair chance at winning.

Everyone knows David Stern loves money, and he has done wonders for the NBA in his 25 years as commissioner. But it is time that the NBA fixes the Finals. Especially since we do not have to worry about travel or media coverage anymore!

Florida Marlins in Danger of Becoming Endangered

Andrew Robeson — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 18:12:45 -0400

Two weeks into the young MLB season I was predicting a World Series Championship for my hometown Florida Marlins.

1997, 2003, 2009—that's every six years! It made sense that 2009 would be the Marlins' year.

Even if you did not want to believe the Marlins were World Series contenders, they sure looked like a playoff team. They were five games ahead of everybody in the NL East, they had a pitching staff that looked incredible, and they had a productive lineup.

However, after getting off to an 11-1 start, the Marlins have gone 12-27. Yikes. That means they are not even winning one game every series.

So what happened to my beloved Fish?

Well, it turns out that Emilio Bonifacio is not the league's best hitter—who would have guessed? Whereas in the first two weeks of the season the guy had a batting average over .400, he now has an on base percentage below .300.

It also turns out that Ricky Nolasco is not the ace everyone thought he was. I am no expert, but I did not think ace pitchers should have had to be sent down to the minors for midseason tune-ups.

Cameron Maybin, the Marlins' star prospect, has also been sent to the minors.

Did I mention the injuries yet? Oh, there have been plenty. Anibal Sanchez—hurt. Hanley Ramirez—hurt. Jorge Cantu—a nagging hand injury.

And the prospects the Marlins could call up to replace their injured players? Gaby Sanchez and Logan Morrison—both hurt. Rick VandenHurk and Ryan Tucker—also hurt.

So the Marlins basically have problems everywhere. Is that not the only way a team can go from league best to fourth in their own division?

The Marlins were that good. The Marlins could play at that level.

But the Marlins team lacked the depth to survive a 162-game season. Apparently, they also lacked the depth to last more than two weeks at the top.

Only one player on the entire team is hitting above .300, and that's franchise player Hanley Ramirez.

Only two pitchers are winning more than half their games, and they are Josh Johnson and Burke Badenhop. Yes, Burke Badenhop. If you are not a Marlins fan, then the only thing you are wondering right now is: Who the heck is Burke Badenhop?

With a healthy pitching staff, the Marlins would be a .500 team at best, considering how poor their hitting has been. Even Jorge Cantu has fallen off greatly.

It's kind of sad when you think all the Marlins had to do was play .500 ball after their 11-1 start to be 10 games over at the All-Star break.

From five games ahead to six-and-a-half back, it would seem the Marlins could throw the towel in on their 2009 season. And trust me, it pains me to say that.

Tony Sparano: A Humble Man Who Transformed The Dolphins and The NFL

Andrew Robeson — Mon, 25 May 2009 18:45:41 -0400

Its hard to believe the head coach of a team that had the best turnaround from a one-win season in NFL history could be under-appreciated, but Tony Sparano is. So why is Sparano under-appreciated?

Sparano had to share the spotlight with football mastermind Bill Parcells. He had to share the spotlight as new owner Stephen Ross immersed himself into the Dolphins organization. He had to share the spotlight as the Dolphins success was attributed to Joey Porter and Chad Pennington’s re-emergence.

Not much of the spotlight was left for Tony Sparano. Sure, he got some credit, but not nearly enough.

The best turnaround in league history. From one win to 11 wins. That just does not happen. When teams hit league bottom, they stay there. Just ask the Lions.

Not even the Dolphins 10 win improvement could win Sparano the AP Coach of the Year award. Mike Smith won that award in Atlanta with a seven win improvement. An award that surely would have been Sparano’s had the spotlight been his, or had he been a flashier coach.

Sparano is not that type of coach. In an age where coaches and owners have become celebrities themselves Sparano prefers to go about his work with little fanfare.

Trying to find information on Sparano is difficult; there just is not much to go on.

So how did this little-known first-year coach transform the NFL in 2008?

He decided to run the Wildcat.

The Dolphins were having a rough start to the season. They were 0-2 and heading back from a crushing defeat in Arizona.

What was Tony Sparano thinking about? He wanted Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams on the field at the same time. Two of the best running backs in the league; oh the havoc they could wreak if used right.

Wildcat.

Somehow it clicked for Sparano. He gave the orders to his assistants.

“I called David [Lee] to the front of the plane and said, 'Look. Here's what I want: Tomorrow when we get back, I want three runs, maybe a pass out of this Wildcat package” Sparano commented after the idea came to him on a charter flight home.

Lee, the quarterbacks coach, would draw up those plays. The Dolphins would then go to New England and rock the Patriots world.

The league took notice of the Dolphins, even if the league did not take notice of Tony Sparano.

Sparano’s idea forced teams to spend extra time preparing for the Wildcat. It forced them to live in fear of Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams running wild around the field. That was before the flea-flickers and end-arounds were even introduced.

How much did the Wildcat help the Dolphins? While their success can not be fully attributed to it, the Dolphins went 11-3 after its introduction.

That has to make Dolphins fans feel excited about next season.

Sure, Bill Parcells is considered the mastermind behind the Dolphins success. He put the pieces together, but Sparano was the one who utilized them.

Parcells can only be given so much credit for what the Dolphins did. Sparano was the one on the sidelines, not Parcells. Parcells did not even accompany the team for away games.

I am in no way trying to take away from what Parcells has done because he did amazing things for the Dolphins. One of those amazing things was bringing in Sparano.

Sparano spent four years under Parcells in Dallas, as did Paul Pasqualoni.

After being hired Sparano was responsible for bringing in Pasqualoni to be defensive coordinator. Pasqualoni would be the one to implement the Dolphins 3-4 defense that would allow Joey Porter’s resurgence.

So with little attention Sparano changed the Dolphins, and he changed the NFL. While he may not be well known, he is well respected both within the Dolphins and outside the Dolphins.

“The guys passionate. He loves to come out here and watch his players play, and he throws himself completely into it” remarked team leader and quarterback Chad Pennington.

The Dolphins have three more years of Sparano. Parcells is also under contract for three more years, but a clause that was activated when Wayne Huizenga sold the Dolphins to Ross would allow Parcells to leave whenever he pleases.

The Dolphins have great management, and with the leadership of Sparano they should have continued success.

The following quote would not mean as much unless I put it in context. A rookie coach taking the reins of a 1-15 team, and what did Sparano say?

“I’m not afraid of challenges. I look forward to them.”

If I Could Interview Jason Taylor I Would Ask...

Andrew Robeson — Sun, 24 May 2009 18:08:22 -0400

Growing up as a Dolphins fan in the 90s and 00s my two favorite players were Zach Thomas and Jason Taylor. They were consistent, loyal, and down right good.

Luckily the Dolphins brought back Taylor for the 2009 season. It was painful not having either Thomas or Taylor for the 2009 season!

If, as a CBSSPORTS.com NFL correspondent, I got the chance to sit down and have a one-on-one interview with Jason Taylor here is what I would ask him:

Q: ason, you signed a one-year deal in Miami. Is this your last season or will it depend on playing time and performance?

-I would ask this because I believe it is Jason Taylor’s intent to retire in Miami. He is getting old for a pass rusher, as he will turn 35 this year, and his career is coming to an end. I would not want to put him in a corner though so that is why I would ask if his performance would affect his decision.

Q: Jason, the Dolphins have not promised you a starting job. In fact they have publicly stated you will need to fight for a job as a linebacker. Would you be able to live with a reduced role? Do you think you will be able to beat Matt Roth and Cameron Wake for a starting job?

-I would ask this because it would be interesting to see how a former Pro Bowler and Defensive Player of the Year would accept a reduce role on a team he once starred for.

The second part of the question would just be to see if Taylor would create any inner-competition between him and his teammates. It would be surprising if Taylor said anything other than a proper response, but it would be worth asking.

Q: Jason, last season was I will call an “off” season for you. What changed in Washington after having at least eight sacks for seven straight seasons?

-I would ask this because there is concern about Taylor’s decreased production in Washington last year. I would want to know if Taylor would put blame on himself or the organization. In an interview with ESPN he seemed to imply he was not comfortable with the Redskins’ system, organization, or players.

Q: Jason, when you left the Dolphins after the 2007 season you had problems with Dolphins management, specifically Bill Parcells, after missing camps to participate in Dancing With the Stars. Did you mend fences in order to negotiate your return?

-Taylor left Miami on good terms with the Dolphins fan base, but the same can not be said for the organization. Him and Parcells did not see eye to eye on several things. They have been mum on his return so it would be interesting to know what occurred behind the scenes to allow his return.

Q: Jason, you left Miami to try and play for a contender. How did it feel to watch the team you had spent your entire career playing for make the playoffs without you?

-There really has not been too much discussion about this other than for Taylor to say he was happy for the Fins. I would hope Jason would get into the true emotions of the situation as I am sure it had to be disappointing for him.

Q: Jason, in 2007 when you and Joey Porter shared the field there were mixed results. Last year while you were in Washington Porter had one of the best seasons of his career. Are there any plans in place to improve the results when you and Porter share the field?

-I would ask this pretty much because of what the question says. Porter and Taylor did not have their best seasons when they both played outside linebacker for the Dolphins in 2007.

While Taylor will probably not be on the field as much with Porter, it would still occur. It would be nice to see the Dolphins make an adjustment with both guys on the field to improve the results with the

Q: Jason, aside from being a six-time Pro Bowl selection, you have won numerous other awards from the NFL. One of those was Defensive Player of the Year in 2006 and another was Walter Payton Man of the Year award in 2007, which honors players for both their on and off field accomplishments. Which award meant more to you?

-I would ask this to see what means the most to Taylor: football or the community. From what I have seen of Taylor I would expect him to say the Payton award. He is a huge contributor in the community and his accomplishments stretch well beyond the football field.

Q: Jason, when you are done playing football you have expressed an interest in being an actor. If you could do a movie with one person, who would it be?

-After all the serious questions, I think it would be appropriate to have a fun question to answer.

So Who Called a Nuggets and Magic Final?

Andrew Robeson — Fri, 22 May 2009 00:11:24 -0400

Wow.

Three games have been played between the Western and Eastern Conference Finals, and in two of those games the underdog won. Who was expecting that?

Going into the playoffs, people were already sure the NBA finals would be between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Cleveland Cavaliers. Both teams were dominant at home, and everyone's predictions looked right as the Lakers and Magic made their way into their respective finals.

The Lakers had fallen back to earth some as they barely snuck by a Yao-less Rockets, but the Cavaliers had yet to lose in two rounds of the playoffs.

Then the Nuggets went to Los Angeles and nearly beat the Lakers in Game One. In Game Two, the Nuggets came back against the Lakers like the Lakers had done to them in Game One.

The Nuggets leave Los Angeles tied 1-1, looking like the better team. They stole home court and only have to win out at home in order to win the series. Not an easy feat, but one the Nuggets could pull off.

But before the Nuggets beat the Lakers in LA, something even more amazing happened. A team that lost two games to the 76ers and three games to the Celtics went to Cleveland and beat the Cavaliers.

Are you kidding me?

This is not how fairytales are supposed to happen. This is not supposed to be Howard against Anthony!

This is supposed to be Bryant against James in the Finals! This is LeBron's year! He has the MVP now give him his deserved title ring!

Oh how the NBA must be shuddering in fear. How could the perfect script be ruined?

Obviously the Cavs can still beat the Magic in this series. If they fall into a 0-2 hole, it would be miraculous to see them make the finals.

On Wednesday night the Magic looked like the more complete team, and like the Nuggets, all they have to do is win out at home to win the Eastern Conference Title.

So what has gone wrong for the Cavs and Lakers? What is preventing this dream matchup?

The stars are doing what they are supposed to do. Bryant went for 32 points points in the Lakers defeat. He even got his role support from Pau Gasol as he added 17 points and 17 rebounds.

The Lakers were outplayed, arguably in both games. Anthony and Chauncy Billups look unstoppable.

So what went wrong for the Cavs? James went for 49 points and all five Cleveland starters scored at least in the double digits.

James and Bryant are not supposed to lose when they get role support. But they will lose when they get outplayed. So I guess that means the Nuggets and Magic have both outplayed the Lakers and Cavs in at least one game so far.

If you ask me, I want to see the Nuggets and Magic in the final. I hate predictable endings. Shock us. Do something amazing.

Miami Dolphins: Five Best Plays of 2008

Andrew Robeson — Wed, 20 May 2009 20:50:46 -0400

So I know there has already been one of these posted, but these are the REAL five most effective plays of 2008. Plus I am giving you a bonus play, so get excited. In 2008 coach Tony Sparano mixed up the Dolphins game plan with some new plays. I tried to choose some plays that are likely to still be used in the 2009 season.

Begin Slideshow

Miami Dolphins: 2009 Key Positional Battles

Andrew Robeson — Mon, 18 May 2009 20:13:55 -0400

Heading into the Miami Dolphins’ training camps and preseason, there are several positions that are still up for grabs. Let’s take a look at what positional battles are the most interesting and important. You might just see some familiar faces replaced by some new ones.

Matt Roth vs. Cameron Wake/Jason Taylor To Start at Outside Linebacker

Last year was Matt Roth’s first at outside linebacker for the Dolphins after making the switch from defensive end.

Roth had 56 tackles, five sacks, and two forced fumbles in 2008. His statistics were not overwhelming, but Roth was well-known for his jarring hits. Roth looked promising enough that the job should be his to begin 2009.

However, any great strides made by Cameron Wake could change that.

Wake comes to the Dolphins from the CFL where he was selected the Most Outstanding Defensive Player both seasons he spent there. In those two seasons, he recorded 39 sacks which could greatly add to the Fins’ pass-rushing ability. Wake’s transition to the NFL will be something to follow closely as the Fins progress through camps.

The last thing to mention here is Jason Taylor’s return to the Dolphins. It is expected he will be an outside linebacker, but with these two young talents, he might struggle for playing time. Look for him to a third-down rusher rather than a force in the linebacker corps.

Jason Allen vs. Vontae Davis/Sean Smith/Eric Green To Start at Cornerback

Right now it is Jason Allen’s job to lose. However, it is likely he will lose it.

Allen has been unimpressive in three seasons with the Dolphins and this will be his make-or-break year.

Unfortunately for Allen, but fortunately for the Dolphins, he will have stiff competition to win a starting job. Green comes to the Dolphins after four seasons with the Arizona Cardinals, where he had 39 tackles and an interception last year.

Davis and Smith joined the Dolphins in the 2009 draft. While Davis was the first round pick, Smith also looks to be formidable cornerback as he stands in at 6'4" and runs 4.5 40-yard dash. Do not be too surprised if Smith emerges as a dark horse candidate for this job, but Davis might be the current favorite.

Whoever wins will be starting opposite Will Allen, who pretty much cemented his starting job with a solid 2008 season.

Phillip Merling vs. Randy Starks To Start at Defensive End

Unlike many of the Dolphins' battles, this one involves two returning players.

Vonnie Holiday left the Dolphins after 2009, vacating his starting job. Starks was solid when he saw the field last year, as he recorded three sacks and even an interception.

While Starks has been around the NFL a while, Merling was a rookie with the Dolphins last year. Merling is the taller of the two, but also the lighter and more agile. This is likely his job to lose as the Dolphins will expect him to increase his production in his sophomore campaign.

Merling only had one sack in 2008, but he did record a key interception for a TD in the Dolphins' season finale (pictured above).

Regardless of who wins this job, the loser should still get plenty of time on the field as both players are solid.

Pat White vs. Chad Henne To Be the Back-Up for Chad Pennington

While this might not be a pressing issue for 2009, it is a pressing issue for the Dolphins future.

Last year, Chad Henne was heralded as the future of the Dolphins at quarterback. Then, Bill Parcells threw everyone for a loop when he drafted Pat White this year.

White and Henne were both solid college quarterbacks, White is the more versatile of the two. White will likely see more playing time than Henne this year, as the Dolphins may look to put him under center in the Wildcat. White can run effectively, and actually be a threat to throw unlike when Ronnie Brown stood under center for the Wildcat.

If White is successful then he may end up being the quarterback of the future for the Dolphins. Both players should still be afforded time to develop as Pennington looks to lead the Fins to another playoff berth.

Ted Ginn vs. Davone Bess/Greg Camarillo/Patrick Turner/Brian Hartline for Passes from Pennington

So who will be Pennington’s favorite target this year?

Last year it switched almost every game. Anthony Fasano and David Martin proved to be more reliable as receiving targets than the Dolphins’ actual receivers.

Bess ended up being the most reliable receiver, while Ginn ended up being the most dangerous. Bess has his job as a third-down receiver secure, but this year he will look to expand his role.

Ginn must finally tap into his potential and prove that he is a threat. Camarillio will return from injury and hope to show the Dolphins made a good decision by giving him a long-term deal last season.

However, the Dolphins obviously did not feel safe going into 2009 with just these three receivers, as they brought in Hartline and Turner to compete for time. Expect to see Turner make an immediate impact and take someone’s passes away.

Obviously any of these battles could drastically change based on injury or outstanding performance during camps and the preseason. Bill Parcells and Tony Sparano are not known for playing favorites; whoever is the best at their position will be the starter. Keep an eye on how Camarillo returns from injury and how the Fins decide to utilize Pat White.

Dodgers-Marlins: LA Romps Florida; Kershaw Takes No-Hit Bid Into Eighth

Andrew Robeson — Sun, 17 May 2009 17:19:00 -0400

Clayton Kershaw was wild on Sunday. At times, he struggled with his control and had thrown over 100 pitches by the eight inning. Yet, after seven innings, he still had not allowed a hit.

While not having the best control, Kershaw still pitched an effective game. So effective that many at LandShark Stadium were preparing to witness history.

Perhaps it was his own team that doomed Kershaw. The top of the eighth was a long one as the Dodgers put four runs on the board to give Kerhsaw a 10-run lead. By the time he returned to the mound, his sharpness was gone and his velocity was decreased.

Cody Ross, the first batter of the eighth, broke up his no-hitter with a line drive double to left. Ross would later in a grand-slam in the ninth off relief pitcher Guillermo Mota.

The game started out poorly for the Marlins, as John Koronka struggled through his second start of the year. Koronka cost himself by committing an error in both the first and second inning.

The Marlins started the game with two solid swings off Kershaw. A diving Orlando Hudson prevented a hit by leadoff man Emilio Bonifacio and Juan Pierre made a nice grab in left field on a ball hit by Wes Helms

The only other well-hit ball by a Marlin before Ross' double was a line drive by Jeremy Hermida which was snagged by Xavier Paul in right field.

Other than that, Kershaw was lights out.

Juan Pierre and Mark Loretta had three RBI apiece at the top of the Dodger's lineup to fuel their 12-5 victory.

Early Expectations for the Miami Dolphins' 2009 Season

Andrew Robeson — Thu, 14 May 2009 02:19:38 -0400

Last season, the Dolphins went 11-5. This year expect the Dolphins to have to pull a miracle or two just to get to 10 wins.

In 2008 the Dolphins were 2-0 against the Bills, 1-1 against the Patriots, and 1-1 against the Jets in their own division. Outside their division the Fins beat the Chargers, Broncos, Seahawks, Raiders, Rams, 49ers, and Chiefs. They came out on the losing end of games against the Cardinals, Texans, and Ravens (twice including the playoffs).

While the Dolphins had the best turnaround in NFL history last year while going from one win to 11, there were still things to be concerned about.

The Dolphins went 1-3 against playoff teams, including their post-season game against the Ravens. All of their wins except for two came against teams that were .500 or under.

One of the wins against an above .500 team was when the Dolphins unleashed the Wildcat for the first time on the Patriots. The second of those wins was against the Jets in the season finale when Brett Favre looked like he belonged anywhere but on a football field.

The Dolphins were not a fluke. They were a good team. In 2008 they were able to beat all the bad to mediocre teams they faced, save for the Texans.

However, in 2009 there is no longer a schedule full of games that put the Dolphins against the league's worst. In fact it is quite the opposite.

Let's take a look.

Sep 13. @ Atlanta 1:00pm

For the Dolphins first game they will have to go on the road to play a tough Falcons team. The Falcons were a playoff team last year and nearly beat the eventual NFC champion Arizona Cardinals in the first round.

Sophomore quarterback Matt Ryan had an amazing rookie season and should be even more dangerous with another year under his belt and with Tony Gonzalez as his new option at tight end.

This team did not lose much in the offseason but they were able to add defensive tackle Peria Jerry in the first round of this year’s draft who should make an immediate impact on their defense. I chalk this game up as a tough loss.

Sep 21. Indianapolis 8:30pm

No there is not let down after traveling to Atlanta. The Dolphins must come back to Florida to face the ever dangerous Indianapolis Colts. However, there are two main intangibles that might give the Dolphins a win; this is a Monday night game at LandShark Stadium.

The Colts have yet to re-sign Peyton Manning’s favorite threat Marvin Harrison and lost back-up running back Dominic Rhodes to free agency. While a game against the Colts will never be easy, I see this one as a victory.

Sep 27. @ San Diego 4:15pm

Last season the Dolphins beat the Chargers 17-10 at home. The Chargers would eventually sneak into the playoffs, but the Chargers who lost to the Dolphins on October 5, 2008 got much better as the season went on. Phillip Rivers became one of the leagues premier quarterbacks.

Darren Sproles and LaDainian Tomlinson have the ability to run wild against any defense. Speaking of defense the Chargers will get Shawne Merriman back off the injured reserve and picked up defense end Larry English in the draft. This is not a game I expect the Dolphins to win in San Diego.

Oct 4. Buffalo 4:05pm, Nov 29. @Buffalo 1:00pm

If there is a game the Dolphins should win, it is this one. The additions of Terrell Owens and Dominic Rhodes should have little impact on a team that still has no quarterback. The Miami Dolphins were one game short of missing Marshawn Lynch’s three game suspension, but he still should be a little off his game for their first meeting.

The Bills are highly improved, as they also added Seth McKinney through free agency and drafted Aaron Maybin. However, I still see the Dolphins winning their first meeting easily and winning their second meeting in a close affair.

Oct 12. NYJ 8:30pm, @ NYJ Nov 1 1:00pm

It has always been a hard feat for the Dolphins to sweep the Jets, but I think this will be one of those years. The Jets have a choice between two inexperience quarterbacks; either of whom will be facing an incredible Dolphins defense. I

n the draft the Jets addressed few problems as overall they had few picks. Unless Mark Sanchez turns out to be a Matt Ryan or Joe Flacco the Dolphins should win on Monday night at home and on the road November 1.

Oct 25. New Orleans 4:15pm

The Saints had an uneventful offseason after finishing 8-8 last season. The Saints are always dangerous with Drew Brees at the helm, but the Saints are a relatively mediocre team overall. I do not expect them to beat the Dolphins at home this year. The Dolphins will be coming off a bye week and should be prepared to beat the Saints.

Nov. 8 @ New England 1:00pm, Dec 6. New England 8:20pm

Tom Brady is back this year. That makes the Patriots scary again. Even with Brady missing and the Wildcat formation, the Dolphins only won once against the Patriots last year.

The Patriots went out and got Joey Galloway as another threat for Brady and strengthened their defense through the draft and free agency. I would love to see the Dolphins beat the Patriots twice, but unfortunately I think it will be the Patriots beating the Fins twice.

Nov 15 Tampa Bay 1:00pm

Last year a late season collapse prevented the Bucs from making the playoffs. As a result, coach Jon Gruden was fired in January. New coach Raheem Morris will try to find a starting quarterback amongst Byron Leftwich, Luke McCown, Brian Griese and first round draft choice Josh Freeman.

Whoever wins the battle will still have Antonio Bryant and Michael Clayton to throw to, as well as new addition Kellen Winslow. The Dolphins should win this game against a rookie coach and at home. Plus, none of the Bucs choices at quarterback look overly appealing.

Nov 19. @ Carolina 8:20pm

On short rest the Dolphins will head to play the Panthers on a Thursday night. Luckily, Carolina will be dealing with same situation. The Panthers were a dominant team last year and Deangelo Williams emerged as a premier running back.

The Panthers remain relatively unchanged from last season and I think this is game is a toss-up. Based off the fact the game is in Carolina, I predict a win for Carolina.

Dec 13. @ Jacksonville 1:00pm

Road games are always tough, but this is one the Dolphins should win. Jacksonville self-destructed both internally and on the field last season. David Garrard did not turn out to be the quarterback the Jags were hoping for and Jack Del Rio lost control of his team. I see this being a road victory for the Dolphins.

Dec 20. @ Tennessee 1:00pm

Tennessee was one of the best teams in the league last year, and there is no reason to believe they will not be again. The Titans did lose Albert Haynesworth, but other than their teams remains relatively intact from last season. Expect this to be a road loss for the Fins.

Dec 27. Houston 1:00pm

The Dolphins notoriously struggle against one of the NFL’s consistently worst teams: the Houston Texas. Last year it was a last second scramble as the clock ticked off that cost the Dolphins the game. This year the Texans have to come to Florida, and the Fins will be looking for revenge.

The Texans have a nice young team highlighted by Matt Schaub, Steve Slaton, and Andre Johnson on offense. With that being said, I expected the Fins to blowout the Texans this year.

Jan 3. Pittsburgh 1:00pm

Did you watch the Super Bowl last year? Well this year the Steelers come to Miami to face the Dolphins. The last few times the Fins have faced the Steelers it has been a close game. The Steelers let players like Nate Washington and Larry Foote depart after the season, but made sure to lock up Hines Ward and James Harrison.

One thing to consider about the last game is that its possible that Pittsburgh will have the playoffs clinched and sit their starters. Since I can not assume that, I mark this one as a Steelers win.

Well with my predictions, that would give the Dolphins a 9-7 season. Hopefully they can surprise me and pull out an extra victory for a playoff birth.

A pro about the Dolphins schedule is that they do not have to travel to any cold regions during the late parts of the season, except Buffalo in late November. A major con about this schedule is how strong it is. Many of the teams the Dolphins face this year were playoff teams or were better on paper than they actually performed.

Last year the Dolphins were handed an easy schedule and they made the most of it. The Dolphins were aware of this though, and did not assume they could put the same team on the field and win 11 games this year.

Key arrivals include free agents Gibril Wilson and Jason Taylor. Wilson will look to help a weak secondary that should also get help from first round draft pick Vontae Davis and Yeremiah Bell who signed a long-term deal.

Taylor will join Joey Porter, Matt Roth, and Channing Crowder, who signed a multi-year extension, in what could become one of the premier linebacker corps in the league. The Dolphins also looked to address a depth problem at wide receiver by drafting Brian Hartline out of Ohio State and Patrick Turner out of USC.

Key departures include Vonnie Holiday, Andre Goodman, and Renaldo Hill who all played on the defensive side of the ball. The Dolphins will look to Jason Allen and Davis to fill the void left by Goodman while Wilson will replace Hill.

For the Dolphins to excel again this year Chad Pennington needs to have another career year. For that to happen some wide receivers need to emerge on this team, and quickly. If Pennington has no quality receivers to go to this team can go no where. Something that would be nice would be increased production from Ronnie Brown.

In 2007 he looked like the best back in the league before his injury, but last year he was not nearly as impressive. If he runs better it will help Pennington’s game even more.

On the defensive side of the ball the Dolphins need newcomers Wilson and Davis to shore up a weak secondary. The Dolphins should have relatively little problems stopping the run, but a poor pass defense could be their downfall.

Last year the defense was hurt by a poor special teams unit that often gave opposing offenses good field advantage. This also needs to improve for the Dolphins to have a solid year.

The Dolphins have improved this off-season. I would even go as far as to say greatly improved. The real problem is their new schedule. If they had the same schedule as last year I would have them penciled in for 13 wins this year.

Hopefully I am wrong and the Dolphins can make it to the playoffs with this solid team. Jason Taylor is sure to be a lightning bolt and veteran leader for the Dolphins, something to what Alonzo Mourning was for the Heat in recent years. Surprise the NFL again Fins.

Jason Taylor Returns to Miami To Star for Dolphins Once Again

Andrew Robeson — Wed, 13 May 2009 14:51:22 -0400

Jason Taylor was loved in South Florida, so Dolphins fans understood when their star player no longer wanted to play for a team that was "rebuilding."

Last year both Taylor and Zach Thomas departed South Florida after the Dolphins' worst season in their history, when they finished 1-15.

Then, Taylor and Thomas had to watch as the team they were most associated with made the playoffs without either of them.

Now, Taylor will return in hopes of making a similar run this year.

How much did playing for the Dolphins again mean to Taylor? He turned down $8.5 million from the Redskins next season to sign a one-year contract with the Fins for $1.5 million.

Shortly after announcing his signing, Taylor stated, "My heart has always been in Miami, and so I'm truly excited to call myself a Dolphin once again."

Well, Jason, the Fins, as well as their fans, are truly happy to have you as a Fin once again.

Taylor was drafted by the Dolphins in 1997 and played every season with them until he was traded to the Redskins in 2008 for two draft picks. In 2006 Taylor won Defensive Player of the Year honors when he compiled 13.5 sacks, forced nine fumbles, and also had two interceptions.

While it would be unlikely that Taylor could achieve such numbers again at outside linebacker, he should be able to create problems for opposing quarterbacks playing alongside the fearsome Joey Porter.

That tandem will put two of the most feared defensive players in the league in the same linebacker corps. There is no doubt this addition will help the Dolphins on defense just by adding another threat for offenses to be concerned about.

Taylor helps solve an issue that was left unresolved in the Dolphins' draft: The Fins needed another pass rusher.

While Porter and Taylor played alongside each other in 2007 with mediocre results, it is important to note that this is not the same Dolphins organization that was coaching the two at the time. Bill Parcells and Tony Sparano obviously see a way they can make this work.

In the end, the Dolphins bring back their all-time leader in sacks. But for those close to the situation, there was no real surprise. Taylor always intended to come back to the Dolphins to finish his career.

The Most Surprising Aspect of the Manny Ramirez Drama? He Cared Enough to Cheat

Andrew Robeson — Thu, 07 May 2009 18:19:16 -0400

Manny Ramirez has never been known for his hard work or respect for baseball.

Manny is a great player, but it seemed he just played baseball because he was good at it, instead of a love for the game.

Playing was not enough to keep Manny interested. He had to high-five fans after making a catch. He trotted around the diamond admiring his home run, only to realize he was actually admiring a ball that would hit off the fence.

During games at Fenway Park, he would disappear into the Green Monster during pitching changes. One time, Red Sox pitcher Wade Miller had to wait for Ramirez to return to resume the game.

So why would a guy who could not care less about the game use steroids? (And let's face it: The guy used. I am tired of hearing the same excuse.)

For those still not convinced, consider this: Ramirez has already decided not to appeal his suspension and forfeit over seven million dollars in salary.

Manny Ramirez is a client of Scott Boras. Add him to the list of Boras' clients caught or suspected of using. That list includes Alex Rodriguez, Eric Gagne, Ivan "Pudge" Rodriguez, Rick Ankiel, and Magglio Ordonez.

Anybody see a resemblance between Rodriguez and Ramirez's excuses? Boras seems to have pre-written excuses for his stars to use. Manny pointed out himself that he had been told not to elaborate.

Also, as Manny himself pointed out, he has been testing negative for years.

So why now?

Anybody remember this offseason when Scott Boras paraded Manny Ramirez around asking for record amounts of money? Remember what happened next?

Nobody wanted him.

Manny Ramirez may not care about baseball, but he does care about himself. Hence why after all but one Major League team had no interest in him, he would start using steroids.

Something key to note here is that Manny can opt out of the second year of his contract. If you try to think like Manny Ramirez, he sees a huge payday for himself if he has a monster year.

He figures he opts out of the contract and makes big money elsewhere.

Only one small problem Manny: You got caught.

So what happens next? More excuses, more press conferences, and a tainted Hall of Fame career. Welcome to the land of asterisks.

Why the Miami Heat Are Better with Joel Anthony on the Floor

Andrew Robeson — Sat, 02 May 2009 18:01:33 -0400

Maybe I am crazy, but I feel the Miami Heat are better when Joel Anthony is on the court than when he is not.

Anthony was one of the key reasons Dwyane Wade was able to drop 41 points in Friday night's victory against the Atlanta Hawks. Anthony freed Wade up several times by setting great picks.

It seemed like every time the Heat scored the camera would find an Atlanta player laying on the floor after being knocked there by Anthony.

The Heat traded for Jermaine O'Neal on Feb. 13 and Anthony's playing time has steadily decreased since.

The Heat are 15-9 in games when Anthony played 18 or more minutes this season.

Against the Hawks on Friday, Anthony was perfect from the field and totaled eight rebounds and three blocks in 35 minutes.

The only other game in which Anthony played more than 18 minutes was the series opener, and they were, for the majority, mop-up minutes.

On the other hand, the Heat are 14-17 when O'Neal logs similar minutes.

So what is the debate here?

The Heat have a better record when Anthony is playing. SO PLAY HIM. Yeah, Joel Anthony does not have nearly the star power of Jermaine O'Neal, but this is the NBA. All that matters is wins.

When the Heat go to Atlanta on Sunday afternoon, Joel Anthony should be starting.

No guy on the Heat puts out the consistent effort he does. People who have been watching the Heat all year long can attest to that.

The guy should be on the court. I do not care if that means starting Jermaine O'Neal at power forward or simply putting O'Neal behind Anthony on the depth chart.

O'Neal has been playing hurt the whole series. His knees, ankles, and head are all banged up.

Give him a break; let Joel Anthony take his minutes!

Johan Santana's Record Marred By Marlins' Efforts

Andrew Robeson — Fri, 01 May 2009 16:28:13 -0400

Johan Santana should be 5-0.

Mets fans know that best, but Marlins fans probably know that second-best.

That is because both Santana's one loss and his no decision have come against Florida. As it happens, Johan has faced Josh Johnson in both contests.

Santana's loss is probably the most difficult to take in baseball. Pitchers expect to lose games when they give up tons of runs in a short amount of innings, but they do not expect to lose games in which they go seven innings and do not give up an earned run, which is what Santana did in his first game against the Marlins.

A two-run error allowed the Marlins to win that game, as Johnson and Santana had been engaged in a classic pitcher's duel.

Then, in the next meeting of these two, neither got a decision.

Not to say Santana didn't outpitch Johnson on that occasion; Johan went seven innings while giving up two earned runs, whereas Johnson went six innings while giving up three earned runs.

Yet, Santana's bullpen let him down. Another quality performance from Santana was spoiled as the Mets failed to win when he pitched a gem.

It is tough being an ace pitcher because you have to throw against the aces of opposing teams. So far, Josh Johnson has been able to shut down the Mets lineup enough that the Marlins have been able to win two games in which Santana has been the starting pitcher.

Will the Mets learn how to support their superstar pitcher or will Santana finish with an ERA of 1.10 and no where near the record he deserves?

The Mets should be winning more than 60 percent of the games they play when this guy starts, especially when the only two games he did not win were games in which he went seven innings while giving up two or fewer runs.

Heat Want To Use Josh Smith's Dunk Attempt and Hard Fouls to Re-Ignite

Andrew Robeson — Fri, 01 May 2009 03:29:54 -0400

The game was over. The Miami Heat knew it. The Atlanta Hawks knew it. And Josh Smith knew it.

Yet this was not the NBA All-Star game where players clear the way to let the game's star show off their dunking prowess. Yet, there was Josh Smith trying to make fools out of the Miami Heat as he tried an acrobatic dunk towards the end of a meaningless game.

Now the Heat are hoping to make Smith look like the fool.

"Win, lose, or draw, you're supposed to be classy," Dwyane Wade commented in regards to Smith's dunk attempt.

The Hawks ensured themselves a hostile atmosphere when they go to Miami for Game 6. From the crowd, and from the Heat players.

"I don't mind. Let's turn it up a notch," Wade's co-captain Udonis Haslem said of the situation.

In sports, athletes always look for something to fire them up. Many are hoping that Smith's disrespect will provide a spark for the Heat.

After being man-handled and given a flagrant foul he did not deserve, the Heat's Dwyane Wade found his touch in the second half of Wednesday's game. Heat fans everywhere are hoping that he will be himself in Miami on Friday.

While the Celtics-Bulls series has highlighted the playoff's sparring, the Heat-Hawks series has also had its fair share of physicality. Friday night will predictably be another physical affair.

The Heat must win Games 6 and 7 to advance to face the Cavaliers in round two. If there were to be a Game 7, the series would head back to Atlanta.

Tensions High As Heat and Hawks Skirmish

Andrew Robeson — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 20:58:41 -0400

For those not watching the game, here is a quick update:

Dwyane Wade went hard to the hoop for a layup. Solomon Jones grabbed him by the waist and did not let go until he and Wade were almost on the crowd. Jamaal Magloire, extremely offended by Jones' action, decided to protect the Heat's superstar by shoving Jones as well as Josh Smith. Wade, Jones, Magloire, and Smith all received technicals.

On the next play the referees made a horrible call; they decided that a shot block attempt by Wade was a flagrant foul.

The refs are afraid this game will get out of control, and they might be right. However, they just gave the Hawks three points because of their fear.

The first problem arose when there was no foul call when Josh Smith bumped Wade hard to the ground, causing his head to hit the court with force.

Do not be surprised if more comes from this game. Stay posted.

Nebraska Huskers Take Two Game Set From New Mexico; Future Bright

Andrew Robeson — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 20:30:36 -0400

Over two days the Nebraska Huskers' Baseball team shut down one of the most potent offenses in college baseball. In the first game the Huskers only allowed two runs as senior Erik Bird threw a complete game for a 4-2 victory over the New Mexico Lobos.

Casey Hauptman turned in another great relief performance to get the victory in game two as the Huskers won 9-5. New Mexico came in with one of the best lineups in the nation as all but one of their starters has a batting average over .300.

While New Mexico's players were shut down, the Husker offense thrived. Catcher Cody Neer had six hits in the series and went 4-for-4 on Wednesday raising his average for the season to .312.

The series was a big victory for a Huskers team that has struggled this year. The Huskers have not had a losing record in over a decade but are currently two games under .500.

However, next year looks promising as the Huskers will be returning a large majority of their players. If their pitching improves they should be ready to compete in 2010.

Dwyane Wade's Health The Heat's Biggest Concern Following Game 4

Andrew Robeson — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 22:41:57 -0400

Game 4 was a loss for the Miami Heat regardless of the final score.

Dwyane Wade is hurt. Everyone who saw him play tonight knows it.

While there were numerous reports about what his injury was, his back according to Heat coach Erik Spoelstra or his legs and groin according to TNT sideline reporter Cheryl Miller, one thing was for sure; Dwyane Wade was not Dwyane Wade.

Even if the Heat manage to sneak past the Hawks into the second round, they will be gone in four games against the Cavaliers without a healthy Wade.

The good news is that there is time for Wade to recover.

The bad news is this injury seems more serious than anyone wants to let on.

Heat fans have seen this happen to Wade before. After the '04 Olympics he had these same tired legs. It is what happens after playing non-stop basketball for months on end.

TNT announcer Mike Fratello was quick to note that it looked like something was wrong with Wade's shots. They were coming up short, something he attributed to his "tired legs."

With Wade not playing like his normal self, the Heat quickly found themselves down 21 points.

Despite a furious comeback, headlined by two four-point plays by James Jones, the Heat found themselves with only 55 points entering the fourth quarter.

That is what happens when Wade is hurt; the Heat cannot score.

Every player Miami went to looked lost. Jermaine O'Neal failed to step up. Udonis Haslem, Michael Beasley, and Mario Chalmers all looked bewildered as Wade failed to make his usual shots. The only player who kept the Heat in it was James Jones.

Yes, James Jones. I am serious.

Wade found some semblance of his shot in the fourth quarter, but it all seemed a little too late.

The Hawks had their lead, and when Wade would make a shot they had no trouble matching him.

Miami are in trouble with Wade less than 100%. After Games 2 and 3, Heat fans were wondering how we would handle the Cavaliers.

Now the Heat will have to win in Atlanta again just to have a shot at the Cavaliers in Round 2.

Heat-Hawks Recap: Miami Remains on Fire

Andrew Robeson — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 21:20:43 -0400

As is typical with Heat victories, Dwyane Wade was the story Saturday night as the Miami Heat beat the Atlanta Hawks in Game Three of their first-round Eastern Conference Playoffs matchup to take a two-games-to-one lead.

He hit his usual shots, continued to make the three-point line look like the free-throw stripe, and then added four blocks on top of his great shooting.

But "Flash" usually dominates; only the tremendous long-range accuracy was at all an aberration.

What was truly surprising in this pivotal contest was the continued production from Miami center Jermaine O'Neal. He has rebounded from only having five shots in the Heat's first Playoff game to have two stellar performances back-to-back.

Just check his line of 22 points, 10 boards, and three blocks. Oh, and did I mention he went perfect from the charity stripe?

Actually, the entire Heat team was perfect from the free throw line, going 19-for-19. That would never have happened for the Heat's last postseason team, which featured Shaquille O'Neal.

Saturday night's victory was another team effort, as all five starters ended up in double digits. The Heat look to take a 3-1 series lead on Monday in Miami before they head back to Atlanta for Game Five.