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About

I'm John Friel: Your Miami Heat/NBA Featured Columnist.

My purpose here is to give a differing view and opinion from the mainstream media. In every one of my articles, I attempt to give a look into the sporting world that you haven't seen it before. Most of the time you'll disagree, but that's exactly the purpose. I intend to make you think about your current opinion, and hopefully make you at least think differently.

I am a die-hard fan of all South Florida teams (I try hard not to let that be known in my pieces) and have been through the little-seen successful periods and the all-too prevalent depressing periods. I was introduced to the game of basketball by my father who had me watching Michael Jordan at the start of the second three-peat. It was then that I first appreciated the game and knew that I had to find a way to involve myself in this game for the rest of my life.

I am the creator of hollywoodashellhoops.com, a website dedicated to all things Miami Heat.

Shoot me a message for my E-mail.

Short List

  • Favorite Athletes

    Dwyane Wade, LeBron James, Chris Bosh, Udonis Haslem, Steve Nash, Alonzo Mourning, Tim Hardaway, Charles Barkley, Kobe Bryant, LaMarcus Aldridge, Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Bill Russell, Larry Bird, Ricky Williams, Reggie Bush, and Jason Taylor

  • Favorite Sports Teams

    Miami Heat, Florida Marlins, Miami Dolphins, Florida Panthers, Miami Hurricanes

  • Favorite Coaches

    Tony Sparano, Phil Jackson, Pat Riley, Don Shula, Erik Spoelstra

  • All Time Sports Moment

    Michael Jordan's 'final' shot against the Utah Jazz in his last finals.

  • Most Memorable Game Attended

    Miami Heat vs. Detroit Pistons. Wade scores Heat's last 17 points in 4th quarter/Game 4 of 2003 World Series, Alex Gonzalez hits walk off hr in 12th inning

  • Most Unbreakable Sports Record

    Any record set by Wilt Chamberlain (50 ppg, 48.5 mpg, 100 point game, etc.)

  • Ruth or Mays?

    Ruth

  • Unitas or Montana?

    Montana

  • Jordan or Russell?

    Jordan

  • Gretzky or Orr?

    Gretzky

  • Pele or Maradona?

    Pele

  • Federer or Sampras?

    Federer

  • Tiger or Nicklaus?

    Tiger

  • Petty or Earnhardt?

    Earnhardt

  • Schumacher or Senna?

    Montoya

  • ACC, Big 12, Big East, Big Ten, Pac-12 or SEC?

    Colonial

Bulletin Board

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or to post this comment
  • Tyler Cameron posted 16 days ago

    Tyler Cameron

    John,
    Any chance the spurs are resting blair because of worry about bynum in rd 3?

  • Matt Donnelly posted 25 days ago

    Matt Donnelly

    John I've my prediction of Heat and Pacers happened finally and I think Pacers with their big men could give the Heat trouble, they are built much like the Bulls without the bench mob (excluding George Hill) I would like you to break down the series, which stars will show up and your final predictions.

  • James Phillips posted 34 days ago

    James Phillips

    I totally agree on Scalabrine being horrible & am glad I'm not the only one with some sense.

  • Kevin Huynh posted 37 days ago

    Kevin  Huynh

    Pure ignorance on Jamaal Tinsley. I can't take any of Friel's articles seriously because he obviously makes pretentious opinions. Everyone in Utah knows how valuable Jamaal has been this season.

  • James Phillips posted 41 days ago

    James Phillips

    well done on your least valuable player on each nba team article. Agreed on Scalabrine especially. the guy sucks & has an absurd cult following.

  • Lucas Maurice posted 46 days ago

    Lucas Maurice

    Hey John
    I'm a huge fan and love your writing. Bleacherreport, especially your writing, has inspired me to start writing about sports. I considered signing up for bleacherreport but instead decided to try to make my own website. http://bustasports.com/ is the link, and it would mean a ton if you checked it out and gave me some feedback. Feel free to give me positive or negative feedback, either way it means a lot. You can post on my profile or email me at lmssports@hotmail.com
    I also have a couple questions, so do you have a personal email I can reach you at?
    Thanks a lot and a reply would be huge for me.

  • A O posted 60 days ago

    A O

    John,

    Just watching your back here on the grammar side. When you pluralize something, the apostrophe is not appropriate. Other cringing periodically about the grammar, I enjoyed reading your article. Here are a couple examples that should help:

    Page 1 of this article with respect to more than one ego:

    Wrong: They get these ego's because of how much exposure they can receive.

    Right: They get these egos because of how much exposure they can receive.

    Another example (from page 8, related to more than one tattoo):

    Wrong: Instead, Andersen returned to the Nuggets with a mohawk and vibrant tattoo's all over his body.

    Right: Instead, Andersen returned to the Nuggets with a mohawk and vibrant tattoos all over his body.

    Good luck! Keep your head up!

  • Bradley Harrellson posted 85 days ago

    Bradley Harrellson

    Your grammar is atrocious.

  • Mark Abeloni posted 85 days ago

    Mark Abeloni

    New member--sorry for my ignorance--how do I message you?? Shoot me a quick email at mark.abeloni@gmail.com Thanks!

  • vlad volodko posted 92 days ago

    vlad volodko

    Im a Heat fan, I have been one before the BIG 3, Ill be happy for them if they win the championship, and i doubt LBJ will win an MVP, he is having one of the greatest seasons in history. But if he didnt play Heat would still do good, not as good but still prolly be like 2nd in the east. To me i think the MVP will probably go to Durant or Rose, but rose won last year so I dont know about him. And also there is this guy named Jeremy Lin, I think that if Knicks finish in top 5 in the east, he should a candidate.

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