En Espanol
Send Us Feedback

Posts from the Miami Category at FanHouse - AOL Sports Blog

The Word:

EA Gameshow

Search FanHouse

Hot Topics

ClayBennett OlympicSwimmingTrials Madonna GilbertArenas SprintCup MichaelPhelps BaronDavis MannyPacquiao AlexRodriguez TigerWoods EURO2008 Ufc86 LeBronJames DavidStern RampageJackson KobeBryant EltonBrand OlympicSwimmingTri... DavidDiaz ForrestGriffin

Resources

Email our editors with your tips, corrections, complaints, inquiries, suggestions, etc.

Blog Roll

Michael Beasley Leaves His First NBA Practice With a Chest Injury

Matt WatsonPosted Jul 3rd 2008 4:05AM by Matt Watson
Filed under: Heat, Eastern, NBA Injuries, Miami

Michael BeasleyOn Wednesday, Michael Beasley experienced his first official "welcome to the NBA" moment. A man amongst boys in college, Beasley lasted just 45 minutes into his first NBA practice before leaving with a chest injury:
Beasley was struck in the chest by an inadvertent elbow during a defensive drill about 45 minutes into Miami's first summer-league workout session Wednesday, and the No. 2 overall pick in last week's NBA draft was taken to a doctor for observation.

Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said the move was strictly precautionary and should not affect Beasley's availability for Miami's five-games-in-five-days run through the Orlando summer league, which opens Monday.

"He took a shot to the chest," Spoelstra said. "He probably could have finished if it was the regular season or something like that, but we just wanted to be safe."
Spoelstra isn't sure who knocked Beasley out of commission, but I'm not surprised a meaningless workout in July got so "inadvertantly" physical. The summer league isn't a bunch of veterans who know how to pace themselves; no, it's mostly a bunch of over-eager youngsters and journeymen trying to catch a coach's eye -- and what can be more impressive than out-working the No. 2 pick? Yeah, it's fine line -- actually knocking the golden boy out of commission won't earn anyone bonus points with the coaching staff -- but Beasley still went from being the big man on campus to a marked man overnight.

Only 4 Teams -- Dolphins, Packers, Steelers, Lions -- Show Interest in Kevin Jones

Michael David SmithPosted Jun 29th 2008 7:15AM by Michael David Smith
Filed under: Dolphins, Lions, Packers, Steelers, Detroit, Miami, Pittsburgh

Former Detroit Lions running back Kevin Jones, a free agent recovering from a serious knee injury, invited the entire NFL to a workout Saturday. Only four teams showed up.

Among those four teams -- the Lions, Dolphins, Packers and Steelers -- the best option might be for Jones to sign a deal to return to Detroit, assuming the Lions offer him one. In Miami, Green Bay and Pittsburgh he'd have almost no shot of rising any higher than third on the depth chart, and third-string running backs who don't play special teams don't have much job security.

In Detroit he'd at least have a shot at the starting job, although the Lions don't seem particularly interested in bringing him back -- they've even given away his jersey number.

Jones once looked like one of the league's up-and-coming young running backs, rushing for 1,133 yards and 4.7 yards a carry as a rookie. Since then he's never had even 700 yards or four yards a carry. At age 25, there's a chance that he's done.

Domes Are Where the Final Fours Are ... So Let's Build Some More!

Sportz AssassinPosted Jun 28th 2008 11:04PM by Sportz Assassin
Filed under: March Madness, Atlanta, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Philadelphia, Washington, DC, Carolina, Kansas City

The NCAA has insisted that the Final Four be held in a domed stadium. The last one that wasn't held in a dome was 1996, when East Rutherford, NJ played host.

Right now, Atlanta, Detroit, Glendale/Phoenix, Houston, Indianapolis, Minneapolis, New Orleans, San Antonio and St. Louis all have domed stadiums. Not so surprisingly, they are nine if the ten cities fighting for Final Fours from 2012 through 2016.

The tenth city is Dallas ... who will open their domed Cowboys Stadium next year.

There is also Miller Park in Milwaukee, Safeco Field in Seattle and Tropicana Field in St.Petersburg. Minute Maid Park in Houston and Chase Field in Phoenix are technically possibilities... but those areas already have better domed stadiums. Of those parks, only Tropicana Field has ever hosted a Final Four (or an NCAA Tournament game, for that matter) or is likely to do so again.

Long gone are the days where Albuquerque (site of NC State's magical upset over Houston), Salt Lake City (Magic vs. Bird), Kansas City (no one has held more Final Fours ... including UNC-Kansas triple overtime thriller), Greensboro (NC State ending UCLA's championship reign), College Park, MD (Texas Western-Kentucky) or the World's Most Famous Arena ... Madison Square Garden in NYC ... can host college basketball's premiere event.

Continue Reading Domes Are Where the Final Fours Are ... So Let's Build Some More!

Chalmers Falls to #34, Might Become Miami's Opening Day Starting PG

Tom ZillerPosted Jun 26th 2008 11:04PM by Tom Ziller
Filed under: Heat, Timberwolves, NBA Draft, Miami

Some legitimate draft boards had Mario Chalmers as high as #12 earlier this week. Instead, the Jayhawk product fell all the way into the second round, slipping to Minnesota at #34. The Wolves promptly swapped Chalmers for two Miami second-rounders ... and hey, isn't Chalmers the best point guard on the Heat roster as of today?

With Miami taking Michael Beasley with the #2 pick, they have a desperate need at the point. Jason Williams is a free agent and didn't play well at all last season. Chris Quinn is not the answer. Neither is Blake Ahearn. Chalmers, though, projects to be a contributor, a Mike Bibby style shoot-first fellow.

Miami could use Shawn Marion or Udonis Haslem to get themselves a point guard on the trade market -- Kirk Hinrich, Luke Ridnour, and maybe Raymond Felton are some guys who should be available -- but there are no guarantees. Chalmers finding himself fall into Adam Silver's domain could turn up roses. Having Dwyane Wade and Beasley to run with isn't going to hurt.

Panthers Rap Jokinen in Email to Season Ticket Holders

Eric McErlainPosted Jun 26th 2008 9:00AM by Eric McErlain
Filed under: Miami, General NHL, Panthers, Coyotes

Whenever an organization trades a star player, it's inevitable that a significant slice of your fan base isn't going to be happy. And when the fan base isn't happy, it tends to stop buying tickets and merchandise, the life blood of any professional sports franchise.

That also means that you better be talking to your fans about what you're doing and why you're doing it. Then again, there are times when you can be too honest. Case in point, an email that Ryan Powers, an account executive for the parent company that owns the Florida Panthers, sent to season ticket holders explaining the team's decision to deal captain Olli Jokinen to the Phoenix Coyotes. After explaining what he felt that defensemen Nick Boynton and Keith Ballard brought to the team, Powers took a piece out of Jokinen. Here's how it reads in today's Miami Herald:
``Olli is a great player, but he has shown no leadership or improvement, and he never came through for us when we needed him the most. As a stat, Jokinen scored 5 goals in the last 24 games, this is not acceptable for a Captain of an NHL organization. He played with little heart or passion and never had the determination to reach the playoffs. This move was done for one reason only, to make the postseason and return the passion and energy into this arena.''
Need I remind everyone that Jokinen is the all-time career leader in goals, assists and points? Fans tend to remember contributions like that.

The team has since apologized, but the damage has been done. And with news like this floating around, is it any surprise we've heard reports that Jay Bouwmeester wants out of Florida too?

Delicia Cordon, Woman Arrested With Marcus Vick, Previously Sued Ronnie Brown

Michael David SmithPosted Jun 26th 2008 6:33AM by Michael David Smith
Filed under: Dolphins, Miami, NFL Police Blotter

Two weeks ago, former Dolphins wide receiver Marcus Vick was arrested with the woman whose picture you see at right, Delicia Cordon. Vick was charged with drunk driving. Cordon, an aspiring model and actress, was charged with being drunk in public.

Cordon was identified as Vick's girlfriend, but she apparently has some type of history with Dolphins running back Ronnie Brown. The web site of the Miami-Dade County Clerk's Office says that Cordon filed a lawsuit against Brown, although that suit was dismissed when Cordon failed to show up for a hearing this month.

The publicly available information doesn't make clear why Cordon was suing Brown, and as Pro Football Talk notes, it's even possible that the case involves a different Delicia Cordon or a different Ronnie Brown. The web site RipOffReport.com says Cordon was evicted from a Miami condo owned by one NFL player this year, and that she recently got "out of a really bad relationship with another player." It's not clear whether either of those players are Vick or Brown.

Beasley Wants You to Smile More, America

Tom ZillerPosted Jun 25th 2008 11:12PM by Tom Ziller
Filed under: Heat, NBA Draft, Miami

As we count down to the moment when, apparently, Pat Riley snubs the guy who just put up the greatest college season in two decades ... as a freshman, said "bad seed" -- Michael Beasley -- unleashes a torrent of philosophy on the assembled media in NYC. From the Miami Herald's Sarah Rothschild and/or Michael Wallace:
On whether he needs to change and what he says to people who say he should mature: "Why change? I think they need to smile more."
Yes, people: smile more. I really can't believe Riley could leave this guy on the board if he doesn't find the right trade, just because he apparently has a personality. (No offense to the shy, demure, or straight-laced draft prospects. I just happen to think this sort of character-fearing is bad form.)

There's a question (that Shoals of Free Darko hints at) of whether this is all a bit of a Gilbert-induced act from Beasley, whether he really contains the function to shut up but has refused it for trifling pleasure or sincere plans to be different than his friend Kevin Durant. I think there's a middle ground; a little "Remedios the Beauty" in there: in his apparent youthful carelessness, he's more lucid than all the rest.

What Will Memphis Give Up to Get Beasley?

Tom ZillerPosted Jun 25th 2008 10:56AM by Tom Ziller
Filed under: Heat, Grizzlies, NBA Draft, NBA Rumors, Miami

The hot rumor all over Memphis, apparently, isn't that David Lee rubbish. Michael Beasley's the new objet de la coeur for the Grizzlies, who -- according to numerous reports -- are trying to figure out how cheaply they can get him from Miami. Chris Herrington of the Memphis Flyer adds two and two:
Over the past couple of days, I've heard from three different team-connected sources that something may be happening with Beasley. Mind you, these are all people without direct connection to any potential negotiations and no-one has quite the same tale to tell: One source says Mike Conley is included but not the #5 pick, another says Mike Miller is included but not Conley, and the third didn't have any particulars but had the sense that something is afoot involving Beasley. I don't put much stock into any of these tips individually, but, collectively, it's clear that there's a lot of scuttle about a potential Beasley deal surrounding the team.
ESPN's Chad Ford pushed the Conley version Tuesday, but this morning both the Miami Herald and the Memphis Commercial-Appeal indicate Conley is off the table.

Obviously, the previously rumored Kyle Lowry-Miller-#5 package -- even with Mark Blount coming back -- would be a stellar swap for Memphis. Miami isn't likely to get a better offer, and if they land Brook Lopez at #5, they could be getting 3/5ths of their 2008-09 starting lineup in the deal. But this is Michael Beasley. I'd reject the deal. But unlike Pat Riley, I'm not all that worried about the kid's future.

Is Joey Harrington the Worst Quarterback of All-Time?

Tom MantzouranisPosted Jun 24th 2008 11:27AM by Tom Mantzouranis
Filed under: Dolphins, Falcons, Lions, Atlanta, Detroit, Miami

I think the obvious answer to that question is no. Realistically speaking, there have been far worse quarterbacks in the NFL than the piano man, I mean, there's got to be a reason guys are sitting below him on depth charts even though we're far removed from any semblance of hope that he'd live up to his draft status. But what if you take into account the whole statistical shebang, including the amount of opportunities with which to suck? That might be a different story.

Or at least that's what Pro Football Reference thinks, as they've compiled their list of worst quarterbacks in the league's history, which -- if your surname isn't Imus -- you should be smart enough to realize is headlined by Joey Harrington. The reasoning is a stew of numbers and equations (here's the method behind the madness). It's definitely worth checking out for the comprehensive perspective it takes, even if it took me three reads and the assistance of a Mensa member to understand.

That being said, I'm a firm believer in the eyeball test, and I stand by my very subjective scientific opinion that Harrington isn't the worst. There are surely a couple of inferior quarterbacks in history. There are even a couple of current quarterbacks who are worse. Hell, there are a couple of quarterbacks currently on the Chicago Bears who are worse than Harrington.

Or maybe I've just got a soft spot for someone who can tickle the ivories.

Columnists Should Not Tell Dwyane Wade What He Should or Should Not Do

Tom ZillerPosted Jun 23rd 2008 10:47AM by Tom Ziller
Filed under: Heat, NBA Media Watch, Miami, USA Basketball, FIBA, Beijing, USA, Americas

Greg Stoda's Palm Beach Post column headlined "Dwyane Wade Should Not Play in the Olympics" would seem quaint were it not so cynical and headstrong (via TrueHoop). In the piece, Stoda argues that Wade is being selfish for rejoining U.S.A. Basketball this summer, insisting the real motives for his play in Beijing are marketing cash and pride of self. And from the get-go, Stoda tells Wade (bluntly) to decline Jerry Colangelo's invitation.

Color me liberal, but don't you think we ought to let Wade make this decision? The thought of deferring to corporate employer over nation and self is extraordinarily silly; it's Wade's offseason, and so long as his employer has agreed to let him go play basketball and he is healthy enough to do so, why shouldn't he? Why is it assumed -- just because Mickey Arison pays him $14 million a year -- that anything Wade does should be done with Miami on his mind? Wade, of course, performs his end of the bargain during the NBA season.

Yes, he was injured last season. But it was the Heat who -- mired in embarrassing depths -- shut Wade down early. (The team also shut down Udonis Haslem and Shawn Marion, who did not appear a fraction as injured as Wade, and Pat Riley trotted out a parade of D-Leaguers as the losses piled. Go figure.) If Wade is comfortable with his physical condition, and the team is comfortable with his physical condition, there should be no issue.

In spite of this, Stoda goes out of his way to indicate the Heat secretly hate that Wade's going to Beijing, that Wade cares more about promoting "The Wade Corp." than winning gold for the United States, and to generally diminish any sort of patriotism Wade has shown in previous media interviews. Basically, Stoda thinks Wade is a selfish liar, and Stoda thinks he (a columnist for a daily newspaper) knows what's best for a wealthy, 26-year-old man near the top of his profession. Anyone else have a problem with this?

ADVERTISEMENT

Breaking News

Joey Chestnut Beats Takeru Kobayashi at Coney Island Hot Dog Eating Contest
Wimbledon Final: Roger Federer-Rafael Nadal
Arenas Will Remain with the Wizards for the Low, Low Price of $111 Million

Featured Stories

UFC 86: What You Need to Know to Fight Rampage Jackson
KC Chiefs to Allow NFL Fans to Stand at Games, Just Not Too Much
How a Japanese Woman Who Lives in San Francisco Uses Her Blog to Globalize MMA

Most Commented on Posts

FanHouse Photo Galleries

Female Drivers
Alabama A-Day 2008
Super Bowl XLII
College Basketball Cheerleaders
This Week in Pretty Pictures, December 21st, '07
NHL Goalie Masks
Celebrity Golfers
Great Moments in NBA Photography
Ladies Golf: Anna Rawson and the Next Generation
Lovely Ladies of the WNBA
Best NFL Hair
Anna Rawson
NBA Legal
NHL WAGs
Animal Look-alikes
Girls Bloggers Love
Athletes in 'Playboy'
NFL WAGs
Golf WAGs
MLB WAGs
NASCAR Cowboy Hats