Fins Picks: Decade in Review (Part II)

January 28, 2010

As we continue our series of Fins Picks we look back at the 2003 through 2005 offseasons in order to define the successes and failures that the Dolphins have experienced in previous drafts. In our original article, we evaluated the years 2000 to 2002 and found a mixture of not so good and solid draft choices. In all, there was not much to be proud of in the first three millennial offseasons for the Dolphins outside of the Ricky Williams draft-trade and Chris Chambers second round selection.

Now we may have been a bit lenient on the grades last time (spotting a grade of C+ for a 2000 draft that bolstered Todd Wade and Arturo Freeman), but we will be more critical this time around. In our defense, the Dolphins did not have higher than a 23rd pick in the first round and posted solid seasons despite their lack of draft talent. Late draft picks may not be an excuse for poor choices throughout, but it was clear that the Wannstedt era enjoyed raking in talent via trades and free agent signings rather than draft picks.

Moving along, we begin with 2003 and the beginning of the end of the Wanndstedt era.

Year: 2003

Selections

• 1st Round - Traded to New Orleans Saints for Ricky Williams in '02
• 2nd Round - Eddie Moore, LB, Tennessee
• 3rd Round (a) - Wade Smith, T, Memphis
• 3rd Round (b) - Taylor Whitley, G, Texas A&M
  
• 4th Round - Traded to Carolina Panthers for DE Jay Williams
• 5th Round (a) - Donald Lee, TE, Mississippi State
  
• 5th Round (b) - J.R. Tolver, WR, San Diego State
• 6th Round (a) - Corey Jenkins, LB, South Carolina
  
• 6th Round (b) - Traded to Chicago Bears for QB Cade McNown in '02
• 6th Round (c) - Tim Provost, T, San Jose State
• 6th Round (d) - Yeremiah Bell, S, Eastern Kentucky
• 7th Round (a) - Traded to Carolina Panthers in draft trade-up
• 7th Round (b) - Traded to Washington Redskins for QB Sage Rosenfels
  
• 7th Round (c) - Traded to Carolina Panthers in draft trade-up
• 7th Round (d) - Davern Williams, DT, Troy State

Summary

At the top of Miami's choices, the Fins fell flat. Eddie Moore was on injured reserve in his first season and the following three picks all were phased out of the Dolphins lineup (or roster) by 2005. But Miami saved face with the 213th pick in the draft as they selected Yeremiah Bell, who stands as the longest tenured Dolphin in the current roster. Besides that there is very little to cheer about out of this draft pool; just more poor selections in an era of fading leadership.

Verdict

Although it seemed like a potentially deep draft with the Dolphins cycling through 15 draft choices, either through selections or trades, there was not much substance in this draft at all. In fact, had it not been for the diamond in the rough selection of Bell this would be considered a complete failure. Grade: D- 

Year: 2004

Selections

• 1st Round (a) - Vernon Carey, G/T, Miami (Fla.)
  
• 1st Round (b) - Traded to Minnesota Vikings in '04 draft trade-up
• 2nd Round - Traded to New England Patriots for 3rd round pick in '04
• 3rd Round - Traded to Green Bay Packers in '04 trade-down
• 4th Round (a) - Will Poole, CB, USC
• 4th Round (b) - Traded to Minnesota Vikings in '04 draft trade-up
• 5th Round (a) - Traded to Baltimore Ravens  in '04 draft trade-down
• 5th Round (b) - Traded to San Diego Chargers for LB Junior Seau
• 5th Round (c) - Tony Bua, LB, Arkansas
• 6th Round (a) - Rex Hadnot, C, Houston
• 6th Round (b) - Traded to Atlanta Falcons in '04 draft trade-up
• 7th Round (a) - Traded to Atlanta Falcons in '04 draft trade-up
• 7th Round (b) - Tony Pape, T, Michigan
• 7th Round (c) - Derrick Pope, LB, Alabama
  

Summary

Selecting Vernon Carey in the first round was a decent choice in an effort to build a foundation in the trenches. Carey had a solid career at "The U" and was highly touted by scouts as a future pro bowler in the NFL. We all know he has not lived up to that projection, and may never do so, but he is a part of Miami's revamped and improved offensive line today. Following Carey was a host of one-and-done picks that did not last long in the Dolphins organization. Will Poole started one game in three season with Miami and Tony Bua is currently playing in the AAFL. On the bright side, Rex Hadnot became a viable option and was Miami's starting center for three and a half seasons.

Verdict 

Miami took a step in the right direction with Carey as they realized that fortifying the offensive line is of utmost importance in the league. But then they took a few steps back with all the trade ups, trade downs and mediocre picks in between. At least they found themselves two lineman with longevity. Grade: D+  
 
Year: 2005

Selections

• 1st Round - Ronnie Brown, RB, Auburn
  
• 2nd Round (a) - Traded to Philadelphia Eagles for QB A.J. Feeley
  
• 2nd Round (b) - Matt Roth, DE, Iowa
• 3rd Round (a) - Traded to St. Louis Rams for RB Lamar Gordon
• 3rd Round (b) - Channing Crowder, LB, Florida
• 4th Round - Travis Daniels, CB, LSU
• 5th Round (a) - Traded to Kansas City in CB Patrick Surtain deal
• 5th Round (b) - Anthony Alabi, T, TCU
• 6th Round - Traded to San Diego Chargers in WR David Boston deal 
• 7th Round - Kevin Vickerson, DT, Michigan State
  

Summary

With Nick Saban stepping in as head coach after leaving college football, one would expect a greater sense of collegiate talent evaluation to be brought to the table. Well the Ronnie Brown selection was a no-brainer at the number two pick overall, but that's about where the "greater sense" came into question. Trading the second round pick for A.J. Feeley, a 3rd string Eagles QB, was probably not worth it at the time and clearly was not worth it in retrospect. The Matt Roth selection in the 3rd round played out well for the most part, until the recent mysterious sequence of events that led to his release. And beyond the Channing Crowder pick there was not much to boast about.

Verdict

Brown has been an integral part of Miami's recent success and is the key element in the Dolphins offense. But when you are given a top two pick in the NFL, it's not as likely that you'll leave with a flop. Brown, Roth and Crowder were three solid choices and gave Nick Saban some credibility as an NFL head coach. That is of course until he abandoned Miami the following season for Alabama, placing him atop of Miami's enemies of the state list. Grade: C

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To be continued...the next edition of Fins Picks will cover 2006 through 2009. Stay tuned as we explore the transition into the Bill Parcells, Jeff Ireland and Tony Sparano era. We'll see a clear philosophical and disciplinary shift when the Trifecta steps into power.

One Year and Counting

January 26, 2010

On this day one year ago we began this endeavor that we call Miami Sports Generation in hopes of providing South Florida fans with the latest in sports buzz and captivating stories on key sports issues. Today we are proud to say that we are still around and going strong.

Twenty thousand plus visitors later we find ourselves with a consistent fan base that engages and interacts with us, whether it be through comments or social networking messages. We are grateful for our readers, equally those that are regulars, occasionals and first timers. We hope to continue in our efforts to build a community of sports enthusiasts - a place where we can all share our pride.

To make this short and sweet, thank you all and we hope you stick with us because we aren't going anywhere.

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Readers can follow Miami Sports Generation on Facebook and Twitter to get the latest news, updates and commentary on South Florida sports.

Welcome to Miami

January 25, 2010

After securing the best records in their respective conferences, the Indianapolis Colts and New Orleans Saints are headed to South Florida to play in Super Bowl XLIV. Fans from all over the world will descend upon South Florida for a match-up that will solidify a legend in Peyton Manning or elevate the pride of New Orleans to new heights.

Here's a brief overview of some interesting notes going into Super Bowl Sunday:

Quick Facts About the Match-Up

• For the first time since 1993, two number one seeds will play on the big stage for the NFL Championship. 
  

• Peyton Manning will make his second consecutive Super Bowl appearance in South Florida, while the Colts will have played all four of their franchise's Super Bowls in South Florida.
  

• The Saints will be playing in their first ever Super Bowl in franchise history.
  

• Both the Colts and the Saints played in Miami this season and mounted late-game comebacks against the Miami Dolphins.
  

• Colts Head Coach Jim Caldwell will be the fifth rookie coach to lead his team to a Super Bowl.
  
  
• This will be the second team left by Tony Dungy to reach a Super Bowl in the following year, the Tampa Bay Bucaneers did the same in 2002.

South Florida will be hosting its record-breaking 10th Super Bowl and will also be hosting Pro Bowl 2010 the week before Super Bowl. It can't get any better than this for South Florida - two primetime events in one ideal destination.

The only thing missing is a guarantee that rain will not drown out the excitement like it did in 2007. Fans can only hope for drier days ahead.

For more information regarding Pro Bowl and Super Bowl, visit www.SouthFloridaSuperBowl.com.

Heat Diagnosis: Bipolar Disorder

January 21, 2009

The latest diagnosis of the Miami Heat is in: the team is suffering from a case of bipolar disorder with flashes of confusion and temporary loss of identity. There is no clear-cut cause of this latest development in Miami's extremely sporadic play. The only thing that is certain is the trend of polarizing performances from game to game.

Looking at the past six games, this troubling trend can be spotted with clarity. Here are the point differentials of the final scores in those games:

• Jan. 11 @ Utah Jazz: -29
• Jan. 13 @ Golden State Warriors: +13
• Jan. 15 @ Houston Rockets: +9
• Jan. 16 @ Oklahoma City Thunder: -18
• Jan. 19 vs Indiana Pacers: +30
• Jan. 20 @ Charlotte Bobcats: -39

Now to analyze the potential causes of such drastically different results many questions come into play. Is Erik Spoelstra to blame for a poor coaching job? Is Dwyane Wade at fault for poor leadership? What is behind this all or nothing mentality that is plaguing the Heat?

For one thing it cannot be said that this team "just isn't good enough" as they have handed losses to teams like the Orlando Magic, Atlanta Hawks and Phoenix Suns; all of which are elite teams in the league. And the potential to succeed is there with solid performances from Michael Beasley and occasionally from Jermaine O'Neal, Quentin Richardson and Udonis Haslem.

One thing that is certain is the prototype of the teams that hand Miami their toughest losses. With the exception of the Utah Jazz' 29-point loss, the Heat are highly vulnerable to the young, hyper-athletic teams in the league. It is no coincidence that the Memphis Grizzlies, Oklahoma City Thunder and Charlotte Bobcats have all defeated Miami by 10 points or more this season. In fact, the Heat have not secured a single victory against any of those three teams.

Combining the five losses suffered by those teams, the Heat have faltered by an average of 21.6 points.

While the 2010 offseason is just a few months away, the team must find a way to focus on the remainder of this season. There is no excuse to perform while firing on all cylinders one night and falling asleep at the wheel the next night. If a 39-point loss does not wake up this team and push them towards consistency, then it's unsure what else will.

News Flashes: January 20, 2009

January 20, 2010

Miami Dolphins

• The Dolphins officially hired Mike Nolan as their defensive coordinator on Tuesday afternoon after Nolan parted ways with the Denver Broncos a day before. 
  

• Nolan has coached in the NFL since 1987, when he was linebackers coach for the Denver Broncos in a five-year stint. Other teams Nolan has coached for include the New York Giants, Washington Redskins, New York Jets, Baltimore Ravens and San Francisco 49ers. 
  

• Paul Pasqualoni, whom Nolan is replacing, has since returned to the Dallas Cowboys as their defensive line coach. Paqualoni has only coached in the NFL since 2005.

Florida Marlins

• Jorge Cantu and Leo Nunez has agreed to $6 million and $2 million contracts, respectively, and boost the Marlins payroll above the $45 million mark for the 2010 season. By signing the veteran third baseman and young relief pitcher, the Marlins avoid arbitration disputes with either player.
  

• The only player left in arbitration is outfielder Cody Ross, who's asking for $4.45 million as opposed to the Marlins' $4.2 million offer. 
  

• It is unknown whether the Marlins will make any trades or free agent signings prior to season's start, but speculation is still swirling that roster moves are likely to come in the ensuing month or so.

Miami Heat

• The Heat head to North Carolina to face the Charlotte Bobcats in a battle for fifth place in the Eastern Conference. Tipoff is at 7:00 PM EST.
  

• Miami currently holds a record of 13-7 against Eastern Conference teams and is 4-2 on the road against conference foes.  
  

• The last time these two squads met, Charlotte emerged victorious in Miami to the score of 107-97. Tonight's game will mark the second of four meetings between the Heat and Bobcats.
  

News Flashes: January 19, 2010

January 19, 2009

Miami Heat

• The Miami Heat head home to face the Indiana Pacers, tipoff is at 7:30 PM EST. Miami is 2-0 against the Pacers this season and looks to continue that streak tonight. The Heat are currently one game above .500 (20-19). 
  

• Dwyane Wade and Alonzo Mourning teamed up off the court once again to raise funds for Haiti. Latest fund raising numbers showed that the duo had accumulated approximately $800,000 in donations. 
  

• Miami makes a quick pit stop at home before heading back on the road for the next to games (in Charlotte and Washington). Thirteen of the next 20 games played by the Heat will be on the road.

Miami Dolphins

• Say farewell to Land Shark Stadium and welcome Sun Life Stadium. The Miami Dolphins struck a five-year deal with the Canadian financial group, Sun Life Financial, just in time for Pro Bowl 2010 and Super Bowl XLIV.
  

• The Dolphins only need to fill the vacancy for their defensive coordinator spot after signing Bill Sheridan as their inside linebacker coach. Initial interest in seasoned veteran Al Groh dissipated after he chose to be the defensive coordinator of the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. Sources say that Miami's new focus is on former Broncos defensive coordinator Mike Nolan.

Florida Marlins

• Speculation that Dan Uggla would depart the Florida Marlins, along with Jeremy Hermida and Matt Lindstrom, was stunted when the second baseman agreed to a one-year, $7.8 million deal to stick with the Fish. 
  

• Earlier last week, the Marlins signed their pitching ace Josh Johnson to a four-year, $39 million contract after complaints from the league that the Marlins were taking advantage of the revenue sharing system.
  

Heat Take Off to Houston, Face Rockets

January 15, 2010

With two games left on their road trip, the Miami Heat head to Texas to face the Houston Rockets; making it the first of two meeting these clubs will have this season. The Rockets swept the Heat in their season series in 2008-09 and have won the last three consecutive match-ups played in Houston.

Coming off an impressive victory against the Golden State Warriors, the Heat look to continue their offensive efficiency and leave the Toyota Center with another road victory. Miami shot 56% from the field and 50% from behind the arch in Golden State, dropping an uncharacteristic 115 points on their opponent. Dwyane Wade tallied 35 points, followed by Jermaine O'Neal's 24 and Michael Beasley's 19.

What to Look For Tonight

• A win tonight would out the Heat over .500 in road games this season, they are currently 8-8 for the season in away games. 
  

• The Rockets are averaging over 100 points a night, but are allowing triple-digit scores to their opponents as well. 
  

• Wade needs two more free throw attempts for 4,000 career attempts. He's currently 5th in the league with 9.4 free throws per game.
  

• Quentin Richardson is just one three-point field goal away from reaching the 1,000 mark. On Wednesday night, Richardson made three from behind the mark.
  

• Udonis Haslem is a double-double away from recording 15 off-the-bench double-doubles. He's already the all-time franchise leader in this category. 

Keys to Victory

• The Rockets enjoy a fast tempo style of play that allows them to score in the hundreds on a regular basis. The Heat must dictate the tempo, force Houston to play half court sets and keep the Rockets below the 100 mark (Miami is 5-14 when allowing 100+ points).  
  

• Miami must continue to spread to scoring duties and have four or more players in the double-digits. It will take more than a 30-point showing by Wade to beat the Rockets.
  

• Do not underestimate the scoring ability of Rockets PG Aaron Brooks. Brooks is the leading scorer on the Rockets, averaging 18.9 points a night, and can explode for 25+ on any given night.  
  

• Battle Houston's ultra-athleticism with disciplined ball control, sound box outs and limited fast break points. The last thing Miami wants is to get out hustled by the Rockets in turnovers, offensive rebounds and fast break points.
  

Local Sizzle: Latest Buzz Surrounding the Heat

January 13, 2010

Headlines

• After injuring his wrist late in the first quarter on Monday night's game versus the Utah Jazz, Dwyane Wade may miss tonight's game against the Golden State Warriors. His status is questionable.

• The season has not reach the halfway point yet, but rumors about a LeBron-Wade pairing continue to arise. 

• Michael Beasley is steadily improving and is "coming of age" this season as his stats increase and maturity grows. Well along in his substance-abuse program, Beasley aims at staying sober on day at a time.

Stat Lines

• The Heat find themselves at an even .500 record, 18-18, with three games left in their West Coast road trip. 

• Miami is ranked 24th in points per game and 19th in opponents points per game. Clearly the team must improve on both ends of the court. 

• The Heat are still rank in the top ten in opponents field goal percentage, holding opponents to 44.9% from the field. 

• Against the Warriors, Miami break even at 21-21 in all-time match-ups, but swept the series 2-0 last season. 

• In games played in Golden State, the Heat are 8-13 all-time.

Sneak Peek to Super Bowl Ads

January 13, 2010

Febrauary 7th, 2010, will mark yet another historic day on the the football as millions will tune into Super Bowl XLIV in South Florida. While the game may be the main event, the commercials will catch viewers by surprise with big budget, over-the-top campaigns that are sure to impress. But one advertiser has given viewers the opportunity to take a piece of the limelight by filming their own rendition of a Doritos ad.

Since 2007, Doritos has used the consumer-driven advertising strategy through the "Crash the Super Bowl" program. Up against staunch competition, two unemployed  brothers from Batesville, Indiana trumped Madison Avenue-made commercials and ranked No. 1 in the USA TODAY Ad Meter last year with their Doritos commercial entry; they were awarded $1 million dollars by Doritos for their $2,000-budget entries.

This time around, Doritos is offering $1 million to the ad that scores the number one spot on the Ad Meter, $600,000 to the ad that scores number two on the Ad Meter and $400,000 to the ad that scores number three on the Ad Meter. With six finalists selected out of a pool of 4,000 contestants, it is now up to the people to choose which three ads will be aired on game day. The finalists are as follows:

• "Casket" by Erwin McManus of Whittier, CA
• "House Rules" by Joelle De Jesus of Hollywood, CA
• "Kids These Days" by Nick Dimondi of Cary, NC
• "The Smackout" by Brendan Hayward of Santa Monica, CA
• "Snack Attack Samurai" by Ben Krueger of Minneapolis, MN
• "Underdog" by Joshua Svoboda of Raleigh, NC

Voters can visit www.crashthesuperbowl.com to cast their ballot for their three favorite ads. Voting ends on January 31st. See a montage of the finalists' entries below:

Fins Picks: Decade in Review (Part I)

January 12, 2010

The year 2010 marks the beginning of a new decade, and perhaps a new era for Miami Dolphins football. With the Dolphins on the outside looking in, the focus has shifted from postseason aspirations to offseason preparations. But before we begin to ponder the thought of the upcoming draft, a look into the past would serve us all well; defining the successes and failures that the Dolphins have experienced in previous drafts.

To properly evaluate these Fins Picks we will review round-by-round selections, summarize the draft class' impact and value the payoffs (or lack thereof) based on player performance.

Year: 2000

Selections

• 1st Round - Traded to Carolina Panthers in '98
• 2nd Round - Todd Wade, T, Mississippi
• 3rd Round - Ben Kelly, CB, Colorado
• 4th Round - Deon Dyer, FB, North Carolina
• 5th Round - Arturo Freeman, S, South Carolina
• 6th Round (a) - Ernest Grant, DT, Arkansas-Pine Bluff
• 6th Round (b) - Traded to Kansas City Chiefs in '99
• 7th Round (a) - Traded to San Francisco 49ers for QB Jim Druckenmiller
• 7th Round (b) - Jeff Harris, CB, Georgia  

Summary

The new millenium was clearly not a fresh start for the Dolphins in terms of draft success. Out of six draft choices, there were only two players in this bunch that had an impact (or small dent) on this organization. Todd Wade had three solid seasons in Miami and was a decent offensive tackle, but Miami's third and fourth round picks rarely left their stamp on the field. Arturo Freeman did play a total of 72 games in an aqua uniform, providing a breakout, four-interception season in 2004.

Verdict

Reassuring the offensive line and secondary units is always a top priority in the NFL and Miami was able to partially do so in this draft. Given the fact that no pick was a franchise-changer and most selections were busts, it's safe to say that the overall draft was mediocre. After all, when is the last time you saw a Wade or Freeman jersey floating around the stands? Grade: C+ 

Year: 2001

Selections

• 1st Round - Jamar Fletcher, CB, Wisconsin
• 2nd Round (a) - Chris Chambers, WR, Wisconsin
• 2nd Round (b) - Traded to Dallas Cowboys in trade-up
• 3rd Round (a) - Travis Minor, RB, Florida State
• 3rd Round (b) - Morlon Greenwood, LB, Syracuse
• 4th Round - Traded to Dallas Cowboys in trade-up
• 5th Round - Shawn Draper, T, Alabama
• 6th Round (a) - Brandon Winey, T, Louisiana State
• 6th Round (b) - Josh Heupel, QB, Oklahoma
• 6th Round (c) - Otis Leverette, DE, Alabama-Birmingham
• 6th Round (d) - Rick Crowell, LB, Colorado State
• 7th Round (a) - Traded to Chicago Bears for TE Alonzo Mayes
• 7th Round (b) - Traded to Washington Redskins for P Matt Turk 

Summary

The opening rounds were solid for the Dolphins in the '01 draft. While Jamar Fletcher never developed into the defensive back Miami expected, Chris Chambers definitely made his mark on Miami's offense (perhaps the last top-tier receiver to play with the Dolphins). Travis Minor became a dependable back-up running back in Miami, holding a six-year tenure with the team, as Morlon Greenwood had the greatest impact on defense from the selection pool, progressing each season in his four-year stint. Unfortunately, beyond the third round there was nothing of value for the Dolphins. The remaining five draft picks averaged under two seasons in the league before being outcasted.

Verdict 

It's one thing to have lost Dan Marino in 1999, but to lose O.J. McDuffie the year after was devastating to Miami's offensive depth chart. Selecting Chambers in the second round lessened those losses and gave Miami a long-term, number one target at wide receiver. Chambers recorded 5,688 receiving yards and 43 reception TDs in six and a quarter seasons with the Dolphins; that's what you call production in an era of vanilla Dolphins offense. Add to that Minor and Greenwood's decent performances at their respective positions and it's a fairly good draft. Grade: B-  
 
Year: 2002

Selections

• 1st Round - Traded to New Orleans Saints for Ricky Williams
• 2nd Round - Traded to Philadelphia Eagles in '01 trade-up
• 3rd Round - Seth McKinney, C, Texas A&M
• 4th Round (a) - Randy McMichael, TE, Georgia
• 4th Round (b) - Traded to New Orleans Saints for Ricky Williams
• 5th Round (a) - Omare Lowe, CB, Washington
• 5th Round (b) - Sam Simmons, WR, Northwestern (compensatory pick from NFL)
• 6th Round - Traded to Chicago Bears for QB Cade McCown
• 7th Round (a) - Traded to Dallas Cowboys for WR Jeff Ogden
• 7th Round (b) - Leonard Henry, RB, East Carolina

Summary

With no first or second round draft choices for the Dolphins, Miami salvaged the few selections available to them and fared well in their choices. Giving up their first and fourth round draft picks for Ricky Williams is still paying off to this day as number thirty-four is still running strong. Second round choice, Seth McKinney, found a starting job on the O-Line in his third and fourth seasons as a Dolphin. Sticking around for five seasons proved that he at least was meeting expectations and doing an adequate job of protecting the QB. Randy McMichael was an athletic tight end that complimented Chris Chambers as a second option. Ranking second (next to Jeremy Shockey) amongst rookie tight ends in is a noteworthy accomplishment for McMichael; he went on to secure eighteen TDs in five seasons with the Fins. Beyond that, the rest of the draft pool is not worthy of mention.

Verdict

Coming away with Williams and McMichael from the draft was an immediate plus for the offense and made Miami relevant once again (with th exception of questionable QBs in between). Those two guys in their prime would plaster a smile on any offensive coordinator's face in the NFL. Thus, the 2002 draft was a success for the Dolphins and has had a resounding impact on the franchise. Had there only been more depth in the draft selections, Miami would receive an A+. But since that wasn't the case, they settle for this. Grade: A-

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To be continued...the next edition of Fins Picks will cover 2003 through 2005. Stay tuned as we venture into the final years of Dave Wannstedt as Head Coach and the beginning of a turbulent era in the coaching staff. And how it affected Miami's draft decisions.

Skyforce to Open Up on Versus

January 7, 2010

The cable television network Versus has agreed to air a total of 16 NBA D-League games on Saturday night's at 11 PM, with the first showing on January 16th. And to open up the first game, the Sioux Falls Skyforce will take on the Fort Wayne Mad Ants. It will be a prime opportunity for the D-League to gain added exposure, but more importantly it will give the Skyforce a shot to prove themselves on cable television.

To date, the Skyforce hold a record of 9-7 and are ranked third in the Eastern Conference, five games behind the conference-leading Iowa Stampede. On Tuesday night, the Syforce routed the Maine Red Claws to the tune of 121 to 102. It was the first time all season that seven Skyforce players scored in double-digits, led by David Bailey's 20-point showing. And just two weeks back, Reggie Williams was named Performer of the Week; a fairly impressive feat for a first-year Skyforcer.

Stay tuned for the Skyforce's cable debut on Staurday, January 16th, at 11 PM to watch the Miami Heat's official D-League affiliate perform live on the tube.

Dolphins to Improve Stadium, Lure Future Super Bowls

January 6, 2010

The Miami Dolphins are in the process of assembling a committee to spearhead stadium improvements for Dolphin Stadium, formerly known as Land Shark Stadium. On the eve of Pro Bowl 2010 and Super Bowl XLIV, the Dolphins are attempting to use the enhanced exposure to publicize this initiative. The ultimate goal: to lure future Super Bowls, Pro Bowls and big-name sporting events to South Florida.

Super Bowl XLIV will be the record-breaking 10th Super Bowl that South Florida hosts and will be preceded by the Pro Bowl, which has been played in Hawaii for the past 30 years. With all this hype coming to the Sunshine State, the timing of the stadium renovation committee is ideal.

Tomorrow, January 7th, 2010, the Miami Dolphins are to meet with the South Florida Super Bowl Host Committee to discuss the plans for renovation and the logistics behind a committee that will manage the objectives at hand.

The Super Bowl was last played in South Florida in 2007, this year it will come back for the second time in four years. It is estimated that both Super Bowls will have brought over $800 million in economic impact to the South Florida. It's pretty clear why there is a vested interest in wanting to bring the big game back to South Florida.

Heat Down Hawks, Snap Losing Streak

January 5, 2010

Amidst a three-game losing streak the Miami Heat found a way to stunt the Atlanta Hawks on Monday night at the American Airlines Arena. Without the help of starting Center Jermaine O'Neal, the Heat had to expand their rotation and expect more minutes from key players. Dwyane Wade and Michael Beasley led the way with 28 and 22 respectively. Other notable contributors included Quentin Richardson and Jamaal Magloire, which logged 10 rebounds each en route to the 92-75 victory.

Hot Stats of the Night

• The Heat outrebounded the Hawks 52 to 33, a 22-rebound margin.

• Miami had five players that tallied eight rebounds or more - a first in franchise history.

• Joel Anthony has recorded 14 blocks in the last seven showings; he leads the Heat with 44 blocks thise season.

• Carlos Arroyo is 14 assists away from reaching the 1,500 mark for his career.

• Michael Beasley has scored in double figures in 20 of the last 22 games.
  

• Jamaal Magloire played in his 600th NBA game against the Hawks on Monday night.

• Quentin Richardson is seven three-pointers shy of the 1,000 mark for his career.
  

Season At-a-Glance

Miami (5th seed) finds themselves 3.5 games behind Atlanta (4th seed) in the Eastern Conference and 8 games behind the 1st seed Boston Celtics, which they play against on Wednesday night. If Miami hopes to stay in the race foer a top seed they will have to earn it on the road as 19 of the next 25 games are away.

The continued development of Michael Beasley has proven to be beneficial to the Heat, establishing himself as a consistent number two scorer. Beasley is averaging 15.9 points and 6.7 rebounds a night this season, and is averaging 18 points in the last 10 games.

Upcoming Six-Game Road Trip

• 1/8 - @ Phoenix Suns - 9:00 PM EST
• 1/10 - @ L.A. Clippers - 3:30 PM EST
• 1/11 - @ Utah Jazz - 9:00 PM EST
• 1/13 - @ Golden State - 10:30 PM EST
• 1/15 - @ Houston Rockets - 8:30 PM EST
• 1/16 - @ Oklahoma City Thunder - 8:00 PM EST
  

News Flashes - January 3, 2010

January 3, 2010

Miami Heat

2009 ended on a sour note for the Miami Heat, with the San Antonio Spurs dismantling the Heat to the tune of 108 to 78. A 30-point loss is not what Miami wanted to end the year after a great start to the season.

Now the Heat find themselves struggling to get back on track after losing their first game of 2010 to the Charlotte Bobcats last night. Miami is currently on a 3-game losing streak and will play their next two games against Eastern Conference giants, Atlanta Hawks and Boston Celtics. Fortunately, those two games will be played in Miami, but then the Heat must head on the road for a 6-game west coast trip.

* * *

Miami Dolphins

A miracle is what the Miami Dolphins need if they are going to reach the postseason this year. Losses by the Baltimore Ravens, New York Jets, Houston Texans and Jacksonville Jaguars would be required for such a scenario. And let's not forget the defending NFL Champions Pittsburgh Steelers, which Miami must defeat at home today.

Realistically speaking, it's all but over for the Dolphins. But it never hurts to dream, and that's what many Miami fans are doing today as they watch the game.