Erik Spoelstra Interview

My Sports Sunday conversation with new Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra can be found at the NewsRadio 610 WIOD page. That means GO!!

Among things I took out:

-Considering that Spoe may have never partaken in a non-Sun Sports halftime interview in 13 years, it's incredible how sharp and prepared and natural he is. It's fair to not immediately anoint him a success, but I really wouldn't worry about the lack of head coaching experience.

-He won't be a puppet the way Tony Sparano is expected to be(Pat Riley allows his coaches a lot more freedom), but make no mistake, Spoelstra is an extension of Riles. The defensive first culture will be upheld. The weight and body fat requirements will be there. Now it's a question of whether he will be flexible to the personnel, or if the personnel will have to fully adapt to the culture. Probably a mixture of both.

-Between talking with Spoelstra and a couple people in the organization, I don't think the Heat trade the pick no matter where they land. While I've speculated for weeks that Derrick Rose is the guy targeted at No. 1, there seems to be a lot of interest in Brook Lopez potentially at No. 3. And I've heard both Jared Bayless and Kevin Love prominently mentioned. Both interesting because I don't think a shoot first point guard is a great choice with Dwyane, and while I'm on the Kevin Love will succeed in the NBA bandwagon, top 4 is awfully high. But it seems like all these options are more appealing to the braintrust than acquiring a veteran in lieu of the pick.

-Perhaps most interesting are Spoelstra's comments about D-Wade. We know they have, if not a friendship, then at least an extreme respect for one another. But while some people in the organization seem to begrudgingly go with the company line of praising Dwyane's Olympic aspirations, I think Spoelstra genuinely believes it's the best thing for Wade. And I agree 100 percent. Wade performed much better on back to back and 1 day of rest this year than 2+ days rest. Barring injury, the Olympics will get Dwyane into game speed and shape much easier than anything else.

-Of course, all of these could be smokescreens. After all, Pat was the master of saying something one day and pulling a reversal the next. Stan Van Gundy had Riley's bluntness(without as much charisma), but didn't pull many sleight of hands. Where does Spoelstra lie, excuse the pun? Stay tuned.

Hanley Ramirez Thoughts.....

So many places to go with the news that the Marlins are about to announce a 6-year, 70 million dollar extension for Hanley Ramirez.

-Shocked, Surprised, Stunned, Amazed, Flabbergasted, Astonished, Dumbfounded, Incredulous. Are those enough adjectives to describe my reaction?

-The biggest reason for the shock is not the sharp 180 degree turn from pouring in no money. Or Jeffrey Loria's comments stating they would continue to not pump in money until the new stadium opens its doors. The main reason has to do with the stadium possibly hitting a snag. On Friday, Norman Braman's lawsuit, minus one facet, got the green light to be decided in court in July. And speaking with multiple people who are close to both parties, ignore the false confidence the Marlins may be showing: They are SCARED of Norman Braman. And so is Miami Mayor Manny Diaz. Just reporting what I've been told.

-Obviously, the Hanley deal makes sense on a million different levels. But it doesn't validate the Miguel Cabrera deal at all. In fact, it exacerbates the bad taste. The Marlins DIDN'T have to make a choice between Miggy and HanRam. They could have and should have retained Cabrera's rights until 2009. And let's just say, considering the Fish are operating without a finalized stadium deal, they had a hunch this would go through before the season. Why not pay Miggy his 10 million price tag, sign Hanley to an extension, and replace Andrew Miller and Burke Badenhop's spots with say, Kyle Loshe(who signed a 1 yr 4 mil deal) and Chris Volstad? I know what you're saying, the Marlins got a once in a lifetime package from Detroit. You don't think they could have reached a similar deal following another 320-35-120 season from Cabrera?
And stop with all the justifications towards getting rid of Miggy. No team in its right mind would ever want to get rid of a 24-year old superstar who hasn't even reached his prime. I don't care how el gordo he is, that didn't stop Babe Ruth. I don't care if he's not a prototypical third baseman, move him to the first sack. And bad clubhouse guy? Bring in veterans to neutralize that. Just like the Red Sox did with Big Papi keeping Manny under wraps. Besides, the clubhouse scenario is so overstated, Dontrelle did more irreparable harm than Migy.

-That said, the Marlins sent this message to their fan base: We're in it to win it in 2008. Do I think they can sustain a 23-14 pace playing the creampuff part of their schedule? No. But as long as they're in the NL East mix, go get that ideal leadoff hitter and center fielder. Go acquire another veteran arm.

-And sign at least a couple other players up for arbitration. It's amazing I'm suggesting this, but if Scott Olsen doesn't encounter any brushes with the law, ink him with a 3 or 4 year extension. Same for a dependable bat like Josh Willingham. I'm not expected the Marlins to become the Yankees overnight, but they do need to spend wisely. Key word being SPEND.

Video: My Biggest Nightmare....

For some it's ghosts, others it's snakes. For me, it was the PBS music that would come on after shows like Sesame Street and Reading Rainbow. Have a good laugh!

Yes, You Can Bet on the Draft Lottery........

It shouldn't surprise anybody that wagers can be placed for who wins the NBA Draft Lottery(which we all know will be the Heat), since spring training baseball garners action. But, I feel obligated to provide degenerates with their PSA, so here ya go.

FYI, for bleep's sake, I'm picking the Heat, Bucks and Sonics as the top 3

Miami Heat +175
Seattle Supersonics +250
Minnesota T-Wolves +385
Memphis Grizzlies +400
New York Knicks +800
L.A. Clippers +1000
Milwaukee Bucks +1200
Charlotte Bobcats +1800
Chicago Bulls +2000
New Jersey Nets +2500
Sacramento Kings +5000
Indiana Pacers +6000
Portland Trail Blazers +6600
Golden State Warriors +7500

Making the Case for a Co-Co-Co-Co MVP.....

The sign of a bad sports talk host is to show an inability to formulate a strong opinion. 99 percent of the time, that inability is bred out of sheer laziness. But once in a while, there's an issue which doesn't come equipped with a rubber-stamped answer. Such as the rightful winner of the 2008 NBA Most Valuable Player.

I'm largely on the side of changing the Most Valuable Player to the Most Outstanding Player. Because, normally, there is no scientific way to calculate who had the greatest impact on their team. How can you definitively say that a superstar on a 55-win team INDIVIDUALLY delivered more victories through their presence than someone on a 40-win team. But of course, the old curmudgeons that cast their ballots usually don't concur with that analysis.

Based on that idea, LeBron James was the most outstanding player because he led the NBA in scoring, and has every single shred of that offense run through him. Plus, King James took an otherwise horrible Cleveland team to the NBA Finals, and with Danny Ferry poisoning the team by being Danny Ferry, it's amazing some are picking Cleveland to beat Chicago.

Then there is Chris Paul, who carries all of the qualities that most define an MVP by. Incredible statistical season(21 pts, 11.6 ast, nearly 5/1 assist to turnover ratio, led NBA in PER), and lifted an OK supporting cast to the West's No. 2 seed, while carrying the New Orleans story with him. Of course, some of his credentials are a product of his point guard position, but make no mistake, 2007-2008 may be defined by CP3.

Kevin Garnett's numbers weren't as shoddy(19 pts, 9 rbs) and he missed 11 games, but Bill Simmons article documents how Garnett is one of the rare players that ACTUALLY bring intangibles, and transcends statistics. He was the reason the Celtics went from having Don Nelson architect the defensive gameplan, to having five Bruce Bowen's on the court at all times. And this is when the other two stars(Pierce and Ray Allen) are at best, mediocre defensive players. KG changes the mindset of practice, and even small things like blocking shots after the whistle alter the culture in Beantown.


And of course, there is the man who's about to win his first MVP, Kobe Bryant. Was this his most dominant season? No, the Jordan like 05-06 campaign was his most dominant. But this was Bryant's most complete season, and led L.A. to a No. 1 seed out West with the similar cast of characters, save 35 games from a more dominant Andrew Bynum, and 27 from Pau Gasol. And while the idea of a "Lifetime Achievement Award" leaves a sour taste, it's washed out from the scenario that the best player in the game needs at least one MVP mantle.

Gun to my head, I'm giving the award to Garnett since this is one of the rare distinguishable years to separate Most Valuable from Most Outstanding. But how can you come up with a tangible argument any of the four?

This Rivalry is Going Way too Far

This is why we give you guys surgeon's general warnings that taking sports too seriously is bad for your health. And this also proves that anybody who still calls Yankees-Red Sox a non-rivalry is an imbecile.

Story Courtesy of the AP. Picture courtesy of the Nashua Telegraph

NASHUA, N.H. - A Yankees fan who got into a Red Sox-Yankees argument outside a bar aimed her car at a group of people to scare them and didn't brake, hitting and killing a man, authorities and witnesses said.

Ivonne Hernandez was arraigned Monday on reckless second-degree murder and drunken driving charges and was held without bail. She did not enter a plea.

Hernandez's public defender, James Quay, did not immediately return a call seeking comment.

Hernandez, 43, was speeding early Friday toward a small group that included the man, Matthew Beaudoin, 29, and never hit her brakes, a prosecutor said Monday.

"She accelerated at a high speed for about 200 feet. She went directly at this group of people," prosecutor Susan Morrell said. "She indicated to police that she wanted to scare this group of people. She thought they would get out of the way."

Beaudoin died of massive head trauma at a hospital, Morrell said.

Hernandez, of Nashua, was arrested at the scene. She said she had been drinking and refused to take a breath-alcohol test, Morrell said. Hernandez said she had been in an argument with the group.

Authorities won't describe the argument, but witnesses said it occurred after Beaudoin left a bar.

Owner Lisa Slade said one of her bartenders, who was with Beaudoin after the bar closed, stopped at a bush to relieve herself.

Beaudoin and another girl, Maria Hughes, laughed at her. Slade said the bartender told her that a woman getting into her car thought Beaudoin and Hughes were laughing at her.

She said the woman punched the bartender. "My bartender got slapped in the face," Slade said.

At that point, the group saw a Yankees bumper sticker on Hernandez's car and "said something to her about being a Yankees fan," and the conflict escalated, Slade said. Like the rest of New Hampshire, Nashua, 45 miles northwest of Boston, is Red Sox country.

Hernandez allegedly gunned her car and struck Beaudoin and Maria Hughes, 21. Hughes had only minor injuries, which Beaudoin's sister Faith said was because her brother shielded Hughes, a friend.

Faith Beaudoin described her brother as a jokester and social butterfly who liked to tease.

"I hope she's haunted by Matt's face hitting her windshield," she said of Hernandez. "It's been an absolute nightmare for all of us."

Video: This is What Should Have Aired on E-60

So will ESPN remove the Sports Guy from E-60 just like they did Dana Jacobsen dirty for being the MVP of an ESPN roast?? Who knows, but enjoy this spoof of Miguel Tejada's "To Catch a Predator" appearance on E-60, with Jimmy Kimmel and Bill Simmons. Courtesy of AWFUL ANNOUNCING.

Monday Quickies......

-My interview with Dolphins No. 1 pick Jake Long is on the WIOD website. It's a pretty standard meet and greet, although we talked about why so many of the rookies are SCARED of Parcells. Am I the only one who doesn't understand that dynamic? I get trying to cast a good first impression, but it's not like Tuna is going to wring your neck if you mess up a drill. And besides, I want people on my team EAGER to play for Parcells, not scared.

-Sorry but PETA's stretching with comparing horse racing to dog fighting. Larry Jones was holding back tears when Eight Belles' had to be euthanized. Versus Ron Mexico celebrating a day's work by sending the pup to the electric chair. There may be similarities surrounding the concept of treating animals like objects, but the perception/tone couldn't be more different.

-There's a clear difference between dancing with yourself, and dancing with someone else.

-And how does Miami-FT Lauderdale have four sports stations, and not one of them is carrying NBA playoff games?

Video: Nothing Like Banter Between Newspeople

So does he say "sacks" or "sex?" You make the call.....