The Miami Dolphins return to the field on Sunday against the surging Seattle Seahawks.  Game time at the Seven-Names Stadium is 1:00 pm, and you can watch the game on Channel 4, CBS in South Florida. The Dolphins are tied with the Bills and Jets with identical 4-6 records, behind the New England Patriots, who lead the AFC East at 7-3. 

Yesterday in the weekly episode of NFL Monday Night Football, two of the best teams in the NFL met, both of them with their backup quarterback taking the field do to injuries.  Colin Kaepernick of the 49ers threw for two touchdowns and the SF defense dominated Bears backup Jason Campbell, leading the 49ers to a 32-7 trouncing of da’ Bears.

This week’s NFL schedule kicks off with the traditional Thanksgiving day games:

THURSDAY

Houston @ Detroit

Det +3 12:30 pm CBS  Ch. 4

Washington @ Dallas

Dal -3 4:30 pm FOX  Ch. 7

New England @ NY Jets

NYJ +6.5 8:20 pm NBC Ch. 6

SUNDAY

Seattle @ Miami

Mia +3 1:00 pm CBS Ch. 4

Minnesota @ Chicago

No Line 1:00 pm

Oakland @ Cincinnati

Cin -9.5 1:00 pm

Pittsburgh @ Cleveland

No Line 1:00 pm

Buffalo @ Indianapolis

Ind -3 1:00 pm

Denver @ Kansas City

KC +10.5 1:00 pm

Atlanta @ Tampa Bay

No Line 1:00 pm

Tennessee @ Jacksonville

Jax +3 1:00 pm

Baltimore @ San Diego

No Line 4:05 pm

San Francisco @ New Orleans

NO +2.5 4:25 pm         FOX  Ch. 7

St. Louis @ Arizona

Ari -1 4:25 pm

Green Bay @ NY Giants

NYG -1.5 8:20 pm         NBC  Ch. 6

MONDAY

Carolina @ Philadelphia

No Line 8:30 pm ESPN

TODAY’S TRIVIA QUESTION:  Miami Dolphins wide receiver Brian Hartline joined an elite group of 10 players in Dolphins history with a TD pass reception of over 80-yard, with his 80-yard TD catch against the Arizona Cardinals this season.  Who has the longest pass reception in Dolphins history?  Tell you later, alligator. 

The Miami Heat are enjoying a couple of days of much needed rest, and they return to the court on Wednesday, here at the AAA, against the Milwaukee Bucks.  Game time tomorrow is 7:30 pm, and you can watch the game on Sun Sports on your cable or satellite system.  In the NBA yesterday,

Charlotte 102 Milwaukee 98

BREAK UP THE BOBCATS, who have won 4 out of their last 5

Indiana 96 Washington 89

David West scored 30 points to lead the Pacers

Atlanta 81 Orlando 72

Al Horford led the Hawks with 15 points and 9 rebounds

Denver 97 Memphis 92

Danilo Gallinari scored 26 points, including 6 in the final two minutes

Golden State 105 Dallas 101  (ot)

Stephen Curry scored 20 of his 31 points in the 4th quarter and in overtime

LA Clippers 92 San Antonio 87

Chris Paul led the way with 19 points 

Utah 102 Houston 91

Five Jazz players scored in double figures, led by Gordon Hayward’s 15 points

TODAY’S GAMES IN THE NBA

Toronto @ Philadelphia 7:00 pm

New York @ New Orleans         8:00 pm

Brooklyn @ LA Lakers 10:30 pm NBA-TV

Major League Baseball approved the trade between the Marlins and the Toronto Blue Jays.  The Fish dumped salary in the form of Josh Johnson, Mark Buehrle, Jose Reyes, John Buck, and Emilio Bonifacio who go to Toronto in exchange for infielders Yunel Escobar and Adeiny Hachavarria; catcher Jeff Mathis; pitchers Henderson Alvarez, Justin Nicolino, and Anthony DeSciafini, along with outfielder Jake Marisnick.  The reason for the delay was that Jose Reyes was out of the country, vacationing in Dubai, and before all trades are final, the players must have physical exams.  

I’m not really going to sit here and rant about the trade.  The players that they traded away haven’t won SQUAT, with the exception of Mark Buehrle, who won a World Series with the White Sox in 2005.  However, Buehrle is past his prime, and Josh Johnson hasn’t pitched like an ace in a LOOOONG time.  Jose Reyes is a great player, the type of player and person that I want on my team, but has always been an injury risk.  Emilio Bonifacio is a very versatile player, also the type of player and person that I want on my team.  I will probably miss him the most.  Does anyone out there really care about trading John Buck?  The prospects they got may or may not pan out, so it is way too early to pass judgement on those players.  

Our biggest rant should be about the Marlins owners putting a competitive product on the field in 2013, something that, at this point, we are not seeing.  How do you replace 3 of your 5 starters from last year?  Who is going to close games?  Are they going to get anything from Escobar, a player who comes with a lot of excess baggage and one that is considered an awful influence in the clubhouse?  They may be thinking of the long-term future, but short-term, this really sucks.

After choosing to self-impose a bowl ban, a ban that will also keep them from playing in the ACC Championship game, the University of Miami Hurricanes will try to end 2012 with a victory at Duke against the Blue Devils at 12:30 pm.  There remains the specter of a black cloud over the University due to an on-going NCAA investigation.  The school feels that voluntarily withholding the team from a second postseason in a row will lessen the punishment that will undoubtedly be doled out by the NCAA and allow the university to move forward as quickly as possible.  Good luck with that.  

This Saturday, FIU closes out their season as they host UL-Monroe at the Cage.  Game time is 6:00 pm, and you can listen to the game broadcast (in English) on your smartphone or on the computer at www.fiusports.com.  I will be handling the play-by-play, and Pete Pelegrin will be handling the color analysis. 

Another shakeup in college football this past weekend, as the both #1 and #2 lost on saturday.  #1 Kansas State lost to Baylor, 52-24 and #2 Oregon fell in overtime to Stanford, 17-14.  The new rankings have Notre Dame in the top spot, followed by three teams from the SEC, Alabama at #2, Georgia is #3, Florida is #4.  Oregon fell to fifth, K-State dropped to 6th.  LSU is #7, Stanford is #8, Texas A&M is 9th, and Florida State rounds out the top ten.  This week’s top ten action,

#7 LSU @ Arkansas Friday 2:30 pm  CBS Ch. 4

Georgia Tech @ #3 Georgia 12 noon ESPN

#5 Oregon @ #5 Oregon State 3:00 pm

Auburn @ #2 Alabama 3:30 pm CBS Ch. 4

#4 Florida @ #10 Florida State 3:30 pm ABC Ch. 10

#8 Stanford @ #17 UCLA 6:30 pm FOX Ch. 7

Missouri @ #9 Texas A&M 7:00 pm ESPN 2

#1 Notre Dame @ USC 8:00 pm ABC Ch. 10

THE ANSWER TO TODAY’S TRIVIA QUESTION:  Miami Dolphins wide receiver Brian Hartline joined an elite group of 10 players in Dolphins history with a TD pass reception of over 80-yard, with his 80-yard TD catch against the Arizona Cardinals this season.  Who has the longest pass reception in Dolphins history?  Mark Duper has the most TD receptions of over 80 yards (three catches in his career of over 80 yards, one of 80 and two of 85 yards).  However he doesn’t hold the all-time record for the longest pass recepton for the Fins.  That distinction belongs to Hall of Famer Paul Warfield, who, in 1971, scored on a 86 yard TD pass from another Hall of Famer, Bob Griese.      

Don’t miss my two “Descarga Deportiva” segments (for the Spanish-challenged, “Sports Jam Session”) every day, Monday through Friday, at 9:25 am and 12:15 pm on Radio Esperanza, 1550 AM or on the internet on www.miradioesperanza.com. 

The 9:25 am segment on Radio Esperanza is brought to you by the fine folks at La Lechonera Products.  The inventors of the original mojo criollo way back in 1970, also offer the BEST naranja agria (sour orange marinade) product on the market, along with the latest additions to the family - the SALSA PICANTE (hot sauces, both HOT and EXTRA HOT), SALSA DE ALITAS (Buffalo Wings Sauce) and the truly incredible SALSA PICANTE con AJO (Garlic Pepper Sauce - Sriracha).  Look for all the La Lechonera products at Publix, Winn Dixie, Sedano’s, Presidente, and GFS.  If they don’t have it where you shop, ask nicely the first time, then use whatever means necessary to make sure they start offering the complete line of products.  Go to www.lalechoneraproducts.com and LIKE them on Facebook.  Check out their recipe for PAVO CON MOJO (Thanksgiving Turkey with Mojo).  

IF YOU OR ANYONE YOU KNOW WANT TO ADVERTISE YOUR PRODUCT OR SERVICE ON MY RADIO SEGMENTS, PLEASE E-MAIL ME FOR ALL THE DETAILS - jerry@descargadeportiva.com

Behave yourselves, and always remember that tomorrow will bring us a brand new day.