The Miami Heat are off until tomorrow night when they take on the Toronto Raptors at the AAA.  We expect to see the debut of 6’10” forward/center Chris “The Birdman” Andersen tomorrow, whom the Heat just signed to a 10-day contract.  Although he comes with a lot of excess baggage along with the most tattoos on any player in the NBA, he can help the team with his tenacity on the boards and his defense.  He has ten days to impress the coaches and his new teammates.    

In the NBA yesterday,

Indiana 82 Memphis 81

George Hill’s free throw with 1.4 seconds left gave the Pacers the win

New Orleans 114 Sacramento 105

Ryan Anderson scored 27 points, including seven 3-point baskets

Houston 100 Charlotte 94

29 points and seven assists for James Harden

Atlanta 104 Minnesota 96

Al Horford led the way with 28 points and 10 rebounds

Brooklyn 88 New York 85

Joe Johnson scored 25 points, including the go-ahead jumper with 22.3 seconds remaining

Golden State 106 LA Clippers 99

Stephen Curry had a game-high 28 points

San Antonio 90 Philadelphia 85

Old man time, Tim Duncan, had 24 points and 17 rebounds

Chicago 95 LA Lakers 83

Kirk Hinrich led six Bulls players in double figures with 22 points

Washington 98 Portland 95

Jordan Crawford hit a three-pointer as time expired 

TONIGHT’S GAMES:  

Boston @ Cleveland 7:00 pm

Orlando @ Detroit 7:30 pm

Philadelphia @ Milwaukee 8:00 pm

Oklahoma City @ LA Clippers  10:30 pm

The countdown begins as we go through the longest two weeks in sports as we prepare to listen and read every imaginable story that bored sportswriters and ESPN reporters can muster.  Whether it is about the Harbaugh brothers coaching against each other, the retirement of Ray Lewis after this game, stories about 49ers QB Colin Kaepernick and Ravens offensive tackle Michael Oher (already immortalized in the movie “Blind Side” with Sandra Bullock) being adopted, stories about players in this game that the Dolphins passed up on, you’re going to hear all these and MORE in the next two weeks that will seemingly never end.  My favorite stories are that Bill Bellichek is nowhere to be seen and that ever since the Ravens fired their offensive coordinator, former Dolphin failure Cam Cameron, in December, their offense exploded and Joe Flacco has flourished on the national stage.  Saddest story for me is that even Ted Ginn makes it to a Super Bowl before the Dolphins can even dream of getting back.  At least we have the Pro Bowl to look forward to this Sunday, the least-interesting, least attended, and least watched of all the all star games. 

The opening Las Vegas odds have the 49ers as 4-point favorites to win the Super Bowl over the Ravens.  The over-under on total points scored is now 47 1/2.    

TODAY’S TRIVIA QUESTION (and a bit of history):  How many Superbowl games have been played in South Florida?  Tell you later, alligator.  

Congratulations to the Marlins ownership for again causing us to lose out on an All Star game.  Everyone had their sights set on getting the 2015 midsummer classic, but thanks to the dismantling of the team this winter, MLB has again decided to punish Miami and will award the 2015 game to Cincinnati.  If this sounds familiar to you all, it should.  We were supposed to also host the 2000 All Star game, but after the 1998 dismantling of the 1997 world championship team, MLB also dissed South Florida.  

Today’s spotlight article comes from Buster Olney of ESPN who rates the top ten bullpens in the history of MLB. 

http://insider.espn.go.com/mlb/blog/_/name/olney_buster/id/8864765/the-1998-new-york-yankees-top-best-bullpens-mlb-history-mlb 

Dear Santa Claus  Tooth Fairy  Cupid  Easter Bunny  Jeffrey Loria and minions:  

What do you mean, you still haven’t sold the team?  You’re still here?  What are you waiting for? The Super Bowl?  Valentine’s day?  Easter?  Next year’s HOF election?

Your inept management allowed the Marlins farm system to deteriorate to the point of being horrible, and now have dismantled the major league roster while pissing off the players on the roster and the entire South Florida community.  This latest dismantling now cost Miami the 2015 All-Star game.  You really didn’t think that MLB would award you the game after this offseason, did you?

How soon before you get rid of Giancarlo Stanton for another group of so-called prospects, as you continue to allow your management to “sell low and buy high”.  Please sell the team so we can once again enjoy baseball in Miami.

All kidding aside, your window of opportunity to get out of town is opening up in just a few weeks.  The five-year anniversary of the Marlins and Miami-Dade County agreement for the baseball stadium is coming up on February 21, 2013.  After that time, the “penalty” for selling the team is only 5%, a mere pittance, based on a $250 million value of the team.  You’ve already saved much more than that on the salary dump this season alone.  Of course, you and your minions have already decided not to field a quality major league roster this coming season, hopefully setting up the sale of the team.  

We’ll continue to keep our fingers crossed and light a candle in the meantime. 

Here’s the answer to today’s question:  How many Superbowl games have been played in South Florida?  A total of 10 games have been played in South Florida, five in the old Orange Bowl, and five in the Seven Names Stadium.  This year’s host, New Orleans has hosted nine games (6 at the Superdome and 3 at Tulane Stadium).  They will be tied with Miami for the most Super Bowls after this game.

Orange Bowl

II - Green Bay 33, Oakland 14
III - New York Jets 16, Baltimore 7
V - Baltimore 16, Dallas 13
X - Pittsburgh 21, Dallas 17
XIII - Pittsburgh 35, Dallas 31

Seven Names Stadium

XXIII - San Francisco 20, Cincinnati 16
XXIX - San Francisco 49, San Diego 26
XXXIII - Denver 34, Atlanta 19
XLI - Indianapolis 29, Chicago 17
XLIV - New Orleans 31, Indianapolis 17  

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 some great recipes!  

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