Thursday, February 21, 2013


The Miami Heat returned to the hardwood last night in Atlanta against the Hawks, and it was anything but a walk in the park.  The Heat could not get it going against the Hawks, falling  behind at the half, 49-45 and then trailing by 10, 73-63, at the end of the third quarter.  Heat coach Erik Spoelstra then turned to his two wily veterans off the bench - Ray Allen and Shane Battier.  The due combined for 24 points in the fourth quarter, and Miami scored the first 13 points in the period to retake the lead and coasted the rest of the way to defeat Atlanta 103-90.  LeBron James led the Heat with 24 points, Dwyane Wade added 20, Battier had 17, and Allen finished with 15.  The Heat is already in  Chicago to take on the Bulls tonight, and will square off against the Philadelphia 76ers in Philly on Saturday.  The team returns home to play the Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday evening at the AAA.  Tonight’s game is the first game in the TNT nationally-televised doubleheader starting at 8:00 pm. 

In the rest of the NBA last night,

Memphis 88 Toronto 82
Zach Randolph scored 18 points and captured 17 rebounds.  

Detroit 105 Charlotte 99
Brandon Knight led a balanced Pistons attack with 21 points.

Indiana 125 New York 91
Paul George scored 27 points, David West contributed with 18 points.

Cleveland 105 New Orleans 100
Kyrie Irving scored 20 of his game-high 35 points in the fourth quarter.

Houston 122 Oklahoma City 119
James Harden lit up his former team with a career-high 46 points, including 16 in the final quarter.

Brooklyn 97 Milwaukee 94
Dereon Williams led the way with 23 points and eight assists.

Minnesota 94 Philadelphia 87
27 points and 18 rebounds for Nikola Pekovic

Dallas 111 Orlando 96
Shawn Marion and Elton Brand each scored 17 points, Vince Carter had 14 points and eight assists.

LA Lakers 113 Boston 99
Dwight Howard led the Lakers with 24 points and 12 rebounds, Kobe Bryant added 16 points and 7 assists.

Golden State 108 Phoenix 98
Klay Thompson scored 21 of his 28 points in the first half.  Jarrett Jack added 21 points, Stephen Curry had 20 points and 11 assists, and David Lee finished with 19 points and 11 rebounds.

Tonight’s schedule in the NBA,
Miami @ Chicago       8:00 pm TNT
San Antonio @ LA Clippers    10:30 pm TNT

In college hoops, the #2 ranked University of Miami’s next game is at Wake Forest on Saturday at 1:00 pm against the Demon Deacons.  They will return home to face Virginia Tech on Wednesday the 27th at 7:00 pm at the BankUnited Center.
FIU is home tonight at the US Century Bank Arena to take on  Arkansas-Little Rock.  Game time tonight is 7:00 pm.  The Panthers are off after tonight’s game until next Thursday when they travel to Louisiana-Monroe to take on the Warhawks.  

In college baseball, FIU lost for the first time this season, falling  to Bethune Cookman 1-0 at Jackie Robinson Field in Daytona Beach.  The Panthers host Manhattan for a three-game series this weekend.  Game times are 6pm on Friday, 4pm on Saturday, and 1pm on Sunday.  The University of Miami won last night against FAU in Boca, needing extra innings to defeat the Owls, 5-4. Miami scored two runs in the eighth inning to force extras.  The Canes return to the diamond on Friday as they take on Wisconsin-Milwaukee in the weekend series.  Game times are 7pm on Friday and Saturday, and 1pm on Sunday afternoon.  

Some former assistant coaches at the University of Miami, as well as the former basketball head coach could be in trouble, according to this report Yahoo! Sports:



Jorge Milian from the Palm Beach Post has more on the allegations:


UM President Donna Shalala is right on point, according the the Palm Beach Post’s Dave George:  


TODAY’S TRIVIA QUESTION:  The Atlanta Braves have the potential to have six players with 25 or more home runs in a season this year, something that has never happened in the NL.  Who is the only team in history to have six players hit 25 or more home runs in the same season?  Tell you later, Alligator.

Spring Training is here!  I will be bringing you analysis of all 30 teams over the next three weeks.  One team from each league every day, in alphabetical order.  Today, may I present to you the New York Mets and the Minnesota Twins.  

NEW YORK METS   74-88 Mgr. Terry Collins

The Mets committed to building around David Wright, by signing the third baseman to a $138 million, 8-year deal.  They traded Cy Young award winner RA Dickey to Toronto for catchers John Buck, Travis d’Arnaud, and a handful of prospects, and also released Jason Bay, who was a huge bust.  They signed pitcher Shane Marcum, but that will not be enough to challenge in the NL East.  They are going to have their struggles and they need some more help, but their future is a lot brighter than what it was.   

MINNESOTA TWINS 66-96 Mgr. Ron Gardenhire

The last two years have been horrible for the Twins, finishing in last place both in 2011 and 2012.  In 2011, injuries were the culprit, last season it was horrific starting pitching.  Scott Diamond is the only pitcher from last year’s rotation, as the Twins added Mike Pelfrey, Vance Worley, Kevin Correia.  Joe Mauer is healthy again, and Justin Morneau is healthier than he has been the last few seasons.  Their young nucleus is going to have to mature quickly and the pitching has to rebound for them to escape the cellar.   

Tomorrow:  The Philadelphia Phillies and New York Yankees.

In baseball news, a scary situation yesterday at Marlins camp.  Joe Capozzi from the Palm Beach Post was all over it:


Hal Steinbrenner has spoken to Robinson Cano’s agent about a significant long-term deal.  Yahoo! Sports tells us why the Yankees can afford this:



Don’t look for David Price to be a free agent that signs with the Yankees when his contract is up.  Here’s the story from the New York Post:


David O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution talks about the possibility of the Atlanta Braves becoming the first NL team in history with six players hitting 25 or more homeruns.


Here’s the answer to today’s question:  The Atlanta Braves have the potential to have six players with 25 or more home runs in a season this year, something that has never happened in the NL.  Who is the only team in history to have six players hit 25 or more home runs in the same season?  

The 2003 Boston Red Sox are the only team in MLB history to do it, with Nomar Garciaparra (28), Kevin Millar (25), Trot Nixon (28), David Ortiz (31), Manny Ramirez (37) and Jason Varitek (25).  The 1961 Yankees came close, with Roger Maris (61), Mickey Mantle (54), Bill Skowron (28), Yogi Berra (22), Elston Howard (21), and Johnny Blanchard (21).     
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. 

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