When I was in college, I would turn down the sound of games I watched on TV and do my own play-by-play. Sometimes I would even record it.  Once I got up the nerve to call him out of the blue at the radio station where he worked. I made up a story about doing an assignment about sportscasters. I just wanted to meet Jim Durham.  He graciously agreed to meet me, and even listened to my rather primitive play by play.  He asked, “Where did you do this ?”. I told him at home. He remarked, “If I could do the games this well from home, I’d never leave the couch. ” He couldn’t tell it, but I lit up inside with a huge glow. “If the great Jim Durham thought I could do this, then maybe I can.”, I thought.

Sure enough, I embarked on a broadcasting career that has now lasted 35 years.  I would run into Jim from time to time at NBA games, and a few years ago reminded him of our first meeting when I was still a student. Although he didn’t recall, he was still the same gracious man who encouraged me years ago. No doubt his kindness was the secret to his long and enduring career, and the catalyst for my own.

Thanks Jim. I’ll miss you and rest assured. I will pay it forward just like you did.

  The question isn’t whether Lebron is the best NOW.  The question is…can he be the best EVER.  Some are suggesting that he’s already there..that James now is better than Michael Jordan.  Sorry. He’s gettin’ there, but he’s not there yet.

However, if I’m Lebron being put on that  ledge would motivate me enough to BECOME the best of all-time. He’s got a skill set that no player, not even Jordan, had.  Lebron finishes like Doctor J, is strong like the Mailman, strikes fear like Jordan, has three point range and defends like…nobody else.

Now that he has won an NBA title, fans automatically assume that Lebron will  leap over that mental wall that seemed to make him shrink in the big moments. I think they are right…but let’s see it.

 Jordan had an intimidating swagger that made him that much better. Only Kobe Bryant today has that same kind of confidence (although Kevin Durant might soon be there too. ) There is something to be said for KNOWING that you are man. If Lebron’s game goes up even half a notch more, he very well could end up being the best.

Of course, this debate assumes that everyone agrees Michael Jordan is the best ever.  Old schoolers say it was Wilt Chamberlain.  Isiah Thomas told me his pick for the best all-time is Kareem Abdul Jabbar.

Jordan got six rings.  Lebron will need at least four to make his case. I’m not bettin’ against him, but the proof will be in the pudding.

     Ross will never win any motivational speaking awards, but he does make some sense.  The Dolphins should not add overpaid free agents to this patchwork team.  They should not pay mega-millions for ANY quarterback unless he is clearly better than Matt Moore, and are wise to bring in a guy like David Garrard who can at least push Moore to play better.  They should build a team primarily through the draft until they reach the point where adding key pieces makes sense. 

    Of course, it will backfire if the Dolphins don’t draft the right players, and don’t coach up the ones they do pick. Ross is convinced Joe Philbin and his staff know how to make good players better. We’ll see.

  Ross remains confident in Jeff Ireland, who actually drafted well in his first year away from the shadow of Bill Parcells.  However, Ross can not afford for Ireland to be a PR liability.  If the Fins are not better next season, Ross will have no choice but to hire a GM with more NFL clout.

  Are the Dolphins a team nobody wants to join ? Not according to one coach who spurned them. Jeff Fisher told me he actually LIKED Ross and Ireland, and respects the Dolphins for playing so hard after a dismal start last season. He just thought dull St. Louis was a better place for him than sexy South Florida. To each his own.

  What’s a Dol-fan to do ? Accept the fact that your team is rebuilding. Actually I should say re-re-re building…it seems they do this every few years. If they get it right, the Dolphins are gonna be really good…in the 2014 season.

Dol-fans will you go crazier waiting that much longer ? Patience..patients.

During all of the outcry about his senseless shooting, I wondered if and when any athletes anywhere would weigh in. After all, pro athletes live in a world of privilege and fame that can make them forget where they came from. So many of them are reluctant to get involved in anything controversial, for fear of alienating anyone.  Others, quite frankly, may not be informed enough to take a stand on anything. It’s too easy for them to get self-absorbed in their unique world, focused on the “problems” many of us would love to have.

This case, however, touches a raw nerve. It takes us back to a time when civil rights was in the forefront, not on the back burner.  During the civil rights heyday, it was common for athletes to take stands and be out front on civil rights issues. Jackie Robinson, Jim Brown, Bill Russell and others would often lend their voices to the movement. They understood their voices carried extra weight.

It was gratifying to see Dwyane Wade, Lebron James and their teammates weigh in. The players last night wrote “R.I.P. Trayvon Martin” on their sneakers. Their head coach Erik Spolestra even weighed in, explaining how the case touched the heart of the Heat organization.

It was yet another example of why the Heat far and away is Miami’s best franchise. The confused Dolphins are still trying to figure out how to put together a team. The Marlins are focused on re-branding themselves. But the Heat really have a finger on the pulse of this town.

Last night was a night Heat fans could be proud, and make them want to root even more for the team to win a title.

This scandal was just too juicy for UM somehow NOT to be involved. Of  course, extra pay for extra special licks is not new to the Canes. Uncle Luke introduced the concept back in the day when he paid “bonuses” for vigorous hits.

Still,  paying for hard hits is not the same as rewarding players who deliberately hurt people.  That’s scary.

No one is pretending that football isn’t violent, but players should be on the field to win, not to cause injury. The truth is, however, that its a fine line between wanting to inflict pain and inflict INJURY.

Defensive players for years have bragged to each other about bone crushing hits that “took out” other players.  Once upon a time, UM took that to another level.

It should not be surprising that the concept carried over into the pros. The players all understand that.  The element of fear is a big part of football.

The defense is trying to force mistakes from offensive players who fear those crazy guys on the other side of the field WANT to hurt them.

Roger Goodell has already lowered the boom on those in charge of the Saints “bounty” system.  Soon, he’ll punish some of the players who carried it out.  Vilma could head the list. The NFL commissioner might even reprimand Warren Sapp for calling out Shockey.  He might even wrist slap Shockey for publishing a profane tweet defending himself from Sapp’s accusation.

Those UM guys. Even long after leaving Coral Gables, they still know how to “raise Cane.”

  Erik Spolestra chastized his team for not giving enough “effort” against Chicago. Effort wasn’t the problem. SIZE was the problem. The Bulls are too big for the Heat, just like the Lakers were a couple of Sundays ago, and just like Dwight Howard is every time they play Orlando.

 Joel Anthony is not a true center. Dexter Pittman isn’t the answer. Eddy Curry remains anchored to the bench, meaning the Heat are no better in the middle this year than they were last year with Zydrunas Ilgauskas and Erick Dampier. 

The Heat passed off the offseason acquisition of Shane Battier as the move that would get them over the top. I wondered then and now why they didn’t get a big body.  Heat fans should stop complaining that Chris Bosh is too “soft”. He’s a finesse player, not a banger.

What to do ? Pat Riley better get on the job and find a big man. Erik Spolestra better play the big men he has and challenge them to produce.  While you’re at it Spo, tell your bench to wake up.

Udonis Haslem…make a shot.  Shane Battier..make a shot. Norris Cole…where have you gone ?

Mike Miller..can you PLEASE stay healthy ?  I’m not hatin’ on the Heat…I’m just sayin.’  My heart wants them to win it all, but my eyes haven’t failed me yet.

  Maybe the Dolphins plan is to get a lot of fast young guys who can catch passes and go the distance. That’s the essence of the West Coast offense. I’m cool with that.  But if your plan is to go young, then why are you chasing an OLD quarterback like Peyton Manning.

   For the past several years, the Dolphins have been a team with dual agendas. They’re trying to win now…but they’re also re-building. You can’t do both.

Brandon Marshall said he wasn’t a diva, but once he got here, his diva-ness came out. He didn’t produce like the superstar the Dolphins paid him to be, and he could be a royal pain.  I don’t blame them for lettin’ him go.

But what’s the alternative ? Should a Dolphin fan have hope for the present, or hope for the future ?  Unless the team settles on a clear path, I’m afraid the answer will be…no hope at all.

Last year, when the Dolphins started miserably, some Dol-fans were actually happy. They wanted to “suck for Luck” so the team could once and for all get another franchise quarterback.  They were willing to endure short term pain for long term gain.

The Dolphins messed that up by winning too much, pushing them down in the draft to where they will most likely get a nice player, but maybe not an impact one.

Fans who were glad to see them win a few games now are left wondering if the team is half bad, or half good. Being a bad team is rough. Being stuck on mediocre is even worse.  So Dolphins…what’s the plan ?  Tell us before more fans decide they simply don’t care.

I’m sure I speak for all Heat fans in saying this. You were unconscious in leading the Heat back from a huge deficit in Utah. Nobody could stop you. So why in the final four seconds, when your team is down one did you pass it to Udonis Haslem. I love U-D, but I would rather you shoot the ball with two guys on you than him wide open.

Lebron, you did the same thing in the All-Star game..ruining an MVP-type performance by passing up the last shot, and throwing the ball away. I don’t care if you miss in those situations. SHOOT THE D— BALL !!

Erik Spolestra..I understand you going to Lebron in that situation, he had been your hot hand. However, until he proves he is willing to SHOOT THE D— BALL in that situation, give the ball to Dwyane Wade. He won’t hesitate to shoot.  If he doesn’t make it, odds are he will draw a foul. I guess we should point out that if Wade had made both free throws seconds before, Lebron would not have been put in that situation. Frankly, tho, that is besides the point.

A team’s best player MUST be willing to SHOOT THE D— BALL !! when the game is on the line. Can you imagine Kobe Bryant passing up a last second shot to pass to Metta World Peace (Ron Artest) ? How about Kevin Durant passing up the last shot for Serge Ibaka. No way. Both of those guys would SHOOT THE D— BALL !!

Lebron..please, follow Nike’s advice..and just do it. You gotta get over this mental hump of shying away from taking the last shot. No explanations, please.  If you miss…I can live with that. Just SHOOT THE D— BALL !!

     This season, they have gone undefeated at home. After the ACC tournament, the lady canes will head into the NC-double a tournament as one of the favorites to win a national championship. That’s serious stuff.

   Last year, coach Katie Meier was imploring fans to come out and watch her team. This year, she hasn’t had to. Although attendance at UM is never huge, the lady canes have built a following. No dunking.  Just good fundamental basketball.  Some of their stars like Sheniece Johnson and Raquina Williams might have the WNBA in their future, but most of these young ladies are just playing for the love of the game..and each other.

     In a guest post for self-esteem blog girlIamallthat.com, I wrote about how female sports can play a big role in female self esteem. So many young ladies face problems of insecurity. Not the girls who play for UM.   You can just see their poise and character, especially when they are down in a game but come back to win.

   When you look at some of the more prominent female sportscasters, you can see an on-air confidence rooted in sports.  Cheryl Miller ? confident for sure.  Ditto for Doris Burke. So sports fans..check out the lady canes.  If you’ve got a daughter, let her play ball or the sport of her choice.

  She might have a championship in her future.

Didn’t I come in last year and turn around the season, and win the respect of the entire team. Weren’t we a winless team coached by a dead man walking until I took over and led the team to a strong finish. Shoot, maybe if I had started from the beginning of the season, we would have made the playoffs.  That’s why I’m getting a little ticked off when folks keep talking about the Dolphins quarterbacking needs as if I’m not here. HELLO..PEOPLE  !  What am I, chopped liver ?

I usually put the ball on the money, and if my diva Pro Bowl receiver hadn’t dropped so many passes, my respectable quarterback rating could have been even higher. How dare he give me an indirect slap at the Pro Bowl by saying he played so well because he had “elite” quarterbacks throwing him the ball. I wish he had “elite” hands, and an “elite” attitude.

I’m not saying I’m an All-Pro. I can get better. But with a new coach, a seasoned offensive coordinator, and a few more weapons (like a game breaking tight end) I believe I can hang with the best of ‘em. I know I struggled a bit sometimes in the second half, but did you see pass rush I was under.  It felt like my offensive line WAS chopped liver.

I can’t believe anybody would think a broken down Peyton Manning, an untested Matt Flynn, or an unproven Robert Griffin the third is better than me right now.  I deserve to prove I can keep this job, and I welcome all the competition. If I beat ‘em out, show me some respect.

I’m Matt Moore the quarterback. And I’m NOT chopped liver.