Patience…Patients

Posted on March 26, 2012 by jimberrysports

     By now, many Dolphin fans feel ready to commit themselves to an insane asylum.  “I must be crazy to keep rooting for this team”, they must sometimes think.    After interrogating Dolphin owner Stephen Ross at the NFL owners meetings, I can only say..Patience patients.

     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.

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Still raisin’ Cane…

Posted on March 23, 2012 by jimberrysports

The New Orleans Saints bounty scandal has UM alumni footprints all over it.  Linebacker Jonathan Vilma is accused of putting up at least $10,000 of his own money to encourage teammates to “take out” opponents.    Tight end Jeremy Shockey is accused of being the “snitch” who told on them.  His  accuser ?  Former UM defensive lineman Warren Sapp.

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.”

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No big man..no chance

Posted on March 15, 2012 by jimberrysports

  I hate to sound like a pessimist, but my gut is telling me something I can no longer ignore. The Heat will NOT win an NBA title unless they find a big man.  No one in particular…just SOMEBODY who can give them SOMETHING.   A few rebounds and blocked shots. Somebody who can catch the ball and dunk it.

  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.

 

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And the plan is..?

Posted on March 14, 2012 by jimberrysports

  I can’t say I’ll miss Brandon Marshall, but his trade to the Chicago Bears has me wondering about the Dolphins game plan.  Clearly, new coach Joe Philbin does not want to inherit any headaches.  However, if you’re trying to recruit one of the all-time great quarterbacks, why do you trade your best receiver ?

  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.

 

 

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Shoot the d— ball !!

Posted on March 3, 2012 by jimberrysports

Lebron James..you are the greatest basketball talent on Earth.  Bigger, stronger, and faster than most mere mortals. You are having an MVP season.  There is only one more thing you need to do. When it comes down to the last shot..SHOOT THE D— BALL !!

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 !!

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Ladies day

Posted on February 27, 2012 by jimberrysports

     Most guys don’t want to give props to girl sports.  However, its time to give it up for the women’s basketball team at the University of Miami.  For two straight seasons, they have been a powerhouse.

     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.

 

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What am I..chopped liver ?

Posted on February 22, 2012 by jimberrysports

My name is Matt Moore, and frankly..I’m getting a little tired of people always talking about how the Dolphins need a quarterback. What am I..chopped liver ?

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.

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Whassup bruh

Posted on February 20, 2012 by jimberrysports

I’m beginning to understand the fascination with Jeremy Lin. It’s not just that he’s an Asian-American dude who’s ballin’ in a sport dominated by brothers. It’s that he actually PLAYS it like a brother.

We’ve seen plenty of white guys who could play some basketball. Larry Bird took no prisoners. Jerry West was lethal. Steve Nash and John Stockton…impeccable. In terms of Asian players, Yao Ming was an All-Star, but he was just a big tree. No flavor.

None of those guys really played with a “brothers’ kind of swag. Lin is hitting fadeaway jumpers, then trotting backwards with his tongue wagging..ala Michael Jordan. He’s taking it to the rim and dunking strong. He’s penetrating inside and hanging between defenders before dropping in teardrop layups….brother style.

In his post game interviews, he’s certainly gracious. But haven’t you noticed a little “brother swag” in the way he speaks. He’s got a rhythym in his game all the way around. The fact the he went to Harvard and went undrafted and played under the radar adds to the story. The fact that other teams passed on him and that he was sleeping on his brother’s sofa adds to the script.

But the fact that this dude of Asian heritage has some playground in his game…now THAT is what makes his game and story sexy.  He’s got a game the “brothers” respect. Even Lebron James told me yesterday that Lin is a good player.  Lin also has a story that makes everyone else stand up and take notice.

When you see a brother who can dance, you’re impressed. When you see someone of another heritage dance LIKE a brother, you take note even more.  No matter his background, Lin has earned his street cred the hard way.  When the Knicks come to town Thursday to play the Heat, I know what I’ll say to Jeremy Lin.

Whassup bruh.

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Don’t hate the player…

Posted on February 15, 2012 by jimberrysports

      So, it has started. Jeremy Lin has been a sensation all of two weeks, and already somebody is startin’ to hate. Boxer Floyd Mayweather says Lin wouldn’t be gettin’ this kind of hype if he was African-American.  Floyd says a lot of black ballplayers can do what he does, but they don’t stir the same frenzy.

     Yes, Floyd..there are some brothers who play some serious point guard. Derrick Rose. Rajon Rondo. Russell Westbrook. Deron Williams. There have been some white dudes who could handle it too…like Steve Nash.

   But none of them came from the END OF THE BENCH to start rippin’ it up…in NEW YORK CITY nonetheless.  Yes, Lin is a story because he’s an oddity. How many Asian-Americans have you seen shoot the rock like he does ? That doesn’t mean we should resent the pub he’s getting.

   Certainly, Lin’s African-American team mates don’t mind. They’re lovin’ it. They know that the Knicks looked dead in the water until Lin took the court. In his first six games, Lin has scored more points than any other NBA player in more than 30 years.

Lin would be a good story no matter what his background is. He’s an undrafted player who got cut by two other teams before getting his shot. The fact that he’s of Asian descent and went to Harvard makes the story all the more unlikely. Certainly, the NBA loves that Lin’s story has worldwide appeal. But its unfair to think that the league will give Lin undue hype simply because of his ethnicity. 

Floyd Mayweather should do what President Barack Obama is doing. Give Lin his props.  Based on what we’ve seen so far…he got game.

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Sports and music

Posted on February 13, 2012 by jimberrysports

    Whitney Houston’s tragic passing took me back to the Super Bowl at Tampa, Florida in 1991. I remember because I was there. It was the first Super Bowl where security was amped up to a high level because the US was in the Gulf war.

    Everyone was feeling patriotic when Whitney stepped up and sang her resounding Star Spangled Banner.  Actually, she didn’t just sing it. She BELTED it out. It stuck with you.  The dramatic game between the Bills and Giants was decided on a missed field goal by Buffalo’s Scott Norwood. Still, afterwards, players on both teams were talking about Whitney. Her version was SO good, it actually became a hit recording.

  It was one of those moments that reminds you of how sports and music always dance together. I tune out the endless hip hop at NBA games. But I remember real singers bringing their “A” game at major sporting events.

  Marvin Gaye at the NBA All-Star Game in Los Angeles in 1983 was another such moment. Marvin sang the anthem as only he could, with unmistakeable soul.  Its the only time I ever recall an audience clapping in unision during the anthem. We were at a basketball game, but Marvin took us to church.

 Prince singing “Purple Rain” IN the rain at the 2007 Super Bowl. You couldn’t have scripted that any better.  Great theatre. It took our minds off of the fact that this was the soggiest Super Bowl in history.  

Whitney’s gone, but my memory of how she blended sports and music will stick with me. As athletes often say about each other…she had game.

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