Hamstrung...

It's all fun and games until someone gets hurt.

Right as I was settling into my seat to enjoy the Heat's new dynamic trio, Dwyane Wade hurts his hamstring (pictured, well not his specifically).

Talk about sucking the life out of a building.
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First of all, that I was going to a PRESEASON NBA game in early October was unique.

I've been credentialed to cover the Heat since 2003, and I'm not sure if I've ever gone to one.

So, I'm walking towards the arena at about 5 (public transportation in Miami sucks) and I see scalpers.

That's right SCALPERS.

For a preseason game!

More than two hours before tip-time!

My favorite scalper was wearing a pair of handcuffs, while an undercover cop in a Wade jersey phoned it in.
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First thing I see when I get courtside to help with our liveshot is the following: Wade, LeBron, and Bosh all warming up together.

How amazing is that?

It's over 2 hours before a preseason game, and 2 of the greatest 5 players on planet earth are feet from me warming up.

After the game, Wade said that was the strange moment for him too (not seeing me--- being out there with his teammates early).

Flash looked at them and thought--- wow, these are my teammates.
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Finally, it was close to tip-time.

The building wasn't TOTALLY packed, but it was a LARGE crowd.

The scene that unfolded was surreal.

LeBron walked over to the far scorer's table, grabbed his chalk, and threw it straight up in the air.

Not to be outdone, Wade walked over to both sides of the court and raised his hands, getting the crowd pumped.

This team will lead the league in pregame rituals.
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The first few possessions, the intensity was tremendous.

You could see the Big 3 PUSHING for that highlight play.

Wade and LeBron had one fast-break, but they were so hyped, it didn't result in any points.

I was waiting for that moment.

All of a sudden, there was Wade grabbing the back of his leg.

He limped off the court and asked for a sub.

Not the way Mike Miller wanted to make his AmericanAirlines Arena debut--- I'm sure.

And just like that, it was over.
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I'm not a doctor, but I'm sure Wade will be fine.

The hammy probably needs a little rest.

Heat say they'll evaluate it in a week, Wade says it'll be about two weeks.

That's fine.

Miami still looked incredibly impressive with just LeBron and Bosh.

The number of skills in LeBron's arsenal is phenomenal.

He's a 2-time MVP, I'm not breaking any news.

I'm CONVINCED he'll average a triple-double.
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Still, the night just wasn't the same once Wade left.

Oh well.

I'd rather be disappointed in October than June.

R.I.P Wildcat Offense-- Sept. 21, 2008-Sept. 26, 2010

We are gathered here today on a somber occasion.

We are saying goodbye to an old friend, the Wildcat offense (not pictured).

Wildcat, we loved you so.

You brought our town joy.

You tricked the Patriots and made the Dolphins relevant again.

You died tragically, on national tv, against the hated Jets.
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Oh Wildcat, you quirky little formation.

You were such a charmer.

I'll never forget when Ronnie went deep to Patrick Cobbs against Houston.

We thought you'd last forever.

Nothing ever does.

You will be used around the league.

But alas, you were just a gimmick play that helped a mediocre Fins team shock the NFL, win a division, and then get summarily crushed by a Baltimore team that simply didn't fall for that ***T.
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Before Brandon Marshall, you made so much sense.

The Dolphins best two playmakers were Ronnie and Ricky, why not let them handle it as much as possible????


Now, you have a stud wide receiver and a developing, talented quarterback.

The time for tricking people is done.

The defense may feed the wolf (a Sparano-ism for the uninitiated), the offense needs to feed the Beast.
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Dan Henning... Why rely on an offense based on the element of surprise, when it isn't surprising anyone?

Every time the Jets defense couldn't get Chad Henne out of rhytm, the Wildcat did.

The Wildcat will always have a soft-spot in the Dol-fans' heart.

But much like Old Yeller, time to tie it to a tree and shoot it.

It was fun while it lasted.

Trimming The Stache...

Well that didn't go as planned for Dave Wannstedt (not pictured).

The Canes manhandled Pitt on Thursday night 31-3.

The game could've been a whole lot worse were it not for a few mistakes by Jacory Harris.

Pitt was BEGGING Miami to beat them 52-0, but Miami settled for 31-3.

But, in all, you can't be too dissatisfied with a blowout on the road.
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I'm trying to figure this out.

Is Miami's defense that good or is Pitt's offense that bad?

I honestly think it can be a bit of both.

Still, Canes fans HAVE to be feeling better about their defense today than they did last year or even last week.

Sean Spence was the standout.

He had 11 tackles and looked every bit as promising as he did early in his freshman year.

The question with Spence has never been speed or talent.

The question is: Can he sustain it over the course of a long season?
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Allen Bailey clearly is the focal point of most offenses trying to game-plan around Miami.

We have to double-team the potential first-rounder.

That's fine.

Vernon and company, door is open.

Props to them for walking right through it.
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Special teams are one of the true strengths for Miami.

Travis Benjamin SHOULD have had another punt return for a touchdown, but it was called back.

Lamar Miller gets you dreaming big every time he touches it.

Bosher is a stud, and does everything well (remember he was team MVP before---which also speaks to how bad they were at the time).
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So defense and special teams are sound, the team wins by 28, and the quarterback throws for 2 touchdowns---what's my problem?

Jacory's picks.

That's what.

They weren't late and irrelevant.

They kept Pitt in the game early, when they were doing nothing.

It looked like Jacory had pulled the pin out of a grenade and was just throwing it in a direction hoping to hit a target.

You can get away with that against an awful Pitt team.

You learned last week that doesn't fly against Ohio State.

Turnovers like that can be deadly in Death Valley.

While you like that he's trying to make plays, the risks need to be more calculated.
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Truth is, the Canes have 9 days off before the real season begins.

Randy Shannon needs a championship.

While the National Title may already be gone, I think a dominant run through the ACC would go a long way.

A bowl game after New Year's day, that extra practice time, and an ACC crown, that would be a step for this program.
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I keep trying to impart this word of wisdom to my friends and anyone who cares about the U.

It's a variation on Rick Patino's 'Larry Bird isn't walking through that door' speech.

The 2010 Canes are NOT the 2001 Canes and they aren't the 1986 team either.

Let's not judge them by that standard.

That's not fair.

Let's allow these kids to be inspired by the ghosts of Canes past, not haunted by their shadows.

Instead of constantly expecting Miami to do the same things they DID, let's evaluate these kids based on their accomplishments and celebrate those.

Tonight, they went on the road and kicked some major ass.

Let's enjoy that.

We Get It, You're From Boston....

I don't hate Ben Affleck (not pictured--- think TV commercials).

In fact, "Good Will Hunting" is one of my favorite movies and he has cred with movie geeks for his View Askew-Kevin Smith connections ("Chasing Amy" is a personal favorite as well).

So, I went in to see "The Town" REALLY wanting to like this movie.
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It was okay.

It wasn't bad.

I'm not going to pan it.

I sat there for over 2 hours and was moderately entertained.

I just wanted more.
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The conceit is interesting enough.

There's a small area in Boston (called the Town), where a large number of bank heists and armored truck robberies emanate from.

Ben grew up in that town, and wants out.

But every time he thinks he's out, they pull him back in.
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Of course, there's a love interest in the movie.

The way that part of the plot is crafted, to Ben's credit, is well done.

There's also good narrative tension created in the "will they get caught" vein that motivates the movie.
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So what's missing?

Boston itself serves as one of the characters in the movie.

As director, Ben is trying to glorify where he's from, much in the same way Woody Allen tries to create his own unique vision of New York.

Ben wants the accents, the grit, blah blah blah.

It just feels forced.

There are times where I hear so many long "A" sounds that I wanted to get in my CAH.

I get it.

There are some mean streets in Boston.

It's a tough town.

Oh Ben, you're so working class.

I'll totally forgive you for Gigli.

Honestly, if "The Departed," were never made, I would've liked this movie better.

Are you really going to try to outdo Scorsese?
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It's clear that Ben Affleck isn't just another pretty face, and really does love movies.

He's clearly studied them--- ("Gone Baby Gone" was actually really good).

He's just hasn't perfected making them yet.