Sports Agenda for Tuesday (2/15/11)
Big Story:
Obviously, it's the SI Swimsuit edition coming out today.
Well, locally the sports world was quiet last night, but that doesn't mean there's not a lot going on. First, teams began reporting for spring training which means baseball season has finally arrived! But, before anyone in South Florida starts caring about baseball, there's the little matter of the Heat and their playoff run.
The Heat still have a ways to go after losing to Boston on Sunday. Tonight, the Heat head to Indianapolis to take on the Pacers. The last time the Heat played the Pacers, the Heat needed 41 points from LeBron James to eek out a 117-112 victory at the AAA. But, the Heat typically play better on the road…typically.
There's also news on the NFL labor front, but more on that below.
Heat: @Indiana Pacers (7:00 p.m. Sun Sports)
As stated, the Heat are usually better on the road this season. Since December 1, the Heat are 22-5 on the road. The Heat just had an 8 game winning streak snapped on Sunday and the team is just two games away from the All-Star break. It will be a welcome break for the Heat who are running neck and neck with the Celtics in the quest for the best record in the Eastern Conference.
The Heat have about 30 games left in the regular season and if you want to catch the team in action, don't try to see the Lakers game and you can probably write off the Spurs game as well as the Boston game. So who's left to see? I would recommend the March 16 game against the Oklahoma City Thunder. You can see the Thunder's version of LeBron in Kevin Durant and a pretty darn good point guard in Russell Westbrook.
The Heat play @ Indiana and then tomorrow night @Toronto and then are off until next Tuesday for the All-Star Break.
NFL Labor Update:
Well, well, well, it looks like the owners and players are going to meet again to try and work out a labor agreement on March 3. South Florida will be the host of the bargaining session because the NFL owners meetings will be in Fort Lauderdale. The date will be key as well because if no labor agreement is reached by the stroke of midnight on March 3, then the owners can begin a lockout that has the potential to be very ugly and very long.
It's really amazing how a group of millionaires and billionaires can screw up America's most popular game by putting together a protracted lockout/strike/whatever. Well, at least college football will only be 5 months away.
Surely the NFL can strike a deal in 5 months….or not, considering they're heading to court.
Marlins:
The Fish held their annual luncheon yesterday and saw team management bragging about the team's rotation ahead of the season. A prediction was made of 90 or more wins. Right, you're telling me that barring injury, the Marlins can compete against the Phillies starting rotation in the NL East?
If you believe that, I've got a bridge in Brooklyn with only one owner to sell you.
Panthers:
The Panthers are off tonight, but take the ice again on Wednesday night when they take on the Philadelphia Flyers.
Don't expect much though from the Panthers as the Flyers are the second best team in the NHL right now and are all alone atop the Eastern Conference standings.
