Sports Agenda for Tuesday (6/2/12)
Big Story:
It's finally here…the Miami Heat return to the Finals starting tonight in Oklahoma City. The Marlins finally get a win by opening the roof. And the Ochocinco News Network comes to Miami.
Quote of the Day:
"Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are." – UCLA Coach John Wooden
Miami Heat: (@Oklahoma City Thunder, 9 p.m., ABC)
This is it, the moment has been building for a year now and it's time for the Heat to step up and take what is theirs.
I guess the thing that gets me is that people say, even around here, that LeBron James isn't one of the best ever, even without a ring.
Then in the next breath they talk about how great Dan Marino was for the Dolphins.
I'm just sayin.
LeBron seems to be in a completely different place this year, especially mentally.
He's more at ease with his surroundings and it shows up in his play on the court.
If he and the Heat can win the title, he will complete one of the most dominating playoff performances anyone since Michael Jordan has pulled off.
And it would finally start to boost him to Kobe and Jordan's level.
One of the reasons I'd like to see the Heat to win is to watch ESPN's Skip Bayless' head rotate and explode on television.
He'd still find ways to criticize him, because that's what he does and for some reason unbeknownst to the rest of the world, ESPN people love it.
It'd also be nice to give Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert a big ol' *expletive* sandwich to munch on.
Seriously, remember back to when LeBron left Cleveland and he wrote that insane letter in comic sans font.
That'd be a tough pill for Cleveland to swallow considering the Cavaliers last won a championship in….oh yeah….sorry Cleveland.
I guess it would finally be off Craig Ehlo if LeBron won a title to make Cleveland fans depressed about something else.
By the way, if OKC wins…I wonder how the people of Seattle will react?
I think this series will go a long way towards defining LeBron's legacy in some ways.
Think about this for a second…
In an era of steroids, HGH, arrests, drugs, ugly crimes, losing all of their money…LeBron is the most hated man in sports because he handled a team switch badly.
Think about that….he's more hated than people like Michael Vick, Plaxico Burress, Jose Canseco, and countless others.
Okay, sorry for the tangent, back to the game.
The Heat are coming off two days rest, while the Thunder had most of last week off.
That leads me to believe Miami's job in the first half will be to keep the game close and weather the initial storm.
OKC has never had a sporting event like this in town, so the place is going to be rocking like never before.
I think the Heat would be wise to concentrate on defense and bring the ball up slowly.
Normally, I'd say the Heat need to get out in transition, but I think against a team as athletic as OKC, a good half-court game could be key for the Heat.
But it will all come down to which team is more focused on defense.
Like I said, the Heat's defense is one of the tops in the game and the Thunder's offense I think is the tops in the game.
Irresistible force meet immovable object.
We'll all find out tonight just how much LeBron and the Heat have left in the tank.
If they can steal one in OKC….I think they can come back here and dominate at home.
I still see the series going 6 or 7 games though.
Miami Dolphins:
Well, it wouldn't be a sports day without the Miami Dolphins making some big news of their own.
The Fins signed Chad Ochocinco last night to a free agent deal.
It's a one-year contract and it's a completely low-risk, high-reward type of deal.
Think about it….
The Dolphins have nothing at receiver and know this.
If Ochocinco is in the right place, he still has the ability to put up close to a 1,000 yard receiving year.
If nothing else, his work ethic on the field will rub off on the other receivers…which can never hurt.
I like Ochocinco.
He's hated because he has a big mouth and talks a big game.
But like LeBron, he's not in trouble off the field…at least that I can remember.
Plus he grew up here and knows this is likely his last stop in a storied career.
If he plays well, great. If he turns into Ochostinko, then he's washed up and it was a wasted year for a group of receivers that will struggle.
Like I said, low-risk, high-reward.
Miami Marlins: (vs. Boston Red Sox, 7:10 p.m. Fox Sports Florida)
You may want to flip over to the Marlins game during commercial breaks of the NBA Finals.
The Fish decided to let some fresh air into the stadium yesterday and opened the roof.
Lo and behold, the Marlins broke a six game losing streak.
Who knew it was that easy.
It didn't hurt that Josh Johnson pitched well and Heath Bell got his 13th save of the season either.
Johnson is now 4-4 and over his last 10 starts he's 4-2 with a 3.82 ERA, 58 strikeouts, and 17 walks.
Now that's rounding into the ace we thought he was.
Tonight, Mark Buehrle will look to build on the Fish's win Monday night when he takes the mound against the Red Sox.
Buehrle is second on the team in wins with 5, so here's hoping he can continue to put up W's tonight.
By the way, after vaulting into first place…the Marlins losing streak has dropped them into a tie for third with the Mets.
Both teams are 5 games back of the Washington Nationals and 2 games behind the Atlanta Braves.
Follow me on Twitter @timkephart33
