Sports Agenda For Wednesday (1/3/12)
Big Story:
Anyone else sick of hearing about Iowa? Luckily we have plenty of….SPORTS!
The Heat come back tonight, the Dolphins continue their bumbling coaching search, and why the Orange Bowl should be thrown out of the BCS.
Let's drop this faster than Rick Perry's campaign.
Dolphins:
If you haven't heard, or yet been interviewed, the Dolphins continue to look for a head coach.
But if you thought the Fins were dysfunctional before, just wait.
They're running two parallel coaching searches by a general manager and a would-be team president.
If Carl Peterson lands Jeff Fisher or Jim Haslett, he'll take over as team president.
If he doesn't, then we're going to have to live with a Jeff Ireland hire of a coach he can run roughshod over.
Memo to Dolphins fans…pray Jeff Fisher takes the job.
But if you're Fisher, why would you come here other than for money?
It's a horribly run organization from the top with the owner all the way through the front office.
The cap space won't be near what you will have in St. Louis.
You don't have a franchise quarterback, the Rams do.
It's really a no-brainer for Fisher to go somewhere else.
And it's exactly why Stephen Ross has no business owning an NFL franchise.
He's become the biggest joke of an owner in the NFL. He's unseated Mike Brown of the Bengals as far as poor ownership.
He's screwed up two coaching searches and people in the closed business of the NFL talk and know just how much of a jumbled mess the Fins have become.
Here's why Ireland shouldn't be in charge.
His first two interviews are Todd Bowles and Dave Toub.
Dave Toub? Wasn't he a character on House?
Bowles received a customary interview to satisfy the Rooney Rule while the team looked elsewhere.
Look, Peterson was a genius to start out in Kansas City, but then ran the team into the ground at the end.
Maybe the Fins can strike gold to start with this time.
What I can tell you is that if the Fins were sick of mediocrity before, just keep Ireland in charge and becomes the Cowboys B-team for another year.
Jeff Fisher, caveat emptor man, caveat emptor.
Heat: (vs. Indiana Pacers, 7:30 p.m., Sun Sports)
The Miami Heat hit the floor again tonight to battle the Indiana Pacers.
But make no mistake about it, this is not the Pacers of the past.
They have six players averaging double figures this year and have built a stout front line in Roy Hibbert and David West.
West has been the key to getting the team going as he brought veteran leadership to the very young squad.
He's freeing up Hibbert to grow more and the tall center is averaging 12.6 points and 9.6 rebounds per game.
The Heat have been relying on the offensive prowess of LeBron James and his fellow Big Three members to pick up the slack.
D-Wade has been hampered by a foot injury the last few days, and regardless of what he says, it's affecting his game to a degree.
Chris Bosh is quietly putting together a solid campaign averaging 18.3 points and 8.2 rebounds per game.
But I really am sold on Norris Cole for the Heat.
I said before the season he could be a huge difference maker for the team and through the first week, I've been prove right.
He's shooting better than 50 percent from the field and averaging 11.7 points, 3.2 assists, and 1.5 steals per game.
His keeps his foot on the floor and isn't afraid of the big stage.
And he's not even starting.
I would like to see more development out of Shane Battier into the offense, but that will come I think as he adjusts to the new offense and shakes off the rust.
For all you James Jones fans, get your fix now, because when Mike Miller is cleared, he'll take Jones' minutes.
That also means the Heat are going to be playing more small ball after that.
It's what will carry them to a title, that is unless Eddy Curry is the 15 point 10 rebound player he was before he got lazy and fat.
What to watch for tonight: how the Heat respond when the Pacers throw up a zone defense. And they will throw a zone up early and often.
Orange Bowl: (8:30 p.m., ESPN)
Ah yes, the Orange Bowl, also known as the forgotten BCS bowl game.
Tonight we're treated to the stellar matchup of West Virginia versus Clemson.
Otherwise known as the "Is there basketball on somewhere bowl."
Here's what bugs me so much about the Orange Bowl.
I love the history of the game, the National Championships decided here in South Florida. Nebraska, Oklahoma, USC, etc roaming the field.
Instead, we've been treated to mediocrity because the bowl is aligned with the Big East and the ACC.
Arguably the two worst conferences in the BCS.
It's sad to see what was once a proud game reduced to what it's become.
It's the fault of the BCS and the Orange Bowl for having forced tie-ins into the game.
Both schools will likely lose millions of dollars coming to play in the game.
That's the fault of the BCS which forces schools to buy 17,500 tickets to their respective game.
South Florida loses out on the prestige of hosting a top-flight bowl like the Rose, Fiesta, and Sugar Bowl have been.
Unfortunately, the Orange Bowl is the definition on why the BCS should be done away with and the playoff finally brought to the FBS.
The Orange Bowl has no business being a top-flight bowl as long as it's tied to the ACC and the Big East.
The Big East doesn't deserve a place in the BCS, and the ACC should be on notice as well.
Now, as for the game, if you like defense. DON'T. WATCH. THIS. GAME.
On the other hand, if you like wide-open offense like you'd see if say, Baylor played Oregon, then this is your game.
Both teams have high-flying attacks that can put a bunch of points on the board in a big hurry.
Geno Smith, from South Florida, will lead the Mountaineers against Tajh Boyd's attack from Clemson.
Keep an eye on Watkins for Clemson and Bailey for W. Virginia, as both can torch the opponent's secondary.
If the over/under is less than 50 points…..take the OVER.
