Sports Agenda for Wednesday (6/20/12)
Big Story:
It's almost time for the King's coronation in Miami as the Heat take a 3-1 lead over the Oklahoma City Thunder. Plus, the Marlins get 5 RBI's from Logan Morrison and still lose. Quite a dichotomy of teams huh?
Quote of the Day:
"A man who has never gone to school may steal from a freight car; but if he has a university education, he may steal the whole railroad." – Teddy Roosevelt
Miami Heat: (off Wednesday)
Before I get rolling, I have to give a HUGE agenda thank you to guy I only knew as Sebastian from Univision last night. He gave my car a jump around 1 a.m. getting me on my way. Thanks again man, that was greatly appreciated.
Yknow, every superstar has that one moment when everything comes together and it becomes one of the most memorable of his career.
That happened last night late in the fourth quarter of Game 4.
LeBron James had just been carried off the court and he was cramping up really, really bad.
His exit from the game drew a collective gasp from the crowd and media row.
Then, after a couple of bad Heat possessions and things looking like they would fall apart….LeBron came to the scorer's table to check back in.
The fans responded with a standing ovation and LeBron, who was having trouble getting up and down the floor, took the floor.
Then, with somewhere under 2 minutes to go in the game, LeBron stood at the top of the key and just drilled a 3-pointer to put the Heat ahead for good in Game 4.
It wasn't just the shot and the score, it was his mere presence on the court.
It may not have been the final dagger going into the corpse of the Thunder, but it was certainly a critical blow.
LeBron had to sit the final minute or so because he was just too hobbled to help.
To me, that's going to be one of those moments in his career people always remember.
It's not Willis Reed and the Knicks, don't get me wrong.
But he was cramping really, really bad and anyone who has ever played a sport can tell you, cramping up like that is brutal to your game.
It's one of those moments in sports where you're just glad to be there to see something like that.
But don't forget about little brother either.
I said after a horrid first quarter, Mario Chalmers should sit for most of the rest of the game.
Shows you how much I know!
The team calls him "little brother" and he was just out of his mind last night.
He scored 25 points, grabbed 2 rebounds, and handed out 3 assists in the game and had just one turnover.
Chalmers was mired in a slump until the second quarter and then he turned into option number 3 for the Heat after LeBron and Wade.
I've said since the playoffs started, that if the Heat were to win an NBA title, someone else would have to step up and score in double digits.
In Games 1-3 it was Shane Battier, last night it was Chalmers.
But I can't finish without mentioning the guy I thought helped spur the Heat's comeback, rookie Norris Cole.
He came into the game and hit 2-3 3-pointers and added a layup to score 8 huge points.
Cole got the team going from the outside and things just started to fall into place after that.
It was a heckuva team effort with four guys in double-figures and LeBron finishing just one rebound away from a triple-double.
As for the series, it's just about over in my belief.
I feel like the Heat can come out in Game 5 and take the title here at home.
Oklahoma City won't roll over, but if the Heat play like they played last night, it simply won't matter.
I'll preview the game more tomorrow in the agenda.
Miami Marlins: (@ Boston Red Sox, 7:10 p.m.)
Well, Logan Morrison showed up for the Marlins last night, but the pitching staff continued to get pounded harder than Kim Kardashian.
Seriously, I don't know what to say about the Marlins.
I've tried to figure out what is troubling them, but I'm just as stumped as you are.
I say the problem is with the hitting, which is pretty obvious.
Look at Giancarlo Stanton…
He hasn't hit a home run in his last 10 games and over the same span, he's hitting just .154.
Hanley Ramirez over the last 10 – hitting .211 with no homers.
Even Jose Reyes is hitting just .227 over the last 10.
I mean it's just dog ugly for the Marlins lineup.
In June, the Fish are 4-12 and how they won four is beyond me.
Miami will play two more in Boston and return to Miami for a multi-game home stand starting Friday night.
Follow me on Twitter @timkephart33
