Welcome back!

The ongoing saga between the NBAPA and the owner has been resolved. An off season filled with melodrama and a clashing of wills has given way to an understanding. Now the fans can riddle opposing teams fans with jokes (bad jokes at that) and trash talk. Players can return to their cutting edge training facilities, catered lunches,  droves of reporters, and play the game we all love. The true fan has sat and watched with disdain as the wealthy bicker with the rich for scraps from the table of abundance. Such is life.

Owners please, please let them play in your tax payer bought arenas. It seems odd to me, that in the United States, a proud capitalist nation, that billionaires have the right to use tax payer monies to house their games. Or that a billionaire can hold a city hostage for an arena he doesn't want to pay for alone. I understand the commerce and tax dollars the team brings to the city and that the owners are huge tax contributors, but  when is enough, enough? You were a capitalist when you made your billions to buy the team, what happened after that? To cap this all off, smaller market team owners want a share of the profit! What? Are the successfully built teams to share their success with failing organizations? Only the strong survive huh? Unless you bought into sports teams, banks, insurances agencies, and my favorite the "auto industry". It all seems a tad socialist in my book. 

Players, players, playas...your mere cogs in the NBA machine. Though many of you are fine, up-standing members of society, some of you are difficult to comprehend. Though mostly college educated, there are a growing number barely literate millionaires among you. I wont point them out, but they know who they are, or do they? Ignorance is bliss they say. Wake up, your living the dream, make a young boys day and be a role model. We don't care what shoe your selling or what brand you building, we wanna see you play ball! I don't care if you got married, traveled to communist China, or crashed your Lambo into a tree, we wanna see you ball! Get over yourselves and do what God put you on Earth to do.

Fans, as this new season embarks, don't be a doubter. If your team stumbles, take it like the champ you could be. I can rib with the best of them and be out right nasty, but no one will listen if I am. The poop that I hear from other fan bases is utter drivel. The same bad jokes over and over, ugh! Get some new material or you'll wind up like that Andrew Dice Clay guy, forgotten. Play nice fans, and if the Heat smack your team down, don't hate, appreciate. If the Heat go down in battle, I will be the first to recognize our counterparts, its called being a sportsman.

The Heat have a ton of work to do. The signing of a cheap big man is a must, preferably a defender without hands of stone. The Heatles really don't need a point guard with so many ball handlers, Rio and Cole can do the job, just minus the turnovers. Miller and Haslem are friends from college. Wade and Lebron are besties. Don't they all deserve another chance to gel and make a run at a ship as pals? Sure they do, in a season riddled with injury and disappointment this team went to the FINALS (in caps, am I too loud?) people. We only got past the Bulls because of Haslem coming back early or they would've lost no matter how many 3's Rose would've missed. Mr. Riley made it clear when they arrived, its a two year plan, I believe in Mr. Riley. Adding some veterans will help these young guys settle down and get to business though, a Shane Battier, Grant Hill or Coron Butler will settle the locker room with their veteran spirit. Christmas day will be exactly what the Heat need, Dallas hanging their banner will be motivation for the rest of the season. Nothing but net!  

Lebron James Represents Akron in City League Win!!

The Miami Heat Add Norris Cole

Norris Cole Joins The Heat

Thursday the Miami Heat added another piece to the puzzle. Miami drafted Norris Cole from Cleveland State with a the 28th pick. The pick came from the Minnesota Timberwolves via a trade with Chicago. Leave it to Pat Riley to get his man. 


Norris Cole is a 6'2" 170 lbs. Senior from Dayton, Ohio. Cole was named Horizon League player of the year and defensive player of the year. He averaged 21.7, 5.8 boards, and 5.3 assists this past season. Cole was a finalist for the Bob Cousy award and is known as a productive all round player. His 41 point, 20 board, and 9 assist game vs Youngstown State was only the second time in NCAA history that a player scores 40 points and bags 20 rebounds, the other player was Blake Griffin.


Cole is a true point guard and his staying in school for four years prepared him for this opportunity. Cole said "It don't get better than that" after being drafted by the Heat "I'm going to go down there and work hard and earn their respect." 


His coach at Cleveland State, Gary Waters knew he had a talent on his hands when scouts started showing up. Waters said "He is a complete player who is perfectly suited for the NBA. He shows great leadership ability as a point guard yet is capable of scoring in a number of ways himself. More importantly, his knowledge of the game is outstanding and he excels at getting his teammates involved"  Many credit Waters for Cole' development while under his tutelage at Cleveland State.


How will Norris Cole fit in with the Miami Heat? Well, Pat Riley is not a huge fans of rookies getting much playing time until they are ready, Dexter Pittman for example. Cole is a sleeper though and his speed, defensive versatility, and floor vision are underrated. His speed will help Miami on the defensive side the most, Coach Waters relayed to the Daily News "I am extremely happy for Norris. I talked to the Heat a lot, and they said they really wanted Norris but didn't know if he'd be there for them. They told me they needed speed to help their defense." 


Miami fills a void at the point guard position with Norris Cole since Mario Chalmers is a restricted free agent and Miami may not be able to match more generous offers. Chalmers has said he wants to return, but this is a business. Cole gives Miami a back up at least and maybe a Jason Terry type scorer off the bench. Cole does have some concerns too, his jumper can use some work and his three can be better. His size may be a concern on the defensive end versus larger points. I also worry about Cole coming to Miami and the Miami lifestyle, lots of temptation and trouble out there. Other than these workable things, Cole looks like a very well rounded player with plenty of upside. His speed, defense, shooting, and leadership will be assets to the Heat from the first jump ball. Nothing but net.....


Welcome to Miami, Mr. Cole! 

The Miami Heat Get Norris Cole

The Summer of Lebronsito

After a few days to let this season marinate, the Miami Heat have many things to be proud of. The Dallas Mavericks are Champions of the NBA they were a better team. Congratulations to the Mavericks are in order, and their Finals MVP, Dirk Nowitski deserves the praise.

As for the Heat, back to the drawing board and back to the summer of reflection. The team that was created after the summer of Lebron is now facing another Summer and this is one of reflection and change. Many will not return, but the core players will remain and should look forward to more success. In Riley I Trust!

It has been four days since the Heat lost to the Mavericks in game six of the Finals on Sunday 105-95. After all the celebrations and the criticism from the media, I am now a more ardent fan of the Heat. I don't really care if they lost, I wont lose sleep or plummet into a depression and neither should any fan. Miami played and lost to a better team, period. Did they choke? Did Lebron fail? Did the Heat make a mistake? Irrelevant, I say. Let all this bitterness and hate subside. I have never been involved in such a polarizing season or a team before in my sporting life. All the bile and disdain thrown at the Heat may have set a record.

As I look back, I am proud, proud of a team that persevered, gelled, and overcame almost every obstacle. The amount of attention that this team drew was inconceivable to compare to previous decades, due to the technological booms in social media. Love them or hate them, the Heat have arrived and are here to stay.

Miami came up two games short, be it fatigue, poor execution, free throws, Lebron not showing, Wade not taking over, Bosh not getting enough shots, and/or any combination of these, Miami fell short. I remember in 06' how the Mavericks complained about the referees and the NBA. I am glad the Heat did not blame others for their shortcomings. That was one of the reasons Mav fans and Heat fans did really have much respect for each other. Bottom line, the Heat took it like men and now they move on and grow. After all, failure is but a lesson.

The heat Lebron James is taking is borderline nonsensical. This guy has not broken one law and yet he is absolutely disliked by many a hypocrite, those who cast stones while in glass houses. Who among us has not failed to meet our goals or said the wrong thing at the age of 26?

I am glad Alex Rodriguez and McIlroy made the comments about Lebron, they knows what it feels like. They have walked this path. Being a Miami native, I have roots here and I know many Heat fans that are proud of this team and its players, right down to Dampier. Thank you all for one of the most exciting season's a fan could ask for.

Nothing but net...Haters marry haters and have hater kids, its life!

Wade: This Is What I Do

If Lebron Wanted to Be Like Micheal Jordan, He'd be In Cleveland!

This has been one loooong season for the Heat, but one of the best in Heat history and the Larry O'Brian is within sights. One hawk in particular, has it in his cross hairs, Dwayne Wade. With Wade on the Miami Heat in the Finals, not one Heat fan should ever worry, even in the face of defeat. Wade is the closest thing to Micheal Jordan in this era, his drive and sheer will can mystify. He has been spectacular in the finals and will remain so for the rest of this series until the wheels fall off. 


Wade's new partner the young  Mr. James is truly a specimen physically with a surprising basketball I.Q.. His play throughout the year has been nothing short of Magic Johnson with a twist of Karl Malone. The incredible plays need not be mentioned, the true fan has seen it over and over from ally oops to full court passes and Thor like dunks. Passes, are a true basketball purist' greatest joy with Lebron, his knack for the dime, the no look, the chest pass, and his vision are things basketball is made off. Kidd knows this "Lebron can flirt with averaging a triple double in the regular season like Oscar, especially with the teammates he has". Kidd and I think it and everyone else knows,  but don't want to admit it. 


This last game convinced me of who Lebron wants to be like, The Big O. If Lebron James ever wanted to be Micheal Jordan, he'd be in Cleveland. His "decision" was a business matter and immoral, but also a vote on the  referendum on which type of player Lebron wants to be, a basketball player. His versatility is what makes James great.  Robertson sets yardstick in versatility. If his first five seasons are strung together, Robertson averaged a triple-double over these 400+ games, averaging an incredible 30.3 points, 10.4 rebounds and 10.6 assists. These numbers are even more astonishing if it is taken into account that the three-point shot did not exist when he played.


James has all the physical attributes to be the best scorer, but his choice to come to Miami was more than about scoring. Magic Johnson said "He will only get better and better as time passes" of Lebron last year. With his addition to the Miami Heat with Bosh and Wade by his side, he has the hardware to do it and the Basketball guru that is Pat Riley. 


Riley in S.I. "Lebron will be Magic, Dwayne will be Kobe, and Bosh will be Garnett." and later confirmed that "he (Lebron) actually liked that conversation. He lit up and said it would be great if I didn't have to score (alot) that he could be a consistent triple double guy like Oscar Robertson". Welcome to Miami Lebron James.


In 90 playoff games James has averaged 28 points, 8 boards, and 7 assists. One bad game cannot define a player. Before we commence the mental dissection of the intangibles. Like most writers, bloggers, and critics have. James doesn't know what Dwayne Wade knows about winning in the finals, or what Pat Riley knows about winning in the finals, yet. He has logged more minutes than any other Heat player and carried the Heat in Chicago and Baaston. His constant has been effort defensively, a clear demarcation line. His tenacity defensively versus arguably the fastest player in Chicago is somethings that truly define a player. His fourth quarter heroics propelled the Heat into the finals.


Mental toughness, the only chink in the armor or the last resort by defeated opponents? He has created it, taken it, and defeated it over and over, all year long. From the minute after the decision until the second this game 5 starts. Lebron Jame's "The Heatle" has met and surpassed expectations, I as a Heat fan, will not question him or his character now. I am not apologizing for his behavior, I am supporting him as a Heat fan win or lose. Miami can't make the same mistake Cleveland made, we know better.


As to tonight's match up, Miami has got to know by now how to break the zone down, its in high school basketball books. Dwayne Wade attacks it with ease and the key to breaking the zone is a guard, Miami has the best in the game at finals time. Mario Chalmers is also key when Wade is off the ball, he has to make shots and hit his three's to win tonight. The rebound war begins tonight and the winner will have the extra possessions to win. Joel Anthony and Chandler must meet regularly and James has to bang for boards and Chandler has to be attacked and in fouls trouble. The fourth quarter offense must run through Wade or James attacking the zones and kicking for the extra pass. Miami has to hit twice in the 1st and in the fourth, leads will be precious. The defense is the key, it travels better than the offense and Dallas has missed looks. Miami defends, and it wins. Dirk gets blocked tonight.


Nothing but Net........