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Akron Hates Cliff Lee; Did Lebron Influence His Decision?

December 15, 2010 By Leave a Comment

We all know the drama regarding the Decision, but what about another ex-Cleveland sports star making a big free agent decision? Is there something in the water in Cleveland?

Cliff Lee’s decision to go to the Philadelphia Phillies, over the New York Yankees and Texas Rangers, may not draw the same ire as Lebron’s decision, but it can be influenced by it. Lee took less money to join a clubhouse he felt very comfortable with. The amount of talent in that starting lineup is just plain ridiculous – sound familiar?

What may not sound familiar is the reaction. For Lee, this decision is being hailed as a great move focusing on winning – after the shock of joining a team seemingly without a dog in the fight settles in. He wanted to take his family somewhere they would be comfortable and Philly felt they didn’t have to overmatch any deals on the table, just get close enough and tug on his heartstrings to get Lee to Philly. It worked. He won there only a season ago, getting to the World Series.

Lebron James took less money to join a team with two of his closest friends for the chance to create something special. He has a vision of winning multiple titles and doing it in a unique way. His Decision has been attacked and depicted in a negative light. Now, Cliff Lee does the same thing but gets a different reaction. Even Lebron, himself a life-long Yankees fan, supports Lee’s decision. Why, still, do most not support Lebron’s?

Filed Under: Featured, Heat Index, Offseason Tagged With: , ,

Udonis Haslem Arrested

August 16, 2010 By Leave a Comment

This morning, it was reported that Udonis Haslem was arrested for marijuana possession. It seems, a year later, that the Heat are facing another drug scandal with another player. This time, however, it happens to be the hometown kid.

Haslem’s attorney attests that his client will be vindicated and was wrongly arrested. The Miami Herald reports that it was a passenger in Haslem’s car that actually possessed the drugs. He fessed up to it, too, by all reports.

There is not an official comment from the Heat yet, and as charges are pending there is no issuance of a penalty coming from the NBA – yet. If the charges stand, it would be a black eye on what was an historic offseason for the Heat. If Haslem is acquitted, it may serve as not just a relief for the Heat but perhaps a wake up call that should permeate a little more deeply into the Heat’s clubhouse. Some have suggested that Haslem has had a hard time coping with the recent death of his mother, but nothing to indicate whether or not this incident would have been effected by his loss.

The past two offseasons the Heat have been faced with a drug scandal. Last year it was Michael Beasley, which ended up getting some confused reporting about how serious it was and whether or not Beasley enrolled himself into rehab. In 2008, it was Mario Chalmers who was under the gun as there was suspicion over marijuana use while at a rookie introduction program for the NBA.

Filed Under: Featured, Hottest, Offseason Tagged With: , , , , ,

Bosh Throws Out First Pitch at Marlins Game, Welcomed

August 8, 2010 By 1 Comment

There are other sports franchises in South Florida, believe it or not, other than the Miami Heat. You just might not care or realize it. The Florida Marlins have been playing some good baseball for the most part this season and can showcase some pretty good young talent that will surely become name brands here in the next few years. One of the interesting highlights was how the fans greeted the ceremonial first pitch, thrown by one of the new members of the Miami Heat’s own up-and-coming dynasty builders, and someone who puts the “C” in RUN DLC, Chris Bosh.

The crowd went wild. They cheered, they chanted. And let’s be honest, this is only Chris Bosh, not hometown hero Dwyane Wade or marketing machine Lebron James. Bosh is easily the most seemingly accessible of the three in some ways because there isn’t the hype yet surrounding him like it does Wade and James. Casual fans of the NBA may know Bosh, but may not have really seen him play. Yet the reception he received from his new hometown fans was comparable to someone who helped win a title in Miami. It may as well have been Wade tossing out the first pitch.

This is a significant sign as to which sport now dominates the city – and the first dribble hasn’t even officially taken place yet. Can you imagine what it is going to be like after the Heat win a championship? Or two? Bosh hadn’t totally overshadowed the game on Saturday but his presence and reception were testament to the emergence now of this Heat franchise to the forefront of South Florida sports. The Heat is the scene now in Miami, not just a part of it.

And that is the significance of what is happening here. Later in the game, the cameras panned to Chris Bosh, watching the game from a skybox suite, munching on ballgame fare. The crowd cheered as if the Marlins had scored. Immediately after, the big screen aired an announcement from Dwyane Wade and the volume turned up even more. What does that say? Want to rally the home crowd? Show a member of the Heat on a jumbotron.

And it isn’t even basketball season yet.

Filed Under: Featured, Heat Index, Offseason Tagged With: ,

Eddie House Returns to Miami Heat; Signs 2 Year Deal

July 29, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Eddie House has returned, according to Adrian Wojnarowski (the hardest name to spell in sports journalism). He has signed a 2 year deal worth about $2.8M. Signing House puts the Heat’s roster at 16, which means they can sign up to 4 more players and carry them through training camp, which begins September 28th.

What does this mean? Most likely that Kenny Hasbrouck is on his way out or at the very least, in a very tough spot to land on the Heat roster permanently. Hasbrouck just signed yesterday, but his contract is not guaranteed unless he makes the final roster and stays on past January. This could also mean that the Heat could make a deal.

In House, the Heat get a “tweener” guard who can shoot and provide offense. His skill set seems very similar to Hasbrouck, although House was originally brought in here to Miami years ago to serve as offense at the guard position off the bench. He gets to come back to Miami and reprise that role.

Filed Under: Featured, Hottest, Offseason, Roster Tagged With: , ,

Shavlik Randolph and Kenny Hasbrouck Sign to Round Out Heat Roster to 15

July 29, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Well, the skeptics can be silenced, the Heat will have 15 players on their roster after all. Funny thing is, there is expected to be more signings and the latest two still have to prove themselves to make the final roster. Neither contract is guaranteed unless they make the roster and stay on past January.

Kenny Hasbrouck showed himself to be an NBA-level player in the 2010 Summer League for the Heat while Shavlik Randolph, another retainee from last year’s Heat roster, showed he, too, was ready for another go with the Heat.

Hasbrouck, who had signed with the Heat late last season, was an offensive force for the Heat in Las Vegas this summer, averaging 13.6 points per game, 2.4 rebounds, and 2.4 assists. He is a bit undersized to be a two guard, but also lacks all the refined skills of a point guard. Still, he stands a very good chance to make this Heat team out of training camp because of the Heat’s depth up front and lack of options at the guard positions. That said, he can shoot – he shot about 50% from three point range helping to lead the Heat to a 4-1 record.

Randolph came out of Duke looking like a very skilled big man and was drafted by the 76ers. He never caught on in Philly, spending his first three seasons there, but ended up in Miami twice last season. (He signed with Heat only to be released and landed in Portland, but came back to Miami after being released from the Blazers.) Obviously motivated to play for this Heat team after adding the likes of RUN DLC, he averaged 13 points and 5.8 rebounds for the Heat in Las Vegas.

The Heat can carry as many as 20 players during training camp, which is slated to begin Sept. 28th and the first preseason game will be against Detroit on Oct. 5th. The likelihood of Randolph sticking may be harder because of all the front court depth the Heat now have.

Filed Under: Featured, Hottest, Offseason, Roster Tagged With: ,
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