Sports Agenda For Monday (8/1/11)
Big Story:
There were several things going on over the weekend, but to me, the biggest story is Brandon Marshall's revelation. It explains so much of what has happened to the receiver over the years, and we'll get more into that later.
Plus, the Fins rookies are in camp, the Marlins finally beat Hotlanta, and are the Fins any closer to the Jets and Patriots?
Let's drop this like a tea party member would drop Medicare and Social Security.
Firsties:
By the way, if you wondered where firsties comes from, it comes from Web Soup on G4TV.
Brandon Marshall revealed he has borderline personality disorder. It's a very serious disease and it takes a lot for someone to reveal something as serious as the disease he's battling.
Basically, BPD has patients having long-term patterns of unstable or turbulent emotions, such as feelings about themselves and others.
It's essentially a disease that causes self-destructive behaviors and severe depression. People with BPD often will be impulsive with money, drugs, have several crises and displays of inappropriate anger.
I didn't know much about Brandon Marshall the person until he opened up about himself.
I suffer from clinical depression and have never been one to hide my illness from others. But, there is a stigma that goes along with admitting you battle a mental illness.
It, like BPD, is a very serious condition that has grave consequences if people don't choose to take control of things and get help and work every day to put into practice the help you receive over the long-term.
Marshall has a very tough road ahead, but the fact that he's come as far as he has, shows that this man does have his head on straight and wants to work through his problems and not let them control his life.
He may not be everyone's favorite player, but I developed a new found respect for him in his diagnosis. The fact that someone in the spotlight like him will bring attention to mental illness to help others makes people like me more apt to talking with people about our problems in hopes of helping others avoid the pitfalls we have already gone through.
Marlins: (@ N.Y. Mets, 7:05 p.m., Fox Sports Florida)
The Marlins were finally able to get a win against the Atlanta Braves Sunday with a 3-1 victory.
The win puts the Marlins just 2 games behind the Mets for third place in the NL East.
Now, the Marlins can catch the Mets by taking 2 out of 3 in New York. Of course that's easier said than done at Shea Stadium Citi Field.
The Marlins will send Javier Vazquez to the mound against the Mets.
He's struggled ths season, but he is 3-1 in his last 4 starts.
Vazquez has run up a 5.32 ERA on a record of 7-9.
Vazquez must be getting something good to eat before his games because his fastball is now ringing in at 90-93 mph. That's pretty impressive for a guy experts said had a dead arm. It'll be interesting to see if he can keep that up through the end of the season.
FYI, Mike Stanton has 63 RBI's on 24 home runs and he's scored 58 runs. Not bad for his first full-season as a starter.
And Emilio Bonifacio's hitting streak ended, but he's still hitting .298 for the season, which leads the team.
Dolphins Update:
The Dolphins have added another big body to the defensive line rotation when they signed Ronald Fields off the free agent wire.
Not to point out the obvious, but with tight ends like Todd Heap and Zach Miller sitting out there, why didn't the Fins target Miller especially??!?!
I mean how much longer will we have to see Anthony Fasano not getting vertical and struggling to be a top tight-end?
But I digress.
Fields stands 6'2" and weighs 314 pounds. He started 16 games in 2009 and played in 16 games in 2010.
He's another body on the defensive line, but again, why did they not get more help for Henne on offense?
It just befuddles me.
I'm curious to see whether Fields makes the roster. At his size, he might be a nice backup to nose tackle Paul Soliai.
By the way, the Fins will be practicing at Sun Life Stadium tonight and the first 1,000 fans in get 2 tix to the pre-season opener.
NFL Update:
I don't want to say the Eagles are going to be good, because I'm still not sold on the offensive line.
But, good lord, they added Nnamdi Asoumgha on the other side from Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie?!!?
The Eagles pass rushers have to be happy getting an extra second or 1.5 seconds to get to the quarterback
Again though, it's a team willing to make bold moves to get to the place they want to be.
Hey Jeff Ireland, call up the Eagles and ask them how they do things by putting the best players in place.
