Sports Agenda For Thursday (10/20/11)
Big Story:
Now that we're back up to full-strength in the web center, the agenda can make its triumphant return. What'd we miss? The Dolphins lost, again, the Panther have a winning record, HUH?, and the NBA is still locked out, Ho-Hum.
Let's hit this harder than Capitol Hill does the Crazy Train.
Dolphins: (Sunday, vs. Broncos, CBS4 [possibly])
Okay let's start with the particulars of Sunday's game.
First, the game is NOT a sell out as of Wednesday evening. I checked with the Dolphins yesterday and they are "working with local businesses" to ensure a sellout so the game can be seen locally.
Translation: the game isn't sold out, but we're asking local business and media outlets to buy up the remaining tickets at a deeply discounted price to be able to show the game on local television.
This is happening despite the fact that the franchise is bending over backwards to honor the opposing team's starting quarterback, Tim Tebow.
I can guarantee you that Tebow will get more cheers this weekend than the Dolphins will.
What will be the most interesting is if the Dolphins start to lose in the game, will the "Suck for Luck" chants erupt.
For those that aren't familiar, Suck for Luck refers to intentionally losing as many games as possible to land the number one draft pick and select Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford.
For more on why that's an idiotic idea, click here.
Back to the game at hand.
The Dolphins come in 0-5 on the season and if they lose this game, it's curtains for the franchise this year and probably for Sparano as well.
Here's the thing though that I think is keeping Sparano on the job.
Who would replace him?
Mike Nolan? Yeah, how'd he do in San Francisco? He was fired after a few miserable seasons. Plus, his defense is a key reason the Dolphins are so bad this year. So why would you reward failure with a temporary promotion?
Nevertheless, if the Fins lose, every major media outlet in South Florida will be on Sparano Watch immediately after the game.
It's a sad state of affairs for the Fins, but it's been a long-time coming.
This is a franchise that has a history of losing in recent years and hasn't been a major player in the super bowl chase since their last appearance in the Super Bowl in 1984, when I was 6-years-old.
The Fins have rested on their laurels believing fans would come no matter how bad the product on the field had become.
But crappy team + Great Recession = no ticket sales, and a franchise looking for answers.
For more on why the team is so bad, click here.
And if all that wasn't enough, just three days out from the game, two of the arguably best players on the offense, Brandon Marshall and Reggie Bush aren't participating in practice.
Ruh-roh, Scrabby.
College Football:
Oh how the once mighty state of Florida has seen its football program decline.
UF has been thumped by the SEC West; FSU had to play Duke to get a victory; UM is all over the place; FIU started hot and are now losing just as fast.
Let's not even mention how bad the pro teams in Florida are.
But, let's look at how the schedule will break down this weekend.
For my full write-ups on the games, check the sports page at cbsmiami.com on Friday.
Georgia Tech @ Miami
Miami lost another defensive tackle for this game, where they will battle the top running attack in the country.
Yikes.
GT will run all over the Canes in this one. Sorry Canes fans.
Maryland @ Florida State
FSU is in shambles after a brutal losing streak, but Maryland is even worse.
It should be a close game, but on paper, FSU should pull away with a victory in this one.
Middle Tennessee @ Florida Atlantic
It's game two in the House that Howard Built, maybe the Owls will finally score a point?
I won't buy it until I see it. The Raiders roll the Owls here.
Now, here's the rest of the slate of games you definitely shouldn't miss and who will win!
Oklahoma State @ Missouri – I wish I could pick Mizzou, but unless we can play keep away with OSU's offense, this one will be ugly.
North Carolina @ Clemson – UNC got thumped last week and will get thumped again this weekend.
Auburn @ LSU – The Bayou Bengals will destroy Auburn, with or without their top running back.
Tennessee @ Alabama – This one won't be close as Bama kills UT. Bama and LSU are on track for the national championship game on Nov. 5!
USC @ Notre Dame – I hate the Fighting Irish, but USC is just bad. Go with the Irish.
Texas Tech @ Oklahoma – This will be a blowout quickly as OU continues its run.
GAME OF THE WEEK
Washington @ Stanford – Luck's toughest opponent yet, we'll find out more about just how good both teams are. The Huskies are 5-1 and the Cardinal are 6-0. Go with Luck and the Cardinal in this one.
Florida Panthers: (vs. Buffalo, 7:30 p.m., Fox Sports Florida)
The Panthers are 3-2 on the season as they begin a two game homestand.
First up will be the Buffalo Sabres Thursday night.
Next will be New York Islanders on Saturday.
Two victories will make the Panthers the most successful pro sports team in South Florida.
Let that simmer in your brain for a minute!
