Sports Agenda For Thursday (3/24/11)

Big Story:
Now that the Heat have hit the easy part of their schedule heading into the playoffs, you'd expect the team to just coast by. Well, the Pistons gave them more of a battle than the Heat had hoped for and almost knocked them off.

Of course, almost only counts in horseshoes, hand grenades, and nuclear war.

No news yet on the NFL Labor front, the next big date will be in April when the courts will decide whether to lift the lockout. There's a shot that two teams from Florida can get into the elite eight, but FSU has the better chance. And, who should the Heat draft, well no one is saying, but there are some hints.

Heat:
So it looked bad for the Heat heading into the final quarter last night. Then, the Heat, yeah the team that couldn't close a game, went on a tear and won the game in the fourth. It was a solid win for the Heat, who don't play again until Friday night's game against the 76er's at the AAA.

But, just an aside on Detroit. How bad have they become? Remember back a few years ago, Joe Dumars was considered a genius for putting together the team that had Billups, Prince, and others? Yeah, he's running that team now like Isiah Thomas is still involved.

By the way, anyone want to put an over/under when Isiah returns to the Knicks?

NFL:
Well, the players are claiming they are slaves and the owners are now saying they may take their offer and run home to pout. Sounds like a great offseason ahead huh? Still, as soon as the players start missing bigger checks later in the year, they'll cave like a house of cards. And seriously, they're talking about being slaves and so forth, yeah, come on down and work some minimum wage jobs or work in television and find out what slavery is all about!

Dolphins:
Todd McShay, who last year said that Ole Miss' quarterback was a sure fire first round pick (he didn't get drafted), said the Dolphins are looking at running back Mark Ingram and Ryan Mallett and Christian Ponder.

Ingram is a no brainer, especially when the Fins jettison Ricky Williams. Mallet is a head case who has a million-dollar arm and a ten-cent brain. Ponder is intriguing, but he's more of a west coast quarterback who has okay arm strength and good accuracy.

Personally, I think the Fins need to try and trade down and pick up Mike Pouncey (or is it Maurkice, I get them confused). He'd fill an immediate need at guard and then the Fins could probably pick-up an extra second or third and move up to select either Ponder or a tight end like Kyle Rudolph to help the underneath passing game.

Panthers:
Sadly, and I hate to write this, but after getting blanked by the Blackhawks last night, I just can't force myself to care anymore. They're five points out of dead last in the Eastern Conference and 13 points out of the playoffs. The team is 6 games under .500. Seriously, you and I scored as many goals as they did last night.

Marlins: (vs. Boston Red Sox 1:05 p.m.)
They didn't lose last night and Josh Johnson and Ricky Nolasco are firmly entrenched as your number 1 and 2 starters. I think the team has a good chance if the bullpen can hold up. They have good starters, but if that bullpen is as bad as it was last year, Cy Young and Nolan Ryan couldn't power the team to victory.