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Sports Agenda for Tuesday (4/17/12)

Big Story:
Well, if you had any doubt about who the NBA MVP was this year, LeBron answered that question last night. The Marlins and Panthers get back into action tonight, more on the Dolphins and the draft in the agenda.

Lyrics of the Day:
"So sick of hobos always begging for change; I don't like how I gotta work and they just sit around and get paid. I hate all of the people who can't drive their cars. You better get outta the way; before I start falling apart. I hate my job, all of my rich friends; I hate everyone to the bitter end. Nothing turns out right there's no end in sight, I hate my life." – Hate My Life by Theory of a Deadman…just a funny, funny song to listen to all the way through, trust me.

Miami Heat: (off Tuesday)
Okay, that was just flat out sick.
If you didn't see it, and given they were playing the woeful New Jersey Nets you probably didn't, LeBron took the Heat on his back in the fourth quarter and flat out dominated.
He scored the Heat's final 17 points while leading the team to a much-needed victory.
LeBron just went off and there was simply no one on the court who could even hang in the same league with him.
The crazy part about it?
He did it all in 5:35 seconds.
Here's what's more impressive, all of his shots in the fourth quarter flurry were from inside of ten feet.
SCORE!
And how about Mr. Bosh, don't forget about him.
He started again at the center position and scored 22 points and ripped down 15 rebounds.
That's great news for the Heat as the playoffs come a knocking.
What's better news is the Heat won with a LeBron flurry, but he and Bosh only played 35 minutes.
Don't expect a lot of them down the stretch as they will be rested like Dwyane Wade was last night.
The Heat rested Wade, Turiaf, and Battier and when they play the Wizards in a few days I expect LeBron and Bosh to play sparingly.
Here's something funny too, the Heat are just 2.5 games back of the Bulls, which theoretically means they could win the East, but I'd rather rest the stars instead.
By the way, for those keeping track at home, the Heat are currently matched up with the Knicks if the playoffs started today.
That would be a tough, but fun series.

Miami Marlins: (vs. Chicago Cubs, 7:10 p.m.)
Well, tonight we get to see if South Florida was really that upset about Ozzie Guillen's comments about Castro or if it just a small number of people really upset.
I fully expect Guillen to be booed any time he walks on the field tonight and for the next few games.
Want to know the truth though?
If the Marlins start winning consistently, all will be forgotten.
But tonight should be interesting to say the least.
Luckily, the Marlins face the Chicago Cubs tonight.
For Cubs fans, unfortunately they have already been eliminated from playoff contention.
I kid, I kid.
Josh Johnson takes the mound for the Marlins and he needs a big performance to justify keeping him as the number one starter.
I still want to see that dominating pitcher of old, but I'm beginning to wonder if it's still in there for him.
He just has to get some more movement on his pitches to make things really click.
Course that's easier said than done.
He'll face Ryan Dempster of the Cubs.
Well, it will be quite a scene out there at Marlins Park tonight.
Either it will be really wild and people will hate Guillen, or it will be business as usual.
The team is hoping for the latter I'm sure.
A win will cure much of what ails them.

Florida Panthers: (@ New Jersey, 7:00 p.m., SunSports)
We're tied 1-1 heading back to New Jersey where the Devils are tough.
The Panthers put up a 24-13-4 record at home this season and are 7-2-1 in their last ten games.
Here's some good news I dug up in the stats for the series.
Devils goalie Martin Brodeur was 1-4 in his last playoff run in 2009-2010 and before that he was just 5-12 in the playoffs the three years before that.
So while he like a stone wall at times, he is very beatable, especially at his age.
Still, Florida has to come out aggressive as they did in Game 2.
The home crowd in New Jersey will be rocking and the best way to silence them is to just come out barnstorming in the first period.
I'd like to see some better defensive play from the Panthers, but if they get a power play opportunity, they need to capitalize, cause winning on the road in the Stanley Cup Playoffs is one of the toughest things to do in sports…unless you're playing the Vancouver Canucks.
The puck drops a little after 7 p.m.
Remember, the Cats come back home on Saturday for at least one more game.

Miami Dolphins & the Draft:
I know I railed against Ryan Tannehill last week, but after doing some more research, I'm softening my stance a little.
Here's why…
Unlike Jamarcus Russell, Tannehill is an athlete who wants to improve and who responds well to coaching.
Plus, he can also instruct receivers where to go and they can believe him because he was a receiver at the highest level in college.
So obviously the kid's got skills, but I'm not sure Dolphins fans will be willing to let him sit for the first year like he will probably need to.
Remember, Aaron Rodgers sat for I think three years before he was handed the starting job and he was a first round pick.
If I had to handicap things right now, I'd say the Dolphins may be down to just a few players they're looking at…
Obviously Tannehill, and also defensive end Quinton Coples, wide receiver Malcolm Floyd, defensive end Melvin Ingram, and one of the offensive lineman.
Coples is a beast, just a flat out beast, in the mold of Julius Peppers and Mario Williams.
He was hurt last year by constantly switching between tackle and end, but in the NFL, he'd be a defensive end, possibly a hybrid linebacker.
He's 6'6" and weighs 284 pounds. He'd command a double-team which would open the door for Cameron Wake to wreak havoc on quarterbacks.
But could Fins fans handle a defensive end?
I could, because in the NFL you can NEVER. EVER. Have too much pass rush.
Floyd is tempting for the best size, speed, hands combination in the draft, but he has off field baggage and that won't fly in South Florida.
Ingram is another tempting pass rusher who could also be a 3-4 outside linebacker with a little work.
I'm firm in believing the Fins won't take an offensive lineman unless they trade down a few spots.
Here's what to watch in the NFL Draft next week:
Picks 1-3 are pretty much set in stone.
When Cleveland picks at 4, the drama begins.
I fully expect Cleveland to pick either Justin Blackmon or Trent Richardson (My pick if I'm Cleveland).
Tampa Bay picks five and will select Morris Claiborne if he's on the board then.
The Rams pick sixth and will select Justin Blackmon if he's still on the board.
The Jags pick eighth and this is where it could get wacky again.
The Jags will likely choose the best pass rusher on the board. If they pick Coples or Ingram we know who the Fins will pick.
If a team like the Chiefs trades up to Cleveland's spot or into Jacksonville's spot, they're going after Tannehill.
The Fins WILL NOT move up to take Tannehill, but I think if he's there, he's the pick.
Then we get to see how patient Dolphins fans will be in his development.

All that and more at CBSMiami.com/sports
Follow me on Twitter @timkephart33 for the latest news, politics, and sports

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