Sports Agenda for Monday (4/2/12)
Big Story:
Wrestlemania 28, the Heat look like chumps, the Panthers continue to try and let the playoffs slip out of their grasp, and the Marlins make their debut at home. Quite an April Fool's Day in the agenda today!
Lyrics of the Day:
"I've listened to preachers, I've listened to fools. I've watched all the dropouts who make their own rules. One person conditioned to rule and control. The media sells it and you live the role." – Ozzy Osbourne from the song Crazy Train
Heat: (off Monday)
The good news is the Heat can't lose Monday.
The bad news is it's because they're off Monday.
Here's the thing, I'm not going to say the world is ending, unlike talk radio world.
Let's face it, the Heat have had it cruise control the last three weeks and are not motivated to do much.
You can tell just by the way the team is going through the motions.
Luckily for the Heat, the regular season doesn't mean squat in the NBA.
The Heat are the two seed and are well behind the Bulls, but well ahead of the Magic, who are fading away faster than a Michael Jordan jumpshot.
That said, the game Sunday was about as ugly as it could get.
You can't have LeBron, Bosh, and Wade on one team and get a combined 42 points out of them and expect to win.
Memo to Bosh, the season is still ongoing, though it looks like you've checked out.
Bosh has Kevin Garnett in his head and you could tell he was almost afraid of Garnett at times.
And good lord can we get a little point guard play from someone on the team?!?!!
If your two point guards combine for nine points on 3-16 shooting and a total of 5 assists, yeah, you're going to lose a lot of games.
And please, someone get Joel Anthony back on the bench, I don't care how, just do it.
It's embarrassing to watch stonehands on the court putting up gooseeggs.
Give it to the Celtics, they came in fired up and frankly embarrassed the Heat.
Course the Heat shooting 35 percent from the field and 41 percent from the line doesn't help much either.
And when one of the Big Three scores exactly four more points than I did on my way past the arena, yeah, it's ugly.
So what is the Heat's reward?
A homestand that includes games against the 76ers, Thunder, and Grizzlies.
Yikes.
The Heat are a different team at home, but that's a brutal schedule coming up especially the game against the Thunder.
We'll see what Erik Spolestra has up his sleeve, but I'm beginning to think the inmates may be running the asylum right now, so it could be a long road to the end of the regular season.
Panthers: (off Monday, vs. Winnipeg Tuesday)
Yknow, I'm all for exciting endings, but c'mon Panthers this is ridiculous.
You're fighting for home ice advantage and you lose to the Columbus Blue Jackets?!?!!?
That's like losing to NBC6 in the ratings.
That's like being outcoached last year by the Dolphins.
Brutal.
The Panthers have the chance to win nine points over the last three games.
They should be able to handle the Carolina Hurricanes, course I said that about the Blue Jackets game as well.
By my count, Florida needs points in the next game, possibly two with a victory, and a Capitals loss with no points to give the Cats a 6 point lead with two games left.
On the flip side, if Florida loses and gets no points and the Caps win, then it's a tie heading into Thursday's game in Washington.
Barring losing all three games, which this team very well could, I think Florida will make the playoffs.
The Panthers and playoffs….next thing you know I'll be writing the same thing about the Dolphins in January 2013.
I wrote that with a straight face….I'm impressed.
Marlins: (vs. New York Yankees, 7:05 p.m.)
Well the Marlins did what every South Florida team seems to do….get the fans fired up for the first game and quickly go out and lose.
Granted it was to the Yankees in an exhibition game, but still.
Ricky Nolasco got beat like a dog in the fifth inning when he gave up five runs.
So tonight, the Ballpark will go through its final dress rehearsal before opening night on Wednesday.
The Fish will throw up Anibal Sanchez tonight and then Wednesday it's ace Josh Johnson taking the mound against the Cardinals.
The Marlins will take off from their home stadium for six straight road games and will return on April 13 for six straight at home.
With opening day set for Thursday, the Chicago Cubs will be mathematically eliminated from the playoffs on Friday.
NCAA Title Game: (9:00 p.m. on CBS4)
Well, the game has almost felt like an afterthought this year with all of the other sports going on.
But tonight, Kentucky and Kansas square off for the National Championship.
It's a battle of the two most storied programs in college basketball.
It's also a battle of one of the most corrupt coaches out there, Calipari, versus the team I was programmed to hate in college, Kansas.
Talk about having to pick between two evils!
Honestly, I think Kentucky has the talent to win, but Kansas has the better coaching.
I've gone back and forth on this one all weekend, but I'm going to pick…..Kansas.
Ugh, I feel dirty just writing that, but such is life!
Wrestlemania Recap:
If you've never experienced Wrestlemania, I recommend it.
It was a lot of fun for everyone and quite an entertaining show overall.
The Rock sent the people home happy with a victory.
The Undertaker and Triple H tore the house down with a Hell in the Cell match.
And it was just a loud, in your face experience.
It also set an all-time attendance record for Sun Life that won't be beat unless Wrestlemania comes back with a slightly smaller stage setup.
It's expensive to go, but even sitting in the cheap seats would allow you to experience a good night.
We'll get into the Marlins, Heat, Panthers, and all the latest sports stories fit to print.
Follow me on Twitter @timkephart33 for the latest sports today!
