Watch CBS News

Sports Agenda for Tuesday (8/20/13)

Top Stories:
It was Cuban phenom mania at the Marlins game last night, course given that it's the Marlins, no one outside baseball knew it. Video shows just how dangerous and cheap Houston Texans defensive end Antonio Smith is. Plus, why the LeBron story didn't deserve widespread coverage. My thoughts on the 72 Dolphins at the White House. And some daily links for you to check out.

Quote of the Day:
"The test of our progress is not whether we add more to the abundance of those who have much; it is whether we provide enough for those who have little." – Franklin D. Roosevelt

Miami Marlins: (vs. Los Angeles Dodgers, 7:00 p.m., Fox Sports Florida)
In case you missed it, there was a battle of two rookie Cuban phenoms last night at Marlins Park between the Dodgers' Yasiel Puig and the Marlins' Jose Fernandez.
Let's just say that if you based your rookie of the year vote on last night's game, it's a landslide for Fernandez.
Puig, who was the flavor of the months for June and July, has all of the sudden fallen off the map.
Fernandez on the other hand has just gotten better each and every month of the regular season. He's that good.
Puig struggled to get anything going against the Fish, going 0-5 with two strikeouts.
Fernandez on the other hand continued mowing down batters at an awesome clip.
He spread out four hits over six innings and gave up just two runs, only one of which was earned.
It helped him lower his ERA to 2.41 on the season, has a 9-5 record, and has struck out 157 batters this season in 145.2 innings pitched.
Yikes.
Fernandez has lowered his ERA from roughly 3.00 at the end of June to 2.41 as of mid-August.
Now, he's only got about one or two more starts left this season before the Marlins shut him down to protect his arm.
Is it a good move by the Fish? Yes, because he can't contribute to a pennant chase and the Marlins are done this season anyway.
Save him for 2014 and 2015 when the Marlins can have a better shot at contending.
As for Puig, he's still good, but he's not as good as Fernandez right now and yes, Fernandez is your 2013 NL Rookie of the Year.

Miami Dolphins:
Couple items about the Dolphins today.
First, the video that was discovered over the weekend of Antonio Smith forcibly removing Richie Incognito's helmet and then swinging it at him was inexcusable.
He should be suspended for at least two REGULAR season games.
ESPN's Adam Schefter said it would be a two game preseason suspension. So in reality, he'll miss about two and a half quarters in the preseason because that's all he'd play in Game 3 and none in Game 4.
Smith and Incognito have a history against each other, but Incognito's never gone that far.
Using a helmet as a weapon, that's just wrong any way you slice it and should be dealt with more severely by the NFL than a preseason suspension.
Kudos to Incognito for not going after Smith, even though he definitely deserved it.
Here's another thought about the Dolphins, go with me here for a second.
Dion Jordan, pass rushing extraordinaire, physical freak, defensive end, but move him to tight end?
Am I nuts? Probably, and it's not something I'd do except in an absolute last resort.
But here's why it intrigues me.
Jordan is 6'6", weighs 250+ pounds and runs a 4.5 40-yard dash.
Who covers him? A linebacker, too slow. A cornerback, too small. A safety, undersized and possibly too slow.
Now, this would never…EVER…happen, but you can see why it's intriguing from a matchup point of view.
Won't happen because he's locked in at defensive end and if he can ever get on the field, should be pretty good.
But, if he struggles with injuries this year, he's essentially going to be a wasted top 5 pick at a time when the Dolphins can't afford to waste picks.
That's still a long way from happening, but until he quiets the shoulder concerns, it's going to be a thought in the back of Dolphins fans minds.

1972 Dolphins: (to be honored Tuesday at White House, watch live on CBSMiami.com!!)
The 1972 Dolphins will be honored at the White House today by President Barack Obama.
Some of the members of the team refused to go because of political reasons. To them I say shame on you.
Look, it doesn't matter who's in office, if the president invited you to the White House…you go.
Besides, this isn't about politics, it's about honoring a team and if you're a true teammate, you're there no matter what to support your team.
It's sad that politics has invade everything and that it is so toxic today that something as simple as this is going on.
I know it's happened before, and you know what, whether they protested Democratic or Republican presidents, it's still wrong.

LeBron James Police Escort Story:
Ugh, talk about a story that didn't have staying power that every single news agency put legs on and rode it for everything they could.
LeBron got a police escort to a concert. If anyone pays enough they can get a police escort, hey, that's just the way it is. LeBron's escort took him down the wrong way of the street, which is a no-no.
That's a nice update to the story, say about 30 seconds in a newscast saying Miami-Dade Police admitted the escort was in the wrong. Someone will get a slap on the wrist, but that's it.
LeBron will still get a police escort if he wants it, as will others who can pay for it.
Plus, they know now not to take video of it, or at least not to share it.

How about some links and your Daily FAIL?
• Fun Fact via SI.com – On this date in 1991, Dan Marino became the highest paid player in the NFL when he signed a 5-year, $25 million contract extension.
• College football has created another bowl game no one will watch.
• Via the Miami Herald – The Dolphins biggest issue isn't turnovers, it's penalties.
• The NCAA did something….right?!?! They granted the kid immediate eligibility!
• If Manti Te'o is on the roster, but not on the field, does he actually exist?

And finally, your daily fail
http://youtu.be/cDX3j_vh_nU

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.