Merriam-Webster defines an X-Factor as a circumstance, quality, or person that has a strong but unpredictable influence. You can also tack this definition on to the Miami Heat because they epitomize the essence of the X-Factor. Their presence in the Eastern Conference is strong and unpredictable. Before the NBA suspended play in March, Miami held ...
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I was going to write about Inter Miami, I really was. Maybe it would have been an upbeat preview about the “MLS Is Back” schedule reveal (Breakfast with Inter Miami vs. Chicago Fire at 9 a.m. on July 14, can you dig it?) or a more serious, ominous look at the league and its protocols ...
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June 19, 2020 wasn’t just another commemorative celebration of the emancipation of the last Confederate slaves in the United States. This particular Juneteenth hits a little bit differently than the ones in previous years. Jubilant remembrance and observance gave way to passionate and in-depth conversations about systemic racism in this country.  Helping lead the way ...
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Kyrie Irving got me thinking. Sports has always been a place of comfort to me. It’s what I run to when times are tough. It’s where I go to when I am stressed. I’ve cried for it. It’s a place to hide from the reality of the world. Which I thought was always a good ...
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If 2020 taught us anything at all within the first six months, it would be: Nothing is surprising and… Not much is certain. Before the COVID-19 pandemic suspended play, the Los Angeles Lakers and Milwaukee Bucks were on a collision course to the Finals. Teams such as the Clippers and Raptors were solid contenders, while ...
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These last few months have been like something out of a horror movie. A global pandemic—that could’ve been prevented—forced all of us who reside in ‘tHe GrEaTeSt CoUntRy In ThE wOrlD’ to seize life as we know it. Going to the grocery store felt eerily similar to an episode of The Walking Dead. And then ...
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The MLB needs to get it together. I am not hopeful for baseball the season. just Saturday, it was reported that a July 4 start for the 2020 MLB season is a near impossibility. Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic noted that preparation time would make starting the season by July 4 difficult. If negotiations were ...
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I have a confession:  I am struggling to see a path forward from this as protests and clashes of violence enter—what day is it? And by this I mean the outrage over the death of George Floyd. And that of Ahmaud Arbery. And Breonna Taylor. Oh, and Tamir Rice. Wait, also Philando Castile. You get ...
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You’re probably wondering who that random dude in the crowd is. That’s normal. I’ll spare you the detective work—his name is Ralph Sampson. Who is Ralph Sampson? I’ll spare you the reading time: Here’s a terrifying prospect—in 1982, Ralph Sampson, who was in attendance for Game 1 of that year’s NBA Finals between the Sixers ...
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It must be that part of the offseason when analysts come up with Top 40 lists where a hot take is built in to generally piss off an entire fan base, or better yet, very dumb lists that inexplicably go viral. So I'll come up with my own. This is a top 40 list of ...
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Let me set the scene for you here a little bit from my perspective. Game Six, 2012 Eastern Conference Finals. The Boston Celtics had defeated the Miami Heat in three straight games. Things did not look good for Boston early on, as LeBron and Miami had won the first two games of the series. Heading ...
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Sometimes, you need to look at something twice. Or more. I must admit that when I initially read the tweet below, that broke news that the NFL would be voting on a resolution that would improve a team's draft position if they hired a person of color to be Head Coach or General Manager, I ...
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Now that the Miami Dolphins have drafted Tua Tagovailoa, the former Alabama superstar has the entire Dolphins fanbase reeling with either anticipation, or impatience. Given the circumstances, that's an entirely understandable feeling. Miami hasn't had hope for a true franchise quarterback since Ryan Tannehill was initially drafted back in 2012. The seven years he spent ...
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Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is extending an offer to every NFL team whose state is affected by the lockdown. Thursday, DeSantis said that he is reaching out to commissioners of professional sports leagues to let them know that those teams will have an opportunity to play in Florida. “If you have a team in a ...
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If it is true that misery loves company, it is also accurate that the truly miserable don't when optimism is abundant anywhere. This is a trait particularly inherent in sports fan populations, with some trying to extinguish hope wherever it may appear. In South Florida, they are the Dolphins Downers. You probably know one. Or ...
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With the 13th pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, the Miami HEAT selected… Tyler Herro. Remember this moment, HEAT fans? I sure did. It was unexpected, as I had only known about this kid in passing while combing YouTube for potential draftees. I won't lie. No one I knew expected him to be drafted by ...
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