With training camp opening Saturday, the Dolphins' top four cornerbacks to end 2007 not only have survived the offseason overhaul -- to the surprise of some -- but also have a good chance to remain the Fins' top four corners this season, unless Nate Jones, Joey Thomas or an August/September addition breaks through.
FLORIDA SPORTS BUZZ
With Dolphins camp opening next weekend, chatter on a six-pack of competitions for starting jobs: Quarterback: Though Josh McCown is considered by many to be the front-runner because of experience, the Dolphins have told NFL people the battle remains competitive with John Beck, and preseason performance will determine the winner. Several players thought McCown was better in May/June drills, but another starter favored Beck. Chad Henne remains an underdog, though nobody would be shocked if he was...
FLORIDA SPORTS BUZZ
ing available veteran relievers and would be open to adding a quality arm before the July 31 nonwaiver trade deadline. But though they would like a solution at catcher, they are not enamored with available options, especially offensively, and aren't optimistic about finding a clear upgrade to Matt Treanor.
FLORIDA SPORTS BUZZ
With Shawn Marion and the Heat expected to resume contract talks shortly, several teams -- including the Clippers and Golden State -- have expressed interest in acquiring him. The issue, though, will be whether any offers will be more appealing than keeping Marion long-term or allowing his deal to expire next summer to sign Utah's Carlos Boozer.
ON SPORTS MEDIA
Beyond the switching of hosts between stations, so much about sports-talk radio keeps changing in our market. The Ticket's Dan Le Batard proved you can do a successful sports-talk show by incorporating comedy and talking heavily about nonsports fare, and other hosts have followed. Hosts are skewing much younger -- some hired in the past year weren't even alive when former WQAMers Hank Goldberg and Ed Kaplan broke into the business.
FLORIDA SPORTS BUZZ
For months, the University of Miami has been studying how to UM-ify Dolphin Stadium, beginning Aug. 28 against Charleston Southern. ''Whatever it takes to make them happy, we'll do our damndest,'' Dolphin Stadium president Bruce Schulze said.
ON SPORTS MEDIA
Along with his distinct voice, commanding on-air presence and alertness to detail, Joe Buck's quick wit generally has served him well in his career, as he ascended to one of the coveted positions in sports broadcasting -- lead NFL and baseball announcer for Fox.
FLORIDA SPORTS BUZZ
Among the most encouraging Dolphins stories has been the accelerated recovery of Ronnie Brown, who is optimistic he will be 100 percent by the start of the season. But other standout running backs who also tore their anterior cruciate knee ligament have been reaching out to Brown with cautionary advice.
FLORIDA SPORTS BUZZ
Though the class is mediocre, Pat Riley said he will enter free agency Tuesday expecting to add quality pieces partly because only a few teams (Memphis, Philadelphia) have much cap room, and ``there are going to be a lot of players that eventually filter to the exception or part of it.''
FLORIDA SPORTS BUZZ
If the Heat thinks this draft decision isn't obvious -- and many league executives believe it is -- then Pat Riley's challenges get only tougher from here as he tries to find a high-quality point guard, smooth over the Shawn Marion situation and maximize the mid-level exception in what one league official calls an ''awful'' free agent class.
FLORIDA SPORTS BUZZ
If the Bulls draft Derrick Rose as many expect, should the Heat, picking No. 2, be concerned about off-court issues with Michael Beasley? Absolutely not, his two most recent coaches say.
ON SPORTS MEDIA
ESPN wisely is overhauling its NBA Draft coverage, and the upshot should be less hysteria and hyperbole on the main set Thursday. Stephen A. Smith, who can be an effective communicator when he is not morphing into 'Screamin' A.'' Smith, has been bumped from the main set and instead will interview drafted players -- an assignment he handled capably and calmly after the Celtics won the championship Tuesday.
FLORIDA SPORTS BUZZ
The first wave of UM's top-rated football recruiting class impressed everyone. The second wave arrives next week, delivering even more talent.
FLORIDA SPORTS BUZZ
Chatter from the Dolphins' off season program that ended Thursday, and other notes: Coach Tony Sparano said he's ''very proud'' of Joey Porter on several levels, and Porter makes one thing clear: There's no excuse if he doesn't deliver.
ON SPORTS MEDIA
Asking and answering: So why aren't the Marlins televising two road games in the next five days -- Saturday at Tampa Bay and Tuesday at Seattle? Shouldn't all the road games be on TV?
FLORIDA SPORTS BUZZ
In private chats, Florida's Urban Meyer and Florida State's Bobby Bowden admitted last month that with Randy Shannon coaching the Canes, it has become increasingly difficult for them to lure top players from South Florida. But after recent lulls here, both are making a big push for top Dade and Broward 2009 prospects.
FLORIDA SPORTS BUZZ
Ousted as UCLA's head coach after five seasons, new Dolphins receivers coach Karl Dorrell has set the bar high for Ted Ginn Jr. and Derek Hagan. And although May/June performance shouldn't be overstated, their offseason development has the team encouraged.
ON SPORTS MEDIA
Although numbers can be numbing, a few ratings developments bear a closer look: The Marlins' low attendance figures suggest lukewarm fan interest, but TV ratings paint a different picture.
FLORIDA SPORTS BUZZ
Everyone who plays under this new Dolphins regime assuredly wants to be branded a ''Parcells guy.'' But five established veterans acquired from Dallas already are.
FLORIDA SPORTS BUZZ
With the Heat eager to clear big 2009 salary-cap space to add another elite player, one logical scenario -- if the Bulls pass up on Derrick Rose -- would be drafting Rose at No. 2 (Miami's hope) and pursuing potential free agent power forwards Carlos Boozer or Elton Brand in the summer of 2009. But if Miami drafts and keeps power forward Michael Beasley, Pat Riley faces harder decisions.
