SPORTS COLUMNIST

Greg Cote has been a Herald sports columnist known for his wit and sharp insight since 1995, after previously covering the Dolphins, University of Miami football and major events including Super Bowls, the World Cup and Barcelona Olympics. Greg and his infamous 'Upset Bird' present the ever-popular NFL predictions page every Friday during football season.

E-mail Greg at gcote@miamiherald.com.

GREG COTE'S RANDOM EVIDENCE BLOG

• 

  In My Opinion

  Greg Cote: Miami Heat’s LeBron James needs to put on his Superman cape

  This was too perfect. LeBron James stepped into his NBA Finals off-day news conference wearing a red Heat T-shirt fixed around his neck and hanging down his back — cape-style. He looked like the world’s biggest kid playing superhero dress-up, and kept the look early in Wednesday’s practice before finally shedding the cape-shirt as if it had served its purpose and recharged his secret powers.
• 

  IN MY OPINION

  Greg Cote: Miami Heat’s LeBron James is missing in action

  Where have you gone, LeBron James, and when are you coming back? Where is the offensive dominance that makes defenders and rims quake?
• 

  Greg Cote: With Miami Heat, we should have known to expect a bounce-back

  The funniest thing about hand-wringing consternation from fans and media and even panic that follows most every Heat loss is how thoroughly unnecessary it is.

• Random Evidence of a Cluttered Mind

  This is enough to send Heat fans to the pharmacy

  Can we take this for six more games, Heat fans? Can we take this emotional buffeting over two turbulent weeks?
• 

  In My Opinion

  Greg Cote: An ill wind seemed to blow in Miami Heat’s loss, but conditions can change

  A wayward tropical storm, a flood advisory and rain at dusk set a gloomy tableau as Heat fans arrived downtown for Game 1 of the NBA Finals here Thursday night.
• 

  In My Opinion

  Greg Cote: For Miami Heat, there’s winning or misery

  The tightrope is ratcheted high as it can be now, stretched taut across what seems like a ravine far below, or an abyss. It is dizzying up here. The wind gusts and howls. It is cold. Those who step onto this thin cable, meaning to reach the glory on the other side, at least have the luxury of a safety net — well, all except one.
• 

  In My Opinion

  Greg Cote: Defiant Miami Heat rises to new heights

  This is what champions do. They rise up. They answer doubts and opponents with a vengeance and assassin’s eyes. They somehow summon their greatness just when the stage is biggest and loudest, just when you wonder if they can.
• 

  In My Opinion | Greg Cote

  Greg Cote: Heat must rise above latest challenge in Game 7 or face calamity

  The champions are staggered now, stunned by a blow that buckled the knees. The heaviest favorites in American sports are hurt. Miami’s dream of a repeat NBA championship took a hard punch here Saturday night, and the answer to the only question that matters now must wait until Monday night.
• 

  Greg Cote | Random Evidence of a Cluttered Mind

  Greg Cote: LeBron James, Jeffrey Loria polar opposites in terms of success

  Let’s start in 1859. No, wise guy, that was not the year I started at The Miami Herald. That was the year the great Charles Dickens began his novel A Tale of Two Cities with, “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times …”
• 

  In My Opinion

  Greg Cote: LeBron James’ one-man show is a smash hit for Miami Heat

  It was too close to another one-man show in terms of the Heat’s Big 3 here Thursday night, but that was OK this time. That was just fine, in fact.
• 

  IN MY OPINION

  Greg Cote: Miami Heat’s Big 3 comes up little on this night

  LeBron James was erased from this game when the Heat needed him most, with the result wobbling and 56 seconds to play. He fouled out, officially. To most neutral eyes he fouled out on an egregiously bad call on a pick he’d set against Lance Stephenson.
• 

  IN MY OPINION

  Greg Cote: Work ethic is Heat’s underappreciated strength

  Indiana players and fans here wear T-shirts that proudly declare: BLUE COLLAR. The motto would underline a supposed contrast between the lunch-pail ethic of the small-market, underdog Pacers and the star-driven, big-city Heat.
• 

  In My Opinion | Greg Cote

  Greg Cote: Miami Heat answers its critics, Indiana Pacers fans emphatically

  At the famous racetrack some 10 miles west of the basketball arena here, the Indianapolis 500 had barely ended Sunday when more than 200,000 race fans got their priorities straight. Spontaneously a mammoth chant of “Beat the Heat!” broke out, spilling all across this city in a hungry, angry shout and erupting anew that night as the Pacers hosted Miami.

• Random evidence of a cluttered mind

  This type of doubt should only provide fuel for Heat

  Sunday might be the biggest sports day ever in the city of Indianapolis, with the momentum-infused Indiana Pacers hosting a home playoff game the same day as the Indianapolis 500 for the first time ever.
• 

  IN MY OPINION

  LeBron needs to post ‘help wanted’ sign

  LeBron James sported a Nike T-shirt some 90 minutes before Friday night’s game that was plain white but for three small words stamped big and black in block letters:
• 

  In My Opinion

  Greg Cote: Miami Heat’s Game 1 thriller signals real start of playoffs

  This was more like it. Ten games in, the playoffs felt like they started for real for the Heat here Wednesday night. Welcome back, tension and doubt. Good to see you again, major challenge. We missed you, edge of seat.
• 

  In My Opinion

  Greg Cote: Drama might not be real, but Miami Heat’s dominance is

  What happened in the buildup to this Heat-Pacers Eastern Conference final is something you would find at the intersection of Funny and Sad.
• 

  Greg Cote: Knicks would have been spicier matchup for Miami Heat

  Miami Heat players have been steadfastly neutral in claiming no preference as they waited for Indiana and New York to figure out which would play the underdog in the NBA’s upcoming Eastern Conference finals. Confident champions do not deign to worry about who’s next; they leave the worrying to opponents. The lion who runs the jungle does not much care if he is feasting on zebra or antelope, after all.
• 

  IN MY OPINION

  Greg Cote: Dwyane Wade’s heroics help Miami Heat in comeback

  Welcome back, Dwyane Wade.
• 

  IN MY OPINION

  Greg Cote: Miami Heat’s playoff health tied to Dwyane Wade

  Most of the unusually low numbers from this game should delight Heat fans. Those numbers stunk up this city Monday night and all but required the Bulls arena to be immediately fumigated following this NBA playoff series Game 4 here. Those numbers were Chicago’s meager 65 points scored on abysmal 25.7 percent shooting — both owing largely to a Miami defense that is that good, yes.

Previous

Next