RANDOM EVIDENCE OF A CLUTTERED MIND

NASCAR's Chase for the Cup in need of a tuneup

Not sure who was in charge of devising NASCAR's Chase for the Cup format, but is it too late to have him arrested? Or drug-tested?

Greg Cote's Week 11 NFL picks

Showed up pretty stout both ways last week, including a bull's-eye on our Upset of the Week with Panthers over Falcons (``Aawwk!''), another outright upset hit with Chiefs winning at Raiders, plus Jags with-points over Jets. Here's how tough this gig can be, though, folks. I predicted Indy would beat the Pats 38-34. Indy beat the Pats 35-34. But that was a loss against the spread. Oy! Nevertheless, momentum remains in my pocket. Must protect the pocket! (Note: Records below do not include Thursday night's game. Pick was Panthers (-3) over Dolphins, 24-20).

Greg Cote's prediction: Miami Dolphins vs. Carolina Panthers

DOLPHINS (4-5) AT PANTHERS (4-5)

When: 8 p.m. Thursday (NFL, CH. 39)

Line: CAR by 3 Cote's pick: CAR 24-20

IN MY OPINION

Miami Dolphins' Chad Henne shows his mettle in game-winning drive

The postgame locker room was thick with bodies and noise and plain relief when the most accomplished, respected player on this Dolphins team picked through the crowd and sought out the young man across the way -- the one with all that weight on him.

RANDOM EVIDENCE OF A CLUTTERED MIND

Sparano, Miami Dolphins show why they are true patriots

Veterans Day was this week, and the Dolphins will honor America and the U.S. military in several patriotic ways during Sunday's home game against Tampa Bay.

Greg Cote's Week 10 NFL picks

I am trying to figure a way to distill last week into something I can bottle and peddle on street corners in Las Vegas. What a week!

IN MY OPINION

Miami Heat-Cleveland Cavaliers matchup more than a game

Dwyane Wade and LeBron James sharing the same court. It happens on the U.S. Olympic team. It happens when the Heat play the Cavaliers, like Thursday night.

IN MY OPINION

Miami Dolphins' Chad Henne needs a legitimate wideout threat

Give Chad Henne a break. Give him time. Better yet, give him a receiver.

RANDOM EVIDENCE OF A CLUTTERED MIND

Election returns: Mayor Ginn has catchy slogan

People voted to elect a new city of Miami mayor Tuesday. Results were surprising, but you know what they say about politics being all about the timing.

AROUND THE LEAGUE

Is Edgerrin James Hall-worthy? Chances iffy

Defiantly, or perhaps obliviously, Edgerrin James told reporters in Seattle last month, ``It's up to me how long I want to play and how far I move up that [all-time rushing] chart.'' If only.

Greg Cote's Week 9 NFL picks

Well, let's see here. I missed on Dolphins-Jets game, missed on Vikings-Packers ``Favre Bowl,'' missed badly on my Upset of the Week pick (Houston-Buffalo), and totally misread Giants-Eagles, too. The only person in South Florida who had a worse week than me: Disgraced Fort Lauderdale attorney and accused scam-artist Scott Rothstein. Close call, though.

We're way overdue for a treat: Let there be a Series Game 7

Major League Baseball likes to call its World Series the ``Fall Classic,'' one of those apple-pie appellations evocative of autumn leaves in a Norman Rockwell painting -- except that the phrase has mostly become a misnomer.

IN MY OPINION

Noisy Jets gone, Pats next for Miami Dolphins

The Dolphins hold deed and title to the AFC East as defending division champions. The Jets act like they own the division, albeit with thoroughly unearned bravado.

RANDOM EVIDENCE OF A CLUTTERED MIND

Shouldn't Fireman Ed be putting out some fires?

The Dolphins, 2-4 and trying to stay relevant in the playoff picture, now begin the toughest stretch of schedule in the NFL, with four of the next five games, and six of the next eight, on the road.

IN MY OPINION

Florida Gators, Tim Tebow gain redemption

JACKSONVILLE -- You want to doubt the Florida Gators and Tim Tebow? Not smart.

You thought they were a soft No. 1 lucky to be unbeaten and a risky pick to win another national championship?

AROUND THE LEAGUE

Welcome to the Brett Favre reality show

Here's all you need to know in a nutshell, and I choose that word carefully:

Greg Cote's Week 8 NFL picks

Had Dolphins over Saints as my Upset of the Week last week, and with Miami up 24-3 late in first half the Upset Bird was preening insufferably up in the press boxAnyhow, the Dolphins choked, of course, but it was all good. I emerged a solid 7-4-2 against the spread anyway, and my sports writing colleagues delighted to violate the no-cheering-in-the-press box edict by showering the unpopular Upset Bird with invective and derision in lockstep with the Dolphins' collapse. ``Aaawwwk!'' mocked a grinning Edwin Pope. ``Awww.''

IN MY OPINION

Miami Heat's season offers little more than diversion

You hardly would call this a season of great expectations for the Heat. More like a season of suspended expectations -- as if this entire NBA schedule for Miami is little more than a bridge to next year, a necessary delay being merely abided.

IN MY OPINION

Miami Dolphins' Ted Ginn Jr. not getting it done

If only it were that simple, right? If only the Dolphins' collapse that lost Sunday's game and set the season sour could be neatly blamed on that one timeout call late in the first half -- as so many fans and media apparently would like to believe.