IN MY OPINION

Latest feat pushes Kobe past Shaq

Kobe Bryant is a study in obsession. He's obsessed with his perception, obsessed with matching and surpassing history's greats, obsessed with his form, obsessed with his left-hand finishes, obsessed with not just winning but dominating and suffocating opponents.

IN MY OPINION

Future still bright for Dwight Howard, Orlando Magic

ORLANDO -- Stan Van Gundy did what he usually doesn't do Friday, the day after his team's devastating, series-shifting overtime debacle in Game 4.

IN MY OPINION

Kobe Bryant's closer role doesn't make sense

There are times -- it often happens when tiny Tim Kurkjian is talking on TV -- when it is incredibly easy to despise baseball for its convoluted statistics and overly specialized roles for its players.

IN MY OPINION

Florida Marlins need Ricky Nolasco if they want to make a run

Prospects for a full Marlins recovery, the kind of entertaining, occasionally inspiring run that this franchise has pieced together in past summers, appear bleak.

IN MY OPINION

Kobe-LeBron NBA Finals matchup feels tired

The predictability has been painful. Not the entire NBA playoffs. The Celtics' two series have been entertaining enough to make up for the fact that the results have played out pretty much as expected. And watching the Nuggets go from questionable to crownable, while the Lakers have gone the opposite route, has thrown enough of a monkey wrench into the equation to keep matters interesting.

IN MY OPINION

Orlando Magic's Dwight Howard on wrong path

It's a dangerous career path Dwight Howard is on the verge of choosing. The ''coach killer'' label doesn't easily smudge off a résumé.

IN MY OPINION

Now boredom hampers today's steroids scandals

It seems every other day, sports television offers us a steroids saturation test. A steroids-related story is shoved in our faces, complete with some sort of expert analysis, and we sit there and decide whether it matters to us anymore. Whether the news means anything at all. Whether there is reason for outrage, disappointment, or any emotion whatsoever.

IN MY OPINION

Game 7 illustrates Miami Heat's strengths and weaknesses

ATLANTA -- Is it fair to evaluate an entire team and its future potential based on one Game 7 performance in what was a schizophrenic playoff series?

IN MY OPINION

Israel Gutierrez: Rookies answer Wade's challenge to step up

A day later, it made more sense. When Dwyane Wade publicly said Thursday that his young teammates need to produce in Game 6 because their playoff lives were at stake, it seemed like a timely, reasonable request from a team captain.

One painful loss won't derail Miami Heat

Depressing, yes. This wasn't why the Heat asked its fans to wear black, but it was certainly fitting Monday night. An awakening, yes.

IN MY OPINION

No need to fret over Jets' top pick Mark Sanchez

NEW YORK -- The giant voice inside Radio City Music Hall announced the trade, and the theater erupted. The noise got even louder once the Jets fans in the building pieced together the selection to come.

IN MY OPINION

Miami Heat finds its focus from the start

ATLANTA -- The key to success on a grand stage? A performer who can take direction. In the Heat's case, it was a group of performers. The group that apparently figured Game 1 was nothing more than a dress rehearsal played the critical second game of this first-round playoff series looking finally like a team not just ready for prime time, but ready for Broadway.

Israel Gutierrez: Cook needs to shake identity crisis soon

ATLANTA -- Daequan Cook was his usual, spirited, 21-year-old self while he was playing a shooting game with assistant coach Bob McAdoo and a few of his teammates Tuesday.

IN MY OPINION

Miami Heat needs defense to get back in series

ATLANTA -- Erik Spoelstra called it an ``element of unknown.'' It was supposed to mean his team had untapped potential entering the playoffs. The kind of promise that comes with a combination of talent and youth.

Miami Heat's Jermaine O'Neal becomes X-factor

He's positively crucial to the Heat making a deeper-than-expected run into these NBA playoffs, yet Jermaine O'Neal can't wait until the offseason.

ISRAEL GUTIERREZ | IN MY OPINION

Victory vs. Mets means more

Being the lone undefeated team in baseball four games into the season is nice. It's like starting your day off with a gourmet breakfast. It doesn't mean you won't hit traffic on the way to work or have a delayed April Fool's Day virus cripple your computer network once you get there, but for those first few moments of the day it doesn't get much better.