Tag Archives: Personal Writings

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Miami’s cold miller beer quenches some raging hot Bulls

The Chicago Bulls were true to their name in tonight’s game. Outside the arena I heard the scuttlebutt in the huddle, “Chicago’s going to win tonight.” I thought I was in Chicago. Actually, I was on the wrong side of the American Airlines Arena. I was with the Bulls fans. How did I get here? Well, that’s another story. To go on with this story, the Bulls came on the court bullying their way from offense to defense. With that strategy they managed to stay a shot ahead of the Heat. Then, my boy, Udonis Haslem # 40 came in with a put back, (I’ve been hanging around the guys too long. That’s my basketball slang for  putting the ball back into the rim when it is bounces out). That tied the score 12-12. Then Mario Chalmers # 15 hits a triple that gives the Heat a 2-point lead (15-17). LeBron took a steal and went like a locomotive to the rim. All the red bulls in the house got out of LeBron’s way making a clear path to the basket. Norris Cole # 30 gets the ball to Ray Allen # 34 who gives Miami a 6-point lead. (15-21). The Bulls respond;  Jimmy Butler # 21 comes back with his second triple. LeBron gets through under the rim (18-23).  The Refs are running out of breath from blowing the whistle. Another foul on Nate Robinson # 2. There is so much Red Bull on the floor from touching, holding, tackling, clawing and slinging body parts, testosterone is flowing up in here. After awhile, I couldn’t tell if more “red” was coming from the Chicago Bulls or from the fire of the Miami Heat. LeBron James # 6, 4-time MVP gets into a serious tangle with Joakim Noah # 13. Noah is fuming and gets so mad he gets a technical foul.  (20-23) The Bulls gang up on LeBron 5 to 1 at the end of Q1 but the MVP manages to get through and get the ball in. (20-25). LeBron was like the monster in the commercial who was trying to keep it “clean” until his opponent had to talk about his past.  Remember it was the Chicago Bulls who stopped the Miami Heat’s 27-game winning streak.  “Oh you want to go there, well let’s bring it on.” In Q2 the Miami Heat put some charcoal on their fire. Up til then the Bulls were dishing out disrespect with disregard. But when the Heat came out of their huddle the season’s changed. The wind started blowing and leaves started falling off the trees.  Chris Anderson a/k/a “Birdman # 11 came back in Q2 and he got physical, drawing a flagrant foul. We all have our limits. An elbow after the whistle gets a technical on a Bull. Then Nate Robinson gets a taunting technical foul called for something so x-rated the ref can’t repeat it on the air.  This place is on fire with fiery red Bull. There might be some holes in the locker room tonight.

Good defense by the Heat forces Nate Robinson to shoot an air ball. Then Carlos Boozer # 5 shoots an air ball. Noah hits LeBron sending him down. Up to now there are 5-technical fouls and 1-flagrant. The Heat kicks it up a notch. Dwyane Wade # 3  runs the baseline and climbs up to the rim (38-44). LeBron hits 3 (38-47). LeBron passes to Wade who slams it in with a kick (38-49). Norris Cole hits 3 (41-52). Norris comes back and hits another 3, that’s cold (not cole) (41-55). Robinson takes an offensive foul when Shane Battier # 31  takes a stand.  Robinson goes down and is slow getting up (41-58). LeBron throws up to the rim where Wade meets the ball and finishes (47-60).  Boozer responds with 3 (43-60). Chris Bosh # 1 smoothly ducks the defense and dunks. A Chicago turnover allows Wade to give the ball a new home, advancing the score 47-68.   LeBron forces a jump ball and the ball goes to Wade who hits a long 2 (47-72). LeBron steals and “Oh, my God,” what an awesome side-door pass to Wade. (Many houses in Florida don’t have side doors but I’m from Detroit where you needed more escapes to get out the house.) That was a sneaky pass that went un-noticed out the side-door. Hold on, did I miss something? That Bulls shot was so far off it looked like it hit a team-mate in the head. It was about as crooked as the score (51-75, Q3, 3:30). Chris Bosh # 1 hits one from the corner. LeBron comes with a behind-the-back pass to Ray Allen # 34.  Then LeBron passes to Birdman who goes up and swings from the rim (54-82). Birdman rejects Chicago’s offense and sends the ball back down to Allen for 3 (54-85). Q3 ends with the Heat up 56-85.

LeBron lightens up on the bench with some humor while Shane Battier # 31 hits 3 from a pass by Norris Cole (56-89). Norris “Cold” hits 3 to cool the place off (55-91). Birdman jumps and blocks. Ray Allen scores and draws the foul. Do I see flames? We need some more “Cold” because the house is on fire. Noah takes a technical foul. Taj Gibson # 22 takes a flagrant. Gibson with hands flying and lips flapping is literally thrown out. Nearly picked up by the elbows. When Ray Allen finishes scoring at the free-throw line from all the fouls, the Heat is up nearly a half-a-century.  A foul by Nazr Mohammed  #48 sends Wade to the floor. Birdman is moving like a feather in the air and on the court, he just looks so restricted with all those tattoos. I wonder if they restrict your range of motion. They must not because I can’t imagine Birdman moving any faster. Norris Cole passes to Mike Miller # 13  who passes the ball back to Cole sending it to the rim. That was a nice “Cold Miller Beer” to quench tonight’s raging hot Bull.

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BOSTON BOMBING – THE REAL DAMAGE HAS NOT YET OCCURRED

I watched the news and saw that the investigation into the Boston bombing has expanded, more seemingly random, senseless acts of college students… Then I saw more news of the break-ins at the homes of Miami Heat players, Chris Bosh and Udonis Haslem… Then I saw news that Apple raised 17 BILLION dollars in a bond issue… Then I saw that Sun Life Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida home of the Miami Dolphins is seeking a bond issue for improvements… Then I saw that Wrigley Field in Chicago, Home of the Chicago Cubs is seeking a bond issue for improvements… Then a light went off in my head – I suspect the real damage in the Boston bombing has not yet occurred.

College students bombing marathon runners in Boston seems so senseless. But then so does the NBA fining NBA Boston Celtics Coach Doc Rivers a $25,000 fine for his comment, “I thought the fouls on Kevin were horrendous and had a huge effect on us.”

I thought the break-in at Miami Heat player Udonis Haslem’s home was senseless, especially since the robbers entered but took nothing. “What’s the point?”

What I really could not wrap my head around was how Apple could raise 17 billion dollars in corporate bonds at rates near or below corporate America’s lowest rates, even lower than what someone could get from stock dividends. Am I missing something? “Why” would you invest in a 30-year bond at such low rates of return?” The more I thought the more it made sense. The bonds float with the interest rate so if you expect interest rates to go up that could make sense, you get paid more as interest rates go up. It may seem unrelated but the damage from the Boston bombing strains the City of Boston’s cash. What do governments do when they need money to repair damage caused by terrorism? They issue municipal bonds. If interest rates go higher the City of Boston will be paying the money back at a higher interest rate. That could put the City of Boston in more of a financial strain and at the mercy of the bond buyers who will benefit.

Another thing I couldn’t figure out was why all the hype in the business news about Fed Chairman, Ben Bernanke leaving, especially since it would not take place until next year. Then again, if the cities of Boston, Miami Gardens, and Chicago decide to issue bonds to raise capital to repair damage from the bombings or to improve their stadiums, a bond issue could take a year. If Bernanke leaves next year and the interest rates go higher with less available capital, a municipal bond issue by Boston, Miami Gardens, or Chicago could cost them a lot more than they calculated. The federal funds rate is near zero today, but who knows what it will be next year. Back in 1981 it was above 17 percent. Could rates go that high again?

If I was head of Apple and I had 17 billion, and I thought the rates would go up, I would be tempted to invest that money in Boston, Miami Gardens, or Chicago Municipal Bonds.  WOW. I heard somewhere that, “He who holds the debt controls.” I wonder if the recent drop in Apple’s stock price from a high of $705 to a low of $385 was a strategy to get investors to switch from Apple stocks to Apple bonds. Smart move, but sucking 17 billion out of bond investors surely reduced the available cash needed by other entities like Boston, Miami Gardens, or Chicago to raise capital in the future.  Like they say, “The early bird gets the worm.”

Now today’s news has shifted to the fires in southern and northern California. Back in 1994, California had similar fires, plus floods and devastating earthquakes. Isn’t 1994 the same year that Orange County went bankrupt? Orange County’s 1994 financial insolvency was attributed to a politician’s “TEMPTATION” to issue bonds then take the money and reinvest in, or use it as collateral for other debt securities creating leverage of 3 to 1, turning $100,000 into $300,000 (at least on paper), until the deck of cards folded and Orange County lost 1.6 billion dollars. Corporations and governments are a lot like people when money is tight, being easily tempted by available funds without looking at the “SMALL PRINT,” which indicates the true cost.

The comment by Doc Rivers seemed so harmless. Then I discovered that the NBA has generated eleven million dollars in revenue through fines. ($11,488,000 to be exact since 2003). WOW. That’s like retail stores that make more money off the interest rates and fines on their charge cards than the stuff they sell to customers. Retail credit cards are a cash cow for the stores they represent. It’s a catch-22 for the card holder because if the payment is late it hurts your credit and causes your interest rate to go up higher. On the other hand, canceling the card hurts your credit maybe more than the delinquent history. Starting in 2013 stores can now charge an additional surcharge just for swiping your card at the store. WOW (Did I say customers or did I say suckers).

What seems a senseless act of “terrorism” in Boston clearly strained capital. The long-term effect may turn out more like the 60 years of terrorism in Italy.  They called it a war between communism and democracy. One thing seems clear and very similar – it put a strain on finances and many years later Italy is now trying to climb out of a financial mess. Maybe just a coincidence but likewise, the 2004 train bombing in Madrid caused a lot of damage resulting in a financial strain, now Spain is trying to climb out of a similar financial mess.

The fires in California caused its fire insurance rates to go up,  just as the break-ins into the homes of Miami Heat players Udonis Haslem and Chris Bosh causes their home insurance rates to go up.  Yeah, they’ll get a nice check now, but look out when  the policies come up for renewal, that money is gone. It may take years but what all these incidents have in common is that they rob you of resources, either directly draining cash or indirectly in other ways such as causing a lower credit rating, a higher interest rates, or putting a strain on the ability to raise cash.

I have to watch all my money – I’m not a high rolling celebrity or a municipality where politicians vote to spend seemingly unlimited resources; but, tides can quickly turn. Who knows, maybe someone will invest a million dollars in me. Why? Because I’m worth it. Cash that is. Sorry Alexander Hamilton, I know you were the first secretary of the treasury from 1789  to 1795 and you mastered leveraging credit, but no thanks!

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The Miami Heat Bench is ready

Tuesday April 15, 2013, will be a day to remember. The crowds were not congregated at the post office in lines waiting to mail their income tax returns. The crowds gather elsewhere.  It will go down in history as the day the Miami Heat bench (minus LeBron James, Dwayne Wade, Mario Chalmers, Chris Bosh, and Udonis Haslem) take a stand to claim their place in history.

NORRIS COLE # 30 plays basketball as smoothly as John Coltrane played his sax and Thelonious Monk played his piano. In his College town of Cleveland among his family and friends a/k/a the Cole Mobile entourage, Norris Cole steps up to the plate and bats 16 points, plus 11 rebounds and 9 assists. A former football player, Norris Cole’s stamp as an athlete comes towards the end of this basketball game against the Cleveland Cavaliers when Norris throws down a wicked knuckle ball play, normally thrown in baseball without spin but some waving whips and dips causing erratic and unpredictable motion. With seconds left in the game and the clock ticking down his final play puts Cole in the history books. The Heat is up by only 1 point. Cleveland’s phenomenal guard, Kyrie Irving # 2 from Duke has the ball racing towards the rim with enough time to score. Heat and Cavalier fans are all holding their breath, knowing that if Kyrie makes this shot the game is over and Cleveland wins. Cole is breathing hard and sweating, running right in step alongside Kyrie. Cole is sweating but he is stone cold adamant that he will not let Kyrie score.  Norris knows his time is limited. His conviction refuses to let Kyrie snatch a win from the Miami Heat. He must stop Kyrie from making that winning score. Norris locks his vision, like a laser on the ball in Kyrie’s hands. Still moving with enormous speed, Norris goes into a zone and becomes one with the bouncing ball. The clock is quickly running down, 3 seconds, 2.5 seconds, 2.4 seconds. Cole must do something and do it fast.  Cole’s pulse is throbbing. At just the right moment, with 2.2 seconds, Cole launches out and strikes between dribbles, without touching Kyrie, Cole makes a clean sweep taking the ball right from Irving’s hands as Kyrie continues a dribbling motion (minus the ball). Kyrie is in emotional shock, not knowing what just happened. Norris Cole executes with perfect precision then turns and races to the other end. The clock runs out and that’s the end of that story. “Oh, did I say the Heat wins 96-95 with Cole’s first double-double of his career, 16 points, 11 rebounds and 9 assists.

Tuesday, April 15, 2013, will go down in history as the day that Miami Heat player RASHARD LEWIS # 9 from the small town of Beaumont, Texas joins the big leagues. rebounds. Rashard moves his 235 pounds forward and hooks a pretty good size fish, scoring a game-high 19 points plus 3 rebounds. On the court Rashard is as relaxed as his deep-sea fishing venture with Rick Kalin, the winner of an American Airlines auction, where Rashard catches a pretty good size fish and experiences the wonders of the sea. Rashard learns there is no place like the tranquility of nature’s vast ocean. Rashard brings some of that experience with him in this game against the Cleveland Cavaliers, where Lewis relaxes his guard and has the most fun since he joined the Miami Heat.

Tuesday, April 15, 2013, will go down in history as the day that Miami Heat player JOEL ANTHONY # 50 becomes lighter, gets up off his feet and experiences levitation, scoring his highest points ever.

Tuesday, April 15, 2013, will go down in history as the day that Miami Heat player CHRIS ANDERSEN # 11 tries his wings with a dunk that elevates and solidifies him as “the Bird” man that COULD fly.

Tuesday, April 15, 2013, was the day that Miami Heat player JUWAN HOWARD # 5 steps in the shoes of Miami Heat Coach Eric Spoelstra’s, from the side lines Howard coaches the bench. “Looking good, Fab 5, looking like a coach.”

Tuesday, April 15, 2013, will go down in history as the day that Miami Heat player JAMES JONES # 22, winner of the NBA 2011 All-Star 3-Point Shoot-Out Competition, demonstrates what it takes to keep your muscles and mind limber and your game sharp no matter how many games you have to sit on the bench waiting, but ready when your number is called. Despite many days between playing, like an understudy in a Broadway performance, Jones steps on the court ready to play and he gives a winning performance with 14 points and 4 rebounds. Jones then steps in front of the camera with poise and tells the world to look out, the Heat is on.

Tuesday, April 15, 2013, is one day before Miami Heat player RAY ALLEN # 34 will select the winners of his Legend Pack Sweepstakes. Some lucky winners will be happy. “Hey Ray, I want the game worn Nikes to help me run faster in writing more creative, thought-provoking, educational, inspiring blogs. Let’s make a deal.”

Miami Heat player SHANE BATTIER # 31, my hometown boy from the Detroit area, knows how to take charge and get the job done. Whenever there is trouble brewing with a smothering score, this 6-foot-8 power-forward consistently banks triples, advancing the score by leaps to widen the Heat’s lead.

Miami Heat player MIKE MILLER # 13 is the thriller that went from the chilling cold of the Minnesota Timberwolf’s to Miami’s spanking Heat.  Mike is familiar with Milwaukee’s chilling cold so I don’t need to tell you Mike to dress warm cause you know the Bucks will come to Miami intending to throw a chill  on Miami. “Not to worry.” Miami Heat has a Trump card (not you Donald). Fans are ready with their White Hot Heat to help the Miami Heat escape the chilling cold. Burn the house down if necessary.

Today, Tuesday, April 15, 2013, will go down in history as the day that Miami Heat player JARVIS VARNADO #  24 comes out of obscurity and gets introduced to the world. Last Sunday, at family day he walked alone carrying a big stick, but expect Varnado, from the Sioux Falls Skyforce, and one number above Michael Jordan’s # 23, to be a force in his own right and one to be reckoned with. Today, Rookie Varnado – he plays, he speaks, and he shines. Oh, did I forget to say he smiles. Varnado left Mississippi for Boston then left Boston to create some heat in Miami. Unfortunately, today on April 15, 2013 Boston created heat and made history, but in a different kind of way.

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The Massachusetts Historical Society located in Boston, houses the ink pen used by President Abraham Lincoln to sign the Emancipation Proclamation, which became official in January 1863. It’s purpose – to give some freedom, create some order, and re-distribute some rights. A little over a hundred-years later in April, 1968, the King-maker, Dr. Martin Luther King, whose dream for peace gave definition to civil, and whose foot-race was for rights, got assassinated. King left the passion burning, but death put an end to his foot-race.  This week, on Tuesday, April 15, 2013, one-hundred-fifty years after freedom rang the bells in Boston toll at least 3 deaths and more than 180 wounded in a heinous act, by two brothers who drank some cool-aide that puts a tragic stamp on what has been a  harmless foot-race for a simple pleasure. 8-year-old Martin Richard, one of the three killed in Boston held a sign that read “PEACE.” What is it about Peace that brings death? The Boston Marathon organized by the Boston Athletic Association is the world’s oldest and most prestigious marathon. Runners take time from their hectic schedules to run for a worthy cause and have some fun; instead, these runners got blasted with bombs and ball-bearings. As with any loss, only time can heal the pain but the race must go on.

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Miami Heat sails smoothly over the Charlotte Bobcats

Sharp shooter Chris Bosh# 1 puts Miami on the score board with authority, then takes back Miami’s lead at 13-12. Mike Miller # 13 throws down a 3rd triple 19-18. Norris Cole #30 hits 3 to put Miami up 22-20. Chris Anderson a/k/a Birdman, who tonight looks like an iguana, lizard,  reptile,  as he bounces without wings to the rim. Shane Battier # 31 sneaks into the rim. Cole’s pass to Miller gives Miller a 4th triple.  Norris comes back with 2 (43-39). Miami goes into half-time up 3 (48-45), but after half-time Mike Miller gets high. He sails three more three’s for a total of 7 triples and ends with 26 points. The Heat sails smoothly to its  59th win (89-79).

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Miami Heat beats the San Antonio Spurs without Wade, LeBron or Chalmers

The Miami Heat just beat the San Antonio Spurs, one of the best at-home teams and the Heat did it without Dwyane Wade, LeBron James and Mario Chalmers. The Spurs  outscored the Heat in the paint 46-18 but the Heat found a way to win with the energy of Norris Cole # 30. With the Spurs leading by one point, Udonis Haslem # 40  stops the Spurs’ final opportunity to score.  Ray Allen then passes to Bosh who throws the crucial 3-point to put the Heat up 88-86 with  .01.1  seconds in the game.   Bosh scores the crucial winning point. The Heat is the only team in the NBA to  win 17 games in a single month.

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Miami Heat leaves the Hornets with a Black Eye

Miami Heat hit New Orleans Hornets with a 87-101 win. Dwyane Wade # 3 and LeBron James # 6 start the game with a show at the rim. After good ball movement Shane Battier #31 hits 3 from the corner 20-13. LeBron hits his 95th NBA triple, then 96th , then 97th triple back-to-back (31-19). James ends Q1 with 15 points, the Heat is up 10 (32-22).  LeBron comes back in Q2 and hits his 98th NBA triple. Norris Cole comes galloping down the court ahead of the defenders and he gains 2. LeBron comes back with what would have been his 99th triple but steps on the line making it a 2-pointer. “That’s okay,” he says, then comes right back with his 99th NBA triple. “Give me my props”.( Q2 8:11 47-27). Refusing to stop, LeBron makes his 100th NBA triple (47-27). LeBron’s career high number of triples made in a game is 8. He sits down before half-time with 7. Dwyane Wade takes a pass and gets it to the rim hanging with one hand (55-33).

Is that Mike Miller # 13 up there hanging from the rim?  Versatile. That’s a D. Wade move hanging from the rim.    LeBron and Wade come back with some Friday night basketball entertainment at the rim. Wade with a long bom down the court, LeBron catches with one hand and throws it down with the other.  Bosh hits  from the corner (66-45). D Wade draws a charge by Eric Gordon. LeBron recovers the Heat’s ball, throws it up in the air to Bosh at the rim, then Bosh gets up off the floor (I mean really gets up off the floor) to the rim and comes down with a slide. With 2 on the shot clock Wade jumps for 2 (75-49 Q3 3:49).   LeBron hits his 7th triple (81-52). Norris Cole # 30 feeling left out hits 3 (86-62), then Shane Battier’ comes back with his 3rd triple (101-81 Q4 3:25). The Heat hit 14 triples.

Meanwhile, the Miami Heat rolls on with thousands of bikers, 3 blocks long, rolling through the streets of Miami from Flagler Street to Coral Way.

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Heat gives Pat Riley a birthday gift – 24th straight win in a bizarre game

Remember the snow plow game, when the Miami Dolphins played New England after a bad snow storm on December 12, 1982. With minutes to go in the game the score was 0-0. The snow plow operator cleared a spot on the field specifically for the New England kicker to kick the winning field goal.

Well, the Miami Heat v Cleveland Cavaliers game on March 20, 2013 is bizarre like that. The game starts with a quick loan to fix a roof leaking some mysterious substance. That delays the game some 35 minutes. The game progresses with the Heat down 27 points in quarter 3, Cleveland is cheering, but when the Heat realize they drank the cool aide, they regroup with a great comeback. That’s only been done six times in NBA history. Ray Allen hits his third triple giving Miami its biggest lead over Cleveland (83-79).  Then a crazy fan runs out on the court. Security grabs him by the seat of his pants and escorts him away. When that doesn’t work to distract the Heat, the Ref calls Mario Chalmers # 15 for a travel  but over-looks an obvious walk by Tristan Thompson # 13. LeBron sees the “ogee-doke” and says “Oh no, I’m not falling in this trap, Pat Riley deserves better.”. LeBron steps on the gas and guzzles his motorcade out of there. He throws some magic dust to accelerate his team. He says, “Come on boys let’s get out of here.”  Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, Ray Allen, Mario Chalmers, Chris Anderson, a/k/a Birdman, Shane Battier and the rest of the bench wake up to a 98-95 win over the Cavs. 24 straight wins and still counting. Now, they’re gunning for the Lakers.

Happy Birthday Pat Riley!  One of the most nurturing coaches of all times, with the ability to gently yank and pull the very best out of a team. We love you we do.

“Good Better Best, never let it rest, until your good is better and your better is the best.”

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Fans and playmates, come out and play with us. We are aiming to win our next  11 games – 15 more games and regular season will be over.    These are the best of times. Be a part of history in the making.

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Shane Battier is ready for some Boston Chicken, I mean Boston Celtics

In the first 4 minutes, the Toronto Raptors average a fowl a minute. This is warm-up for the Heat who in 24 hours take on the Boston Celtics. Chris Bosh’s rhythm is on target, he hits a clean triple to take back the Heat’s lead. After 5 guys (not the burgers)  touch the ball, Shane Battier # 31 hits 3 (22-17). Norris Cole # 30 hits 2 buckets. Q1 comes to a close with the Heat holding an 8-point lead (27-19). Raptors demonstrated that they are the rebound kings but that didn’t stop the Heat from winning.

LeBron takes a rebound and long strides down the court  but gets stopped before making it to the rim (41-27). The Heat is shooting 64%, but being out-rebounded. The score is tied at 77, but  Ray Allen on the run gives the Heat back its lead  (79-77 10:35 Q4). Norris Cole sends a long foot ball pass to Wade in the air, touchdown.  If I was the coach of the Miami Dolphins I would start picking from the Heat’s lineup. In less than 3 minutes the Heat advances its lead by 10.

Ray Allen hits another triple to give the Heat a 16-point lead (97-81). The Raptors take a hit, when Amir Johnson # 15  goes down. That puts a stop to him;  he goes to the bench. Bosh goes to the line adding 2 (99-81, 5:30 Q4). LeBron flies through the air to get his 10th rebound.  Ray Allen hits 3 from the corner to take the Heat up 102-81. LeBron grabs another rebound to put him in the double-double stratosphere with 22 points, 12 rebounds and 8 assists). Shane Battier hits 3 (105-81), with 4:25  remaining. Battier is playing so hard because he was with the Houston Rockets when they made their record-breaking 22-game winning streak before the Boston Celtics put a stop to that. Now Battier is fighting with the Heat on the verge of tying Houston’s Record.

Shane Battier # 31 is ready for some Boston Chicken, I mean Boston Celtics.

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Miami Heat over Milwaukee Bucks, 21 straight wins, Wade rises..

D. Wade makes a monstrous recovery as the ball flies out-of-bounds in the corner. Wade dives out-of-bounds, catches the ball in the air and throws it back into the court, without touching the floor out-of-bounds. Way to go Wade.  (6-2).  Wade goes up to the rim but gets hit by the butt of Sanders, then goes down.  The team advances to the other end but, D. Wade remains on the floor. He’s not moving. Tragil must be having a fit, her baby brother is down; and Gabrielle Union is probably gagging, her star is not moving. Zaire and Zion are frozen along with  their dad.  But that does not compare to the thousands of fans who are holding their mouth.  You’ve got to get up D. Wade. The game comes to a halt, but fans around the work start running for their over night bags cause they promised, “Ain’t no mountain high, ain’t no valley low, to keep me from getting to you.  If you ever need a helping hand, I’ll be there in a hurry, just as fast as I can.”  But we’re in Miami, thousands of miles away. Not to worry, fans in Chi Town and Marquette head for the bus, Gus, making new plans, Stan.

For seven long minutes while Wade is in the locker room the Heat steps up their game and holds the fort down without Wade. Chris Bosh # 1 hits a triple with ease. Mario Chalmers # 15 with a spin, then Ray. Allen # 34 hits a 20-footer.  Bosh comes back with a 20-footer. 14-10. LeBron James # 6 spins and turns to score.  LeBron backs in creating space between him and #6 allowing him to score. Chalmers hits 3 (24-19) (Q1 1:40). LeBron shoots over # 6.  The Bucks hit 3 to take the lead. At the end of Q 1 Miami is down a point 26-27.

Q2 LeBron on the move to the rim then passes to Ray Allen for 3 (32-27). LeBron races down court to slam down a one-handed dunk, that puts the  Heat up 5.  The world goes back to normal when D Wade steps back on the court and returns to the game with an even score (34-34 Q2 7:37). Wade  looks fine, drawing a foul as he weaves his way through the paint like a sewing machine. Wade takes it to the rim. Then Bosh gets fired up scoring (42-36,  3:22), then again to give Miami a 44-36 lead. Mario Chalmers takes the ball away from Eran LLyasova # 7 and gets the ball back to the rim plus a shot at the line for a technical. Half-time Heat goes to locker room up  51-42.

Q3 Heat is still fired up. Bosh hits 3 from the corner (54-42). LeBron coming in for a landing but runs out of runway, races for the ball up on the table and into the stands. Then LeBron throws a long pass to Chalmers who throws it to Wade for a slam   (59-47). After that Wade assists Bosh for 2. (61-49). Bosh hits another 3 to advance Miami’s lead 63-51. Bosh hits another 3 (66-53), plus one at the line. That gives Bosh  26 points. Udonis Haslem # 40  fights for a rebound. Wade gallops down the floor, throws his arm up and slams in the basket (71-57). 5:14 Q3. Chris Anderson,” a/k/a/Birdman” looking like he was locked in a closet in his childhood with a colorful parrot and a peacock, screaming, “Let me out,”  sores on reverse and gets fouled. Wade steals then races down to the rim with his side kick LeBron following on a parallel track, for a slam dunk with a capital D (78-63). J.J. Redick # 5 hits 3, but Shane Battier responds with 3 (81-66). Wade’s in and out, get’s cleaned up by LeBron. The race is on, side kicks Wade and LeBron race side by side, in tandem, going to a go-go, the tag team does a show to slam dunk, while the Heat coaches on the bench reflect proudly in shades of purple (84-68). End of Q3 Heat is up 84-68.

A foul sends LeBron to the floor.  4Q 10:03. Battier goes to the rim but ends up at the line (85-75). Battier hits 3 (88-79, 8:18).  Norris Cole # 30 strips the ball, allowing Wade to hustle towards the Heat rim (88-79). LeBron hooks his 28th point (90-79). Wade runs into the paint and around IIyasova to make it to the rim (92-81). The fans are stone cold quiet (5;42). Norris Cole hits 3 to put the Heat up 14 95-81. Battier races to the rim.  Brandon Jennings # 3 hits 3 to cut the Heat’s  lead to 9 (97-88). Battier’s block is taken to the rim by Bosh (99-88 2:52). LeBron gets fouled by Larry Sanders # 8 with such a ruckus that Larry (without emotional intelligence) gets ejected from the game (99-88). Ray Allen gets 2 shots for Sanders’ eject. What kind of sense does that make? How good can you be if you can’t control your emotions? Part of being a superstar includes knowing when to hold them and when to fold them.

LeBron at the line puts Heat up 103-88 with 2:32 remaining in Q4. Allen for three from the corner – Wade cleans up at the rim (105-92). LeBron hits 3 to advance the score 107-92 with a minute remaining. This is the 13th time the Heat scores over 100.  The Heat with a final score 107-94, wins 21 straight games.

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This Bird can fly in reverse.

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Miami’s 20-game win over the Phily 76ers through team spirit

 The game starts with Dwyane Wade’s defense forcing turnovers. Throughout the first half, the Heat and 76ers are equally yoked, but after 9 tied-scores, LeBron James # 6 breaks away with a throw-down that starts the Heat on a roll (32-33). LeBron penetrates the paint to advance the score 43-35 and demonstrates his versatility with an awesome reverse dunk, followed by a bounce pass between his legs (46-37). Ray Allen # 31 gets caught by defenders but finds his way out with a 3-pointer. The Heat goes into the half-time up 12 (51-39). In Q3 Wade throws down a jumper to show how he rolls (66-57). LeBron assesses the situation then spins to the rim.

The Heat’s lead drops going into Q4 (71-66). Chris Anderson “Birdman” # 11 bangs down 2 to advance the Heat to 75-68 in Q4. With the efforts of Young, Holiday and Wright, Philly takes another lead 82-83, but Chris Bosh hooks over his shoulder to take back Miami’s lead. Again Miami’s lead drops but LeBron with a pass to Ray Allen for 3 gains it back (89-87). With 1:20 left in the game, Philly ties with Miami (91-91). LeBron heads in but draws a foul that sends him to the line. At the line he takes back Miami’s lead (92-91). LeBron and Wade  jell to get that 3rd rebound back in the basket where it belongs. With 29.4 seconds in the game. Wade sends his team up 96-91, but the game is not over, the 76ers come back with a triple. LeBron at the line advances the Heat. Spencer Hawes wide open in the paint misses a lay-up, and takes a foul putting D. Wade at the line. Wade sends his team up by 4 (98-94). Bosh’s block shuts down the 76er’s offense and LeBron solidifies it.

It takes real team spirit for the Heat to win this back-to-back game but they get the job done. Thanks team. We’ll stop complaining about not reaching a score of 100, we know you work hard.