Hanley Ramirez Benched

Hanley Ramirez began his day at the ballpark Monday sharing a few laughs with his teammates and a group of visiting cricket players from New Zealand. It ended with him grabbing his bat and his glove and heading to the Marlins' clubhouse in the bottom of the second inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks, moments after receiving a lecture from manager Fredi Gonzalez in the dugout. It wasn't a foul ball off his ankle that led to the two-time All-Star shortstop's exit from a 5-1 loss that snapped the Marlins' four-game winning streak in front of 10,870 fans at Sun Life Stadium. It was his lack of effort. " We felt whether he's hurt or not hurt, we felt like the effort wasn't there that we wanted,'' said Gonzalez, who had a closed-door meeting with Marlins management, including owner Jeffrey Loria, after the game. "There are 24 guys out there that are busting their butts. Cody Ross got hit with a ball, 95 miles per hour. It wasn't thrown any slower. He stayed in the game making diving plays and battling, got two hits and an RBI. There's some injuries there [with Ramirez]. But we expect an effort from 25 guys on this team and when that doesn't happen we have to do something.'' Ramirez was long gone by the time reporters made it into the clubhouse after the game. Gonzalez said Ramirez didn't offer any excuse for his lack of hustle chasing a ball he booted in the second inning, which helped lead to three Arizona runs. I Think this was very rude and disrespectful act by Hanley Ramirez, I don't care how good you are or how much money you make, it's inexcusable for you to jog after a ball after you kicked into the left field corner. Gonzalez did a great move by taking Hanley out of the game because a lack of effort and not only gave him a a strong lesson but the rest of the team.

Panther Fire GM Sexton and Hire Tallon

The Florida Panthers have changed general managers for the third time in a year as Dale Tallon has been hired to replace Randy Sexton. Tallon, the former general manager of the Chicago Blackhawks, will be introduced at a press conference at the team's arena in Sunrise on Tuesday at 11 a.m. Tallon is the ninth general manager in franchise history and seventh since the start of the 2000-01 season. “It is with great pleasure and excitement that I join the Florida Panthers," Tallon said in a release. Tallon was demoted by the Blackhawks last summer a week after the team mistakingly didn't offer qualifying offers to their restricted free agents by the deadline. Tallon had one year left on his contract with the team. Sexton, who was in Brandon, Manitoba, scouting the Canadian Memorial Cup when told of Tallon's hiring, was not available for comment and it's not known what – if any – role he will play in the organization. The Panthers haven't been to the playoffs in an NHL record-tying nine seasons and record-setting 10 years. Sexton was Florida's assistant general manager under Jacques Martin from 2007-09 and was the team's interim general manager through last summer after Martin left June 1 to become coach of the Montreal Canadiens – who opened the Eastern Conference finals Sunday night in Philadelphia. Sexton was given the permanent GM job just hours before Florida opened the 2009-10 season on Oct. 2 in Helsinki, Finland. It is not clear what changes Tallon would institute when he takes over the Panthers – and Sexton could remain with the franchise in some capacity although the contract he signed with the team last year is expiring. Coach Pete DeBoer is signed for at least another year and is expected to return. The Panthers had not commented on DeBoer's status publicly since the offseason started, the thought being they would wait until a new GM was in place. I like this move by the Panthers, I think Tallon can help turn the Panthers losing ways around and build a winning tradition in South Florida.

Miami Hurricanes Coach Randy Shannon Signs Four-year Deal

It took a while, a really, really long while, but University of Miami football fans finally know who their coach will be in 2011 and beyond. The same one as the past three seasons. After months, even years of waiting and wondering when and if he would get a contract extension, Randy Shannon has been rewarded with a new four-year contract, the university announced Wednesday night. Shannon was about to enter his final season of the original four-year deal."There's no other place I'd rather be than coaching Hurricanes football,'' Shannon said in a statement. "I'm excited about the momentum we continue to build and our strong recruiting classes. We have dedicated student-athletes and an experienced and committed coaching staff, a strong athletic program and the university leadership's support -- all important components consistent with long-term success''. The financial terms of the contract were not announced. It is believed Shannon started his first season as the coach in 2007 with a salary approaching $800,000 and made about $1 million in 2009. The Associated Press reported that Shannon's new salary will be ``around the midpoint'' of coaches in the Atlantic Coast Conference. Shannon, 44, is 21-17 since taking over the program after Larry Coker was dismissed. He finished 9-4 last season, with the Canes losing to Wisconsin in the Champs Sports Bowl. The 2010 season will be Shannon's 17th on the football staff at Miami. He was the defensive coordinator for six seasons, linebackers coach for five and defensive line coach and graduate assistant for one year apiece. In an e-mail to The Miami Herald, UM president Donna Shalala said having Shannon for four more years "means stability and reassures recruits and their families that Coach Shannon has a long-term commitment.'' As delighted as anyone to hear the news, UM quarterback Jacory Harris, who will enter his junior season with UM expected to be ranked in the Top 25.This is a great signing by the Miami Hurricanes, Randy Shannon is a great and upcoming coach in collegiate football and I think the Hurricanes have the necessary components to win a championship. The only thing there is left to do is for Shannon to go out there and earn his money by having a great run this next few years. Watch out University of Florida there might be a new powerhouse in Florida!

Heat Make Website Telling Wade To Stay

With Dwyane Wade shuttling from courtroom to courtroom between Chicago and Miami these days to deal with lawsuits and a divorce, the Heat guard could certainly use a bit of love these days. And he's getting plenty of it now. Especially now that the Miami Heat officially launched its excessive campaign to retain Wade's services when he becomes a free agent in July. The Heat produced a website, www.wewantwade.com, Wade said Thursday he was flattered by the team's out-of-character move to display such public affection. Keep in mind that it's usually not Pat Riley's style to go out of his way to publicize his players and coaches for league awards. But Wade is clearly an exception. It was that way last season, when the team launched its MV3 campaign to push Wade for league MVP honors. And it's the case now, with Wade set to opt out of his contract and become one of the most sought-after free agents in NBA history on July 1. That gives the Heat the next six weeks to show Wade in every way how much he's loved, needed, wanted and cared for here before other NBA cities such as Wade's hometown of Chicago can jump in and flirt with Miami's main man. And here's why Wade is looking forward to this summer so much: He's never been in this position before. Yes, money and fame has a lot to do with this process. But just the simple aspect of recruiting is something Wade hasn't experiences before at a substantial level. Wade's low test scores kept him from being highly recruited coming out of high school. He had three official campus visits. Marquette. Southern Illinois. DePaul. Even during the NBA Draft, Wade wasn't wooed as openly as LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony and Chris Bosh. So this has to be a sweet situation for Wade, who repeatedly has said he would like to stay in Miami. The website and public display of affection from Pat Riley and Micky Arison and all the fans in South Florida - the website temporarily crashed Thursday when it reached between 200-300 hits per second - will go a long way. But it doesn't take billboards and banners to impress Wade. It'll take Bosh, Boozer or the postseason beast known as Amare Stoudemire in a Heat uniform. I think this is a great idea from the Heat organization and could definitely sway Wade's mindset; it shows how much the heat organization and the fans care about Wade. But I also agree on the fact that just making a website for Wade is not going to keep him in Miami, your going to need to sign great players to play along him.

Pat Riley Might Coach Next Year?

Pat Riley was adamant. He's not thinking about coaching.Unless he changes his mind. Unlikely as it seems, the twice-retired Hall of Fame coach might contemplate un-retiring again. Insisting his focus is on this summer's NBA free-agent bonanza and nothing else, the Miami Heat president acknowledged Monday that it's possible he could return to the sideline, despite saying when he stepped down in April 2008, "I don't want to do this anymore." Not even a week after it began, the most crucial offseason in Heat history just got a lot more intriguing. "I'm not thinking of anything but building this team," the 65-year-old Riley said. "If I were to leave the team and go somewhere else in a year or two from now, if I got tired of reading books on the beach, excuse me, the Kindle, I might want to coach again. I don't know. But don't say that I won't ever do that or that I can't do it. If I say yes or no, then you get condemned for it."There's no indication Riley is planning to leave. Riley and team owner Micky Arison recently agreed to extend his deal as president, something that was considered to be a formality, especially because the Heat have spent years planning for this summer, when Miami will have enough salary-cap space to not only re-sign Dwyane Wade but also potentially acquire two star-level players to join him. And there's also no indication Riley is unhappy with coach Erik Spoelstra, who worked his way from an entry-level job in the Heat video room onto Riley's staff and ultimately became his handpicked replacement. Spoelstra has a 90-74 record, guiding Miami to the playoffs twice, though not past the first round.The NBA's youngest head coach, Spoelstra is under contract through next season. "I thought he had a great year," Riley said. "I'll do whatever is in the best interest of building the team here. Period," Riley said. "Whatever it takes, OK? I'll let you fill in the blanks. ... If some free agent were to say 'I will come here but you must do this,' well, hell, if that happens that day, then I might have to give it some thought. He did say that the job of building a championship contender won't end in early July. "I think we'll be able to build a very good team over the next 18 months," Riley said. I definitely wouldn't argue against the idea of Pat Riley taking over as the coach this season, but I would feel very sympathetic towards Erik Spoelstra. He has done a great job building this team up the last couple pf years and leading them into the playoffs. If you look at the other side, it would be great for the Pat Riley to coach the Heat because he is one of the greatest coaches of all time and when he took over in the 05-06 season the Heat went on to win it all. The question is, do you do the right and fair thing by keeping Spoelstra or do you go to the experienced and secure route by taking over as the coach of the team.

Dwyane Wade Named to All-NBA First Team

Add another honor to Dwyane Wade's expanding collection: For the second consecutive season, the Miami Heat guard on Thursday was named to the All-NBA First Team. Wade received 81 of a possible 122 first-place votes and joined the Lakers' Kobe Bryant as the guards on the first team. Wade beat out second-team guards Steve Nash and Deron Williams, who received 24 and 14 first-place votes, respectively. Wade joins Shaquille O'Neal as the only Heat players to be named All-NBA First Team twice. Tim Hardaway (1997) and Alonzo Mourning (1999) are the only other Heat players who have been named to the All-NBA first team. Wade, who won the MVP award at February's All-Star Game, was named second-team All-NBA in 2004-05 and 2005-06 and to the third team in 2006-07.Earlier this week, Wade finished fifth in Most Valuable Player voting and was named second team All-Defense for the third time in his career.Wade finished third in the NBA in points scored (2045), fourth in field goals made (719), fourth in average steals (1.84), fifth in scoring average (26.6), 10th in assists per game (6.5) and 29th in blocks per game (1.06). Wade and LeBron James were the only players who finished in the top 10 in points, assists and steals this season. He also became the first guard to average more than one block per game in consecutive seasons since former Boston Celtic Reggie Lewis (1990-91 and 1991-92). A panel of 122 sportswriters and broadcasters vote for the All-NBA team. Joining Wade and Bryant on the first team are Cleveland's LeBron James, Oklahoma City's Kevin Durant and Orlando's Dwight Howard. This is a great accomplishment for Dwyane Wade being his second consecutive year making the ALL-NBA First Team for the Miami Heat. For those of you who might not know what the ALL-NBA First Team is; it's a vote by the media and experts to select the top 5 players for that certain year.

Mike Stanton, Next Phenom?

Florida Marlins top prospect and third overall prospect in the majors has absolutely been tearing up the minor leagues and if he keeps it up theirs a possibility that he would be called up soon. Stanton is only 20 years old, and the Marlins have said several times that they don't want to rush him, but of he keeps this up they will have to call him up. Mike Stanton hasn’t lost his swing yet. He hit his 10th home run tonight, a shot in the sixth inning that made the difference in Jacksonville’s 2-1 win over Mississippi. That’s six home runs and 14 RBI for Stanton since Sunday. Not a bad week. He’s currently on an 8-game hitting streak, batting .452 (14-of-31) during the streak with 7 home runs and 16 RBI. His 10 home runs leads all of Minor League Baseball while his 20 walks are the second most in the minors. I say the Florida Marlins wait until June and then call this kid up; it would be a similar situation to when they called up their former young star Miguel Cabrera in the middle of the 2003 season when he was only 19 years old and went on to win the Championship with a big help from him.