The Good Sport-Day 1

By Anthony Segreto

Archbishop McCarthy

I survived! I am happy to report that all of my limbs are still in good working order (even if they are sore beyond belief). Day one went better than I could've ever expected (and to be honest, I was incredible nervous). Am I a superstar? No way! I can't catch a cold. But the team welcomed me with open arms, despite my lack of skill and grace. I got to school about three o'clock and was outfitted with a helmet and cleats (Due to a school policy, I won't be able to put on pads until Wednesday). And off I was! From what I understand, today was a light day, due to a few things. 1. The lightning alarm kept sounding, so because of that we had to go inside and work in there. We ran through the playbook, but because I didn't have pads, I didn't get to participate in the different motions. Irregardless, it was still fascinating to watch football be played in my cafeteria (and watching in horror as ketchup dispensers nearly got knocked over by players being pushed out of bounds). The second reason that today was a light day was because it was our new Defensive Coordinator's first day on the job, so a bulk of the day was spent learning about the defense he is planning on implementing.

But how did I fare?

I was roughed up, as expected. I mainly worked with the receivers today, running, catching (dropping), and dodging as I attempted to imagine myself in an NFL game actually making decent plays. I really enjoyed today, even though I am exhausted, I really felt like part of the team. I'm definitely looking forward to tomorrow, even though it'll probably be a lot more intense than today.

Until next time,

The Good Sport

The Good Sport-An Introduction

By Anthony Segreto

Archbishop McCarthy

Hi, my name's Anthony Segreto, and I'm a sports addict. As you may know, my father, Tony Segreto, was a sportscaster on WTVJ NBC 6 for 30 years, and because of this, I've been surrounded by everything sports since my birth (the first thing my father said to me after I was born was the starting lineup of the 1961 New York Yankees). As if that wasn't enough, I still have the Miami Dolphins onesie my parents put me in when i was an infant, and the picture of Dan Marino that was on my nursery wall. One of my earliest memories is going to the Dolphins' locker room at four years old and polishing helmets on the Saturday before a home game. So, yes, sports have surrounded me my whole life, and I love them with a passion (if you doubt me, I refer you to the 4 foot tall NFL logo fathead on the wall of my room). With this affection I have for sports, it'd be logical to think that I'm an athlete. That couldn't be further from the truth. I am, for the lack of a better term, a klutz. And not even the athletic kind. I'm active and I try to keep in shape, but the "athletic" gene skipped a generation in my family. I was always the last one picked for the recess kickball games in elementary school, and always the one to end up losing the game for the team that was unfortunate enough to be graced with my skill (or lack thereof). But in spite of all of this, or perhaps because of it, I am an insanely passionate fan of all sports. My passion has led me to do some pretty crazy things, but this may be the craziest. I wanted to see what it was like for me, an incredibly un-athletic person, to train with my high school football team during the peak of summer workouts. So that’s what I’m going to do, for a week I’m going to train with the Archbishop McCarthy Mavericks and chronicle my experiences as a football fan getting involved with the nitty-gritty of the sport. I'll take the hits and I'll drop a few (many) passes, but I'll be a good sport about it. Check back here every night as I write about my time with the team, moving from position to position, and learning about the intricacies of the game I love, football.

Why the Heat will win the NBA Championship

Kendrick Perkins is part of the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Chicago Bulls ride or die on the success of Derek Rose; plain and simple.

We are not even three days in the NBA playoffs and these two topics of discussion have already come into play (well the Perkins trade since the deadline, but same point).

Chicago has needed last-ditch Jordan-like rallies from Derek Rose to close out the Indiana Pacers. If Indiana had a closer, like Derek Rose, they would be up 2-0 in the series; easily.

The Pacers have played seven quarters of excellent basketball, but the last quarter, broken in half increments, has been the onslaught of the eventual NBA MVP.

Chicago is Miami's biggest threat because Boston traded Kendrick Perkins. Boston lacks size and depth because of injuries to Shaquille O'Neal and Delonte West. Boston still has Ray Allen, but he will not score 23 points a game (he averaged 22.7 in the first three regular season games against the Heat) because Dwyane Wade will be playing playoff basketball and playoff defense.

The same goes for Joel Anthony, whom Kevin Garnett said killed Boston by himself in the last regular season match-up between the Heat and Celtics.

Miami will beat the Boston Celtics in six games.

Back to Chicago, if coach Erik Spolestra puts LeBron James on Derek Rose, he'll find a way to adjust, he's Derek Rose. Like Dwayne Wade in his hayday against the Pistons, Miami should rotate defenders on Rose to disrupt his timing.

Three point shooting will still be an issue, however, because Miami is ranked close to last in three point shooting defense out of all the playoff teams.

Miami is the choice again here, because the Heat will find a way to steal a game in Chicago and wrap it up at home.

Depending on the West competitor, the Heat will win in six or seven games. James had a taste of the finals in 2007 and Wade won it in 2006, so they'll be ready.

If its the Dallas Mavericks, Miami will not have as much trouble as with the Los Angeles Lakers. If the Lakers make it again, Andrew Bynum down low will be a huge problem, even for a recently aggressive Chris Bosh.

It all boils down to the play of Dwyane Wade and LeBron James. Can they feed off each other?

If so, it is Miami's championship for the taking and another parade down Biscayne Boulevard.

A Miami and Philly kind of weekend

Cafe Con Leche. Philly Cheesesteak. LeBron James, Cliff Lee.

It may be a coincidence or just very good scheduling, but the Marlins, Phillies, Heat and 76ers all play this weekend.

The Marlins started off with a Friday night win against division-leading Philadelphia, the final score; 4-3.

Tomorrow, White Hot begins. The Heat square off against the 76ers at 3:30 pm on ABC. Will LeBron close in the postseason or as Miami Herald writer Linda Robertson mentioned in a column today, "sink to the occasion" like in Cleveland?

Only time will tell, but either way, it is a sports-filled Miami-Philadelphia weekend.

A temperature Heat reading

Ever since LeBron James announced that he would be "taking his talents to South Beach" back in July, the annual Christmas Day Lakers versus Heat match-up has been all the more intriguing.

All those Nike commercials from last year, where LeBron would bench "2010" in the gym in front of an amused, cartoon-sized Kobe Bryant will somewhat tell the tale of what will play out for the Heat this year.

The Heat have a 1-8 record against teams with winning records, even though they have won 12 of their past 13 games. The 2006 Heat were the same way, but like Kobe said in an interview with ESPN's Michael Wilbon, it doesn't matter.

Well it does, for the team that wins. If the Heat hope to match up against the strong Western conference in a possible Finals preview, this Christmas Day game will be a measuring stick. Bryant is fresh off a frustrating loss against the Milwaukee Bucks, in which he was ejected late in the fourth quarter.

If the Heat look to stand a chance, on the road, against a very good Lakers team, their defense will have to frustrate Bryant. The three-headed monster at center of Erik Dampier, big Z and Joel Anthony will also have to slow down Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum.

It is just a game, but one of epic proportions for the NBA landscape.

LeBron's return to Cleveland

The time has come.

LeBron James will return to the Quicken Loans Arena Thursday to face his hometown team, the Cleveland Cavaliers. There has been so much talk over what will happen that in actuality, no one really knows.

Will a fight ensue? Will LeBron be safe? Will there be vulgar language? These questions and more have been posed by reporters over the last day and a half.

Personally, I believe LeBron will have his breakout game tomorrow. The intensity that will take place in that building tomorrow will be unprecedented. It won't be the biggest game in James' career (by default because Game 7 of the 2007 East Finals was quite a feat) but by far it will be the most memorable. This is LeBron's chance to show he is still King James, a two time NBA MVP, seven time all star, I could go on.

Anyway, that is all. I'll be watching as well millions of other NBA fans.

Without trying to sound promotional or corny, it begins, LeBron vs. Cleveland, Thursday, 8PM, on TNT.

Heat set to face undefeated Hornets

A heat wave looks to stir up some Hornets in New Orleans tomorrow.

The Miami Heat take the NBA's number one defense and a four game winning streak into New Orleans tomorrow to square off with the undefeated New Orleans Hornets (3-0). Chris Paul and company look to pose a (serious) threat and possibly add another 'L' in the loss column for the Heat.

Miami's Thrice of Dwayne Wade, Lebron James and Chris Bosh have been averaging 55.8 points per game and that's playing only three quarters. However, Miami will need to have everyone play normal minutes to pull off a win in the Big Easy tomorrow.

In other news, Lebron James missed practice with a shin bruise, he will start tomorrow though. Dwayne Wade still leads the Heat in scoring, barely, over James.