Who Your Favorite Athletes Are Voting For - Does It Matter To You?

The Herald has an excellent article this morning about political activism among local professional athletes. Usually, athletes will stay away from the subject because (a) they don't want to spark any sort of clubhouse antipathy with different-minded teammates, (b) they don't particularly follow politics or current events all too much, and/or (c) they fear losing endorsements or fans with their public pronouncements about political issues.

A handful of South Florida professional athletes, however, have been willing to come out with their 2008 presidential preferences. On the Obama side, we have Heat players Alonzo Mourning (who has previously donated $25,000 to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee) and Shawn Marion. For McCain, we have Dolphins kicker Jay Feely, Marlins outfielder Luis Gonzalez (who has actually stumped for the Arizona Senator), and pitcher Andrew Miller.

So I ask South Florida sports nation, knowing this information about some of your beloved athletes - does it matter to you? Do you think any more or less of Zo or Gonzo because of their professed political leanings?

Many will say, as with entertainers of any stripe like actors or musicians, that these people should simply "shut up and act/sing/play". These types will actually acquire vitriol for the entertainer who doesn't pledge allegiance to their vision of America, and may even launch boycotts against said entertainers. I probably fall on the milder side of this response. I strongly believe in freedom of speech, and definitely applaud any athlete who deigns to speak out on any matter of national/world consequence. But I will say, "I still love Athlete X, I just wish he wasn't a rabid member of Party Y." I will still attend his games, still cheer my heart out for him, still purchase his jersey. But there's that little bit of "Aw, shucks" in the back of my mind when I get to thinking about how "wrong" he may be politically.

What say you?

South Florida Fan Optimism Revisited

Greg Cote of the Miami Herald revisited a topic we had discussed previously on this blog: Which South Florida sports team is in the best shape for the future?

If Cote can revisit it, so can we. We've offered a few opinions between this post advocating the Heat, this post advocating the Panthers, and all the comments in between. Cote takes things a bit further, throwing UM football into the mix. In what is certainly not the most important vote of the day (all respect given to the political races in IN and NC), here are the current poll results:

Dolphins - 34.0%
Hurricanes Football - 26.6%
Marlins - 22.3%
Heat - 10.6%
Panthers - 1.1%

Things have changed since our earlier analyses. The Marlins have continued to play well, while the Dolphins had a pretty solid draft. Do we all still agree with our earlier sentiments?

More significantly, are the Herald poll's responses accurate, or is it just that people tend to favor football? I know Imber and FloridaPanthers4Ever will take some issue here. Share your thoughts and vote!

Luck, Chucks, Hacks, and Politics - Marlins Style

We've had several discussions here at The South Florida Fan about the role luck has played in the Marlins' success. Just today, JSponge referenced the upcoming series against Atlanta as evidence; the Marlins will bypass Hudson and Smoltz. Clark Spencer of the Miami Herald makes a similar point, but is quick to point out: "But that's an improvement over last season, when they struggled with their fellow dregs."

According to Hermida? "''I think [it's] the sign of a good team [that] you're supposed to beat those guys,'' right fielder Jeremy Hermida said. 'That's something we didn't do last year. We played to our opponents' level sometimes. We knew we were better than certain teams, and sometimes we'd play down to those teams.'' I like what I'm hearing.

Fish Stripes may have the inside scoop on why Dan Uggla is hitting better. He's using Robert Andino's bat! We've already coined our favorite walkoff slugger "The Great Andino," but if he keeps helping the rest of the squad, there may be no bounds to his greatness.

Another key to the Marlins success? First-pitch hitting, according to Juan Rodriguez of the Sun-Sentinel. In his words: "Entering Monday's game against the Pirates, the Marlins were pacing the circuit with a .408 average (29 for 71) when putting the first pitch in play. No other NL team had a higher slugging percentage in those situations than the Marlins (.817). Only the Rockies (.425) had a higher on-base percentage (eight points higher)."

First-pitch swinging has its ups and downs. It's hardly effective in tiring out pitchers and pitchers will catch on quickly, but it also seems to be working. Furthermore, if opposing pitchers are afraid to throw first-pitch fastballs, the Marlins' hitters could find themselves repeatedly ahead in the counts. While I would normally be worried, I can't argue with the current results.

Lastly, don't expect to see Jeremy Hermida at any of the "Count our delegates" campaigns down in Florida. Not only was he unaware of the big primary today in Pennsylvania, but flatly admitted, "''I don't pay too much attention to it,'' Hermida said. ``I've never even actually voted [in any election].''"

Don't worry, Jeremy. It's not as if Florida votes count anyway. You're just saving yourself the trouble.

Experience and Change a Potent Combination

We all know the words "experience" and "change" from the ongoing saga that is the Democratic Primary; Hillary is experience, Obama change. Many salivating Dems have fantasized about a Dream Team lineup, because after all, why choose one when you can have both?

It seems the Marlins have applied the same logic to this year's squad, albeit without the kind of fundraising Senators Obama and Clinton are getting. Let's examine each issue more closely:

Experience: So far, a slew of upcoming players have shown a new brand of wisdom. Mike Jacobs, Hanley Ramirez, Scott Olsen, and Jeremy Hermida come immediately to mind, with Renyel Pinto and Matt Lindstrom also making waves. Perhaps the strongest example is Fredi Gonzalez, who now has a solid year under his belt.

Experience isn't everything. In fact, far from it, as the 2003 Marlins proved. After all, as Montaigne says, "When reason fails us, we make use of experience, which is a feebler and less worthy means." It still helps though.

Change: As much as I loved Dontrelle and Cabrera, I've been hearing whispers of how they plagued the clubhouse last year. As one scout told me (he knows who he is), Willis' locker was like a candy store, and Cabrera was hungover almost every day at batting practice. Could their substraction, combined with positive clubhouse influences like Luis Gonzalez, Jorge Cantu, and Mark Hendrickson be making the difference? (Luis Gonzalez also brings quite a bit of experience, by the way).

Of course, it's easy to assign the credit there when we have few other reasons for justification. My main point, however, is if the adage "if it ain't broke..." stands valid, then one could equally claim, "when it is broke, fix it." The Marlins did something to try and fix their clubhouse chemistry, and it appears to be working.

Is it change, experience, both, or neither? Whatever it is, I hope it keeps happening.

Cody Ross Gets a Pass

I've flip-flopped on Cody Ross like the Democrats on NAFTA (not saying I disapprove). After first advocating him as a no-brainer for the CF job, I grew critical during my Opening Day In-Game Blog, especially of his suspect fielding.

Today, I was reminded of Cody Ross's medical limitations by the wonderful Craig of Fish Stripes. The fact is, he's playing hurt, and he should show considerable improvement in the field and at the plate once healed. In the meantime, good ole' Amezaga will be starting against righties. I'm not sure how I feel about that, but I'd gladly take Amezaga over Cameron Maybin, who needs to stay down at AA.

Does Amazin' Amezaga have anything to say about this?

Why I'm Rooting for the Suns...and Tigers

Whether fans of a player's former team should root for his current team has been a question as divisive as the Clinton-Obama race.

Normally I take a stance of ambivalence, wishing well for my former favorite while shifting my attention to my team's current players. That general principle goes out the window, however, in the case of superlative performers (or more specifically, when they brought your team a championship).

The Heat would not have won a title without Shaq. Wade may have become the star, but he wouldn't have had the supporting cast, nor the open lanes. Shaq's name alone brings in veteran discounts like Alonzo Mourning and Gary Payton, and it makes the team more attractive for role players as well.

Shaq has taken his lumps lately. The vast majority of media has called him finished, Pat Riley has taken a few shots, and his wife cheated on him. The Big Aristotle may be tough, but he also has some thin skin. He deserves better.

I want the Suns to win a championship for Shaq, for his legacy and because he's one of the most entertaining athletes we've ever had. Let's always be appreciative of what he did for Miami and root for him until he retires.

Following this logic, I've also adopted the Detroit Tigers as my second MLB team. Miguel Cabrera, Dontrelle Willis, Gary Sheffield, Edgar Renteria, Todd Jones, Jim Leyland, Dave Dumbrowski...all former Marlins. Sometimes, you have the luxury of all your former favorites ending up on the same team. Hence, Go Suns, and Go Tigers!