UF the new convicts?

Chris Rainey told his ex-girlfriend it was "time to die, bitch." He was arrested. That brings the total of Gators arrested over the last few years to a whopping 27. The media has yet to put the University of Florida under the microscope the way they did when the University of Miami was dominating college football. In 1995, Sports Illustrated called for the banning of the University of Miami football program after the Pell Grant scandal.

Sports Illustrated called for the end of the University of Miami football program. Why not do the same for the University of Florida?

While it is true the Miami program was in disarray at the time, it faced an unprecedented amount of media attention and scrutiny. Why is that no one criticizes the Gators now? Tim Tebow served as a distraction while he was playing at the University of Florida, his off field philanthropic efforts and his religious fervor being as much a part of his image as his talent as a football player. Now that he plays for the Denver Broncos, Urban Meyer might be in trouble. The Gators don't have a media darling to shield them from criticism any longer.

UF the new convicts?

Heat-Magic: The start of a new rivalry?

Stan Van Gundy. You either love him or you hate him. It seems Stan is in the news every few months verbally sparring with someone. He called out Shaquille O’neal for flopping in a game against Dwight Howard when Shaq was on the Suns back in March of 2009. When Dwight Howard was criticized for not winning in the post-season, he took the opportunity to take shots at Kevin Garnett, saying Garnett hadn’t won much in the NBA before he got to the Celtics. Some members of the media like him because they think he is refreshing (Dan Le Batard for one has him on his radio show frequently and has said Stan Van Gundy is one of his favorite guests). Then there are those who believe the Ron Jeremy look alike should shut his mouth.

According to Shaq, Van Gundy is the "Master of Panic." How's that for a porn name?

Pat Riley is one of them. After months of silence from the Godfather of basketball, Riley spoke about the comments Stan Van Gundy made after the Miami Heat signed Lebron James and Chris Bosh this off-season. Van Gundy called Bosh a “lap dog” for following Dwyane Wade around and the Orlando Magic’s general manager, Otis Smith, questioned Lebron James for not wanting to win on his own. Riles pretty much called Van Gundy and Smith’s comments “stupid” and mentioned how Otis Smith had signed Rashard Lewis from Seattle for $128 million dollars. Note to Stan: Riley has championship rings. Plural. You have none. Until then, maybe you should keep your mouth shut.

This is not unfamiliar territory for Miami fans. We have been hated before. Just look back to the things people were saying about the Miami Hurricanes in the late 80’s and 90’s. Hell, the Miami-Notre Dame rivalry was known as the Catholics vs. Convicts. Lebron James has called this Heat team “Team Dillinger” after John Dillinger, a Depression era gangster who was so dangerous the federal government changed the way the FBI operated just to attempt to catch him. This following year, and for the next decade or so if this team sticks together, the NBA will have to come up with new ways to defend the trio of Wade, Bosh, and Lebron.

I can’t wait to see the fireworks that Heat-Magic will bring this upcoming season. There’s already tons of bulletin board material and this drama already has back story to it—Stan Van Gundy was a Heat assistant for almost 12 years and his brother Jeff was the coach of the New York Knicks after Riley ditched them to come coach the Heat. It’s been a long time since the Miami Heat had a real rivalry, dating back to the Heat-Knicks wars of the late 90’s. The Knicks haven’t been relevant in quite some time thanks to Isaiah Thomas and his scouting ability, so that rivalry has pretty much deflated (although if the Knicks pull of a trade for Carmelo Anthony or sign him in the off-season the Heat-Knicks rivalry will be hotter than ever). Stan Van Gundy. You either love him or you hate him. As a Heat fan, I want Stan to keep talking as much as possible. The more he speaks negatively about the Heat, the more drama he adds to the regular season and playoff matchups.

Jeff Van Gundy holding on for dear life

Heat-Magic: The start of a new rivalry?