Audio By Carbonatix
SAT 9/6
A summertime glance at the University of Miami football schedule is usually a letdown. Rarely do the Hurricanes play more than two significant home games a season. This year’s calendar features only one team ranked in a majority of preseason polls: Tennessee. This paucity of talented opponents is disappointing because meaningful Hurricane home games are as wonderful a sporting experience as a fan can have. Dependably drunk fans rock the Orange Bowl’s ancient steel frame as puffed-up opponents wither in the heat, all their arrogance drained as the ‘Canes notch another win.
The home opener this year isn’t against a dominant opponent, but it should be a great game, for two principal reasons. First: It’s the University of Florida. And while the Gators have been in a freefall ever since head coach Steve Superior bolted for the NFL, they’re still the Gators. And therefore they must be crushed.
Second: Miami quarterback Brock Berlin makes his first home start since transferring — from Gainesville. He has his old team facing him, and he finally has the Miami fans behind him. A better home-field advantage he could never score. — By Robert Andrew Powell
Kickoff is at 8:00 p.m. at the Orange Bowl, 1501 NW 3rd St. Call 800-462-2637.
SAT 9/6
Wheel World
Mobile b-ball rules!
The Miami Heat may have wilted last season, but picking up the slack to represent the Magic City in round-ball excellence were the Miami Heat Wheels. Sponsored by their NBA brothers, the Heat Wheels are gearing up for another season and a run at the National Wheelchair Basketball Association championship, where they finished in fifth place last season. Get a preview of their game and why the league slogan is “Push Hard or Push Home,” and watch how b-ball phenom and last year’s tourney first-teamer Carlos Ocasio gets it done. The Heat Wheels will show their stuff at 11:00 a.m. at MacArthur Senior High School, 11035 SW 84th St. Admission is free. Call 305-234-4948. — By John Anderson