We’re thankful for many things on this Thanksgiving, which is hard to do as a Miami sports fan.

• We’re thankful that there is no Miami football on thanksgiving.
• We’re thankful the Panthers scored five goals, FIVE GOALS, last night.
• We’re thankful for the Miami Hurricanes basketball team, and their Puerto Rico Tip-Off title.
• We’re thankful John Beck finally got a chance to play.
• We’re thankful D-Wade is back.
• We’re thankful that even though Miguelito is gone, the Marlins are going to rob the Dodgers for every last bit of young talent on that team.
• We’re thankful for the FIU Panthers and their dedication to making history
• Ditto for the Dolphins.
• We’re REALLY thankful that we don’t have to watch our football teams today. Never want to ruin a holiday.
• The Draft
• We’re thankful, most of all, for next year. Because for 2007 Miami fans… next year is all we have.

What are you thankful for, in probably the worst Miami sports year on record?

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If it can happen to Luongo, it can happen to anyone.

Fox Sports is reporting there are rumblings that Florida Panthers’ General Manager, Jacques Martin is shopping the team leader in goals, points, and “being Finnish”.

This shouldn’t come as a surprise to Panthers fans. This is the team that traded away all-world goalie Roberto Luongo for a bag of skittles and a 1986 VW rabbit.

Now, it’s important to note that none of these rumors originated from South Florida. So their validity should be questioned. But hey, with the year Miami has had in sports…. how could this NOT happen?

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Sorry FIU fans, your college football wet dream didn’t come true (nor will it ever), but the Florida Panthers got a huge win last night over the Southeast leading Carolina Hurricanes. The Panthers scored four goals in the third period, giving them a 4-2 win.

See, we post about hockey. Sometimes.

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Panthers General Manager Jaques Martin sure thinks so.

Martin was asked Dan Le Batard of the Miami Herald: “True or false — the Roberto Luongo trade is the worst trade in the history of your sport?”

His response: “True”

miss me?

This is the man who made the trade. The General Manager of the team. GMs are usually very pompous assholes who are quick to pat themselves on the back at every chance. While it’s a bit refreshing to see some honesty from a General Manager… what the hell?

 Why would you make the deal?

So the Panthers traded a top draft pick for Luongo; that pick became Rick DiPietro (he of 36 saves last night). They then trade Luongo for Todd Bertuzzi. Yes, Todd Bertuzzi. This is the equivalent of trading an ace pitcher in the majors for a platooning middle infielder (if that middle infielder liked to punch people).

Martin is trying to backpedal and claim he made a last second plea with Luongo to sign with the team before the trade… but then traded him anyways. For a franchise that has been in the cellar of the NHL table since the ‘Beezer was in the net, it’s always nice to see the front office giving away top goalkeepers. If you’re going to make a horrible trade, don’t remind us of your incompetence. Let South Florida be happy with ignoring you until you win.

[Link: Miami Herald]

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The Florida Panthers looked really good last night…for two periods. After the second period, we were clinging to a 2-1 lead at New York, until my boy Tomas Vokoun and the defense fell apart, giving up four goals in the 3rd, causing the Panthers to lose 5-2.

Don’t be discouraged, Florida fans, the Rangers are one of the best in the NHL, and it was Vokoun’s first game in front of the net. Naturally, it’s difficult to mesh on defense when things are fresh and new.

Next up for the Panthers is New Jersey, Saturday night, in Florida.

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I’d like to first disclaim that I realize that South Florida is not a hockey town, and that I also realize that the Florida Panthers are probably the least popular of our four professional teams, but I urge you to watch some Panthers games this season, because they just may be the best thing we have going for us right now.

In the off-season, the Panthers made a huge signing at goalie, getting Tomas Vokoun. Many tout his as one of the top 5 goalies in the NHL. Throughout the past few years, the Panthers have notoriously hung around the the 8th spot in the playoff race in the first half of the season, only to dwindle away later on. This could certainly be the missing link.

Remember how excited this town got when the Panthers made their run in ‘96? I know the fairweatherness of all of you still exists, so jump on board early so you don’t get tagged with that label!

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Waaayyy more menacing than the hockey team

 The great men and women over at NHL logos took a shot at rebranding the Florida Panthers.  They made the lines a little darker, and really just made the animal more menacing. Love the addition of the rabid red eyes. As if being attacked by a panther wasn’t bad enough, you have to deal with some sort of vampire-diseased super panther… and he’s on ice!

 Here is the total rebranding concept:

[Thanks to NHL Logos]

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