CSI: Dolphins Stadium

If last year’s Miami Dolphins team was a cast member on CSI: Miami, it’d have to be David Caruso – the poor bastards were trying sooooo hard to get all those lines right; and still, they came out laughably bad. This year, with the team’s demons banished to Alabama, the plucky Fins hope to transform slipshod acting into first-rate drama. Who knows, with some work maybe we could trade Caruso’s chops for those of William Petersen or Gary Sinise.

Shoot, the team has already made some stellar improvements in talent. If you caught their preseason opener versus the Jags, you saw newly acquired tailback Jesse Chatman on a 74-yard breakaway run, shooting past the entire Jaguars secondary with ease, and undrafted back Patrick Cobbs’ sleek goal-line touchdown and two-point conversion. At the very least, the Fins should know they have two guys that can spell Ronnie Brown when he inevitably lumps over to the sidelines on third downs. Also shocking was the mild level of competence from the Fins’ QB of the future, John Beck, who orchestrated a 69-yard drive that ended with those scores from Cobbs. That’s more than can be said of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’gaggle of horrid quarterbacks, an age-ripened Jeff Garcia notwithstanding. We’ll see if the two clubs can act like real teams as the Fins take on the Bucs 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Dolphins Stadium (2269 Dan Marino Blvd., Miami). Tickets start at $29. Call 1-888-FINS-TIX, or visit www.ticketmaster.com.
Sat., Aug. 25