The Miramar Premier Soccer League will wrap up this Sunday with the playing of the Jamaica National knockout at the Miramar Regional Park, in Miramar.

The game will be between defending champions Western United, who lost their league crown two weeks ago to Unity FC, and Thunder Bolts starting at 7pm. The game, which is a rematch from last year, should be a very interesting one as Western United will try to stave off another finals defeat against a pesky Thunder Bolts who have shown improvement leading into the playoffs.

Preceding the finals Miramar Lions will take on State Cup champions Weston in an under-14 curtain raiser at 6pm.

It really makes little sense analyzing the Dolphins 27 – 41 loss to the Cleveland Browns last Sunday up in Cleveland. This, by the way, for those who may have just climbed out from under a rock, is the Dolphins 6^th loss, in six games, translated as 0-6 for the season. Despite the fact that the offense had a decent game in which running back Ronnie Brown ran over a hundred yards and substitute quarterback threw two touch downs and 256 yard (two interceptions), the Defense again was a shocker, allowing three touch downs and, overall, giving up 244 passing yards and 140 rushing yards.

At one stage in the early moments of the third quarter it seemed like the Dolphins was on a roll to win their first game of the season, scoring two quick points to pull 3 points behind the Cavaliers. But, the Defense again folded, allowing the Browns to score two more touchdowns and send the Dolphins off the field in shame.

The shame was evident in the aftermath, as in the Dolphins dressing room not one member of the defense would speak to Dolphins sportscaster Jim Mandrich, who does the color broadcast of Dolphins games.

However, elsewhere in the media, some defensemen did comment. Cornerback Will Allen told the Miami Herald, ''I don't see how it could get any lower than this.” Defensive end Jason Taylor, who has been having a sub par season, said, ''It's embarrassing, simple as that. And it's our [the defense's] fault. The offense did a good job making plays. Ronnie Brown is having a hell of a year, and we messed it up. We have a bunch of problems, and obviously we're not a very good football team right now.''

Personally, I have no idea what is the solution for the defense. There is no reason why they should be the worst in the NFL, having experienced players like Taylor and Zach Thomas on the team. I, like most other Dolphin fans and coaches, am puzzled as to what is really going on.

But, next comes the 6-0 New England patriots on Sunday, to play the Dolphins at Dolphins Stadium. Man, the Pats look so good this year, handing the then undefeated Dallas Cowboys a sound beating last Sunday. This game on Sunday should make Dolphins fans cringe, eh? But football is a funny game. This game could just be a trap game for New England, who could regard the Dolphins as an easy walkover. Last year no one expected the Dolphins to beat the Chicago Bears, who went on to play in Super Bowl. In that game Jason Taylor played like a superhuman, creating several Chicago turnovers. Maybe, just maybe, the embarrassment of being winless, and the fact that the team could be seeking redemption in front of their home crowd, could motivate the Dolphins’ players to all play like superhumans and record their first win. Well, stranger things have happened in sports. LET’S GO DOLPHINS!!!!

Haiti are into the next round of Olympic men’s qualifying action after using two second-half goals to beat Jamaica 2-1 in their Caribbean Football Union (CFU) Group H match on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Grenada paced by two goals from Lyndon Antoine, outscored Trinidad and Tobago 3-2 in their Group G encounter. The game was of academic interest only as Cuba had already secured group honors after beating both T&T and Grenada. The Grenadians led 2-0 at halftime and they fended off a late rally from T&T to reduce the home side to a winless record in the triangular series at the Marvin Lee Stadium.

Bridrece Azor and Fabrice Noel netted goals after the break to wipe off a first-half lead the Jamaicans had secured at the Silvio Cator Stadium.

With the result, Haiti topped the group with maximum points, ahead of The Bahamas (3).

After a stunning defeat (0-1) to The Bahamas on Thursday, Jamaica needed to win by an unlikely four clear goals against the quality home side to advance.

The young Reggae Boyz, anxious to redeem themselves after Thursday’s shock result, lifted their hopes when captain Rudolph Austin smashed in a superb free-kick after 19 minutes.

His powerful swerving kick from just outside the box ripped past Peterson Occenat in Haiti’s goal.

The Haitians, heavy 6-0 winners over the Bahamians last Tuesday, tied the game in the 48th minute when Azor connected with a diving header.

NEW DELHI, India,– West Indies batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul is one of 11 players who have signed up to play in the multi-million dollar Twenty20 Indian Premier League, organisers announced Tuesday.

The 33-year old left-hander, who has played 104 Tests and 222 One-Day Internationals, was the only West Indies player named along with a string of current world stars including South African captain Graeme Smith, Pakistan’s Mohammed Yousuf and New Zealand’s Scott Styris.

Already, former New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming, Sri Lankan captain Mahela Jayawardene and batting star Sanath Jayasuriya, have signed up for the cash rich league. Twenty-two international players have now signed.

Lalit Modi, vice-president of the Indian cricket board, the IPL organisers, said more high classed signings would be announced shortly.

“We had made a promise to the cricket-loving masses of India for some truly international class high-octane action through the Twenty20 format in the IPL,” Modi said in a statement.

“It is in line with this promise and philosophy that we have signed some of the best cricketing talent on display internationally, including five players that have captained their respective countries.

“We are in talks with some very promising talent and should shortly be making some further announcements.”

Kiwi left-arm spinner Daniel Vettori, Sri Lankan fast bowler Chaminda Vaas, Australian opener Justin Langer and South Africans Herschelle Gibbs, AB de Villiers, Ashwell Prince and Albie Morkel, have all put pen to paper.

The Indian board conceptualised the IPL to rival the Indian Cricket League, funded by Indian media giants, the Essel Group.

Set to be launched next year, the IPL will comprise eight franchises in the first season, with each team playing seven home and away games against each other. CMC