Crying in their beer

JOHN TODORA needs a bailout from Miami's Big 3.

Todora, co-owner of Whiskey Tango in Hollywood, Fla., was so sure that LeBron James, Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade would run the NBA table that he offered free alcohol to patrons after a Heat loss.

But Miami's recent skid has left Todora with an $85,000 bar tab at his own expense. Miami is 43-21, third best in the Eastern Conference.

"I need to get in touch with LeBron and ask him for a bailout," Todora told CNBC yesterday, a day after Miami lost to Portland, its fifth loss in a row and sixth in the last seven games.

With a Heat loss, patrons get a $25 bar credit. Todora and his business partner don't have insurance for something like this. But when it comes to drawing a crowd, at least they bet on a sure thing.

Talk of a lockout between the NFL and its players union has been just that so far, but tomorrow, barring another extension, fans will know whether or not there will be a 2011 season.

Former Eagles quarterback Ron Jaworski thinks not. Jaws made these comments yesterday during a media day for the Soul. Jaworski is co-owner of the revived Arena Football franchise.

"I think there will be a lockout and I think there will be decertification [of the NFL Players Association]. I only base it on my life history. I lived that in 1987, in '82 and, to a certain degree, in 1974, and I see the same parallels here. You see the rhetoric. Then you see the sides digging in . . . I said it a year ago that I think we're going to miss two to six regular-season games."

For devout NFL fans, it's a pretty demoralizing prophecy. But when asked which players would suffer the most from the potential lockout, Jaws' answer came as less of a surprise.

"The most progress made by a quarterback is in the offseason; working with the coaching staff, receivers, studying tape help you develop chemistry. The quarterbacks around this league, including Michael Vick, need that work and won't get it . . . they're going to suffer if there's a lockout."

- Kerith Gabriel