Miami Heat's Michael Beasley is 'light years ahead' of schedule

Everybody saw Michael Beasley's on-court improvement before last week's knee injury. But what has been a ``pleasant surprise,'' as one Heat official put it, has been his maturity off the court, which increases his chances of a long-term future here.

``I'm taking a different approach,'' Beasley said. ``I'm a little more professional, not as lackadaisical, not as joking as past years. I still joke around a bit, but you've got to know when to get serious. I do. I'm growing up in every aspect of my life -- being a bigger family man, not going out much, playing a more respected role.''

Among the factors:

• Sobriety. Beasley said he hasn't had a drink or used drugs since Aug. 6, 2009, and doesn't feel tempted because, ``I do not want to'' go down that road again. Though he attends Alcoholics Anonymous meetings to hear inspirational stories, associates said his issues were related more to marijuana than alcohol.

• The Heat's close eye on him. That's easier now because he moved last summer to a condominium across from AmericanAirlines Arena. Ex-Kansas State assistant Bruce Shingler, who watched over Beasley last season, no longer lives here. Beasley's new primary mentor is Heat executive Alonzo Mourning, whom Beasley said has become a role model.

``Alonzo and I talk a lot -- it's like a brother relationship,'' Beasley said. ``Everybody needs to see an example of what they want to be.'' Zo glows about Beasley: ``You can see [the growth]. . . . He's light years ahead of where we expected.''

• Fatherhood. Beasley spends lots of time with his two young children, who live elsewhere in South Florida with their mothers. Beasley could spend thousands of dollars a night in South Beach last year, but said he now prefers staying in. He sold some expensive cars he bought after his first contract. One non-essential he spends on: paying to fly in a man who works at the Houston rehabilitation facility where Beasley spent part of last summer. ``I fly him down whenever he has time. We play dominoes and chess for hours.''

• Better work habits. Coach Erik Spoelstra said Beasley arrives 1 ½ hours before practice -- earlier than last year -- and stays later, which teammates respect. ``We don't have to catch him and drag him into the video room,'' Spoelstra said. Now, Dwyane Wade said, ``he wants to come in and learn.''

• Less sugar intake, partly at the Heat's request. ``Last year, I would eat 10 king-size bags of Skittles in 30 minutes. Now, it's down to four or five.''

Beasley -- who has maturely handled not playing much late in close games -- said, ``I didn't want to get in D-Wade's way last year. This season, he made it known to me he can't do it by himself. I want to transition myself to an All-Star or superstar. Now is the perfect time to start.'' Said Atlanta's Joe Johnson: ``He will be an All-Star.''

Here's what Celtics coach Doc Rivers notices: ``More efficient offensively, knows where to get his shots, reading defenses better. When he's the second or third option on other guys' plays, he sees the value of setting the right pick and being in the right spot. Defensively, you can see the trust factor growing. What tremendous growth.''

CHATTER

• Whether Jason Taylor returns to the Dolphins won't be determined until they decide to cut Joey Porter (a good possibility) or keep him. Taylor knows he's better suited for the weakside-linebacker spot that Porter occupied, and the Dolphins -- if they keep either -- prefer to keep one, not both. If Porter is gone, Taylor's chances of returning increase significantly. Otherwise, it's unlikely. Taylor has spoken of ``being in the right position'' and a team ``using my talents the right way.''

• One veteran NFL scout said new UM defensive line coach Rick Petri ``is a great motivator and a major upgrade over Clint Hurtt.'' That scout said he wasn't impressed by Hurtt's teaching skills when he attended UM's practices. Before Hurtt left, ``there were people saying Allen Bailey needed to turn pro because he would improve more in the NFL than at Miami.'' . . . ESPN's Todd McShay said ``teams are worried that Jimmy Graham is just not football-tough.'' But that scout, at the Senior Bowl, said, ``He's shown no signs that he's not tough enough. He's raw in everything he does, but he did a good job.'' The scout said UM linebacker Darryl Sharpton, a potential third-to-fifth rounder, helped his stock last week, though he lacks great size (6-0, 229 pounds). . . . Vikings/ex-UM offensive tackle Bryant McKinnie said he plans to call the nation's top prospect, St. Paul (Minn.) offensive tackle Seantrel Henderson, who's visiting UM this weekend, to urge him to be a Cane. . . . South Florida's top defensive end, Hialeah's Corey Lemonier, eliminated UM and will pick FSU or Auburn.

• Told by the Marlins he needs to get Andrew Miller on track, new pitching coach Randy St. Claire watched his high school and college tapes with him this winter and changed Miller's delivery ``to what he was when he came into pro ball. You can't get hitters out if you're worrying what to do.''

• Palmetto High grad Jennifer Rodriguez, the only Miami native to win a Winter Olympics medal, said medaling at February's Vancouver Olympics is ``a long shot.'' Rodriguez -- who won two bronze medals in 2002 and none in '06 -- had an eventful four years: She retired, tried to make the Summer Olympics in cycling but decided against it, then returned to speedskating. Now living in Park City, Utah, J-Rod, 33, didn't know if she could afford another Olympics until she received $5,000 in donations. ``I'd be happy to finish in the top eight or 10. I'm not where I used to be.''