"Sonny Crockett" was the name of the lead character in Miami Vice, played by Don Johnson. Miami Vice and Hill Street Blues were both popular cop shows, and both on NBC, but Miami Vice had not yet aired when this episode was broadcast.
More importantly, Anthony Yerkovich, a creator of Miami Vice, was a writer for Hill Hill Street Blues including these episodes.
Both Dennis Franz and Jonathan Banks guest star in this episode. Franz co-starred with Sharon Lawrence in NYPD Blue while Banks co-starred with her in Fired Up.