Mets Sweep Doubleheader From Marlins

     The New York Mets downed the Miami Marlins 3-1 on Tuesday night at Citi Field in the second game of a doubleheader. The Mets came back on the Marlins in the first contest 6-5

     New York(65-67) compiled three runs during the fourth inning. Michael Conforto blasted a two-run homer to right field on a 1-0 pitch with Brandon Nimmo aboard. Jeff McNeil later doubled to center field and Javier Baez crossed the plate. 

     Miami(55-78) closed it to 3-1 in the fifth inning. Jesus Aguilar drove in Sandy Leon on a double into right field. 

Miami Dolphins Make Final Cuts

     The Miami Dolphins made their final player cuts on Tuesday. All National Football League teams had to have 53-player roster for the start of the regular season. 

     The team released cornerback Cre'von LeBlanc, center Cameron Tom, offensive tackle Adam Pankey and linebacker Josh Harvey-Clemons. LeBlanc once played high school football with the Glades Central Raiders. He was with the Philadelphia Eagles for the past three seasons. 

Mets Inch By Marlins

     The Miami Marlins were overcome by the New York Mets 6-5 at Citi Field on Tuesday in the first game of a doubleheader between both teams. The contest was made up from being suspended back in April 11.

     It was for the longest time span for a suspended game in Major League Baseball history which turned out to be 142 days. The Marlins had to replace four players from their starting lineup who have been traded from the club since then. 

     In the second inning, Miami(55-77) jumped out to a 2-0 lead. Miguel Rojas singled into left field and Jazz Chisholm Jr. crossed the plate. Bryan De La Cruz followed with a base hit to left and Chisholm scored.

     The Marlins extended their lead to 3-0 in the top of the fifth. Chisholm hit a ground-rule double to right-center field and Alex Jackson reached home. 

     New York(64-67) answered back in the bottom of the fifth and trailed 3-1. Jonathan Villar belted a solo home run to center field on a 1-1 pitch for his 16th homer of the year. 

     The Fish added more runs in the sixth inning. Jesus Aguilar got a two-run double into shallow right field for Magneuris Sierra and Jackson to score. 

     The Mets put up an amazing five runs in the ninth inning to pull off a comeback. Brandon Nimmo bashed a two-run homer to right-center field on a 2-0 pitch with Chance Sisco aboard. After Francisco Lindor flew out to the warning track in right field to make it two out, Dominic Smith punched an infield single to the left side. 

     Pete Alonso then doubled into the left-field corner. Javier Baez came up next and knocked in Smith with a infield single to the left side and made it 5-4. Michael Conforto singled through the left side which scored Alonso. Jorge Alfaro made a fielding error in left field on the play and Baez scored from first. 

Orlando Franklin Leaves Denver Radio

     Orlando Franklin has left KKFN-FM in Denver for a coaching position with the San Francisco 49ers. He joined that radio station in August 2018 as a Sunday morning host and was elevated to the late morning co-host spot in August 2019. 

     Franklin was an offensive lineman for the Atlantic Eagles from 2003 to 2006. His high school was eliminated in three consecutive years by the St. Thomas Aquinas Raiders in the FHSAA Class 5A playoffs. Franklin went on to the University of Miami Hurricanes and played 51 games from 2007 to 2010. He was drafted by the Denver Broncos in 2011 and stayed there for four seasons. 

Dolphins Drop Matt Skura And Bernardrick McKinney

     The Miami Dolphins have released center Matt Skura. He signed a one-year deal with the Dolphins back in March. Skura was with the Baltimore Ravens for the last four seasons. He participated in 54 games with that club. 

     The Fins also cut linebacker Bernardrick McKinney. He was acquired by the Dolphins from the Houston Texans earlier this year. McKinney played 80 games for the Texans from 2015 to 2020. 

Dolphins Pass By Bengals

     The Miami Dolphins slipped by the Cincinnati Bengals 29-26 at Paul Brown Stadium on Sunday. It was the last of three preseason contests for both teams. 

     The Dolphins will open the 2021 regular season at the New England Patriots on September 12. The Bengals will host the Minnesota Vikings. 

Marlins Win Series Against Reds

     The Miami Marlins pulled off a 2-1 victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Sunday at loanDepot park. The Marlins ended up taking two of the three games in the series. The Marlins, who went 4-2 on the homestand, head for the road and next play on Tuesday against the New York Mets. 

     Miami(55-76) struck quickly in the first inning. Jesus Sanchez powered a two-run homer to right field on a 3-2 pitch with Jesus Aguilar aboard. It was the sixth home run of the campaign for Sanchez. 

     Cincinnati(71-61) put up one run in the top of the ninth. Joey Votto hit a sacrifice fly to deep center field for Jonathan India to score. 

South Florida High School Football Radio Broadcasts

     South Florida high school football games has one weekly radio game broadcast for the seventh straight year. ESPN West Palm 106.3 WUUB-FM is the only local radio station with contests this season. ESPN West Palm midday co-host Chris Kokell is the play-by-play announcer. 

     There were five South Florida radio stations that had high school football radio broadcasts back in 2011. Online streaming on websites have been the other way to listen to play-by-play audio broadcasts this season. 

Dolphins Trade For Greg Mancz

     The Miami Dolphins have acquired offensive lineman Greg Mancz and a 2022 seventh-round draft pick from the Baltimore Ravens for a 2022 sixth-round draft pick. The Dolphins placed linebacker Vince Biegel on the injured reserve list and he will not play with the club for a second straight year. 

     Mancz played 58 games with the Houston Texans between 2015 to 2020. He was on the Ravens practice squad at the end of the 2020 campaign and signed a reserve/futures contract with Baltimore in January. 

Marlins Finally Top Reds

     The Miami Marlins took the Cincinnati Reds 6-1 at loanDepot park on Saturday night. The Marlins defeated the Reds for the first time this season after losing the previous five meetings.

St. Thomas Aquinas Beats St. Frances Academy

     The St. Thomas Aquinas Raiders held off the St. Frances Academy Panthers 38-23 at Brian Piccolo Stadium on Saturday. The Raiders are the two-time defending FHSAA Class 7A state champions and have captured a state-record 12 Florida high school football state titles. 

     St, Thomas Aquinas(1-0) got up 7-0 at 8:57 in an unusual way. St. Frances Academy had their first offensive snap of the game go off badly. Raiders defensive lineman Kyrie Samuel recovered the ball in the end zone for a touchdown. 

     It became 14-0 for the Raiders at the 4:02 mark. Quarterback Zion Turner rolled out to his right and threw a 20-yard pass to wide receiver Isaiah Hardge in the middle of the end zone. 

     St. Frances Academy(0-1) reached the end zone with 2:10 remaining in the first. Backup running back Darien Lewis busted through the middle from two yards out. 

     The Panthers evened it up 14-14 with 1:05 to go in the quarter. Quarterback Michael Van Buren tossed a swing pass to the right side on a 4th-and-4 to running back Lamar Patterson and he sprinted 26 yards down the right sideline into the end zone. 

     St. Thomas Aquinas pulled ahead 17-14 with 5:35 remaining. Michael Kern was able to boot a 24-yard field goal. 

     St. Frances Academy finally got the lead 20-17 with 2:20 to go in the second quarter. Running back Terron Kellman rushed around the left end and scored from eight yards away. 

     The Raiders ended up getting the lead 24-20 on the last play of the first half. Turner fired a 43-yard pass to wide receiver Jaylan Sanchez on the left side. 

     In the third quarter, STA increased their lead to 31-20 at the 6:51 mark. Turner ran the ball to the right pylon for a nine-yard touchdown. 

     The Panthers closed the deficit to 31-23 at 7:37 of the fourth quarter. Andre Jandayan made a 22-yard field goal. 

     St. Thomas Aquinas put the game away with 1:43 left to make it 38-23. Running back Xavier Terrell went through the left side of the line and scored from six yards away. 

Dwyer Slips By Jupiter

     The high school football regular season began in north Palm Beach County on Friday night. The Dwyer Panthers defeated the Jupiter Warriors 8-7. 

     Scoring happened only in the first half. Jupiter(0-1) got a one-yard quarterback sneak up the middle by Billy Bates with 1:28 left in the first quarter for a 7-0 advantage. 

     Dwyer(1-0) scored when wide receiver Terel Harris caught a swing pass on the left side for a 25-yard touchdown. The Panthers would convert on a two-point conversion to make it 8-7 with 7:32 remaining in the second quarter. 

Inter Miami CF Ties Orlando City SC

     Inter Miami CF tied Orlando City SC 1-1 at Exploria Stadium on Friday night. Both clubs had a scoreless tie in the same venue back on August 4. 

     Inter Miami CF have been unbeaten in their last three contests. The team has lost only one game in their last eight. 

Glades Central Edges Palm Beach Lakes

     The Glades Central Raiders got by the Palm Beach Lakes Rams 14-7 on Friday night. The defensive units of both schools held it to a low-scoring game. 

     Palm Beach Lakes(0-1) got the only points in the first half. Running back Myles Coleman caught a short pass on the left side, angled to the left sideline and scored a 13-yard touchdown with 4:10 to go in the second quarter. 

     Glades Central(1-0) closed it to 7-6 with 7:54 left the third quarter. Quarterback Henry Boyd made a swing pass to running back Christopher Young and he raced down the left hash marks from 19 yards away. 

     In the fourth quarter, the Raiders eventually took their only lead of the contest with 6:24 remaining. Running back Everic Morgan went through the right side of the line from third yards away for a score. They followed it with a two-point conversion pass from Boyd to wide receiver Aaron Davis in the middle of the end zone for a 14-7 lead. 

Cardinal Newman Dominates The King's Academy

     The Cardinal Newman Crusaders blew out The King's Academy Lions 55-0 at Sam Budnyk Field in West Palm Beach on Friday night. Cardinal Newman head coach Jack Daniels was at the helm for his first game with his new school. He was the head coach of the Dwyer Panthers for over 20 years and led them to two FHSAA state titles in 2009 and 2013. 

     Cardinal Newman(1-0) came out strong with 28 points in the first quarter. Quarterback Davi Belfort threw a swing pass to the left side and wide receiver Chris Presto sprinted 66 yards down the left sideline for the score. 

     It became 14-0 for the Crusaders when wide receiver Ja'kavian Williams got a shovel pass from running back Tovani Mizell and rushed in from six yards away. Cardinal Newman made it 21-0 as Mizell received a screen pass on the left side from Belfort and scored from 37 yards out. 

     The King's Academy(0-1) surrendered one more touchdown in the opening frame and trailed by 28 points. Belfort carried the ball up the middle from one yard away. 

Reds Blank Marlins

     The Cincinnati Reds shut out the Miami Marlins 6-0 at loanDepot park on Friday night. The Reds completed a four-game sweep of the Marlins last weekend in Cincinnati. 

Te'von Coney Waived By Raiders

     The Las Vegas Raiders have waived former local high school player Te'von Coney. He has been on their practice squad with the Raiders in 2019 and has not yet been involved in a National Football League regular season contest. 

     Coney played high school football with the Palm Beach Gardens Gators. He later attended the University of Notre Dame and was a linebacker. 

South Florida High School Football Season Starts

     The high school football regular season throughout the South Florida region started on Thursday night. More contests will be played in the area on Friday and Saturday. 

     It is a drastic change from the 2020 regular season due to the coronavirus pandemic. Schools had to wait until September to began the regular season last year. 

     Palm Beach County opened up with a couple of games. Inlet Grove crushed West Boca Raton 49-8 while Park Vista handled Suncoast 41-6 in their first game without longtime head coach Brian Dodds since 2006. 

     Broward County had their share of contests. Coral Glades routed Coral Springs 42-6, South Broward blanked Nova 42-0, McArthur edged Blanche Ely 18-13, Hollywood Hills took Pompano Beach 7-0, Pines Charter pounded Northeast 35-0 and Plantation defeated South Miami 44-7.

     There were several games played in Dade County. Booker T. Washington knocked off Miami Norland 20-14, Miami Carol City outscored Goleman 40-36, Miami was victorious over American 42-12, Somerset South Homestead got by Archbishop McCarthy 7-6, Ferguson shut out Hialeah Gardens 28-0, Dade Christian routed Miami International 27-0 and True North topped St. Brendan 34-6.

Marlins Charge By Nationals

     The Miami Marlins jumped by the Washington Nationals 7-5 at loanDepot park on Thursday night. The Fish took two of the three games in the series between both clubs. 

     Miami(53-75) rocketed out to a 4-0 lead in the first inning. Brian Anderson singled into right field for Lewis Brinson to score. Jorge Alfaro followed with a three-run homer on a 1-1 pitch to center field with Jesus Sanchez and Anderson aboard. 

     The Marlins added two more runs in the bottom of the second for a six-run cushion. Miguel Rojas connected with a two-run home run to left-center field on a 2-2 count. Bryan De La Cruz scored in front of him on the play. 

     Washington(54-72) broke the shutout in the top of the fifth. Juan Soto bashed a two-run homer to right field on 1-0 pitch for his 21st home run of the season. 

     The Fish made it 7-2 in the bottom of the fifth. Anderson drove in Magneuris Sierra with a singled into right field. 

     In the sixth inning, the Nationals closed the deficit to 7-3. Tres Barrera grounded into a double play and Carter Kieboom crossed the plate. Washington put up two more runs during the ninth inning. 

ESPN Cancels The Jump

     ESPN will stop broadcasting The Jump with host Rachel Nichols in a couple of weeks. Nichols was suspended by ESPN and did not host NBA Countdown during the 2021 NBA Finals. She had been a NBA studio host and sideline reporter for the last five years. 

     She has hosted The Jump since its inception in February 2016. Nichols started her second reign at ESPN in December 2015. 

     Nichols, a Northwestern University grad, was first noticed locally in South Florida as a sportswriter for the Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel in 1995 and 1996. She moved on to the Washington Post and was there from 1996 to 2004 as a sportswriter. Nichols was first hired by ESPN in 2004 and stayed there as a television sports reporter and sports columnist for over eight years.

     She joined Turner Sports as a sports reporter along with being a NBA and NCAA basketball sideline reporter in January 2013. Nichols also hosted a Friday night show on CNN called Unguarded With Rachel Nichols from September 2013 to October 2014.  

Marlins Snap Losing Streak

     The Miami Marlins snapped an eight-game losing streak with a 4-3 win in 10 innings against the Washington Nationals on Wednesday night at loanDepot park. Both clubs will finish off the three-game series on Thursday. 

     Miami(52-75) moved ahead 1-0 in the bottom of the second. Jorge Alfaro drove in Brian Anderson on a single to left field. 

     In the sixth inning, the Marlins made it 2-0. Anderson socked a solo home run to center field on a 0-1 pitch for his seventh homer of the year. 

     Washington(54-71) overtook the Fish with three runs in the top of the seventh. Josh Bell blasted a two-run homer to center field on a 0-2 count with Alcides Escobar aboard. It was the 21st home run of the season for Bell. Yadiel Hernandez followed with a solo home run to left-center field on a 1-1 pitch and the Nationals took a 3-2 lead.  

     The Marlins began the bottom of the seventh with a triple to right field by Magneuris Sierra. He would score on a double by Jesus Aguilar into the right-center field gap to tie it up 3-3. Aguilar picked up his National League leading 89th run batted in and collected his 21st double of the 2021 campaign. 

     Miami loaded the bases in the bottom of the tenth. Alfaro singled up the middle and Jesus Sanchez crossed the plate. It was the fifth walk-off victory for the Marlins and their first since July 7 against the Los Angeles Dodgers. 

Sony Michel Traded To Rams

     Former American Heritage Patriots running back Sony Michel has been traded by the New England Patriots to the Los Angeles Rams. The Patriots will receive a 2022 sixth-round draft picks and a 2023 fourth-round draft pick. 

     Michel has played for the past three seasons with the Patriots. He captured a Super Bowl title with the team in his first season. Michel has 535 carries for 2,292 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns in 38 contests during his NFL career. 

     He won a FHSAA Class 5A state championship with American Heritage in 2013. Michel eventually played college football with the University of Georgia Bulldogs. 

Dolphins Release Isaiah Ford

     The Miami Dolphins have cut wide receiver Isaiah Ford. It ended the second stint for Ford with the club. 

     Ford played for the Dolphins from 2018 to 2020. He had 51 pass receptions for 520 yards over three seasons. Ford was traded to the New England Patriots last November, however he never played one down. He inked a one-year deal with the Fins on July 16. 

Nationals Roll By Marlins

     The Miami Marlins returned home following a short four-game road trip and fell to the Washington Nationals 5-1 at Marlins Park on Tuesday night. The Marlins extended their losing streak to eight games. 

     Washington(54-70) put up three runs in the fourth inning. Trea Barrera ripped a two-run homer on a 2-2 count to left field. Ryan Zimmerman later added two more runs for a five-run gap as he homered to left field on a 1-2 pitch during the top of the fifth. 

    Miami(51-75) got their only run during the seventh inning. Jesus Aguilar knocked in Jorge Alfaro on a base hit into left field. 

ESPN West Palm Changes

     ESPN Radio will be making weekday lineup changes in September. It will have some implications on ESPN West Palm 106.3 WUUB-FM. 

     Max Kellerman will no longer be heard on that radio station from 2PM to 3PM as Alan Hahn and Bart Scott will pick up that additional hour on September 27. Kellerman will move to the morning shift on September 7 and co-host with Keyshawn Johnson and Jay Williams. 

     Ken LaVicka and Chris Kokell will continue their midday one-hour program at noon. Josh Cohen and The Hometown program in mid-afternoons will not be affected by the ESPN Radio changes.

Cody Parkey Gone For Year

     Cleveland Browns kicker Cody Parkey has been placed on the injured reserve list. He will be out for the 2021 season because he was placed on the injured reserve list prior to final cuts on the roster.

     Parkey played high school football with the Jupiter Warriors. He had stints with the Philadelphia Eagles, Cleveland Browns, Miami Dolphins, Chicago Bears and Tennessee Titans in his seven-year NFL career.  

Jimmy Hayes Passes Away

     Former Florida Panthers right wing Jimmy Hayes has passed away at the age of 31. He has not participated in competitive hockey since 2018-19 with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in the American Hockey League. 

     Hayes played two seasons with the Florida Panthers in 2013-14 and 2014-15. He compiled 30 goals and 23 assists in 125 games with Florida. The Panthers traded him to the Boston Bruins on July 1, 2015 for Reilly Smith and Marc Savard. 

Marlins Swept By Reds

     The Cincinnati Reds pulled off a four-game sweep of the Miami Marlins with a 3-1 victory on Sunday at Great American Ball Park. The Reds passed the San Diego Padres for the second wild-card spot in the National League. The Marlins, who have lost seven straight games, return home after a short road trip and host the Washington Nationals on Tuesday. 

     Cincinnati(69-57) jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the opening frame. Tyler Naquin led off and lifted a solo home run to right-center field on a 2-2 pitch. 

     It was tied up by Miami(51-74) in the fourth inning. Jesus Sanchez sliced a double down the left-field line for Jazz Chisholm Jr. to score. 

     In the fifth inning, the Reds regained the lead 2-1. Mike Moustakas smashed a solo homer on a 1-2 count to right field. 

     The Red Legs expanded it to 3-1 in the bottom of the eighth. Naquin connected with his second home run of the contest. It was hit over the right-center field wall on a 0-2 pitch for his 18th homer of the year. 

Miguel Cabrera Hits 500th Home Run

     Former Florida Marlins player Miguel Cabrera hit his 500th career home run in the majors on Sunday for the Detroit Tigers in Toronto. It was a 1-1 pitch to right-center field during the sixth inning. 

     He is the 28th player in baseball history to accomplish that feat. The Tigers ended up winning that contest 5-3 over the Blue Jays. 

     Cabrera played for the Marlins franchise from 2003 to 2007 and helped the club win their last World Series title in 2003. He was traded to the Tigers along with Dontrelle Willis on December 4, 2007. 

     He helped the Tigers capture the American League title in 2012. Cabrera was the American League Most Valuable Player in 2012 and 2013. He became the first player since Carl Yastrzemski in 1967 to win the Triple Crown during the 2012 season. Cabrera has won four American League batting titles and is an 11-time all-star. 

Reds Knock Off Marlins

     The Cincinnati Reds took care of the Miami Marlins 7-4 on Saturday night at Great American Ball Park. Miami(51-73) has lost six consecutive games. Cincinnati(68-57) will go for the four-game series sweep on Sunday. 

Inter Miami CF Take Toronto FC

     Inter Miami CF stopped Toronto FC 3-1 at DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale on Saturday night. The victory gave Inter Miami CF a four-game home winning streak. 

Dolphins Sink Falcons

     The Miami Dolphins knocked off the Atlanta Falcons 37-17 at Hard Rock Stadium on Saturday night. It was the second preseason game for the Dolphins and Falcons. 

St. John Bosco Tops Miami Central

     The St. John Bosco Braves handled the two-time defending FHSAA Class 6A state champion Miami Central Rockets 35-12 on Friday night at Panish Family Stadium in Bellflower, California. It was the opening game for both schools and televised nationally. 

     St. John Bosco scored offensively on their first three possessions of the contest for a 21-0 lead. Running back Jabari Bates made a touchdown reception on the third play of the game. Bates would later add a running touchdown during the first half. Miami Central eventually got two field goals and closed it to 21-6. 

     Bates would give the Braves a 22-point cushion at 28-6 with 11:07 remaining in the fourth quarter. He raced up the middle from 30 yards out for his third touchdown of the game. 

     The Rockets found the end zone with 5:33 left when backup quarterback Dylan Tulloch threw an 11-yard swing pass off to the left for running back Ean Pope. They missed the two-point conversion and trailed 28-12. 

     The Braves increased it to 35-12 with 4:16 to go. Quarterback Pierce Clarkson connected a 55-yard pass to wide receiver Chedon James beyond the secondary for the score. 

Reds Dispose Marlins

     The Miami Marlins fell to the Cincinnati 5-3 on Friday night at Great American Ball Park. It was the second contest of a four-game series between both teams. 

WPBF-TV Adds Sportscasts

     WPBF-TV Channel 25 in West Palm Beach debuted sportscasts for their news programs back on August 2. The sports staff consists of sports director/weekday sports anchor Shayne Wright along with weekday sports reporter/weekend sports anchor Yianni Kourakis. 

     Wright has worked at WPBF-TV for many years as a news anchor and news reporter. He started his broadcasting career as a sportscaster back in 2007. Kourakis, a University of Maryland grad, was the sports director and sportscaster at WPRO-TV in Providence for the past eight years until July. 

      The new WPBF-TV sports department was put in place back in July. It has been quite a while for them to have sportscasts on that television station. Jim Abath was their lead sports anchor over a decade ago.

Anna Logan Joins Bally Sports Florida

     Anna Logan has joined Bally Sports Florida as a sports reporter and studio co-host. She will be a co-host for the Under The Lights high school sports program with Kelly Saco and Jeremy Tache starting on August 23. 

     Logan, a Cal State University-Northridge grad, leaves her post at WPEC-TV Channel 12 in West Palm Beach. She was first seen at CBS 12 in February 2019 as a weekend sports anchor and weekday sports reporter. 

     She was the sports director and sportscaster at KGWN-TV in Cheyenne, Wyoming from August 2016 until January 2019. Logan also was a sideline reporter and studio host for the CSUN Sports Network from 2016 to 2019. 

Dwyer Defeats Plantation

     The Dwyer Panthers got by the Plantation Colonels 22-20 at Blum Stadium on Thursday night in a preseason kickoff classic. The contest was halted in the second half due to a serious injury of a Plantation player. 

    Both schools met each other in the semifinal round of the gold bracket in the Tri-County Championships last season. The Colonels were victorious over Dwyer 41-27. 

     Dwyer got on the scoreboard first on a 12-yard touchdown catch by wide receiver Elijah Hopkins from quarterback Billy Omahen. It became 14-0 for the Panthers in the first quarter when running back Zanai Scott raced up the middle on a touchdown run from 14 yards away. 

Reds Run By Marlins

     The Cincinnati Reds beat the Miami Marlins 6-1 at Great American Ball Park on Thursday night. The Marlins began a short four-game road trip. 

Braves Walk By Marlins

     The Atlanta Braves defeated the Miami Marlins 11-9 at loanDepot park on Wednesday night. The Braves were able to sweep the three-game series from the Marlins. 

     Atlanta(65-56) put up four runs in the fourth inning. Austin Riley drove in Freddie Freeman with a base hit into center field. Riley and Dansby Swanson would both scored on bases-loaded walks. Ozzie Albies capped the frame on a sacrifice fly into right field to score Travis d'Arnaud. 

     In the fifth inning, the Braves increased it to 5-0. Adam Duvall doubled to center field and Freeman reached home. 

     Miami(51-70) got two runs in the bottom of the fifth and trailed 5-2. Jorge Alfaro grounded into a force out and Isan Diaz scored. Miguel Rojas then knocked in Alex Jackson with a single to right. 

     It became 7-2 for Atlanta in the top of the sixth. Freeman crushed a two-run homer to right field on a 2-1 pitch with Jorge Soler aboard for his 27th home run of the season. He also completed the cycle on that play for his second in his MLB career. 

     The Marlins picked up a run during the seventh inning. Brian Anderson grounded out to third and Isan Diaz scored. 

     The Braves piled on four runs in the top of the eighth to make it 11-3. The Fish prolonged the finish with six runs in the bottom of the ninth. 

Buccaneers Waive John Franklin III

     The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have waived former South Plantation Paladins quarterback John Franklin III. He was placed on their player physically unable to perform list back on July 22. 

     Franklin was on their roster last year on their injured reserve list. He did not play last season, however he did win a Super Bowl title. Franklin has played one NFL game in his career back in 2019 and had one carry for 11 yards. 

Braves Shut Out Marlins

     The Miami Marlins were blanked by the Atlanta Braves 2-0 on Tuesday night at loanDepot park. The Braves have won nine straight road games. 

     There would be no scoring until the top of the eighth by Atlanta(64-56). Jorge Soler singled into right field and Abraham Almonte scored. 

     Miami(51-69) gave up another run in the ninth inning. Austin Riley powered a solo home run to center field on a 1-2 pitch for his 26th homer of the 2021 campaign. 

Dolphins Trade For Greg Little

     The Miami Dolphins have acquired offensive lineman Greg Little from the Carolina Panthers for a 2022 seventh-round draft pick. He was drafted by the Panthers with the 37th overall selection in the 2019 NFL Draft. 

     Little had participated for the last two seasons with the Panthers. He was involved in 14 games over the last two years. 

Giants Drop Alfred Morris

     The New York Giants have cut former Florida Atlantic University running back Alfred Morris. He had 55 carries for 238 yards and one touchdown last season with the club. 

     Morris has 6,173 rushing yards during his National Football League career. He previously played for the Washington Redskins, Dallas Cowboys, San Francisco 49ers and Arizona Cardinals. 

Chiefs Cut Antonio Callaway

     The Kansas City Chiefs have released wide receiver Antonio Callaway. He once played for the Booker T. Washington Tornadoes in high school football and the University of Florida Gators in college football. 

     Callaway was with the Cleveland Browns in 2018 and 2019. He was with the Miami Dolphins last season and compiled two pass receptions for 20 yards in five contests. 

Moulton And Miller Out At WFSX-AM

     David Moulton and Mark Miller were let go by WFSX-AM in Fort Myers. They have hosted the morning program on that radio station for the past four years. 

     Moulton and Miller have been on the radio airwaves together in Southwest Florida for over a decade. Both were afternoon co-hosts and then midday co-hosts at WWCN-FM. Their show began at 770 WWCN-AM in the afternoon shift before it added a FM simulcast. Moulton has worked as a sports columnist for The News Press and a sports anchor at WVZN-TV.

Braves Pound Marlins

     The Atlanta Braves bashed the Miami Marlins 12-2 at loanDepot park on Monday night. The Marlins had their four-game winning streak snapped.

     Atlanta(63-56) got a 1-0 lead in the top of the first. Dansby Swanson grounded into a force out for Ozzie Albies to score. 

     Miami(51-68) quickly answered back in their first at-bat of the bottom of the first. Jazz Chisholm Jr. smacked a solo home run on the first pitch to center field. 

     It became 2-1 for the Fish in the second inning. Isan Diaz lifted a solo homer to right field on a 2-2 count. 

     The Braves piled on seven runs in the top of the fourth for an 8-2 lead. Albies singled to center field and Guillermo Heredia reached home. Freddie Freeman blasted a three-run homer to right-center field on a 3-1 pitch for his 26th home run of the year. 

     Swanson later drove in Austin Riley with a single into left-center field. Adam Duvall returned to loanDepot park for the first time and burned his former teammates as he slammed a two-run home run to left field on a 2-1 count.  It was his 27th homer for Duvall during the 2021 season. 

     In the sixth inning, Atlanta expanded their lead to 10-2. Albies knocked in Travis d'Arnaud and Heredia on a base hit up the middle. 

New York City FC Blanks Inter Miami CF

     Inter Miami CF was shut out by New York City FC 2-0 at Red Bulls Arena in Harrison, New Jersey on Saturday night. Inter Miami CF had not lost a contest in four previous games prior to this. 

     New York City FC has not lost a game in their previous seven games. They also compiled their third shutout in the last four contests. 

Marlins Sweep Cubs

     The Miami Marlins swept a three-game series with a 4-1 win over the Chicago Cubs at loanDepot park on Sunday. The Marlins now have a four-game winning streak while the Cubs have fallen in 11 consecutive contests. 

     In the fifth inning, Miami(51-67) scored first. Magneuris Sierra singled into center field to score Jorge Alfaro.

     Chicago(52-68) tied it up during the top of the sixth. Frank Schwindel cracked a solo home run to center field on a 3-2 pitch. 

     The Marlins bounced back and regained the lead 2-1 in the bottom of the sixth. Jazz Chisholm Jr. belted a solo homer to right-center field on a 3-1 count. 

     The Fish made it 4-1 in the seventh inning. Chisholm lined a base hit to right with two outs. Jesus Aguilar followed with a two-run homer to left field on a 0-1 pitch for his 22nd home run of the season. 

Gerd Muller Passes Away

     Former Fort Lauderdale Strikers forward Gerd Muller passes away at the age of 75 on Sunday. He played for the Strikers in the North American Soccer League from 1979 to 1981. Muller compiled 38 goals in 71 contests and helped the club reach the Soccer Bowl in 1980 against the New York Cosmos. 

     Muller, nicknamed Der Bomber, was with Bayern Munich from 1964 until 1979 and scored 398 goals in 453 games. He eventually led West Germany along with Franz Beckenbauer to the World Cup title in 1974 and the European Championship in 1972. 

Marlins Stop Cubs

     The Miami Marlins edged the Chicago Cubs 5-4 on Saturday night at loanDepot park. The Marlins have won three straight games while the Cubs have lost ten consecutive games. 

     Chicago(52-67) moved ahead 1-0 in the top of the fourth. Patrick Wisdom knocked in Rafael Ortega with a single into right field. 

     Miami(50-67) got a two-out rally and took a 3-1 lead in the sixth inning. Brian Anderson lifted a three-run homer to left field on a 3-1 pitch with Jesus Aguilar and Lewis Brinson aboard. 

     The Cubs loaded the bases during the top of the eighth and eventually pulled ahead 4-3. Frank Schwindel doubled down the left-field line for Johneshwy Fargas, Matt Duffy and Ortega to cross the plate. 

     The Marlins reclaimed the lead 5-4 in the bottom of the frame with a pair of runs. Anderson grounded to short and Sergio Alcantara made a fielding error for Jazz Chisholm Jr. to score. Magneuris Sierra then singled through the right side and Lewis Brinson reached home. 

Bears Down Dolphins

     The Chicago Bears got by the Miami Dolphins 20-13 at Soldier Field on Saturday. It was the first of three preseason contests for both teams. 

     Miami raced out to the lead and were up 13-3 by halftime. The Dolphins were held scorelesss during the second half as the Bears overtook them. 

Safid Deen Exits South Florida Sun-Sentinel

     South Florida Sun-Sentinel sportswriter Safid Deen left the organization earlier this week. He has joined USA Today as their NFL insider. 

     Deen was the Miami Dolphins beat writer for the South Florida Sun-Sentinel since August 2018. He was the Florida State University beat reporter for the Orlando Sentinel from 2014 until 2018. 

Armando Salguero Leaving Miami Herald

     Longtime Miami Dolphins beat writer Armando Salguero is exiting the Miami Herald. He will be joining Outkick on August 23 as their senior NFL writer. He will no longer cover the Miami Dolphins on a daily basis.

     Salguero has been a part of Dolphins coverage for that newspaper since the early 1990s. He did have a stint at ESPN as a sports reporter during the 2000s. 

     He also had several South Florida radio stints. Salguero was a sports host for 1700 The Fan WAFN-AM from 1999 until 2000. He co-hosted the morning program with Larry Milian and later Chris Perkins from July 2010 to May 2012 at 640 Sports WMEN-AM. Salguero was a sports insider for Radio.com beginning in February 2019. 

Marlins Slam Cubs

     The Miami Marlins outscored the Chicago cubs 14-10 at loanDepot park on Friday night. The Marlins have won two straight contests following five consecutive losses. 

Florida Panthers Sign Joe Thornton

     The Florida Panthers have signed veteran center Joe Thornton to a one-year contract worth the league minimum $750,000. He played last season with the Toronto Maple Leafs and compiled five goals along with 15 assists in 44 games. 

     He was drafted by the Boston Bruins and was there for eight seasons until November 2006. Thornton was traded to the San Jose Sharks and stayed there for 15 seasons. He won the Hart Trophy and Art Ross Trophy during the 2005-06 campaign with a league-leading 96 assists and 125 points. 

     Thornton is currently the active career leader with 1,104 assists and 1,529 points. He is seventh all-time in NHL history for assists. Thornton has played in 1,680 games which stands at second among active players and sixth all-time in the history of the National Hockey League. 

West Palm Beach Ratings July 2021

     The radio ratings for the West Palm Beach region were issued. The time span went from the third week of June to the third week of July. 

     Fox Sports 640 South Florida WMEN-AM stayed at a 0.5 in the month. The New York Yankees were on the outside for postseason contention. 

     Sports Radio 1230 The Zone WBZT-AM remained at a 0.0 for the sixth straight month. They have ended with the same result in 16 of the last 17 months. The Marlins continued to stay last in the National League East. 

Marlins Finish Padres And Road Trip

     The Miami Marlins took down the San Diego Padres 7-0 at Petco Park on Wednesday. The Marlins began their recent six-game road swing with five consecutive losses.

     Miami(48-67) blitzed with three runs in the top of the first. Isan Diaz drove in Miguel Rojas on a double to right field. Two batters later, Lewis Brinson belted a two-run homer on a 0-1 count to left field that bounced off the top edge of the wall and over the fence.

     The Marlins expanded their lead to 4-0 in the second inning. Bryan De La Cruz cracked his first home run in the majors on a 2-0 pitch to left field. 

     It became a five-run gap for the Fish in the top of the third. Brinson smashed his second home run of the contest and seventh of the year on a 1-0 count to center field. It was the third multi-homer game for Brinson in his MLB career. 

     In the fifth inning, San Diego(66-50) trailed 6-0. Brian Anderson singled up the middle for Jorge Alfaro to score. 

     Miami made it a seven-run cushion in the top of the eighth. Rojas walked with the bases loaded and Joe Panik scored. 

Florida Panthers Sign Sam Reinhart

     The Florida Panthers have signed forward Sam Reinhart. It is a three-year contract between him and the club worth $19.5 million. 

     Reinhart was acquired by the Panthers from the Buffalo Sabres back on July 24. He had 25 goals and 15 assists in 54 games with Buffalo last season.  

One More Season For Udonis Haslem

     Forward Udonis Haslem will re-sign with the Miami Heat for a one-year deal at $2.6 million. It will be the 19th season for Haslem with the club. 

     Haslem was involved in just one regular season game with the Heat in 2020-21. He played three minutes and scored four points in the home finale before being ejected. Haslem has appeared in just 45 games in the previous five seasons. 

     He has played in more seasons than any player in Miami Heat franchise history. Haslem along with Dwyane Wade won three NBA titles with Miami in 2006, 2012 and 2013. 

Padres Edge Marlins

     The Miami Marlins fell to the San Diego Padres 6-5 on Tuesday night at Petco Park. The Marlins extended their losing streak on the road trip to five games. The Fish are now 11-23 in contests decided by one run. 

Miami Ratings July 2021

     The ratings were released for sports talk radio stations in the Miami/Fort Lauderdale area. The time span went from the third week of June until the third week of July. 

     Sports Talk 790 The Ticket WAXY-AM stayed at a 0.9 in the period. It was the first full month that Jonathan Zaslow hosted the midday show without a co-host since the departure of Amber Wilson.  

     Sports Radio 560 WQAM-AM remained at a a 0.6 in the month. WQAM added BetQL Network programming from Audacy during evenings and on weekends beginning in early July. 

     Miami Sports 940 WINZ-AM ended at a 0.2 for the fifth straight month. The Marlins continued to stay in last place in the National League East. 

Paul Mason Adds Tennessee Titans Role

     Former local programmer Paul Mason has added duties as head of programming operations of the Tennessee Titans Radio Network. He remains the program director for WGFX-FM in Nashville. 

     Mason was in Palm Beach County prior to arriving in Tennessee. He was the program director for both Fox Sports 640 South Florida WMEN-AM and 850 WFTL-AM from March 2017 until April 2020. 

Padres Step By Marlins

     The San Diego Padres sailed by the Miami Marlins 8-3 at Petco Park on Monday night. The Marlins have lost four straight games and five of their last six. 
     Miami(47-66) scored first during the top of the second. Magneuris Sierra knocked in Lewis Brinson on a base hit to left field. 

     San Diego(65-49) answered back in the bottom of the frame. Eric Hosmer bashed a solo home run to right-center field on a 1-2 pitch for his 10th homer of the year. 

     The Padres made it 2-1 in the third inning. Manny Machado got with a single into right field and Tommy Pham scored. 

     In the fourth inning, it became 4-1 for the Friars. Victor Caratini drove in Hosmer with a single through the right side. Joe Musgrove followed with a sacrifice fly to deep right and Trent Grisham crossed the plate. 

     The Marlins closed the gap to 4-3 in the top of the eighth. Brinson smacked a two-run homer down the left-field line off the foul pole with Isan Diaz aboard on a 1-0 count. 

     San Diego extended it to 8-3 with four runs in the bottom of the eighth. Hosmer connected a single into left-center field and Machado reached home. After an infield hit by Wil Myers to third, Grisham lined a triple into the left-field corner for Hosmer and Myers to score. Grisham would later score on a sacrifice fly by Caratini to right. 

Inter Miami CF Barely Beat Nashville SC

     Inter Miami CF slipped by Nashville SC 2-1 at DRV PNK Stadium on Sunday night. The victory gave Inter Miami CF two wins in their last three contests. They have not lost in their last four games. 

     Nashville SC made it 1-0 at the 48th minute on a tally by C.J. Sapong. Inter Miami CF answered back with a goal by Gonzalo Higuian during the 60th minute. They picked up the winning goal five minutes into injury time in the second half as Indiana Vassilev scored. 

D'Eriq King Signs NIL With Florida Panthers

     University of Miami Hurricanes quarterback D'Eriq King has signed a NIL agreement with the Florida Panthers. King is the first collegiate athlete to sign a deal like this with a professional sports team. 

     The United States Supreme Court voted and gave their opinion on NIL agreements several months ago. College players can now accept money from different sponsors and businesses as of July 1. 

     King transferred from the University of Houston to the University of Miami in 2020. He completed 183 passes for 2,334 yards and 20 touchdowns last season with the Canes. 

Rockies Rout Marlins Again

     The Colorado Rockies swept a three-game series with a 13-8 victory on Sunday at Coors Field. The Rockies outscored the Marlins 34-14 in the three-game set. The Marlins move on to San Diego and face the Padres on Monday. 

     Miami(47-65) jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first inning. Jesus Aguilar knocked in Miguel Rojas on a base hit into center field. 

     It would come crashing down on them by Colorado(51-61) over the next four innings. They got three runs in the bottom of the first and four runs during the bottom of the second. 

     The Rockies made it 11-1 in the fourth inning. C.J. Cron blasted a grand-slam homer to left-center field on a 3-1 pitch. It was his second home run of the contest and 18th of the season. 

Bobby Bowden Passes Away

     Former Florida State University head coach Bobby Bowden passed away on Sunday at the age of 91. He led the Seminoles to two national championships in 1993 and 1999. Bowden coached FSU in numerous rivalry games against the University of Miami Hurricanes and University of Florida Gators. 

     He was the head coach of Florida State from 1976 to 2009. Bowden finished with a 377-129-4 overall record in college football and a 21-10-1 record in bowl games. 

     Bowden had recruited players from the South Florida region during his long reign as a college football head coach. He did come out of retirement and coached the North Team in the Battle of Florida College All-Star Game against former University of Miami and Florida Atlantic University head coach Howard Schnellenberger at FAU Stadium in January 2012. Bowden's squad ended up winning the contest 51-3. 

Stu Barnes Leaves Seattle Kraken

     Former Florida Panthers center Stu Barnes has left the Seattle Kraken organization. He worked as a professional scout since 2020.  

     Barnes will take over as the head coach of the Tri-City Americans in the Western Hockey League. He is a co-owner of that hockey club. Barnes was a player for them for two seasons prior to his National Hockey League career. 

     He was acquired by the Florida Panthers in their inaugural NHL campaign during the 1993-94 season. Barnes contributed to the Panthers winning the Eastern Conference title in 1995-96. He was dealt in November 1996 along with Jason Woolley to the Pittsburgh Penguins for Chris Wells in one of the worst trades in franchise history. 

Rockies Storm Marlins

     The Colorado Rockies handled the Miami Marlins 7-4 on Saturday night at Coors Field. The Rockies have outscored the Marlins 21-6 in the first two games of the three-game series. 

     Colorado(50-61) pulled out with seven unanswered runs. They had one run in the second, three runs in the fourth and three runs in the fifth.  

     Miami(47-64) tried to make it a contest. The Marlins were able to compile four runs in the top of the seventh.

Rockies Smash Marlins

     The Colorado Rockies pounded the Miami Marlins 14-2 at Coors Field on Friday night. It was the first game of a six-game road trip for Miami(47-63).  

     Colorado(49-61) put up one run in the second and third innings. The Rockies piled on nine more runs during the bottom of the fourth for an 11-run cushion. 

Kevin Dineen New Utica Comets Coach

     The Utica Comets have named Kevin Dineen as their new head coach. Utica is the new American Hockey League affiliate of the New Jersey Devils. He spent the last two seasons as the Anaheim Ducks AHL head coach with the San Diego Gulls. 

     Dineen is best known locally in South Florida as the former head coach of the Florida Panthers from 2011 until November 2013. He led the Panthers to the first division championship in franchise history as they captured the Southeast Division in 2011-12. Dineen also guided the club to the Stanley Cup Playoffs that season and snapped an NHL record 12-year drought. 

Cameron Wolfe Joins NFL Network

     ESPN Miami Dolphins reporter Cameron Wolfe has joined NFL Network. He will work for NFL.com and continue to write about the Miami Dolphins. Wolfe started on the Dolphins beat back in 2018. 

     Wolfe, a University of Houston grad, began to cover the Denver Broncos for the Denver Post. He then moved on to ESPN in 2017 and reported on the Tennessee Titans. 

Panthers Re-Sign Chase Priskie

     The Florida Panthers have re-signed defenseman Chase Priskie. It is a one-year, two-way contract between the club and him. 

     Priskie is a native from Pembroke Pines. He played last season in the American Hockey League with Syracuse. Priskie had three goals and four assists in 15 games during 2020-21. 

Marlins Defeat Mets

     The Miami Marlins beat the New York Mets 4-2 at loanDepot park on Thursday. The Marlins took three games of the four-game series between both teams. The Fish head out west for a six-game road trip while the Mets travel to Philadelphia. 

     Miami(47-62) had a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third. Jazz Chisholm Jr. drove in Miguel Rojas with a sacrifice fly to left field. 

     New York(56-52) tied the contest in the top of the sixth. Jonathan Villar singled to left field for Albert Almora to score. 

     In the eighth inning, the Marlins compiled three runs for a 4-1 gap. Jorge Alfaro singled into right field and Rojas reached home. Lewis Brinson then knocked in Chisholm and Alfaro on a double to right field. 

     The Mets loaded the bases during the ninth inning. Brandon Drury got an infield hit to short and Pete Alonso crossed the plate. 

Joe Looney Retiring

     Another well known former South Florida high school football player may be retiring from the National Football League. It looks like New York Giants offensive lineman Joe Looney is about to retire. Former St. Thomas Aquinas offensive lineman Sam Young announced his retirement of Tuesday. 

     Looney recently signed with the New York Giants on Saturday. He graduated from Lake Worth High School where he was considered the best offensive lineman in Palm Beach County when he played for the Trojans. 

Mets Slip By Marlins

     The New York Mets defeated the Miami Marlins 5-3 on Wednesday night at loanDepot park. The Marlins have lost six of their last eight contests while the Mets ended a three-game losing streak. 

     New York(56-51) collected three runs during the top of the second. Jonathan Villar grounded out to second and Dominic Smith scored. Tomas Nido followed with a fielder's choice to first and Javier Baez beat the throw home. It just worse for the Fish when Zach Thompson made a throwing error from in front of the mound on an attempted double play and Michael Conforto rambled home on the play. 

     Miami(46-62) trailed 3-2 in the bottom of the fifth. Joe Panik knocked in Jorge Alfaro on a base hit into center field. Jazz Chisholm Jr. came up next and grounded into a force out for Bryan De La Cruz to score.

     In the sixth inning, the Marlins evened it up 3-3. Jesus Aguilar pounded a solo home run to left field on a 2-1 pitch for his 19th homer of the year.

     It became 5-3 for the Mets during the top of the eighth. Baez powered a solo homer to right field on a 1-2 count for his 24th home run of the season. Conforto later reached home on a passed ball when Brandon Nimmo walked. 

Sam Young Retires

     Former St. Thomas Aquinas and Miami Dolphins offensive lineman Sam Young retired from the National Football League on Tuesday. He was with the Raiders last season in their first year playing in Las Vegas. Young participated in 11 games and started in seven contests. 

     Young spent his freshman year in high school with Pine Crest. He transferred to St. Thomas Aquinas and reached the FHSAA Class 5A state title game two straight years with the Raiders in 2004 and 2005.

     He was in the NFL for 11 seasons. Young had stints with the Dallas Cowboys, Buffalo Bills, Jacksonville Jaguars, Miami Dolphins, San Francisco 49ers and Las Vegas Raiders. He played in 30 games with the Dolphins from 2016 until 2018. 

Miami Dolphins Find More Tight Ends

     The Miami Dolphins have a shortage of tight ends currently on the roster due to health concerns. They solved that by signing three tight ends. 

     The Dolphins inked Gabe Holmas, Kalif Jackson and Sal Cannala. None of those players have made a pass reception in the National Football League. 

Miami Heat To Sign Victor Oladipo

     The Miami Heat are about to sign Victor Oladipo to a new contact. The deal is expected to be the minimum amount for a veteran player. 

     Oladipo was traded twice during the 2020-21 season. He was acquired by the Heat from the Houston Rockets on March 25 for Kelly Olynyk and Avery Bradley. Oladipo just played four contests for Miami and averaged 12.0 points, 3.5 assists and 3.5 rebounds per game. 

Heat Pick Up Markieff Morris

     The Miami Heat have added forward Markieff Morris to their team roster. It is a one-year contract for the league minimum. 

     Markieff had been in the NBA for 10 seasons. He played the last two seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers and helped that club win the 2020 NBA title over the Miami Heat. Markieff averaged 6.7 points and 4.4 rebounds last season. 

Marlins Hold Off Mets

     The Miami Marlins dropped the New York Mets 5-4 on Tuesday night at loanDepot park. The Marlins won the first two contests of this four-game series. The Mets have fallen in seven of their last 10 games. 

     Miami(46-61) got in front 1-0 in the bottom of the second. Alan Jackson connected on a 3-2 pitch to center field for his first home run in the majors.

     In the third inning, the Marlins expanded it to 4-0. Isan Diaz lifted a solo home run to right-center field on a 2-1 count for his third homer of the campaign. The Fish later loaded the bases for Bryan De La Cruz to drive in Jesus Aguilar and Lewis Brinson on a base hit up the middle.

     New York(55-51) closed it to 4-1 in the top of the fourth. Dominic Smith hit a sacrifice fly to left and Jeff McNeil crossed the plate. 

     The Mets made it 4-3 in the sixth inning. Pete Alonso was able to score on a sacrifice fly to center field by Smith. J.D. Davis followed with a double off the the right-center field wall and McNeil reached home. 

     The Fish extended it to 5-3 in the bottom of the eighth. Jorge Alfaro knocked in Brinson with a double into deep center. 

     New York made one last charge in the ninth inning. James McCann lined a double into the right-field corner and Davis easily scored. 

High School Football Training Camps Open

     High school football training camps opened up throughout South Florida on Monday. Teams can conduct practices with contact as of August 6. Preseason kickoff classics will happen in a couple of weeks following by the start of the regular season near the end of August. 

     There are different circumstances than in 2020 during the coronavirus pandemic. Some high schools moved forward to have practices on August 24 last year while other high schools waited until early September. 

Dolphins Cut D.J. Fluker

     The Miami Dolpihns have released offensive lineman D.J. Fluker. He was placed on the injured reserve list last week. Fluker will receive an injury settlement with his release by the club. 

     Fluker had played eight seasons in the National Football League. He had stints with the San Diego Chargers, New York Giants, Seattle Seahawks and Baltimore Ravens. Fluker was involved in all 16 regular season games with the Ravens last season. 

Gabe Vincent Reups With Heat

     Gabe Vincent has agreed to remain with the Miami Heat. He is expected to sign a two-year, $3.5 million contract with the club. 

     Vincent has been with the Heat for the past two seasons. He was part of the squad during his rookie year that won the Eastern Conference title in 2020. Vincent compiled 4.8 points, 1.1 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game last season. 

Dewayne Dedmon Remains With Heat

     Dewayne Dedmon has re-signed to stay with the Miami Heat. It is a one-year deal between him and the team. 

     Dedmon joined the Heat for the 2020-21 season. He ended up averaging 7.1 points along with 5.8 rebounds per game. 

Max Strus Re-Signs With Heat

     The Miami Heat continued to comprise their roster as they re-signed forward Max Strus. It is a two-year deal at $3.5 million. 

     Strus was in his first season with the Heat in 2020-21. He averaged 6.1 points and 1.1 rebounds in 39 contests last season. 

Marlins Outduel Mets

     The Miami Marlins downed the New York Mets 6-3 at loanDepot park on Monday night. The win snapped the Marlins four-game losing streak. 

     Miami(45-61) rocketed out to a 4-0 lead in the bottom of the first. Lewis Brinson smacked a grand-slam homer to right field on a 2-1 pitch. Jazz Chisholm Jr., Miguel Rojas and Jesus Aguilar scored in front of him on the play. 

     New York(55-50) cut into the deficit in the next two innings. Javier Baez scored on a Jesus Luzardo wild pitch. Luzardo made his Marlins debut after being acquired from the Oakland A's. Brandon Drury then doubled into left field and J.D. Davis crossed the plate. 

     In the third inning, the Mets made it 4-3. Pete Alonso blasted a solo home run to left field on a 1-1 count for his 24th homer of the year. 

     The Marlins responded in the bottom of third to get a two-run gap. Isan Diaz doubled to right field and Brinson reached home. 

Miami Heat Re-Sign Jimmy Butler

     The Miami Heat have re-signed guard to a new deal. It is a four-year maximum extension contract worth well over $150 million. 

     Butler came to Miami in a trade with the Philadelphia 76ers. He helped the Heat win the Eastern Conference title in 2020 during his first season with the club. Butler averaged 21.5 points, 7.1 assists, 6.9 rebounds and 2.1 steals in 52 regular season games last season. 

Miami Heat Acquire And Sign Kyle Lowry

     The Miami Heat have acquired Kyle Lowry from the the Toronto Raptors. He agreed to a sign-and-trade deal for three years at $90 million. The Heat sent Goran Dragic and Precious Achiuwa to the Raptors in the trade. 

     Lowry has played his last nine seasons in the National Basketball Association with the Raptors. He captured the NBA title with that club in 2019 as they defeated the Golden State Warriors, 

Heat Ink P.J. Tucker

     P.J. Tucker has joined the Miami Heat and signed a two-year deal at $15 million. He reunites with former Toronto Raptors teammate Kyle Lowry. 

     Tucker was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks from the Atlanta Hawks during the 2020-21 season. He ended up contributing to the Bucks winning their first NBA championship in 50 years. 

Heat Extends Duncan Robinson

     Duncan Robinson has re-signed with the Miami Heat. The terms of the deal between him and the club is five years for $90 million. 

     Robinson joined the Miami Heat in the 2018-19 season. He helped the Heat win the Eastern Conference title in 2020 with 13.5 points per game in the regular season. Robinson averaged 13.1 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.8 assists last season. 

Kelly Olynyk Joins Pistons

     Former Miami Heat player Kelly Olynyk has agreed to a three-year contract with the Detroit Pistons. The deal between him and that club is worth $37 million. 

     Olynyk was with the Miami Heat from 2017 to 2021. He helped the Heat win the Eastern Conference title in 2020. 

     He was traded along with Avery Bradley to the Houston Rockets for Victor Oladipo on March 25. Olynyk averaged 13.5 points, 7.0 rebounds and 2.9 assists in 70 combined games with both teams in 2020-21. 

Karen Crouse Leaves New York Times

     Former local sportswriter Karen Crouse has left the New York Times sports department. She announced her resignation back on Friday. She started covering the New York Jets for that newspaper in 2005. Crouse later reported on tennis, golf and the United States Olympics Team. 

     Crouse, a University of Southern California grad, was the UCLA beat reporter for the Orange County Register. She came to South Florida and became a sportswriter for the Palm Beach Post. 

Giants Get Joe Looney And Alfred Morris

     The New York Giants have made two free agent signings. Both players have a connection to Palm Beach County. 

     Joe Looney signed with the club on Saturday. Looney is a Lake Worth High School grad and went on to play college football with Wake Forest University. He had stops as an offensive lineman in the NFL with the San Francisco 49ers, Tennessee Titans and Dallas Cowboys. 

     Former Florida Atlantic University running back Alfred Morris rejoined the Giants on Monday. He compiled 55 carries for 238 rushing yards and one touchdown last year with New York. Morris previously had stints with the Washington Redskins, Dallas Cowboys, San Francisco 49ers and Arizona Cardinals. He has rushed for 6,173 yards during his nine-year NFL career. 

Panthers Re-Sign Sam Montembeault

     The Florida Panthers have reupped goalie Sam Montembeault with a new deal. It is a one-year, two-way contract worth $750,000. 

     Montembeault has been in the Florida Panthers organization for several years and played only with Syracuse in the American Hockey League during 2020-21. 

     He did participate a combined 25 contests during 2018-19 and 2019-20. with the Panthers He chalked up a 9-8 record with a .892 save percentage and 3.20 goals against average. 

Yankees Sweep Marlins

     The New York Yankees finished off a three-game sweep of the Miami Marlins with a 3-1 win at loanDepot park on Sunday. The Marlins will next host the New York Mets on Monday to begin a four-game series. 

     Miami(44-61) moved out to a 1-0 lead in the second inning. Brian Anderson grounded out to third for Miguel Rojas to score. 

     New York(56-48) took the lead 2-1 in the top of the eighth. Anthony Rizzo got a base hit to left field and Brett Gardner reached home. Aaron Judge later singled through the left side and Giancarlo Stanton scored. 

     The Yankees added an insurance run in the ninth inning. Gardner reached base on a fielding error by Jazz Chisholm Jr. and Gleyber Torres crossed the plate. 

Goran Dragic Stays With Heat

     The Miami Heat will pick up the team option on guard Goran Dragic. He will be receiving $19.4 million for the upcoming 2021-22 campaign.

     Dragic averaged 13.4 points, 4.4 assists and 3.4 rebounds per game last season. He was part of the Heat team that won the 2020 Eastern Conference championship. 

Andre Iguodala Gone From Miami Heat

     The Miami Heat have decided not to exercise the team option on the contract for Andre Iguodala. He was expected to make $15 million and now will become a free agent. Iguodala had participated in six consecutive NBA Finals until this past year. 

     Iguodala was acquired by the Heat back in February 2020 in a trade with the Memphis Grizzlies. He helped the Heat win the 2020 Eastern Conference title before they fell to the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2020 NBA Finals. Iguodala averaged 4.4 points and 3.5 rebounds per contest in 63 games last season with Miami. 

Panthers Ink Zac Dalpe

     The Florida Panthers signed right wing Zac Dalpe to a deal earlier this weekend. It is a two-year, two-way contract. 

     Dalpe has been in the National Hockey League with the Columbus Blue Jackets in three of the last four seasons. He compiled two goals and one assist in 12 games with the Blue Jackets last season. 

Chad Wallach Off To Dodgers

     Miami Marlins catcher Chad Wallach was picked up on waivers earlier this weekend by the Los Angeles Dodgers. He will be a third option on the depth chart for the Dodgers in the catcher position behind Will Smith and Austin Barnes. 

     Wallach has played for the last four seasons with Marlins following a one-year stint with the Cincinnati Reds. He had six runs batted in and a .200 batting average with the Marlins during the 2021 season. Wallach was involved in 71 contests with the Fish over the past four years and compiled three home runs, 20 runs batted in and a .213 batting average. 

Don Mattingly Contracts Coronavirus

     Miami Marlins manager Don Mattingly has the coronavirus and was notified of it on Saturday. He will not be with the club in games for the next couple of days. The Marlins are in the middle of a three-game series against the former club he played for which are the New York Yankees. 

     Mattingly recently mutually consented to stay for another season as the Marlins manager. The Marlins bench coach James Rowson will manage the team during Mattingly's absence.