Wrestlemania 40th Anniversary

     Today is the 40th anniversary of Wrestlemania. The first Wrestlemania was held on March 31, 1985 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. There was one South Florida location that broadcast the closed-circuit event. 

     The local area at that time was known as a National Wrestling Alliance territory. It was called Championship Wrestling from Florida and the play-by-play announcer was Gordon Solie. They held monthly events at Sunrise Music Center in Broward County, West Palm Beach Auditorium in Palm Beach County and Miami Beach Convention Center in Dade County. 

     The World Wrestling Federation made inroads in South Florida over the next couple of years. One shocking situation was the WWF holding an event at James L. Knight Center in Miami on January 2, 1987. The University of Miami Hurricanes played Penn State for the college football national championship at the same time. 

Mets Mash Marlins

     The New York Mets steamrolled the Miami Marlins 10-4 at loanDepot park on Monday night. The Marlins continued their seven-game homestand. 

     Miami(3-2) scored the first run in the opening frame. New York(2-2) would counter with 10 runs in the next five innings. The Mets put seven runs during the top of the fifth. 

Heat Streak By Wizards

     The Miami Heat walked by the Washington Wizards 120-94 on Monday night at Capital One Arena. The Heat expanded their winning streak to five games. 

     Miami(34-41) rocketed out to a 36-23 lead by the end of the first quarter. Washington(16-59) was down 58-47 at halftime.

     The Heat gained momentum in the second half and led 92-75 after three quarters. They stayed in front with no problems during the final quarter. 

     Bam Adebayo pulled off a double-double with a team-high 28 points and 12 rebounds for Miami. Tyler Herro added 27 points in the victory. 

     Jordan Poole led the Wizards with a game-high 35 points. Tristan Vukcevic came off the bench with 14 points. 

Griffin Conine Leads Marlins Over Pirates

     The Miami Marlins outmatched the Pittsburgh Pirates 3-2 at loanDepot park on Sunday. The Marlins took three of the four games in the opening series of the 2025 season with three walk-off wins. 

     Jeff Conine was inducted as the first member of the Marlins Legends Hall of Fame in a pregame ceremony. Conine, known as Mr. Marlin, is the only person in franchise history to play on both World Series championship teams in 1997 and 2003. Jim Leyland, Jack McKeon and Luis Castillo will be placed in the Marlins Legends Hall of Fame later this year. 

     Pittsburgh(1-3) was able to get up 2-0 earlier in the contest. Miami(3-1) tied it up 2-2 in the bottom of the seventh inning when Griffin Conine blasted a two-run homer to left-center field.  

     The Marlins picked up a walk-off victory in the ninth inning. Derek Hill reached base on an infield hit, stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error. He scored on a David Bednar wild pitch. 

Canadiens Hustle Panthers

     The Florida Panthers lost to the Montreal Canadiens 4-2 on Sunday at Amerant Bank Arena. The Panthers had their seven-game home winning streak snapped. The Habs ended a five-game losing streak.

Inter Miami CF Break Union

     Inter Miami CF held off the Philadelphia Union 2-1 at Chase Stadium on Saturday night. The Herons had not played a Major League Soccer regular season game in two weeks. Both clubs have the two best records in the Eastern Conference. 

     The Herons got out to a 1-0 lead on a goal by Robert Taylor in the 23rd minute. Inter Miami CF(4-0-1) increased it to 2-0 in the 57th minute when Lionel Messi scored on a feed from Luis Suarez.

     Philadelphia(4-0-2) broke the shutout during the 80th minute of play. Daniel Gazdag was able to power in a shot.  

Heat Breeze By 76ers

     The Miami Heat moved by the Philadelphia 76ers 118-95 at Wells Fargo Center on Saturday night. The Heat extended their winning streak to four games.  

     Miami(33-41) scooted out to a 33-29 advantage after one quarter. They were to extend to 62-53 by halftime. 

     Philadelphia(23-51) fell more behind 96-75 by the conclusion of the third quarter. The Heat kept a double-digit lead in the final quarter. 

     Tyler Herro collected a game-high 30 points for Miami. Alec Burks had 20 points while Bam Adebayo scored 16 points. Kel'el Ware got a double-double of 13 points and 14 rebounds. Jared Butler led the 76ers with a club-high 19 points. 

Marlins Survive Pirates

     The Miami Marlins outbattled the Pittsburgh Pirates 5-4 in 12 innings at loanDepot park on Saturday. The Fish have been victorious in two of their first three contests this season. 

Pirates Sail By Marlins

     The Pittsburgh Pirates got by the Miami Marlins 4-3 on Friday night at loanDepot park. The Marlins continued their four-game set with the Bucs. 

Panthers Get By Utah

     The Florida Panthers edged the Utah Hockey Club 2-1 in overtime at Amerant Bank Arena on Friday night. Both teams faced each other for the first time ever in Sunrise. The Arizona Coyotes moved their franchise to Utah during the offseason. 

     Brad Marchand made his debut with Florida. The Panthers have won seven straight home games. The Cats did not play a contest in the past four days. 

     Florida(44-25-3) won the game at the 4:18 mark of overtime. Marchand made a centering pass from behind the cage. Sam Bennett backhanded a shot from the lower left circle for his second tally of the contest and 25th goal of the season. 

West Palm Beach Ratings February 2025

     The ratings were issued for West Palm Beach sports format radio stations. The time span went from the first week of February to the first week of March.

     Fox Sports 640 South Florida WMEN-AM remained at a 0.4 in the month. The Florida Atlantic University men's basketball team were approaching the end of their 2024-25 campaign. 

     Sports Radio 1230 The Gambler WBZT-AM surprisingly dropped from a 0.2 to a 0.0 in the period. The Florida were at the top of the Atlantic Division standings. The Miami Marlins had some of their spring training games on the air. 

Marlins Win Season Opener Against Pirates

     The Miami Marlins opened up the 2025 regular season with a 5-4 comeback victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates at loanDepot park on Thursday. The Marlins began their 33rd season in Major League Baseball and their 14th home opener at their current stadium. 

     The Marlins took a 1-0 lead early in the contest. They were able to pick up one run against reigning National League Rookie of the Year and Pirates starting pitcher Paul Skenes. 

     Pittsburgh(0-1) was able to get a three-run margin 4-1 with two runs in the fifth against Marlins starting pitcher Sandy Alcantara and two runs in the sixth. 

     Miami(1-0) pulled off a comeback in the later innings. They collected one run in the sixth, two runs during the eighth and the game-winning run in the bottom of the ninth. 

Heat Fire On Hawks

     The Miami Heat knocked off  the Atlanta Hawks 122-112 on Thursday night at Kaseya Center. The Heat finished up a five-game homestand with a three-game winning streak. 

     Atlanta(35-38) ripped out to a 32-22 advantage after one quarter. Miami(32-41) came back and took a 60-55 lead by halftime. 

     The Heat extended their lead to 93-80 by the conclusion of the third quarter. The Hawks could not chip enough off the lead during the fourth quarter. 

     Tyler Herro led the Heat with a game-high 36 points. Andrew Wiggins and Davion Mitchell both scored 16 points each. Bam Adebayo composed a double-double of 12 points and 10 rebounds. 

     Trae Young had a double-double for the Hawks with 29 points and 12 assists. Caris LeVert was able to add 17 points. 

Eduardo Perez On MLB Network

     Eduardo Perez will be joining MLB Network as a morning co-host of Diggin Deep from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. It is simulcast of the final hour of his MLB Network Radio morning program The Leadoff Show on SiriusXM Radio with Steve Phillips.  

     Perez, son of former Marlins baseball executive Tony Perez, will work his final season with ESPN as a Sunday Night Baseball game analyst. He once was a Miami Marlins television game analyst.

Jimmy Butler & Warriors Lose To Heat

      Jimmy Butler returned to Miami for the first time since being traded as the Golden State Warriors lost to the Miami Heat 112-86 at Kaseya Center on Tuesday night. He was dealt away for Andrew Wiggins and several other players. Butler led the Heat to two Eastern Conference titles in 2020 and 2023.    

     The Heat have won two straight contests following a 10-game losing streak. They are in the middle of a five-game homestand. Stephen Curry did not play for the Warriors tonight. 

     Miami(31-41) began the contest with a 16-9 spurt and led 28-22 at the end of the first quarter. The Heat expanded their lead during the second quarter were ahead 57-40 at halftime. 

     Golden State(41-31) responded late in the third quarter with 10 consecutive points and were down 83-70 at  the end of the frame. The Heat pulled away during the final quarter.   

     Bam Adebayo finished with a game-high 27 points and eight rebounds for Miami. Kel'el Ware compiled a double-double of 14 points and 10 rebounds. Tyler Herro scored 20 points while Wiggins had 10 points. 

     Butler ended up with just 11 points in his return. Draymond Green was held to two points and Gary Payton II had four points for the Warriors. Jonathan Kuminga came off the bench with a club-high 15 points. 

Miami Ratings February 2025

     The ratings were released for Miami/Fort Lauderdale sports talk format radio stations. The time span went from the first week in February to the first week in March. 

     AM 560 Sports WQAM-AM remained at a 1.1 for the month. The Florida Panthers were tied in the Atlantic Division standings with the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Miami Heat were barely over the .500 mark with a 29-32 record. The University of Miami men's basketball were near the conclusion of a bad 2024-25 campaign with their worst winning percentage in school history and had been eliminated from being involved in the upcoming ACC Tournament. 

     Fox Sports 940 WINZ-AM fell from a 0.4 to a 0.3 in the period. NASCAR opened up their 2025 season while the Miami Marlins started their spring training. The University of Florida Gators men's basketball team continued to roll in the tough competitive SEC. 

     Fox Sports 640 South Florida WMEN-AM improved from a 0.0 to a 0.1. The Florida Atlantic University Owls men's basketball squad was finishing up a horrible season. 

     The WQAM stream went from a 0.1 after two months to a 0.0. The WINZ streaming on WZTU-FM-HD2 rose from a 0.2 to a 0.3.    

Atlanta Drive GC Wins SoFi Cup

     Atlanta Drive GC swept New York Golf Club 6-3 in Match 2 of the SoFi Cup Finals at SoFi Center on the Palm Beach State College campus in Palm Beach Gardens on Tuesday night to capture the 2025 SoFi Cup. Atlanta Drive GC was victorious 6-5 in Match 1 on Monday night. 

     It was the inaugural season of TGL. The concept of an indoor golf league was co-founded by Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy. 

Kendall Lamm Going To Eagles

     Miami Dolphins offensive lineman Kendall Lamm is heading for the Philadelphia Eagles. He will sign a one-year contract with the club. 

     Lamm had played the past three seasons with the Dolphins. He had previous NFL stints with the Houston Texans, Cleveland Browns and Tennessee Titans. 

Marlins End Spring Training

     The Miami Marlins will end their spring training camp on Tuesday. They will host the New York Yankees at loanDepot park in Miami tomorrow. 

     The Marlins will begin their 2025 regular season on Thursday. The Fish will have their home opener against the Pittsburgh Pirates. 

Panthers Shoot By Penguins

     The Florida Panthers defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins 4-3 in a shootout at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise on Sunday night. The Panthers came off a six-game road trip and have been victorious in six consecutive home games. The Cats have not played at home since March 8. 

     Florida(43-25-3) pushed out to a 1-0 advantage with 8:35 remaining in the first period. Sam Reinhart got to a loose puck and snapped a shot from the inner left circle past Tristan Jarry for his 34th goal of the season. 

     Pittsburgh(29-32-11) answered back on the power play with 5:34 to go in the first. Sidney Crosby backhanded a pass from the left corner and Erik Karlsson sent a diagonal pass from the left point. Bryan Rust collected his 24th goal this season on a backhand shot from the top of the crease by Sergei Bobrovsky. 

     The Pens make it 2-1 with 33.9 seconds left in the period. Rickard Rakell forwarded a pass from his own blue line. Crosby entered the Panthers zone and lobbed it from the right wing. Rust one-handed the puck in midair from the crease into the net for his second tally of the contest and 25th of the campaign. 

     In the second period, the Penguins increased their lead to 3-1 with the man advantage at the 6:50 mark. Matt Grzelcyk angled a pass from the high slot. Rust passed from the left goal line and Evgeni Malkin blasted a one-time slap shot from the left-circle dot for his 15th goal in 2024-25. 

     The Panthers closed it to 3-2 at 9:25 of the second on the power play. Bobrovsky held the puck up and Aleksander Barkov. He brought it into the neutral zone and connected a cross-ice pass. Reinhart raced with it through the right circle and released a forehand shot from the low slot to chalk up his second goal of the game and 35th goal of the season.

     The Cats tied it 3-3 with 5:31 remaining in the third period. Nate Schmidt dropped the puck from the right wing. Eetu Luostarien angled a pass from the high slot and Anton Lundell blasted a slap shot from the low right circle for his 16th goal of the year. 

     It would go to a shootout. Barkov would be the only one of six players to convert. He placed in a backhand shot on the Panthers first attempt. 

Heat Snap Losing Streak Versus Hornets

     The Miami Heat raced by the Charlotte Hornets 122-105 on Sunday night at Kaseya Center. The Heat snapped a 10-game losing streak which was their longest in 17 years. 

     Charlotte(18-53) roared out with a 19-11 spurt and were up 26-20 after one quarter. Miami(30-41) went on a 24-4 run at the end of the second quarter and led 57-47 at halftime. 

     The Heat increased it to a 20-point margin during the third quarter and were in front 96-75 at the end of the frame. They scored the first three points of the final quarter.

     Andrew Wiggins carried Miami with a season-high 42 points. It was his second-highest point attempt he had in his NBA career. Tyler Herro had 29 points while Kel'el Ware added 12 points along with eight rebounds 

     LaMelo Ball guided Charlotte with a team-high 18 points and 11 assists. Mark Williams was able to contribute 14 points. Miles Bridges compiled a double-double of 17 points and 13 rebounds.  

Lucas Carlsson Back In NHL

     Former Florida Panthers defenseman Lucas Carlsson participated in the NHL for the San Jose Sharks versus the Boston Bruins on Saturday. It was his first appearance during an NHL contest in more than two years. 

     He finished with the game-winning goal and a primary assist on an empty-net tally. The Sharks defeated the Bruins for the first time in 3,294 days. 

     Carlsson spent two seasons with the Panthers in 2021-22 and 2022-23. He compiled nine points in 42 games with Florida. 

Panthers Outscored By Capitals

     The Florida Panthers were outdueled by the Washington Capitals 6-3 on Saturday night at Capital One Arena. The Panthers concluded a six-game road trip and barely lead the Atlantic Division. 

     Alex Ovechkin has 888 career goals and is seven goals away from breaking Wayne Gretzky's NHL all-time record of 894 goals. The Capitals, winners of nine of their past 10 games, have the most points in the National Hockey League this season. 

     Both Florida (42-25-3) and the Caps interchanged and combined with six goals during the first period for a 3-3 tie. The Panthers had goals from Sam Bennett, Seth Jones and Jonah Gadjovich. Jones collected his first tally with his new club. 

     Washington(47-15-2) powered by with three goals in the six minutes of the second period. Tom Wilson put in a forehand shot on a breakaway seven seconds into the frame. Dylan Strome would make it a two-goal margin 52 seconds later.

Sandy Alcantara Opening Day Starting Pitcher

     The Miami Marlins have named Sandy Alcantara as their 2025 opening day starting pitcher. He did not pitch during the 2024 season due to Tommy John surgery on his right arm. 

     The Marlins will open their 2025 campaign on March 27 at home against the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Pirates will have 2024 National League Rookie of the Year Paul Skenes take the mound for them. 

Rockets Burn Heat

      The Houston Rockets halted the Miami Heat 102-98 at Kaseya Center on Friday night. The Heat are currently on a 10-game losing streak. 

     The Rockets had lost nine straight contests to Miami entering tonight. Houston last defeated the Heat on November 27, 2019. 

     Miami(29-41) had a 27-23 advantage after one quarter. The Heat extended their lead to 59-51 by halftime. 

     Houston(46-25) cut the deficit during the third quarter and were down 80-78. The Rockets outscored the Heat 24-18 in the final quarter to edge them.

     Andrew Wiggins led Miami with 30 points while Bam Adebayo had 16 points. Kel'el Ware was able to contribute a double-double with 16 points and 14 rebounds. 

     Fred VanVleet poured in a game-high 37 points for Houston. Amen Thompson chalked up 18 points along with nine rebounds and seven steals. 

FanDuel Sports Network Florida Gone

     Xfinity Comcast cable television systems in the South Florida region had FanDuel Sports Network Florida eliminated today. It is expected to return on Xfinity in the near future. 

     A similar television station FanDuel Sports Network Sun would remain on local cable systems. That channel would continue to have Miami Heat telecasts. 

     The one South Florida professional sports team that could be impacted is the Miami Marlins. Several spring training contests involving the Marlins from Jupiter have been aired in recent weeks. The Miami Marlins will open their 2025 regular season campaign at home on March 27.

Dolphins Sign Willie Gay

     Former Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Willie Gay is heading to Miami to sign a contract. It is expected to be a one-year deal.

     He has played his first four NFL seasons with Kansas City. Gay contributed to the Chiefs winning two Super Bowl titles. He spent last season with the New Orleans Saints. 

Panthers Squeeze By Blue Jackets

     The Florida Panthers got by the Columbus Blue Jackets 1-0 in overtime at Nationwide Arena on Thursday night. It was a rare circumstance that the Cats had three days off between road games. 

     Neither team scored in the first period, the second period and the third period. The scoreless game would be decided in overtime. It was first time in five years that Florida(42-24-3) went into overtime with a 0-0 score. 

     Columbus(31-28-9) surrendered a power-play goal during the extra session just 29 seconds into overtime. Seth Jones made a square pass in the high slot area. Aleksander Barkov waited then snapped a shot for his 19th goal of the season. Sam Reinhart was credited with a secondary assist on the play. 

Pistons Slide By Heat

     The Detroit Pistons slipped by the Miami Heat 116-113 on Wednesday night. The Heat, who have lost nine straight games, began a new homestand. It was the first time that Erik Spoelstra was a head coach during a nine-game losing streak. 

     Miami(29-40) rambled out to a 32-22 lead at the end of the opening quarter. The Heat were slightly ahead 60-58 at halftime. 

     In the second half, Detroit(39-31) kept with the pace and trailed 93-88 after three quarters. The Pistons got a buzzer beater from Cade Cunningham on a three-point bank shot at the end of the final quarter. 

     Bam Adebayo compiled for the Heat with a game-high 30 points, nine rebounds and eight assists. Tyler Herro was able to add 29 points. Kel'el Ware chalked up 14 points and 12 rebounds for a double-double. 

     Cunningham led the Pistons with a triple-double of 25 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists. Jalen Duren composed 15 points along with 11 rebounds. 

Bears Re-Signing Travis Homer

     One-time Palm Beach County high school football player Travis Homer will be re-signing with the Chicago Bears. It is a one-year deal for $2 million.

     Homer was a standout running back with the Oxbridge Academy Thunderwolves in high school football. He later played for the University of Miami Hurricanes. 

     He was with the Seattle Seahawks from 2019 to 2022. Homer has spent the past two seasons with the Bears. 

Rich Herrera In Richmond

     Former Miami sports talk radio host Rich Herrera has joined WRVA-AM in Richmond as a morning show host. It will be the first time that Herrera will work on a news talk radio station instead of a sports format radio station. 

     He recently was the head of marketing at CBD firm Charlotte's Web since November 2022. Herrera continues as a weekend host at Infinity Sports Radio Network. 

     Herrera made several stops prior to his arrival in South Florida. He was employed at KNBR-AM, Oakland A's, Fox Sports Radio, Sportsfan Radio Network, Sports USA Radio, SiriusXM Radio, Tampa Bay Rays and WHFS-AM. 

     He worked at Sports Talk 790 The Ticket WAXY-AM in Miami as a weekend host for one year until December 2016. Herrera later had stints with the San Diego Padres, KWFN-FM in San Diego and KCUB-AM in Tucson. 

Artie Burns Back In Miami

     Defensive back Artie Burns will be returning to his hometown. He is expected to sign a one-year contract with the Miami Dolphins.

     Burns played high school football with the Miami Northwestern Bulls. He moved on and participated with the University of Miami Hurricanes in college football for three seasons from 2013 to 2015. 

     He has made several stops in the National Football League. Burns was with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Chicago Bears and Seattle Seahawks. 

Knicks Wallop Heat

     The New York Knicks pounded the Miami Heat 116-95 at Madison Square Garden on Monday night. The Heat extended their losing streak to eight games and completed their quick two-game road swing. The Knicks are third in the Eastern Conference standings. 

     The Heat, who have a 1-9 record during the month of March, fell ten games below .500 for the first time since February 2017. New York swept the season series from Miami. It was the first time the Knickerbockers have done that since the 1992-93 season. 

     Miami(29-39) rolled out to a 29-18 lead at the end of the first quarter. The Heat remained in front 49-47 at halftime. 

     New York(43-24) took command of the contest early in the second half and outscored Miami 41-15 during the third quarter for a 88-64 lead. The Knicks easily kept a double-digit lead in the final quarter. 

     Tyler Herro scored a 20 points for the Heat. Duncan Robinson dropped in a club-high 22 points while Bam Adebayo added 12 points along with seven rebounds. 

     Mikal Bridges helped the Knicks with a game-high 28 points and Karl-Anthony Towns drained in 23 points. Josh Hart had a triple-double with 12 points, 13 rebounds and 11 assists.

Ryan Stonehouse Joining Dolphins

     The Miami Dolphins will be signing punter Ryan Stonehouse. He is expected to ink a one-year deal with the team. 

     He played the past three seasons with the Tennessee Titans. Stonehouse set an NFL record with 53.1 yards-per-punt in 2022 and matched it in 2023. He led the NFL in 2022 with 4,779 punting yards. 

Inter Miami CF Pay Back Atlanta United FC

      Inter Miami CF got revenge on Atlanta United FC 2-1 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Sunday. It was the first time both teams faced each other since the Herons were upset in the best-of-three series in the first round of the 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs. 

     In the first half, Atlanta United FC(1-2-1) leaped out to a 1-0 advantage during the 11th minute. Emmanuel Latte Lath put in a header from four yards out. 

     Inter Miami CF(3-0-1) quickly answered back in the 20th minute. Lionel Messi stole the ball outside of the penalty area, dribbled it in, faked a shot past one defender and chipped in a left-footed shot past the goalie from nine yards away. It turned out to Messi's first MLS goal of the year. 

     The Herons took a 2-1 lead late in the second half during the 89th minute. They crossed the ball from the left side after a corner kick. Fafa Picault placed in a header from six yards to the far post. 

Panthers Succumb To Islanders

     The Florida Panthers blew a two-goal, third-period lead and lost to the New York Islanders 4-2 at UBS Arena on Sunday night. The Cats were on their fourth road contest during their six-game road trip. 

     It is a tradition for the past 33 seasons that both teams face other around St. Patrick's Day. Bill Torrey had been in a management role of either club for over four decades and wanted both teams to play each other at this time of the year. 

     Some of the finest moments have occurred in their regular season clashes around this time of the year. Pavel Bure became the first Panthers player to score his 60th goal of the season in 2000 at the Nassau Coliseum. The Panthers came back from a two-goal deficit in the third period with four goals in 2014. The Islanders erased a two-goal margin during the third period in 2016. 

     There was no scoring in the opening period. Florida(41-24-3) went ahead 1-0 exactly one minute into the second period. Gustav Forsling took a shot from the left point which was saved. Aleksander Barkov steered the puck from the top of the crease and Sam Reinhart got his 33rd goal of the campaign on a forehand shot past Ilya Sorokin from the left side of the crease. 

     The Cats extended it to 2-0 at 4:48 of the second on the power play. Eetu Luostarinen cycled the puck from the right corner. Reinhart released a shot from the right wing and it deflected off Barkov's left hip in the crease area for his 18th goal of the season. 

     New York(30-28-8) would control the third period. Marc Gatcomb made a wraparound shot at the 6:29 mark for his fourth goal this year and they were down 2-1. It was the first goal given up by Vitek Vanecek in his appearance with the Panthers. 

     The Islanders scored twice in a 17-second span and led 3-2. Maxim Tsyplakov came in on a breakaway and buried a wrist shot from the top of the crease. Noah Dobson gave them a 3-2 lead with 7:27 remaining in the third when he raced through the left circle and scored his seventh goal of the year on a wrist shot from close range. 

     The Panthers pulled Vanecek for an extra attacker with over two minutes left. Simon Holmstrom added an empty-net goal with 6.5 seconds to go for a 4-2 lead. 

Marlins Reclaim Seth Martinez

     The Miami Marlins have claimed pitcher Seth Martinez off waivers for the second time this offseason. The Seattle Mariners picked him up from the Fish off the waiver wire a couple of weeks ago on March 2. The Marlins initially got him off waivers from the Arizona Diamondbacks on February 20. 

     Martinez spent his entire four-season MLB career with the Houston Astros. He helped them win the World Series in 2022. 

Canadiens Surprise Panthers

     The Montreal Canadiens stun the Florida Panthers 3-1 on Saturday night at Bell Centre. The Panthers continued their six-game road swing and were the showcase game on Hockey Night In Canada. 

     The Cats will participate in their third contest during a four-day period tomorrow at the New York Islanders. The Canadiens remained in one of the two Eastern Conference wild-card spots in the standings. 

     Montreal(32-27-7) broke out to a 1-0 lead at the 5:15 mark of the first period on the man advantage. Cole Caufield passed from the right wing and Lane Hutson angled a pass from the top of the zone. Patrick Laine snapped a shot from the left circle for his 16th goal this season. 

     The Habs made it 2-0 with 4:04 left in the first. Juraj Slafkovsky forwarded the puck from the high slot area. Caufield placed in a spinning shot from below the left circle past Sergei Bobrovsky for his 33rd goal of the campaign. 

     Florida(41-23-3) answered back at 3:51 of the second period. Carter Verhaeghe cycled the puck from the left wing. Mackie Samoskevich received it behind the net, circled to the low left circle and put in a wrist shot by Sam Montembeault for his 13th tally of the year. Sam Bennett picked up a secondary assist on the play.       

     The Canadiens regained a two-goal margin 3-1 at the 8:11 mark of the third period. David Savard fired a shot from the right point and Christian Dvorak deflected it in from the inner right circle for his seventh goal in 2024-25. 

Grizzlies Eat Up Heat

     The Memphis Grizzlies roared by the Miami Heat 125-91 at FedEx Forum on Saturday night. The Heat begin a short two-game road trip and will visit the New York Knicks on Monday. 

     Memphis(43-25) scrambled out to a 38-27 at the end of one quarter. The Grizzlies expanded their lead to 63-48 by halftime. 

     Miami(29-38) began the second half on a 14-11 spurt, however they trailed 94-67 at the conclusion of the third quarter. Both teams replaced their starters during the final quarter. 

     Kel'el Ware compiled a double-double of 19 points and 11 rebounds for the Heat. Bam Adebayo dropped in 18 points. Kyle Anderson and Jaime Jaquez Jr. both contributed 13 points each. 

     Jaren Jackson Jr. scored a game-high 31 points for Memphis. Desmond Bane helped out with 22 points in the victory. Luke Kennard and Scotty Pippen Jr. both added 11 points each. 

Pharoah Brown Goes To Dolphins

     Pharoah Brown will be heading for the Miami Dolphins. The tight end will sign a contract with the club. 

     Brown has bounced around the NFL since the 2017 season. He had stints with the Oakland Raiders, Cleveland Browns, Houston Texans, New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks. 

Celtics Can Heat

     The defending NBA Champions the Boston Celtics downed the Miami Heat 103-91 at Kaseya Center on Friday night. The Heat finished up a five-game homestand. The Celtics improved their road record to 24-7 this season. 

     Both teams have met each other for the 44th time since the 2019-20 campaign, which includes four postseason series. The C's now hold a 26-18 advantage during that time. 

     Boston(48-19) walked out to a 30-23 lead by the conclusion of the opening quarter. Miami(29-37) rolled back and tied it up 50-50 at the end of the first half. 

     The Celtics had a slim 78-77 advantage through three quarters. Boston outscored the Heat 25-14 during the fourth quarter. 

     Andrew Wiggins had a team-high 23 points for Miami. Tyler Herro added 19 points while Bam Adebayo contributed nine points along with nine rebounds. 

     Jayson Tatum poured in a game-high 28 points for the Celtics. Jrue Holiday dropped in 25 points and Derrick White drained in 18 points. 

Alexander Mattison Joins Dolphins

     Running back Alexander Mattison is expected to join the Miami Dolphins. It is likely to be a one-year deal between him and the team. 

     Mattison was with the Las Vegas Raiders last year and had 420 rushing yards and four touchdowns. He played for the Minnesota Vikings from 2019 to 2023. 

Liam Eichenberg Stays With Dolphins

     Miami Dolphins offensive lineman Liam Eichenberg will be remaining with the club. He has agreed to a one-year contract. 

      The Dolphins have had Eichenberg on their roster for the past four NFL seasons. He has played in 60 games with Miami. 

Dolphins Get Larry Borom

     The Miami Dolphins have added offensive lineman Larry Bloom. It is a one-year contract that is worth $2.5 million.

     Borom had been with the Chicago Bears for his entire four-season NFL career. He participated in 47 contests. 

Raheem Mostert Heads To Raiders

     Former Miami Dolphins running back Raheem Mostert is going to the Las Vegas Raiders. He will ink a one-year deal with the team. 

     Mostert completed his second stint with Miami from 2022 until 2024. He has 209 carries for 1,012 rushing yards and a league-leading 18 touchdowns in 2023. 

K.J. Britt Inks With Dolphins

     The Miami Dolphins are about to sign linebacker K.J. Britt. He will join the Dolphins on a one-year contract. 

     Britt has spent his entire four-year NFL career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He had no interceptions and no fumble recoveries in 59 contests. 

Brandon Montour Fastest Overtime Goal Ever

     Former Florida Panthers defenseman Brandon Montour set an NHL record with the fastest overtime goal in history. It happened four seconds into overtime as the Seattle Kraken defeated the Montreal Canadiens 5-4 last night. 

     Goals have been scored four seconds into a regulation period previously. Claude Provost did it for Montreal versus the Boston Bruins during the second period in 1957. Denis Savard scored in the third period against the Hartford Whalers in 1986. It also happened for James van Riemsdyk with the Toronto Maple Leafs in the second period when they took on the Philadelphia Flyers in 2014. 

Inter Miami CF Take Cavalier FC

     Inter Miami CF knocked off Cavalier FC 2-0 at Stadium East Field in Jamaica on Thursday night on the second leg of the CONCACAF Champions Cup Round of 16 matchup. The Herons advanced to the quarterfinals with a 4-0 aggregate. 

     In the first half, Luis Suarez was able to score on a penalty kick in the 37th minute. Lionel Messi added a goal during stoppage time at the end of the second half for a 2-0 lead. 

Panthers Plunge Maple Leafs

     The Florida Panthers beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 3-2 at Scotiabank Arena on Thursday night. Both teams have battled it out all season for first place in the Atlantic Division. The Panthers, who increased their Atlantic Division lead to four points, began a stretch of three road games in four days. 

     Toronto(39-23-3) drew first blood to go up 1-0 at 2:00 of the first period. William Nylander sent a diagonal pass from the top left circle and John Tavares one-timed a slap shot from the low right circle past Sergei Bobrovsky for his 27th goal of the campaign. 

     Florida(41-22-3) evened it up 1-1 on the power play with 2:09 remaining in the first. Sam Bennett collected 21st goal as he tapped it in from the blue paint. Mackie Samoskevich and Sam Reinhart were credited with assists on the play. 

     In the second period, the Panthers pulled ahead 2-1 with 6:04 left. A.J. Greer angled a pass from the left corner. Niko Mikkola released a wrist shot from the high slot by Anthony Stolarz for his fifth tally of the year. 

     The Cats expanded their lead to 3-1 on another power-play goal with 2:47 to go in the second. Samoskevich pushed the puck from the left wing. Reinhart centered it from the end wall and Bennett put in a wrist shot from the top of the crease. 

     The Maple Leafs closed it to 3-2 at the 4:26 mark of the third period. Former Panther Oliver Ekman-Larsson zipped an outlet pass out of the Leafs zone and Calle Jarnkrok made a square pass at the red line. 

Max Domi carried the puck into the Florida zone and snapped a shot from the high slot for his fifth goal this season. Domi had one goal in his last 31 contests going into tonight. 

Devin Bush Jr. With Browns

     One-time Broward County high school football player Devin Bush Jr. will remain with the Cleveland Browns signing a new one-year contract with the club worth $3.25 million. He spent his first four NFL seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers from 2019 to 2022.

     Bush participated in high school football with the Flanagan Falcons and won the FHSAA Class 8A state title in 2015. He then played college football with the University of Michigan. 

Kaiir Elam Traded To Cowboys

     Former Palm Beach County high school football player Kaiir Elam has been traded by the Buffalo Bills to the Dallas Cowboys. He was with the Bills during his first three NFL seasons and had two interceptions in 29 contests. 

     Elam played high school football with the Benjamin Buccaneers. He spent college football with the University of Florida Gators. 

Ashtyn Davis Off To Dolphins

     The Miami Dolphins will ink defensive back Ashtyn Davis to a contract. He has spent his entire five-season NFL career with the New York Jets. 

Dolphins Getting Nick Westbrook-Ikhine

      The Miami Dolphins have agreed to sign wide receiver Nick Westbrook-Ikhine. It will be a two-year contract worth $6.5 million. 

     Westbrook-Ikhine played his first five NFL seasons with the Tennessee Titans. He had 126 catches for 1,773 receiving yards and 19 touchdowns in 78 games. 

Tiger Woods Has Achilles Injury

     Tiger Woods has torn his left Achilles and it will take him four to six months to recover. He finished his TGL season with Jupiter Links GC last week in Palm Beach Gardens. 

     He is now not expected to play in any of the men's four major tournaments this year. Woods has 15 major championships which is second to Jack Nicklaus with 18. He is tied alongside Sam Snead with 82 PGA Tour titles. 

Tyrel Dodson Stays With Dolphins

     The Miami Dolphins will re-sign linebacker Tyrel Dodson. It is a two-year deal that is worth $8.25 million. 

     Dodson split his time with the Seattle Seahawks and the Fins last year. He participated in eight contests last season with the Dolphins and had three interceptions. 

Clippers Bounce Heat

     The Los Angeles Clippers stormed by the Miami Heat 119-104 on Wednesday night at Kaseya Center. The Heat continued their five-game homestand. The Clippers played last night in New Orleans. 

     Los Angeles(36-30) ripped out to a 30-20 by the conclusion of the first quarter. Miami(29-36) answered back and trailed 57-52 at halftime. 

     The Clippers extended their lead to 92-84 by the end of the third quarter. Los Angeles started the fourth quarter on a 17-10 spurt. 

     Tyler Herro led the Heat with 31 points. Andrew Wiggins contributed 22 points while Duncan Robinson came off the bench with 15 points. 

     James Harden ended up with a double-double for the Clippers with 24 points, 11 assists and eight rebounds. Bogdan Bogdanovic had 30 points and 11 rebounds for a double-double. 

Bills Add Joey Bosa

     Joey Bosa has joined the Buffalo Bills and signed a one-year contract worth $12.6 million. He spent his entire nine-season NFL career with the Chargers franchise in San Diego and Los Angeles.

     Bosa played high school football with the St. Thomas Aquinas Raiders. He captured two FHSAA state championships in 2010 and 2012 along with a national title in 2010. Bosa won the first CFP National Championship with the Ohio State Buckeyes in 2014. 

Jacoby Brissett Lands With Cardinals

     Former Palm Beach County high school football player Jacoby Brissett has moved on to the Arizona Cardinals. He recently finished his second stint with the New England Patriots. His first stint with the Pats as a rookie ended with a Super Bowl title during the 2016 season. Brissett was with the Fins in the 2021 campaign. 

     Brissett led the Dwyer Panthers to the FHSAA Class 4A state championship in 2009. He played college football with Florida and North Carolina State. 

Ifeatu Melifonwu Moves To Dolphins

     The Miami Dolphins have added to their defensive secondary. They will sign Ifeatu Melifonwu to a one-year contract at $1.9 million. 

     Melifonwu has been with the Detroit Lions during his entire four-year NFL career. He participated in just three contests last year. 

Elijah Campbell Re-Signs With Dolphins

     Defensive back Elijah Campbell has reupped with the Miami Dolphins. It is a one-year deal that is worth $1.9 million. 

     Campbell began his NFL career with the New York Jets in 2020. He has played in 55 contests with Miami over the past four seasons. 

Jevon Holland Goes To Giants

     Former Miami Dolphins defensive back Jevon Holland is heading for the New York Giants. He will ink a three-year contract worth $45 million. 

     Holland played four seasons with the Dolphins from 2021 to 2024. He participated in 60 games with the Fins and had five interceptions. 

5 Years Since Sports COVID-19 Pandemic Day

     Today marked the fifth anniversary of sports pandemic day. All North American sports organizations shut down their leagues on March 11, 2020 due to the COVID-19 virus. 

     The National Basketball Association, with commissioner Adam Silver, was the first sport to suspend future contests. On a South Florida standpoint, it was announced during the second half of a Miami Heat home contest versus the Charlotte Hornets.

     Other sports organizations would suspend future games. The Florida Panthers were to play at the Dallas Stars when National Hockey League commissioner Gary Bettman made the decision. 

     Inter Miami CF had just started their inaugural season in Major League Soccer and participated in their first regular season game at LAFC. They were ready to play their home opener that weekend against LA Galaxy, however future contests were suspended.

     In Major League Baseball, spring training games throughout Florida were cancelled and would not be made up. Regular season games were suspended to begin the 2020 season.

     Other local sporting events were affected. The Miami Open outside of Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens was suspended. So was a NASCAR race scheduled for Miami-Homestead Speedway. 

     Horse racing would be the only sport to continue during the pandemic. Gulfstream Park in Hallandale had races, but the public was not allowed in the venue. 

Bruins Push By Panthers

     The Florida Panthers faded to the Boston Bruins 3-2 at TD Garden on Tuesday. The Panthers, who had their six-game winning streak snapped, began a long six-game road trip. Florida is now 29-7-0 when scoring first in a contest, which is the third-best record in the NHL. 

     It is the first time they have faced each other since Brad Marchand was traded by the Bruins to the Panthers on Friday. Marchand did not play due to an injury. 

     Florida(40-22-3) rushed out to a 1-0 lead at the 4:27 mark of the first period. Sam Bennett won a faceoff in the left circle. Dmitry Kulikov blasted a one-time slap shot from the top of the zone past Jeremy Swayman for his fourth goal of the year. 

     After no scoring during the second period, the Cats got a 5-on-3 power-play goal at 4:49 of the third. Bennett passed the puck from the top of the crease and Seth Jones angled a pass from the high slot. Mackie Samoskevich chalked up his 12th goal of the campaign on a slap shot from the inner left circle. Jones picked up his first point in a Panthers jersey. 

     Boston(30-28-8) made it 2-1 at the 8:56 mark of the third as they scored with the man advantage. Elias Lindholm backhanded a pass from the right wing and Casey Mittelstadt centered it from the right corner. David Pastrnak placed in a wrist shot from crease by Sergei Bobrovsky for his 33rd goal and 80th point of the season. 

     The B's tied it up 2-2 with 6:09 left in the period. Kulikov gave the puck away in the middle of his zone. Mason Lohrei scored his fifth tally this season on a wrist shot from the high slot. 

     The Bruins took a 3-2 lead with 3:17 remaining in the third. Nikita Zadorov pushed it ahead from the left point and Pastrnak spun in the left corner. He passed it to the middle and Pavel Zacha collected his 13th goal of the season on snap shot from the low left circle. 

Najee Harris Runs To Chargers

     Former University of Miami Hurricanes running back Najee Harris has agreed to join the Los Angeles Chargers. It will be a one-year contract worth $9.5 million. 

     Harris was with the Pittsburgh Steelers during his first four seasons in the National Football League. He has 1,097 carries for 4,312 rushing yards and 28 touchdowns. 

Dolphins To Get James Daniels

     The Miami Dolphins are about to ink offensive lineman James Daniels. It will be a three-year deal worth around $24 million. 

     Daniels played his first four NFL seasons with the Chicago Bears. He was with the Pittsburgh Steelers for the last three seasons. 

Mack Hollins Marches To Patriots

     Wide receiver Mack Hollins is going to the New England Patriots. He participated with the Buffalo Bills last season and helped them reach the AFC Championship Game. 

     Hollins was with the Miami Dolphins from 2019 to 2021. He had 30 catches for 399 receiving yards and five touchdowns in 37 games with the Fins. 

Zach Wilson Joining Dolphins

     Quarterback Zach Wilson is expected to join the Miami Dolphins. He will sign a one-year contract that is worth $6 million. 

     Wilson played his first three NFL seasons with the New York Jets. He was traded to the Denver Broncos in April 2024, however he never took a snap last year. 

Laremy Tunsil Off To Commanders

     Offensive lineman Laremy Tunsil has been traded by the Houston Texans to the Washington Commanders. He participated and started in 81 contests over the past six seasons with Houston. 

     Tunsil was selected by the Miami Dolphins in the 2016 NFL Draft. He played in 44 games with the Fins during three seasons. 

Aaron Ekblad Suspended

     The National Hockey League has suspended Florida Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad for 20 games. It was due to Ekblad violating the NHL performance enhancing substances program. He will miss the final 18 regular season contests and the first two postseason games. 

     Ekblad was with Florida when they captured the Stanley Cup last year. He has played his entire 11-season NHL career with the Panthers. 

Hornets Sting Heat

     The Charlotte Hornets overcame the Miami Heat 105-102 on Monday night at Kaseya Center. The Heat continued their homestand. 

     Miami(29-35) rocketed out to a 34-21 advantage at the end of the first quarter. Charlotte(16-48) cut the lead in the second quarter and they were down 58-52. 

     The Heat remained in front 77-73 at the conclusion of the third quarter. The Hornets came back and overtook Miami during the final quarter. 

     Bam Adebayo compiled a double-double of 23 points, 14 rebounds and eight assists for the Heat. Tyler Herro scored 21 points while Andrew Wiggins had 19 points along with seven rebounds. 

     Miles Bridges led Charlotte with a game-high 35 points in the victory. Mark Williams added a double-double with 24 points and 10 rebounds. LaMelo Ball came up with 15 points and 10 assists. 

Inter Miami CF Outhustle Charlotte FC

     Inter Miami CF outworked Charlotte FC 1-0 on Sunday at Chase Stadium. The Herons played their second Major League Soccer home contest this season. They with visit Jamaica on Thursday and take on Cavalier FC in the second leg of the Round of 16 in the CONCACAF Champions Cup

     Charlotte(1-1-1) had an advantage late in the first half. Inter Miami CF(2-0-1) player was given a red card during the xxx minute and they had to play with 10 players for the remainder of the game. 

     The Herons opened up the second half with a goal in the 46th minute. Tadeo Allende made a chest trap outside of the penalty area and he then volleyed a left-footed shot from 11 yards away. 

Marquise Brown Staying With Chiefs

     Former Broward County high school football player Marquise "Hollywood" Brown with be remaining with the Kansas City Chiefs. He played his first season with the Chiefs in 2024 and helped them capture an AFC Championship title. 

     Brown participated in high school football with the Chaminade-Madonna Lions. He then attended the University of Oklahoma. 

Mike Gesicki Reups With Bengals

     Former Miami Dolphins tight end Mike Gesicki will be remaining with the Cincinnati Bengals. He will sign a new three-year contract worth $25.5 million. 

     Gisecki began his NFL career with the Dolphins from 2018 to 2022. He chalked up 231 pass receptions for 2,617 receiving yards and 18 touchdowns for the Fins. 

Geogory Rousseau Extended By Bills

     The Buffalo Bills have inked defensive lineman Gregory Rousseau to an extension. It is a four-year contract that is worth $80 million. He had spent his entire four-season NFL career with the Bills. 

     Rousseau did play high school football with the Champagnat Catholic Lions. He then participated in college football with the University of Miami Hurricanes. 

Bulls Step By Heat

     The Miami Heat could not hold off the Chicago Bulls 114-109 at Kaseya Center on Saturday night. The Heat were playing back-to-back nights at home. 

     Miami(29-34) showed their dominance during the first quarter with a 36-24 lead. They were able to stay in front 55-48 at halftime. 
     Chicago(26-38) fell more behind 89-78 by the conclusion of the third quarter. The Bulls went on a 19-8 run to begin the fourth quarter. 

     Andrew Wiggins powered in 22 points for the Heat. Bam Adebayo added 22 points while Tyler Herro placed in 21 points. 

     Josh Giddey led Chicago with a triple-double of 26 points, 10 rebounds and 12 assists. Zach Collins finished up with 18 points along with 15 rebounds for a double-double. 

Panthers Shut Out Sabres

     The Florida Panthers blanked the Buffalo Sabres 4-0 at Amerant Bank Arena on Saturday night. The Panthers are currently first in the Atlantic Division and concluded an undefeated five-game homestand. The Sabres have missed the Stanley Cup Playoffs for an NHL-record 13 consecutive seasons. Florida will begin a six-game road trip on Tuesday in Boston. 

     The Panthers collected their second straight shutout and third in the last four games. Vitek Vanecek picked up a shutout in his debut with the club following his acquisition from the San Jose Sharks. The Cats extended their winning streak to six games while Buffalo(24-32-6) has been winless in their past six contests.

     Florida(40-21-3) got out to a 1-0 lead as A.J. Greer chalked up his sixth goal of the year when he tapped it in from the blue paint at the 7:20 mark of the first period. 

     The Panthers added two more goals in the second period. Carter Verhaeghe made it 2-0 at 9:32 with a snap shot from the high slot for his 17th goal of the campaign. Anton Lundell increased it to 3-0 with 2:51 left in the second period when he steered it in from the right goal line for his 15th goal this season. 

     The Cats completed the shutout 4-0 during the third period. Sam Bennett fired the puck into an empty net from the left wing with 33.6 seconds remaining for his 20th goal of the season. It was the third time in Bennett's NHL career that he reached the 20-goal mark. 

Givani Smith Ends With Flyers

     One-time Florida Panthers right wing Givani Smith was dealt by the Colorado Avalanche to the Philadelphia Flyers. The Avalanche received back defenseman Erik Johnson. 

     Smith did play for the Florida Panthers during the 2022-23 campaign. He finished with just four points in 34 games that season.

Geno Smith Dealt To Raiders

     Former Broward County high school football quarterback Geno Smith was traded by the Seattle Seahawks to the Las Vegas Raiders on Friday. Smith had previous NFL stints with the New York Jets, New York Giants and the Los Angeles Chargers. 

     Smith participated with the Miramar Patriots while in high school football. He started for them in the last high school football game ever played in the Orange Bowl. Smith later attended West Virginia University. 

WINZ New Friday Afternoon Show

     Fox Sports 940 WINZ-AM in Miami began a new Friday program during afternoon drive in late February. It is called Football Friday. 

     The show is hosted by Will Althoff and Luis Diaz. Althoff is the senior producer and a halftime studio host on the Miami Dolphins Radio Network. Diaz is a stand-up comedian and content creator. 

     WINZ did have a Friday afternoon show during the Miami Dolphins 2014 football season. It was hosted by the Miami Dolphins Radio Network postgame studio co-hosts Travis Wingfield and Seth Levit. 

Panthers Pick Up Brad Marchand

     The Florida Panthers made another deal before the trade deadline on Friday. The Cats acquired center Brad Marchand from the Boston Bruins for a conditional 2027 second-round selection.  Marchand captured a Stanley Cup with the Bruins back in 2011 in a seven-game series against Roberto Luongo and the Vancouver Canucks. 

     Marchand has been the captain of the B's over the past two seasons and took over the role from the retired Patrice Bergeron. He has compiled 21 goals and 26 assists for 47 points in 61 contests during the 2024-25 campaign with Boston.

     He is fourth in Bruins history with  422 goals and 1,090 games played. Marchand stands fifth all-time for the club with 976 points. 

Timberwolves Pull By Heat

     The Minnesota Timberwolves skipped by the Miami Heat 106-104 at Kaseya Center on Friday night. The Heat started a five-game homestand and fell four games below .500 for the fourth time this season. 

     Minnesota(36-29) blasted out to a 33-25 advantage at the end of the opening quarter. Miami(29-33) chipped at the lead during the second quarter and both teams were tied 52-52 at halftime. 

     It remained close as both clubs were even 80-80 at the conclusion of three quarters. The Timberwolves finished the fourth quarter on an 11-9 spurt. 

     Bam Adebayo composed a double-double with 29 points and 13 rebounds for the Heat. Tyler Herro was able to contribute 22 points and seven assists while Duncan Robinson dropped in 15 points. Seven Timberwolves players had double-digit scoring. 

NHL Contract For Evan Cormier

     Minor league goalie Evan Cormier looks like he has received an NHL contract from the Florida Panthers. The club then was able to place him on waivers Thursday. 

     Cormier has spent this season with the Savannah Ghost Pirates in the ECHL. He has a 14-9-2 record with a 3.56 goals-against-average and a .881 save percentage in 27 contests. 

Jai Lucas New Hurricanes Basketball Coach

     The University of Miami Hurricanes have named Jai Lucas as their new men's basketball head coach. He will replace longtime head coach Jim Larranaga, who announced his retirement back in December. 

Larranaga left the program with the best head coaching record in school history. 

     Lucas has been an associate head coach with Duke University since 2022. His father John Lucas II was the head coach of the Miami Tropics in the United States Basketball League during the early 1990s. That club ended up winning two USBL championships playing their home games at Golden Panthers Arena on the FIU campus. 

     The Hurricanes have seen a tremendous drop with the men's basketball team recently. They reached the Final Four back in 2023. Miami currently have a 6-24 record this season for their worst single-season winning percentage ever. The Canes will not make the ACC Tournament and will participate in their regular season finale on Saturday against North Carolina State.

Reilly Smith Returns To Golden Knights

     Former Florida Panthers right wing Reilly Smith has been reunited with the Vegas Golden Knights. He was acquired by them from the New York Rangers. Smith was with Vegas when they won their first Stanley Cup title in franchise history in 2023 over the Florida Panthers.

     Smith spent time with the Panthers for two seasons from 2015-16 to 2016-17 and had 87 points in 162 games. He was dealt by the Cats to the Golden Knights in June 2017 just prior to the NHL Expansion Draft. 

Panthers Deal Chris Driedger

     The Florida Panthers have traded goalie Chris Driedger to the Winnipeg Jets for goalie Kaapo Kahkonen. Both clubs exchanged players that were third on their goalie depth charts. 

     It ends the second stint for Driedger inside the Panthers organization. He has played the entire 2024-25 season with the Panthers AHL affiliate in Charlotte. Driedger was with the Panthers for two seasons from 2019-20 until 2020-21. He then was taken by the Seattle Kraken in the NHL Expansion Draft and stayed there for three seasons. 

Panthers Trade For Nico Sturm

     The Florida Panthers have picked up forward Nico Sturm and a 2027 seventh-round selection from the San Jose Sharks for a 2026 fourth-round pick. The Cats looked to reinforce their forward lines with the loss of Matthew Tkachuk on the long-team injured list. 

     Sturm participated in his first four seasons with the Minnesota Wild. He was dealt to the Colorado Avalanche late in the 2021-22 regular season and Sturm eventually helped them capture the Stanley Cup. Sturm was with the Sharks for the past three seasons. 

Tutu Atwell Remains With Rams

     Wide receiver Tutu Atwell is remaining with the Los Angeles Rams. He will sign a one-year contract with the team worth $10 million. 

     Atwell was the quarterback for the Miami Northwestern Bulls when they captured the FHSAA Class 6A state championship in 2017. He later won Super Bowl LVI with the Rams. 

Durham Smythe Heading To Bears

     Miami Dolphins tight end Durham Smythe is expected to sign a one-year deal with the Chicago Bears. The National Football League new yearly cycle will begin soon. 

     Smythe has played his entire seven-season NFL career with Miami from 2018 to 2024. He has 132 catches for 1,228 receiving yards and three touchdowns in 112 contests with the Dolphins. 

Dolphins Players Tendered

     The Miami Dolphins have decided to tender some players on their roster. They are linebacker Cameron Goode and offensive lineman Kion Smith. 

     Goode played in all 17 regular season games with the Fins in 2023 and three games during 2024. Smith ended up participating in nine contests with Miami in 2023. 

Chargers Release Joey Bosa

     The Los Angeles Chargers have released former St. Thomas Aquinas Raiders defensive lineman Joey Bosa. He was with the Chargers organization for nine seasons and had 72 sacks in 107 games.

      He was drafted third overall in the 2016 NFL Draft by the San Diego Chargers. The club moved to Los Angeles following his rookie season. He was the last Chargers player on their roster that once participated in San Diego. 

     Bosa played high school football with St. Thomas Aquinas. He captured two FHSAA state titles in 2010 and 2012 along with a national high school football championship in 2010. Bosa went to Ohio State University and helped the Buckeyes win the first CFP national championship in 2014. 

Inter Miami CF Drop Cavalier FC

     Inter Miami CF blanked Cavalier FC 2-0 at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale on Thursday night. It was the first leg of a CONCACAF Champions Cup Round of 16 matchup.

     Neither team was able to get on the scoreboard in the first half. The second half saw Inter Miami CF take a 1-0 lead on a goal by Tadeo Allende during the 61st minute. Luis Suarez would increase it to 2-0 in the 83rd minute for the Herons. 

Panthers Blank Blue Jackets

     The Florida Panthers shut out the Columbus Blue Jackets 3-0 on Thursday night at Amerant Bank Arena. Florida goalie Sergei Bobrovsky collected his second shutout in the past three games and 48th shutout of his NHL career. 

     The Panthers are now victorious in 10 of their last 12 games. The Blue Jackets played their first NHL outdoor game back on Saturday in Columbus. 

     Florida(39-21-3) jumped out to a 1-0 advantage at the 5:58 mark of the first period. Aaron Ekblad angled a pass from the top of the zone and Aleksander Barkov pushed it from the top right circle. Sam Reinhart snapped a shot from the inner right circle past Elvis Merzlikins for his 32nd goal of the season. It was Reinhart's 153rd goal with the Panthers which is fifth all-time in franchise history. 

     In the second period, the Panthers scored again on the power play at 6:33. Reinhart dropped off a pass from above the right circle. Barkov took a shot from the top of the zone and it was saved. Mackie Samoskevich placed in a wrist shot on the rebound from the left side of the crease for his 11th goal this year. 

     Columbus(30-24-8) pulled their goalie for an extra attacker late in the third period. The Cats responded with 2:12 left in the third on an empty-net goal by Barkov from above the left circle for his third point of the game and 17th tally of the campaign. Reinhart also chalked up his third point of the contest with an assist on the play. 

Dolphins Rework Bradley Chubb Contact

     The Miami Dolphins have reworked the contract of linebacker Bradley Chubb. The 2025 salary for Chubb will drop from $19.45 million. 

     He has been with the Fins since the 2022 NFL season. Chubb was injured last season, placed on the physically unable to perform list and did not participate in a contest. 

Jesse Puljujarvi On Panthers

     It looks like forward Jesse Puljujarvi is part of the Florida Panthers. The team placed him on waivers Wednesday after he signed a one-year, two-way contract.  

     Puljujarvi signed a professional tryout offer with the Panthers AHL affiliate the Charlotte Checkers last month. He played with the Pittsburgh Penguins earlier in the 2024-25 campaign and had three goals and six assists for nine points in 26 contests. 

Panthers Trade For Vitek Vanecek

     The Florida Panthers have acquired goalie Vitek Vanecek from the San Jose Sharks for forward Patrick Willis. Vanecek will hold the role of backup goalie on the depth chart behind Sergei Bobrovsky. 

     Vanecek does have some history against the Panthers. He started several games in the 2022 first-round postseason clash with the Washington Capitals. Florida ended up winning their first postseason series in 26 years since the 1996 Eastern Conference Finals versus the Pittsburgh Penguins. 

     He had previously played for two seasons with the Caps and the New Jersey Devils. Vanecek has a 3-10-3 record with a 3.88 goals-against-average and an .882 saver percentage in 2024-25 with San Jose. 

     Willis made his National Hockey League debut with the Cats this season. He has no points so far in nine contests. 

Heat Edged By Cavaliers

     The Miami Heat fell to the Cleveland Cavaliers 112-107 at Rocket Arena on Wednesday night. The Heat went on the road for just one game before playing at home on Friday. The Cavaliers, who extended their winning streak to 12 games, have the best record in the National Basketball Association. 

     Cleveland(52-10) went out to a 36-32 advantage by the end of the first quarter. Miami(29-32) kept with the pace during the second quarter and were down 63-59 at halftime. 

     The Cavs stayed in front 86-82 by the conclusion of the third quarter. The Heat had a 16-7 spurt to begin the fourth quarter. The Cavaliers came back with a 19-9 run to finish the contest. 

     Miami was led by Bam Adebayo as he compiled a double-double with a game-high 34 points and 12 rebounds. Duncan Robinson scored 14 points while Haywood Highsmith drained in 13 points. 

     Donovan Mitchell poured in a club-high 26 points for Cleveland. Evan Mobley was able to contribute 16 points and 13 rebounds for a double-double. 

Joe Highsmith Wins Cognizant Classic

     Joe Highsmith captured the 2025 Cognizant Classic at PGA National in Palm Beach Gardens on Sunday. Highsmith won his first title on the PGA Tour. 

     Highsmith. set a new record for the lowest weekend score in the history of the event. He shot a 64 in the third round on Saturday and shot a 64 in the final round on Sunday.

Tiger Woods & Jupiter Links GC Lose Season Finale

     Atlanta Drive GC walloped Jupiter Links GC 9-1 on Tuesday night at SoFi Center in Palm Beach Gardens. It was the final game of the regular season for both squads. Atlanta Drive GC(4-1-0) clinched a postseason spot last week and will face second place The Bay Golf Club in the semifinals on March 18. 

     Jupiter Links GC(1-4-0) will not make the SoFi Cup Playoffs in the league's inaugural campaign and finished in fifth place. It was a disappointment this season for Jupiter Links with the most recognizable player in the world and TGL co-founder Tiger Woods on their team. 

Panthers Extend Jesper Boqvist

     The Florida Panthers will be keeping center Jesper Boqvist for the near future. The team have given Boqvist a two-year extension though the 2026-27 season worth $3 million. Both he and his brother defenseman Adam Boqvist signed with the Cats during the offsason. 

     Boqvist has 12 goals and 10 assists for 22 points in 59 games this season with Florida. He previously played in the NHL with the New Jersey Devils and Boston Bruins. 

No Marlins On Athlon Sports Baseball Cover

     The annual Athlon Sports baseball magazine was recently issued. There were no Miami Marlins players that showed up on the magazine cover.

     Athlon Sports went with just a national magazine cover instead of a regional magazine cover that combined a Marlins player and a Tampa Bay Rays player on it. 

     There were just two Major League Baseball players that had their individual magazine covers. They were Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers and Ronald Acuna Jr. of the Atlanta Braves. 

Heat Walk By Wizards

     The Miami Heat eased by the Washington Wizards 106-90 on Monday night at Kaseya Center. The Heat finished off a four-game homestand winning three of their last four contests. The Wizards have the worst record in the NBA. 

     MIami(29-31) scooted out to a 32-24 lead by the end of the opening quarter. The Heat continued their dominance in the second quarter and led 55-36 at halftime. 

     WashingtonI(11-49) cut into the deficit slightly during the third quarter and were down 81-68. The Heat made sure the Wizards could not come back in the fourth quarter. 

     Bam Adebayo led the Heat with a double-double of 19 points and 15 rebounds. Duncan Robinson dropped in 17 points while Tyler Herro and Pelle Larsson poured in 16 points each. 

     Only three Wizards players scored in double digits. Khris Middleton had a team-high 16 points and Bub Carrington added 14 points. 

Joe Bell With SummitMedia

     Former Miami radio executive Joe Bell has joined SummitMedia as their senior vice president of sales. His position will be based in Birmingham. 

     Bell is best remembered for his long reign as the general manager of 560 WQAM-AM and general manager at Beasley Broadcasting Miami. He recently worked at Beasley Media Group in Philadelphia as vice president and market manager. 

Jimmy Johnson Retires

     Former University of Miami Hurricanes football head coach Jimmy Johnson has announced his retirement from broadcasting. He has been a National Football League studio analyst on Fox Sports from 1994 to 1995 and from 2000 to 2025. His last broadcast on that network was Super Bowl LIX in February. 

     Johnson had cut back on working every week on Fox Sports for the last couple of years. He had to travel from his residence in the Florida Keys to Fox Sports studios in Los Angeles. 

     He helped the Hurricanes win a national championship in 1987. Johnson led the Dallas Cowboys to back-to-back Super Bowl titles in the early 1990s. He was the head coach of the Miami Dolphins from 1996 to 1999. 

Panthers Hold Off Lightning

     The Florida Panthers handled the Tampa Bay Lightning 2-1 at Amerant Bank Arena on Monday night. Panthers defenseman Seth Jones made his team debut with Florida since being acquired. 

     The Lightning had their eight-game winning streak snapped. The Panthers have won nine of their past 11 games. 

     There was no scoring by both clubs in the first period. Florida(38-21-3) got in front 1-0 at 9:02 of the second period. Aleksander Barkov intercepted a pass on the left point and he then snapped a shot from the high slot by Andrei Vasilevskiy for his 15th goal of the season. 

     The Panthers expanded their lead to 2-0 on the power play with 4:44 to go in the second. Aaron Ekblad backhanded a pass from the top of the zone. Mackie Samoskevich centered the puck from the left wing and Barkov collected his second tally of the contest and 16th goal in 2024-25 on a wrist shot from the slot area. 

     Tampa Bay(35-21-4) closed it to 2-1 at the 2:09 mark of the third period. Darren Raddysh zipped a pass from the right point to the right corner. Brayden Point released a forehand shot from the right-circle dot which was saved by Sergei Bobrovsky. Point got to the rebound and scored on a backhand shot from the crease area for his 32nd goal this season. 

Seth Martinez Gone From Marlins

     Relief pitcher Seth Martinez finished up a short stint with the Miami Marlins on Sunday. He was claimed by the Seattle Mariners off waivers. 

     Martinez was claimed off waivers by the Marlins back on February 20. He spent four seasons with the Houston Astros from 2021 until 2024. 

Knicks Overcome Heat

     The New York Knicks came back on the Miami Heat 116-112 in overtime at Kaseya Center on Sunday night. The Heat continued their homestand.

     Miami(28-31) came up with a 27-22 at the conclusion of the first quarter. The Heat expanded their lead to 62-45 by halftime. 

     New York(40-20) started their comeback and were down 87-81 after three quarters. The Knicks were able to tie it up 105-105 at the end of the fourth quarter. New York outscored Miami 11-7 during overtime. 

     Bam Adebayo had a team-high 30 points along with seven rebounds for the Heat. Tyler Herro finished up with 22 points and seven assists. 

     Jalen Brunson led the Knicks with a game-high 31 points. OG Anunoby fell short of a double-double with 23 points and nine rebounds. 

Inter Miami CF Launch By Houston Dynamo

     Inter Miami CF rocketed by Houston Dynamo FC 4-1 at Shell Energy Stadium on Sunday night. It was the first road contest for the Herons during the 2025 Major League Soccer regular season. 

     The first half started off with Inter Miami CF(1-0-1) scoring just six minutes into the contest for a 1-0 lead. There was a turnover inside the Dynamo defensive end. Telasco Segovia powered in a nine-yard shot with his right foot. 

     The Herons made it 2-0 in the 37th minute of play. Tadeo Allende lifted a left-footed shot from 16 yards away. 

     Segovia would give Inter Miami CF a three-goal gap 3-0 during stoppage time at the end of the first half. He placed a right-footed shot from 12 yards out. 

     In the second half, the Herons increased it to a four-goal margin 4-0 in the 79th minute. Luis Suarez through the defense into the penalty area and scored on a nine-yard shot with his left foot. 

     Houston Dynamo FC(0-2-0) cut the deficit to 4-1 during the 85th minute. Nicolas Lodeiro blasted a left-footed shot from 16 yards away. 

Panthers Acquire Seth Jones

     The Florida Panthers have acquired defenseman Seth Jones and a 2026 fourth-round selection from the Chicago Blackhawks. The Cats exchanged goalie Spencer Knight and a conditional 2026 or 2027 first-round pick in the deal. 

     Jones has spent time with the Nashville Predators, Columbus Blue Jackets and Chicago Blackhawks. Knight has been with the Panthers organization during his entire NHL career.  He was part of the Florida Panthers main roster when they captured the 2023 Eastern Conference title. 

Panthers Rush Flames

     The Florida Panthers handled the Calgary Flames 3-0 at Amerant Bank Arena on Saturday. The Panthers swept the Battle of Alberta over the past three days with victories over the Edmonton Oilers and Flames from that province. 

     Florida goalie Sergei Bobrovsky collected his 47th career shutout and passed John Vanbiesbrouck for third all-time in Panthers history with his 14th shutout. The Panthers have won eight of their last 10 contests. 

     Former Florida Panthers right wing Ryan Lomberg was honored with a video tribute during the opening period. It was also the return for one-time Panthers players Jonathan Huberdeau and MacKenzie Weegar. 

     After a scoreless first period, Florida(37-21-3) make it 1-0 at the 4:47 mark of the second period. Nate Schmidt angled a backhand pass from the right point. A.J. Greer made a touch pass in the low slot area. Jonah Gadjovich then volleyed in a rebound shot from the right goal line past Dan Vladar for his third goal of the year. 

     The Panthers expanded their lead to 2-0 with 35.2 seconds remaining in the second. Sam Bennett sent a square pass in the high slot and Aaron Ekblad pushed the puck ahead from the top right circle. Evan Rodrigues centered the puck from the right side of the crease and it went off the goalie's stick into the cage for his 14th goal of the campaign. 

     Calgary(28-23-8) surrendered another goal with 3:52 left in the third period. Rodrigues dropped off a pass at the top of the zone and Bennett zipped a diagonal pass from the high slot. Mackie Samoskevich skated through the right circle and scored his 10th goal this season on a backhand shot at the top of the crease.