Vancouver Whitecaps FC Eliminates Inter Miami CF

      Inter Miami CF lost to the Vancouver Whitecaps 3-1 in the second leg of the CONCACAF Champions Cup Semifinals at Chase Stadium on Wednesday night. The Whitecaps advanced to the championship game on June 1 with a 5-1 aggregate. 

     It was the first three-game losing streak in all combined competitions for Inter Miami CF since Lionel Messi joined the team in July 2023. Their next MLS game will be at home against the New York Red Bulls on Saturday. 

     The Herons got the only scoring in the first half of play. Jordi Alba got the tally in the ninth minute to give Inter Miami CF a 1-0 lead.

     Vancouver moved into control during the second half. Brian White scored in the 51st minute and Pedro Vite followed in the 53rd minute to give them a 2-1 lead. Sebastian Berhalter collected his second goal of the series and made it 3-1 for the Whitecaps in the 71st minute. 

Panthers Eliminate Lightning In Game 5

      The Florida Panthers beat the Tampa Bay Lightning 6-3 in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals at Amalie Arena on Wednesday night. The Panthers advanced to the next round as they won the best-of-seven series 4-1. It is the fourth straight season they have moved on to the Eastern Conference Semifinals. 

      The Panthers eliminated the Lightning from the first round of the postseason for the second straight year. The Cats did not have defenseman Aaron Ekblad available due to a two-game suspension. He will not participate in Game 1 of the next series. 

      Tampa Bay skated out to a 1-0 lead at the 2:33 mark of the opening period. Gage Gonclaves put in a wrist shot from the right side of the crease past Sergei Bobrovsky for his first goal of the playoffs. 

      Florida tied it up 1-1 at 5:21 with the man advantage. Sam Reinhart passed from the right wing and Matthew Tkachuk shot the puck from the right point. Carter Verhaeghe burned his former team as he scored his second playoff goal from the top of the crease with a wrist shot by Andrei Vasilevskiy. 

      The Panthers jumped to a 2-1 lead with 9:54 left in the first. Eetu Luostarinen tapped the puck in the left circle and Brad Marchand centered it from the left wing. It would off the left skate of Anton Lundell in the crease area and into the cage for his second tally in the postseason. 

      The Lightning responded and evened it up 2-2 with 7:44 to go in the period. Nick Paul got to a loose puck and snapped a shot from the slot area. 

      The Cats regained the lead 3-2 just 52 seconds into the second period. Luostarinen backhanded a bank pass from the end wall. Gustav Forsling fired a slap shot from the left point and Aleksander Barkov deflected it in from the top of the crease for his first goal in the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs. 

      Tampa Bay pulled even again 3-3 at the 9:57 mark on the power play. Victor Hedman angled a pass from the top of the zone. Jake Guentzel chalked up his third goal of the series on a wrist shot from just above the left circle. 

      Florida took a 4-3 lead with 4:47 remaining in the second. Luostarinen made an outlet pass from his own zone to start a 2-on-1 breakaway. Marchand zipped a cross-ice pass from the left side of the neutral zone. Sam Bennett skated in and scored on a forehand shot from the inner right circle for his third playoff goal. 

      In the third period, the Panthers expanded their lead to 5-3 with 6:58 to go. Lundell sent a lead pass from the neutral zone. Marchand connected a cross-ice pass from the right goal line and Luostarinen steered it in from the left side of the crease for his first tally this postseason. It was the fourth point of the contest for Luostarinen. 

     The Bolts pulled their goalie for an extra skater with 4:49 remaining. Florida quickly pounced on the opportunity as Reinhart released a wrist shot from the red line into an empty net with 4:24 left in the third to give them a three-goal margin. 

Dodgers Sweep Marlins

     The Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Miami Marlins 12-7 at Dodger Stadium on Wednesday. The Marlins were swept by the Dodgers and finished up a six-game road trip on the west coast with a 1-5 record. The Fish have lost 16 of their last 18 contests at Dodger Stadium. 

     Miami will have tomorrow off and then host the newly branded Athletics on Friday. The Fish will meet the Dodgers again on Monday. 

     Los Angeles(21-10) charged out to a 1-0 lead in the second inning. Max Muncy collected his first home run of the year on a solo home run to center field on a 2-1 pitch. 

     The Dodgers added three more runs in the bottom of the third for a 4-0 advantage. Mookie Betts singled into left field to score Michael Conforto and Shohei Ohtani. Three batters later, Andy Pages got a base hit to center and Betts raced home. 

     Miami(12-18) cut the deficit to 4-2 during the fourth inning. Kyle Stowers smacked a two-run homer to center field with Eric Wagaman aboard on a 1-1 pitch for his third home run of the campaign. 

     The Marlins closed it to 4-3 in the top of the sixth. Stowers drove in Agustine Ramirez with a double into left-center field. 

     Los Angeles piled on four runs in the bottom of the sixth for a five-run margin 8-3. Betts knocked in Austin Barnes and Ohtani on a triple off the center-field wall. Freddie Freeman came up next and homered to right field on a 2-1 count for his fifth home run of the season. Betts scored in front of him on the play.

     It became 9-3 for the Dodgers in the seventh inning. After a leadoff triple by Muncy to deep right, he reached home on a base hit by Kiki Hernandez into left-center field.

     The Fish surrendered three runs in the bottom of the eighth and trailed 12-3. Ohtani tripled to the wall in center field and later scored on a wild pitch. 

Jake Marisnick Released By Braves

     The Atlanta Braves have released outfielder Jake Marisnick. He has been in their minor league system since the start of the 2025 season. 

     Marisnick was once with the Miami Marlins in 2013 and 2014. He played in 54 games over two seasons with the Fish. 

Stan Van Gundy Joining Amazon Prime Video

     Former Miami Heat head coach Stan Van Gundy will be joining Amazon Prime Video as their primary NBA game analyst alongside play-by-play announcer Ian Eagle. Van Gundy is finishing his tenure with TNT Sports as n NBA game analyst after the 2025 NBA Playoffs. He has been employed there and their previous brand Turner Sports since 2019.  

    He was an assistant coach under Miami Heat head coach Pat Riley. Van Gundy was elevated to head coach prior to the 2004-05 campaign. He was let go from his position in the middle of the 2005-06 season and replaced by Riley. The team would capture their first NBA title several months later. 

NFL Schedule Release Date

     The National Football League announced at the 2025 NFL Draft when the entire 2025 season schedule will be issued. It will occur on May 14. 

     The Miami Dolphins and the other 31 NFL teams already know who their 2025 opponents will be and if they are home or away. The 32 clubs do not know what day the games will be played. 

Dodgers Dominate Marlins

     The Los Angeles Dodgers pounded the Miami Marlins 15-2 on Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium. The Marlins will complete their six-game road trip tomorrow. 

     Marlins starting pitcher Sandy Alcantara surrendered seven runs on seven hits in 2 2/3 innings. It was his sixth start since coming back from Tommy John surgery. 

     Miami(12-17) took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first. Dane Myers drove in Xavier Edwards with a single to center field. 

     Los Angeles(20-10) came back with three runs in the bottom of the first to take a 3-1 lead. Shohei Ohtani led off with a solo home run to right field for his seventh home run of the season. It was his 61st home run in a Dodgers uniform over the past two seasons. Three batters later, Teoscar Hernandez doubled to center and Freddie Freeman scored. Three batters after that, Tommy Edman hit a sacrifice fly to left field and Hernandez crossed the plate.

      The Dodgers expanded it to a 4-1 advantage in the second inning. Hernandez doubled down the left-field line for Ohtani to score. 

      It became 7-1 for Los Angeles in the bottom of the third with three runs in the frame. Andy Pages got a base hit into center field which scored Edman. Three batters later, Mookie Betts singled into center field for Pages and Michael Conforto to reach home. 

       In the sixth inning, the Dodgers led 11-1 with four more runs. Will Smith knocked in Betts and Freeman with a double off the right-field wall. Two batters later, Edman doubled into left field to score Hernandez and Smith. 

      The Marlins cut it to 11-2 during the top of the seventh. Ronny Simon singled up the middle and Otto Lopez scored. 

      Los Angeles answered back with one run in the bottom of the seventh to lead 12-2. Kiki Hernandez scored on a Teoscar Hernandez base hit to center field.

      The Dodgers added three runs in the eighth for a 13-run margin. Pages powered a solo home run over the left-field fence for his sixth homer in 2015. Rojas singled to left field and Austin Barnes crossed the plate. Teoscar Hernandez followed with a base to score Kiki Hernandez. 

Browns Tender Elijah Moore

     The Cleveland Browns have tendered wide receiver Elijah Moore. It was the first time in the NFL since 2022 that a club gave a UFA tender to their own player who was about to become an unrestricted free agent. It has been calculated to be a one-year deal worth around $3.4 million. 

     Moore played high school football with the St. Thomas Aquinas Raiders and captured three consecutive FHSAA Class 7A state championships from 2014 to 2016. He later went to Ole Miss for college football. 

Quincy Skinner Jr. Lands With Falcons

     Former Broward County high school football player Quincy Skinner Jr. has signed a deal with the Atlanta Falcons. He was not taken in the 2025 NFL Draft over the weekend. 

     Skinner was a wide receiver with the St. Thomas Aquinas Raiders when they captured the FHSAA Class 7A state championship in 2020. He played the last four seasons with Vanderbilt University in college football. 

Jaguars Signing Emmanuel Ogbah

     The Jacksonville Jaguars will be signing defensive lineman Emmanuel Ogbah. He has been in the National Football League for the past nine years.

     Ogbah was with the Miami Dolphins for five seasons from 2020 until 2024. He participated in 73 contests with the Fins. 

Falcons Get Simeon Barrow Jr.

     The Atlanta Falcons have inked defensive lineman Simeon Barrow Jr. to the club. He comes in as an undrafted free agent. 

     Barrow spent last season with the University of Miami Hurricanes and played 13 games. He was with the Michigan State University Spartans from 2021 to 2023. 

Vikings Add Mishael Powell

      The Minnesota Vikings have signed safety Mishael Powell. He was not drafted over the weekend and was free agent. 

      Powell played college football with the University of Miami Hurricanes last year. He was with the University of Washington for three seasons prior to that. 

Dodgers Dash By Marlins

     The Los Angeles Dodgers got by the Miami Marlins 7-6 in 10 innings at Dodgers Stadium on Monday night. The Dodgers won the World Series last year for their eighth World Series championship in franchise history. 

     The Marlins and the Dodgers have not met on the same field since September 19, 2024 in Miami. Shohei Ohtani set a Major League Baseball record becoming the first player to reach 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases in a single season. 

     Los Angeles(19-10) scooted out to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first. Freddie Freeman knocked in Ohtani on a base hit to center field. 

     The Dodgers increased it to 2-0 in the third inning. Mookie Betts singled through the left side to score Max Muncy. 

     It became 3-0 for Los Angeles during the bottom of the fourth. Former Marlins player Miguel Rojas doubled into the left-field corner and Andy Pages scored. 

     Miami(12-16) two more runs in the fifth inning and trailed 5-0. Teoscar Hernandez smashed a two-run homer to left field on a 2-1 pitch with Freeman aboard for his ninth home run of the season. 

     The Marlins broke the shutout in the top of the sixth with five runs to tie it up 5-5. Eric Wagaman singled up the middle and Xavier Edwards crossed the plate. Three batters later, pinch-hitter Dane Myers powered a grand-slam home run to left-center field on a 3-1 count for his second homer of the 2025 campaign. Jesus Sanchez, Wagaman and Connor Norby scored in front of him on the play. 

     The Fish took their first lead of the game 6-5 in the top of the 10th. Sanchez drove in Ronny Simon with a double into the right-center field gap. 

     The Dodgers came back in the bottom of the frame with two runs to win it 7-6. Tommy Edman knocked in Michael Conforto and Pages on a base hit into right field. 

Cavaliers Sweep Heat In Game 4

     The Cleveland Cavaliers eliminated the Miami Heat 138-83 in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals at Kaseya Center on Monday night. The top-seeded Cavaliers won the best-of-seven series 4-0. 

     The Heat were swept in a playoff series for the first time since the first round in 2021 against the Milwaukee Bucks. Miami lost their eighth consecutive home playoff game. 

     Heat television voice Eric Reid announced his final NBA Playoffs game of his 37-season broadcasting career. FanDuel Sports Network and other regional television networks will no longer have postseason contests as of next year through 2036. 

     Cleveland blasted off on a 35-8 run to begin the contest and led 43-17 after one quarter. The Cavs continued their dominance during the second quarter and were up 72-33 at halftime. 

     Miami could not make it a closer contest and were behind 111-63 at the end of the third quarter. Reserve players were brought in for the fourth quarter as the Cavs had a 50-point margin. 

     Nikola Jovic finished with 24 points for the Heat. Bam Adebayo chalked up 13 points and 12 rebounds for a double-double. Tyler Herro was held to four points and Andrew Wiggins put up 12 points. 

     Jarrett Allen composed a double-double by halftime and had 14 points along with 12 rebounds by the conclusion of the game. Donovan Mitchell scored 22 points while De'Andre Hunter poured in 19 points for Cleveland. 

Panthers Overcome Lightning In Game 4

     The Florida Panthers came back on the Tampa Bay Lightning 4-2 in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals at Amerant Bank Arena on Monday night. The Panthers lead the best-of-seven series 3-1. Both teams will face each other in Tampa for Game 5 on Wednesday. 

     After a scoreless first period, Florida scored first at the 9:06 mark of the second period. Eetu Luostarinen poked the puck out of the right corner and Brad Marchand backhanded it from the low right circle. Anton Lundell was all by himself in the low slot and released a wrist shot by Andrei Vasilevskiy for his first tally in the postseason and seventh career playoff goal. 

     Tampa Bay tied it up 1-1 with 7:39 remaining in the second. Nick Perbix took a shot from the top right circle which was saved by Sergei Bobrovsky. Mitchell Chaffee slipped in a forehand shot from the lower right circle for his first goal in the series. 

     The Lightning leaped to a 2-1 advantage just 11 seconds later. Jake Guentzel angled a loose puck from the high slot and Erik Cernak snapped a shot from the top right circle for his first goal in the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs. 

     In the third period, the Panthers evened it up 2-2 with 3:47 left. Aaron Ekblad dropped a pass to Sam Reinhart on the right point. His shot was stopped by Vasilevskiy, but Ekblad scored his first goal in the postseason on a wrist shot from the top of the crease.

     The Cats reclaimed the lead 3-2 with 3:36 remaining. Marchand pushed the puck from the right wing and it was touched by Lundell at the right point. It was followed by a Seth Jones slap shot that went into the net for his first postseason goal in a Panthers jersey. 

     Carter Verhaeghe fired a shot from the neutral zone into an empty net with 1:40 to go and gave Florida a 4-2 lead. It turned out to be his 27th career playoff goal. Barkov was credited with an assist on the play. 

FC Dallas Sting Inter Miami CF

     Inter Miami CF were stunned by FC Dallas 4-3 on Sunday at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale. The Herons was the last undefeated team in Major League Soccer this season. Inter Miami CF had not played a regular season home game in 21 days. 

     FC Dallas(4-3-3) moved out to a 1-0 advantage early in the first half. Shaq Moore scored during the eighth minute.

     The Herons tied it up 1-1 in the 16th minute when Fafa Picault found the net. Inter Miami CF(5-1-3) made it 2-1 on a goal by Allen Obando in the 29th minute. In the second half, it became 3-1 for the Herons as David Martinez got the tally during the 56th minute.  

      A comeback would happen for FC Dallas with three unanswered goals later in the second half. Osaze Urhoghide scored in the 65th minute and Anderson Julio followed in the 69th minute. Pedrinho would give them a 4-3 lead during the 81st minute. 

Mariners Outshine Marlins

      The Seattle Mariners edged the Miami Marlins 7-6 at T-Mobile Field on Sunday. Marlins rookie Agustin Ramirez hit two home runs in the contest.

     The Marlins are in the middle of their current six-game road trip. The Fish will visit the defending World Series Champions the Los Angeles Dodgers tomorrow to begin a three-game series. 

Andres Borregales Off To Patriots

     Former Broward County football player Andres Borregales was taken by the New England Patriots in the sixth round of the 2025 NFL Draft on Saturday. The event happened at Lambeau Field in Green Bay. 

     Borregales spent time as the kicker and punter for the Chaminade-Madonna Lions. He contributed to them winning three consecutive FHSAA state titles in 2017, 2018 and 2019. Borregales played with the University of Miam Hurricanes for four seasons from 2021 to 2024.

Oronde Gadsden II Joins Chargers

     Tight end Oronde Gadsden II was selected by the Los Angeles Chargers during the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft on Saturday. His father was once drafted and participated with the Miami Dolphins. 

     Gadsden played high school football with the American Heritage Patriots and helped them capture two FHSAA state championships in 2017 and 2020. He was with Syracuse University from 2021 to 2024. 

Ruben Hyppolite II Moves To Bears

     Former American Heritage Stallions linebacker Ruben Hyppolite II was chosen by the Chicago Bears. He was selected in the fourth round with the 132nd overall pick. 

     Hyppolite helped American Heritage capture a FHSAA state championship in 2017 and transferred to play for the McArthur Mustangs in 2019. He was recently with the University of Maryland for the last five seasons from 2020 to 2024. 

Mariners Bomb Marlins

     The Seattle Mariners dominated the Miami Marlins x-x on Saturday night at T-Mobile Park. The rubber game of the series is tomorrow. 

     Seattle(15-12) piled on six runs during the bottom of the first. Miami(12-14) surrendered one run in the second and one run in the fourth for them to be down 8-0. 

Lightning Speed By Panthers In Game 3

     The Florida Panthers were surprised by the Tampa Bay Lightning 5-1 in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals at Amerant Bank Arena on Saturday. The Cats lead this playoff series 2-1. 

     Defenseman Aaron Ekblad made his return to the Panthers following a 20-game suspension from the NHL. The Lightning snapped a three-game postseason losing streak to the Cats.

      Florida came out on fire and broke out to a 1-0 lead at the 2:43 mark of the first period. Sam Bennett pushed a pass from the left circle and Matthew Tkachuk backhanded a shot from the right side of the crease by Andrei Vasilevskiy.  

     Tampa Bay evened it up 1-1 with 2:45 left in the first. Nikita Kucherov backhanded a square pass from the top right center and Jake Guentzel took a forehand shot from the slot area. It went off the right leg of Brayden Point at the top of the crease and past Sergei Bobrovsky for his second tally of the postseason. 

     In the second period, the Bolts jumped to a 2-1 lead with 6:43 to go. Nick Paul snapped a shot from the inner right circle to give Tampa Bay their first lead in the series. 

     The Lightning increased it to 3-1 just 21 seconds into the third period. Kucherov backhanded a pass from the end wall and Guentzel roofed a forehand shot from the left of the crease for his second goal of the series. 

     It became 4-1 for Tampa Bay with 5:41 remaining in the third. Luke Gledening lifted a wrist shot from the inner right circle. 

     The Panthers pulled their goalie for an extra attacker with 5:34 to go. It did not work as Anthony Cirelli placed in an empty-net goal with 5:00 left to make it 5-1. Guentzel and Kucherov were credited with assists on the play. 

Cavaliers Smack Heat In Game 3

     The Cleveland Cavaliers knocked off the Miami Heat 124-87 on Saturday at Kaseya Center. in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals. The Cavs led the best-of-seven series 3-0 and can wrap up the series on Monday. 

      It was the Heat's first home game in 13 days. They played and won two road contests in the NBA Play-In Tournament. 

      Cleveland rocketed out to a 33-20 advantage at the end of the first quarter. The Cavaliers extended it to 62-42 by halftime.

      Miami barely dented into the gap during the third quarter and trailed 88-64. The Heat were way behind in the final quarter.

      Bam Adebayo composed 22 points and nine rebounds for Miami. Tyler Herro contributed 13 points, Davion Mitchell scored 16 points and Andrew Wiggins pumped in 10 points. 

      Jarrett Allen dropped in 22 points for the Cavaliers while Donovan Mitchell drained in 13 points. De'Andre Hunter came off the bench with 21 points. Former Heat player Max Strus finished up with 18 points. 

Additional Locals In NFL Draft

    More football players with South Florida connections found their way into the 2025 NFL Draft. It happened in Green Bay on Saturday. 

     Two former American Heritage Patriots players were named during the NFL Draft. University of Maryland linebacker Ruben Hyppolite II was selected 132nd overall in the fourth round by the Chicago Bears. Syracuse University tight end Oronde Gadsden was taken by the Los Angeles Chargers in the fifth round at 165th overall. 

     University of Miami Hurricanes offensive tackle Jalen Rivers was taken by the Cincinnati Bengals in the fifth round at 153rd overall. Hurricanes linebacker Francisco Mauigoa was selected by the New York Jets 162nd overall during the fifth round. Canes defensive end Tyler Barron was chosen in the fifth round by the New York Jets at 176th overall. e

     The sixth round had one-time Chaminade-Madonna and University of Miami kicker Andres Borregales selected 182nd overall by the New England Patriots. In the seventh round, another Hurricanes player was announced. Miami running back Damien Maritnez was taken by the Seattle Seahawks with the 223rd overall selection. 

Dolphins Finish 2025 NFL Draft

     The Miami Dolphins completed their participation in the 2025 NFL Draft. Saturday involved selections from the fourth round until the seventh round. 

     The Dolphins selected Maryland defensive tackle Jordan Phillips 143rd overall, Florida cornerback Jason Marshall Jr. 150th overall and Maryland safety Dante Trader Jr. with the 155th overall pick during the fifth round. 

     Miami took Oklahoma State running back Ollie Gordon II in the sixth round. The Fins choose Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers and Georgia Tech defensive tackle Zeek Biggers during the seventh round. 

Mason Taylor Goes To Jets

      Former Broward County high school football tight end Mason Taylor was selected by the New York Jets in the second round 42nd overall. His father Jason Taylor was once with the Miami Dolphins and the New York Jets during his Pro Football Hall of Fame NFL career.  

      Mason Taylor played high school football with the St. Thomas Aquinas Raiders and captured three FHSAA state championships in 2019, 2020 and 2021. He participated for three years with the LSU Tigers from 2022 to 2024. 

West Palm Beach Ratings March 2025

    West Palm Beach sports talk format radio stations got their ratings. The time span was from the first week in March to the first week of April. 

     There has been more of a buzz for ESPN West Palm 106.3 WUUB-FM recently. They became the English language audio rights holder of Inter Miami CF game broadcasts in February. The team started the 2025 Major League Soccer undefeated. 

     Fox Sports 640 South Florida WMEN-AM moved down from a 0.4 to a 0.3 in the month. It was the conclusion of the Florida Atlantic University men's basketball season. 

     Sports Radio 1230 The Gambler WBZT-AM rose from a 0.0 to a 0.1 in the period. The University of Florida Gators made it to the Final Four. The Miami Marlins began the 2025 campaign with a winning opening homestand. The Florida Panthers were in a dogfight for the Atlantic Division title. 

Marlins Handle Mariners

     The Miami Marlins pushed by the Seattle Mariners 8-4 on Friday night at T-Mobile Park. Miami(12-13) made their longest plane trip this season to arrive in Seattle(14-12).  

     The Marlins began a six-game road swing on the west coast. They will finish the road trip in Los Angeles against the defending World Series champion Dodgers. 

     The Fish compiled a six-run fifth inning for a 6-1 advantage. It was capped by a two-run homer by Jesus Sanchez which was his first round-tripper of the year. The Mariners responded with three runs in the bottom of the frame. 

      Miami expanded it to 8-4 in the top of the seventh. Agustin Ramirez smashed his first home run in his Major League Baseball career. He became just the third player since 1901 with at least seven base hits and five extra base hits in his first three games in the majors. 

More Locals Selected

     More players were taken during the second day of the 2025 NFL Draft held at Lambeau Field in Green Bay. Two of them had some sort of local South Florida connection. 

     One-time St. Thomas Aquinas and LSU tight end Mason Taylor was selected by the New York Jets 42nd overall during the second round. University of Miami Hurricanes tight end Elijah Arroyo was chosen by the Seattle Seahawks in the second round as the 50th overall pick. 

Dolphins Make More Selections

     The 2025 NFL Draft continued on Friday night in Green Bay. The second round along with the third round took place.

     The Miami Dolphins selected offensive guard Jonah Savaiinaea 37th overall in the second round. He played college football with the University of Arizona Wildcats.  

Inter Miami CF Lose To Vancouver Whitecaps

     Inter Miami CF lost to Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2-0 in the first leg of the CONCACAF Champions Cup Semifinals on Thursday night in front of a record crowd at BC Place. The second leg will be played on Wednesday in Fort Lauderdale.

     Vancouver got out to a 1-0 lead in the first half. Brian White jumped up and put in a header from seven yards away during the 24th minute.

      The Whitecaps made it 2-0 in the 85th minute. Sebastian Berhalter received a pass and then lifted an eight-yard shot with his right foot. 

Panthers Blank Lightning In Game 2

     The Florida Panthers shut out the Tampa Bay Lightning 2-0 in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals on Thursday night. The Panthers now lead the best-of-seven series 2-0. 

      Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 19 Lightning shots for the shutout win. The Cats have won three straight postseason games against the Bolts going back to last year. Both teams will meet in Sunrise on Saturday for Game 3.

     Florida jumped out to a 1-0 advantage at the 4:15 mark of the first period. Aleksander Barkov won the faceoff in the left circle and Sam Reinhart sent a cross-ice pass from the left point. Nate Schmidt blasted a one-time slap shot from above the right circle past Andrei Vasilevskiy for his third goal in the series. 

     The Panthers completed the 2-0 victory with 3.4 seconds remaining in the third period. Sam Bennett placed in an empty-net tally for his second goal this series. Seth Jones was credited with an assist on the play.  

Titans Take Cam Ward

      Former University of Miami Hurricanes quarterback Cam Ward was selected first overall by the Tennessee Titans in the 2025 NFL Draft on Thursday night. The annual draft was held at Lambeau Field in Green Bay. 

      Ward played his only season with the Hurricanes in 2024. He was with the Washington State University Cougars for several years prior to that. 

Miami Dolphins In First Round

     The first round of the 2025 NFL Draft was held in Green Bay on Thursday night. The Miami Dolphins had one draft pick in the opening round. 

     The Dolphins selected University of Michigan defensive tackle Kenneth Grant at 13th overall.  He contributed to the Wolverines winning the CFP National Championship in 2023. 

Locals Taken In First Round

     There were not many players selected in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft with a South Florida connection. There usually has been more than one player that has been picked on the opening night of the draft. 

     Two local selections were announced in the opening round. University of Miami Hurricanes quarterback Cam Ward was taken first overall by the Tennessee Titans. West Palm Beach native and University of Colorado wide receiver Travis Hunter was selected second by the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Cavaliers Push Heat In Game 2

     The Cleveland Cavaliers moved by the Miami Heat 121-112 at Rocket Arena on Wednesday night in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals. The Cavs now lead the series 2-0. Game 3 will be held in Miami on Saturday. 

     Cleveland was ahead slightly 25-24 at the end of the first quarter. The Cavaliers went on a 25-10 run in the beginning of the second quarter and led 68-51 at halftime. 

     Miami gained ground with an 8-2 spurt at the conclusion of the third quarter and trailed 93-80. The Heat compiled a 19-8 run to start the final quarter, however the Cavaliers pulled away. 

     Tyler Herro scored a game-high 33 points for the Heat. Bam Adebayo had a double-double of 11 points and 14 rebounds while Davion Mitchell dropped in 18 points. 

      Donovan Mitchell finished up with 30 points and Evan Mobley poured in 20 points. Darius Garland got 21 points and nine rebounds.

Miami Ratings March 2025

     Miami/Fort Lauderdale sports talk format radio stations received their ratings. The time span went from the first week of March to the first week in April. 

     AM 560 Sports WQAM-AM finished with a 0.9 following two months at a 1.1. The Florida Panthers were battling for the Atlantic Division title in a three-team race. The Miami Heat had their longest losing streak since 2008. 

      Fox Sports 940 WINZ-AM remained at a 0.3 in the period. The Miami Marlins started the 2025 season with a decent 4-3 record. The University of Florida Gators men's basketball team zipped through the NCAA Tournament and reached the Final Four. 

      Fox Sports 640 South Florida WMEN-AM rose up again from a 0.1 to a 0.2. The Florida Atlantic University Owls men's basketball completed their season.

      The stream of WQAM stayed at a 0.0 for the second straight time. WZTU-FM-HD2 dropped from a 0.3 to a 0.1 in the period. 

Marlins Fall To Reds

     The Cincinnati Reds prevailed over the Miami Marlins 5-2 at loanDepot park on Wednesday. Miami(11-13) had their three-game winning streak snapped and could not sweep Cincinnati(12-13). 

Eric Reid Announcing Final Playoff Games

     Miami Heat television play-by-play voice Eric Reid will be announcing his final postseason games ever in the current first-round series between the Heat and the Cleveland Cavaliers. He first announced a Heat playoff game in 1992.

     2025 will be the final year that regional sports networks can carry NBA Playoffs first-round contests. NBC, ESPN and Amazon will have the exclusive television rights to all NBA postseason games beginning next year until 2036.  

Heat & Panthers Home Playoff Game Conflicts

     The Miami Heat and the Florida Panthers will be playing their home games at the same time later this week. The Heat's home contests of Game 3 and Game 4 at Kaseya Center will happen simultaneously as Game 3 and Game 4 of the Panthers series at Amerant Bank Center. 

     The situation of two South Florida home playoff games playing at the same time has occurred numerous times in recent years. It has happened in 2022, 2023 and 2024. 

Panthers Blow Out Lightning In Game 1

      The Florida Panthers began their Stanley Cup title defense with a 6-2 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals at Amalie Arena on Tuesday night. The Panthers lead the best-of-seven series 1-0. Matthew Tkachuk made his return to the Florida lineup after being out since early February. 

      Both teams are meeting each other in a playoff series for the fourth time in the last five seasons. The Panthers or the Lightning have reached the Stanley Cup Final in the previous five years. 

      Florida made it 1-0 at the 3:44 mark of the opening period when Sam Bennett batted the puck in. Tampa Bay evened it up 1-1 on the power play with 7:39 to go in the first when Jake Guentzel placed in a wrist shot. The Cats regained the lead 2-1 as Sam Reinhart redirected a shot from the low right circle with 44.7 seconds left in the period. 

     The Panthers would extend their lead to 5-1 during the second period. Nate Schmidt took a wrist shot from close range at 4:41. Tkachuk added two power-play goals at 4:55 and the 9:24 mark. 

     The Bolts closed it to 5-2 with 6:56 remaining in second. Brayden Point put in a snap shot from close range. It became 6-2 for the Cats at 5:09 of the third period when Schmidt scored on the power play for his second goal of the contest. 

Browns Sign Nik Needham

     The Cleveland Browns have signed defensive back Nik Needham to a contract. It is expected to be a one-year deal.

      Needham spent his entire six-season NFL career with the Miami Dolphins from 2019 to 2024. He had six interceptions in 63 games with the Fins. 

Marlins Trade Jonah Bride

      The Miami Marlins traded infielder Jonah Bride to the Minnesota Twins last week. The Fish received back cash considerations in the deal. 

      Bride spent the past two seasons with Miami. He participated in 83 contests and had a .250 batting average along with 11 home runs. 

Zach Pop Inks With Mariners

      Zach Pop has signed a minor league contract last week with the Seattle Mariners. It turned out to be a one-year agreement. 

      Pop was with the Miami Marlins in 2021 and 2022. He ended up making 68 relief appearances with the club and had a 3.98 earned run average.

Marlins Overtake Reds

     The Miami Marlins overcame the Cincinnati Reds 4-3 on Tuesday night at loanDepot park. The Marlins won their third straight game. 

     Miami(11-12) rookie catcher Agustin Ramirez set a franchise record with five base hits in his first two games of his career. Mike Redmond, Dane Myers and Kyle Johnson did share the Marlins record with four base hits. 

Marlins Zip By Reds

      The Cincinnati Reds fell the Miami Marlins 6-3 on Monday night at loanDepot park. The Marlins began a short three-game homestand. Miami catcher Agustin Ramirez made his Major League Baseball debut with two hits and one run. 

      Marlins starting pitcher Max Meyer had 10 strikeouts through four innings. He finished up with a career-high 14 strikeouts in six innings pitched.

      Miami(10-12) got two runs in the bottom of the second and had a 6-0 advantage after seven innings. Cincinnati(11-12) collected three runs in the top of the eighth. 

Cavaliers Cover Heat In Game 1

      The Cleveland Cavaliers knocked off the Miami Heat 121-100 in Game 1of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals on Sunday night at Rocket Arena. The Cavaliers lead the best-of-seven series 1-0.

     Cleveland had a 31-24 advantage at the conclusion of the first quarter. The Cavaliers remained in front 62-54 at halftime. 

      Miami kept up with the pace and were down 87-79 at the end of the third quarter. The Cavs extended their lead during the final quarter.

     Bam Adebayo ended up with 24 points and nine points for the Heat. Tyler Herro dropped in 21 points and Andrew Wiggins scored 14 points. 

     Donovan Mitchell led the Cavaliers with 30 points while Darius Garland finished up with 27 points. Jarrett Allen composed a double-double of 12 points and 11 rebounds

Marlins Slip By Phillies

     The Miami Marlins avoided a three-game sweep as they beat the Philadelphia Phillies 7-5 in 10 innings at Citizens Bank Park on Sunday. The Marlins snapped a five-game losing streak and host Cincinnati Reds on Monday.  

     Philadelphia(13-9) jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first. The Phillies had a 4-1 advantage after four innings. 

     Miami(9-12) scored three runs in the top of the eighth to move ahead 5-4. The Phils answered back in the bottom of the frame to tie it up. The Marlins got two runs in the 10th inning and were victorious. 

Miami Heat Playoff Schedule

     The NBA released the first-round schedule between the Miami Heat and the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Heat won both of their NBA Play-In Tournament games to face the Eastern Conference top seed. 

     The Cavs host Game 1 on April 20 and Game 2 on April 23. The Heat will be at home for Game 3 on April 26 and Game 4 on April 28. Game 5 will happen in Cleveland on April 30, Game 6 will occur on May 2 and Game 7 is in Ohio on May 4. 

Inter Miami CF Leap Over Columbus Crew

     Inter Miami CF passed the Columbus Crew on Saturday at Huntington Park Field. This  clash was for first place in the Eastern Conference. Both teams entered the contest undefeated in Major League Soccer this season. 

     In the first half, Inter Miami CF(5-0-3) got out to a 1-0 lead during the 30th minute. Benjamin Cremaschi was able to pick up the tally against Columbus(5-1-3).

Phillies Outscore Marlins

     The Philadelphia Phillies held off the Miami Marlins 11-10 at Citizens Bank Park on Saturday. The Marlins have lost five consecutive games and surrendered 18 runs in the past two contests.

      Philadelphia(13-8) got four runs in the bottom of the fourth and led 9-1 after five innings. Miami(8-12) were down 11-4 heading into the ninth inning. The Fish compiled six runs in the final frame, but they fell just short of tying it up. 

Heat Advance Past Hawks

     The Miami Heat played in their second NBA Play-In Tournament game and defeated the Atlanta Hawks 123-114 in overtime at State Farm Arena on Friday night. It was the second play-in game for both clubs in the last three days. 

     The Heat became the first #10 seed from the Eastern Conference to win two play-in contests and advanced. They will visit Cleveland and face the Cavaliers in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals on Sunday. 

     Miami hustled out with the 10 points scored in first quarter and were up 33-24 after one quarter. The Heat maintained a 62-53 halftime lead. 

     The Hawks were down at the end 86-77 at the conclusion of the third quarter. Atlanta finally took their first lead of the game with 7:30 remaining in the fourth quarter.

     Both clubs were tied 106-106 at the end of regulation. The Heat began overtime on a 9-3 spurt and outscored the Hawks 17-8 during the extra session. 

      Tyler Herro led Miami with a game-high 30 points along with eight rebounds and seven assists. Andrew Wiggins contributed 20 points, eight rebounds and eight assists. Bam Adebayo had a double-double with 17 points and 11 rebounds. 

      Trae Young finished off with team highs of 29 points and 11 assists for a double-double. Onyeka Okongwu put together a double-double for Atlanta of 28 points and 12 rebounds. 

Phillies Speed By Marlins

     The Philadelphia Phillies rocketed past the Miami Marlins 7-2 at Citizens Bank Park on Friday night. The Marlins, who have lost four straight contests, began a short three-game road trip. 

     Philadelphia(12-8) scored two runs in the first inning and four in the second inning. The Phillies another run in the bottom of the fifth for a seven-run margin. Miami(8-11) put up two runs during the top of the sixth. 

Panthers & Lightning Playoff Schedule

     The National Hockey League released the first-round playoff schedule. The Florida Panthers will face their cross-state rivals the Tampa Bay Lightning in the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the fourth time in the last five seasons. 

     The series between both teams was scheduled the latest. The Lightning will host Game 1 on April 22 and Game 2 on April 24. The Panthers return to Sunrise for Game 3 on April 26 and Game 4 on April 28. The series heads to Tampa for Game 5 on April 30, South Florida for Game 6 on May 2 and finishes in Tampa for Game 7 on May 4. 

Diamondbacks Sweep Marlins

       The Arizona Diamondbacks swept the Miami Marlins with a 6-4 win on Thursday at loanDepot park. The Marlins head next to Philadelphia to take on the Phillies in a three-game set this weekend. 

Diamondbacks Power By Marlins

     The Arizona Diamondbacks beat the Miami Marlins 6-2 at loanDepot park on Wednesday night. The Miami(8-9) will conclude a six-game homestand tomorrow versus Arizona(11-7). 

Heat Beat Bulls In Play-In Tournament

     The Miami Heat survived the Chicago Bulls 109-90 in the NBA Play-In Tournament game on Wednesday night at United Center. Miami defeated Chicago for the third straight year in a play-in contest. The Heat will play for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference on Friday when they visit the Atlanta Hawks. 

     Miami rolled out to a 39-28 advantage at the end of the first quarter. The Heat outscored Chicago 32-19 during the second quarter and extended their lead to 71-47 by halftime. 

     The Bulls began the second half on a 16-7 spurt and trailed 88-74 at the conclusion of the third quarter. The Heat had a double-digit lead throughout the final quarter. 

      Tyler Herro led Miami with a game-high 38 points. Andrew Wiggins finished with 20 points and nine rebounds while Davion Mitchell drained in 15 points. Bam Adebayo had a double-double of 15 points and 12 rebounds.

      Josh Giddey composed a double-double of 25 points and 10 rebounds for the Bulls. Nikola Vucevic  had 16 points and 12 rebounds. 

Patrick Peterson Retires

Lightning Scorch Panthers

     The Florida Panthers lost their regular season finale to the Tampa Bay Lightning 5-1 at Amalie Arena on Tuesday night. Both teams will face each other in the first round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs beginning this weekend. They will meet in the postseason for the fourth time in the past five years. 

     Tampa Bay(47-26-8) rocketed out to a 3-0 lead in the first period. They got even-strength tallies from Brayden Point and Conor Geekie along with a shorthanded goal from Jake Guentzel. Nikita Kucherov increased it to a four-goal margin early in the second period. 

     Florida(47-31-4) make it 4-1 at the 5:36 mark of the second. Brad Marchand collected his second goal with the Cats and 23rd goal of the season on a wrist shot. 

Diamondbacks Dump Marlins

     The Arizona Diamondbacks dropped the Miami Marlins 10-4 on Tuesday night at loanDepot park. It was the beginning of a three-game series between both clubs. 

     Arizona(10-7) piled on four runs during the top of the second. It was capped off by a Geraldo Perdomo three-run homer to right field. 

     Miami(8-8) cut it to 4-1 in the bottom of the second. Liam Hicks grounded out to the pitcher and Otto Lopez raced home. 

     The Diamondbacks placed in one run in the fourth. They increased it to 10-1 in the top of the sixth on a grand-slam home run by Corbin Carroll.

Alijah Martin Wins National Title

     Former FAU basketball player Alijah Martin won the 2025 NCAA men's basketball national championship last Monday. The University of Florida Gators defeated the University of Houston Cougars in the title game held in San Antonio. 

     Martin was with the Florida Atlantic University Owls when they appeared in the 2023 Final Four. He transferred to Florida after the 2023-24 season. 

Rangers Rise By Panthers

     The Florida Panthers lost to the New York Rangers at 5-3 Amerant Bank Arena on Monday night. Both teams faced each other in the Eastern Conference Finals last year. 

     It was the Panthers regular season home finale. They will likely face the Tampa Bay Lightning in the first round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs beginning this weekend. 

     New York Rangers television play-by-play announcer Sam Rosen will broadcast his final NHL game on Thursday to complete a 40-season tenure in that position. The Blueshirts will not participate during the postseason in 2025 after capturing the Presidents' Trophy for the best record in the NHL last season. 

     Florida(47-30-4) moved out to a 1-0 lead on the power play at the 2:22 mark. Sam Bennett pushed a pass from the right-circle dot and Sam Reinhart fired a slap shot from the high slot past Jonathan Quick for his 38th goal of the season. 

     New York(38-36-7) tied it up 1-1 at 8:43 of the first. K'Andre Miller took a shot from the left point which was saved by Sergei Bobrovsky. Matt Rempe put in the rebound from the top of the crease for his third tally this year and his fourth career goal. 

     The Panthers reclaimed the lead 2-1 at 4:48 of the second period. Gustav Forsling released a shot from the left that was stopped by Quick. It then went off the right leg of Carter Verhaerghe and into the cage for his 20th goal of the campaign. 

      It became 3-1 for the Cats with 6:06 to go in the second. Aleksander Barkov backhanded a pass from the right goal line and Reinhart snapped a shot for his second goal of the contest and 39th goal in 2024-25. 

      The Rangers closed it to 3-2 with 4:05 remaining in the period. Miller sent the puck toward the net from the top of the zone and Juuso Parssinen redirected it in from the crease area for his sixth goal of the year. 

      The Blueshirts evened it up 3-3 with 2:27 left in the second. Mike Zibanejad centered the puck from the right circle and J.T. Miller tapped it in with a forehand shot from close range for his 22nd goal this season. 

      In the third period, New York made it 4-3 at the 3:40 mark. J.T. Miller angled a pass from the slot area. Former Panther Vincent Trocheck scored his 25th goal in a shorthanded tally from the low left circle. 

      They extended their lead to 5-3 with 3:29 remaining in the third. Jonny Brodzinski put in a forehand shot from the top of the crease for his 12th goal of the campaign. 

Rory McIlroy Wins Career Grand Slam

     Palm Beach County resident Rory McIlroy captured The Masters 2025 tournament on Sunday in Augusta, Georgia. He became the first male golfer to win all four major tournaments in a career since Tiger Woods last accomplished it in 2000. 

     McIlroy last captured a major tournament in 2014. He and Woods co-founded TGL, which began its first season earlier this year. 

Inter Miami CF Tie Chicago Fire FC

     Inter Miami CF and Chicago Fire FC tied 1-1 at Soldier Field on Sunday. The Herons remained undefeated this season in MLS. 

     The team will not play again until Saturday. Inter Miami CF(4-0-3) will visit the Columbus Crew. Chicago Fire FC(3-2-3), who have been in Major League Soccer since 1998, set a new home attendance record today of 62,358.

Heat Lose Regular Season Finale

     The Miami Heat completed the 2024-25 regular season with a 119-118 defeat to the Washington Wizards on Sunday at Kaseya Center. The Heat finished 10th in the Eastern Conference and will visit the Chicago Bulls in the NBA Play-In Tournament on Wednesday. 

     Washington(18-64) scooted out to a 30-28 advantage by the end of the first quarter. The Wizards held a 66-60 lead at halftime. 

     Miami(37-45) cut the lead to 94-86 by the conclusion of the third quarter. The Heat closed the margin down and took a 116-114 lead with 25.7 seconds left in the final quarter. Miami turned the ball over on a midcourt violation off an inbound pass with 4.4 seconds to go. Bub Carrington scored on a running bank shot from five feet away with no time remaining for a Wizards 119-118 win.

     Jaime Jacquez Jr. had a game-high 41 points for the Heat. Justin Champagnie led Washington with a club-high 27 points. 

Marlins Squash Nationals

     The Miami Marlins smashed the Washington Nationals 11-4 at loanDepot park on Sunday. The Fish have tomorrow off and will host the Arizona Diamondbacks on Tuesday. 

     Miami(8-7) finished with season highs of 11 runs and 14 hits today against Washington(6-9). The Marlins have been victorious in three of their past four games. 

Skip Schumaker On Team USA

     Skip Schumaker has been named to the Team USA coaching staff for the 2026 World Baseball Classic. He will serve as a bench coach under manager Mark DeRosa.  

     Schumaker was the Miami Marlins manager for two seasons in 2023 and 2024. He guided the Marlins to their first 162-game season playoff appearance in 20 years back in 2023. Schumaker was named National League Manager of the Year in his first season. 

Panthers Brush Off Sabres

     The Florida Panthers handled the Buffalo Sabres 3-2 in a shootout on Saturday night at Amerant Bank Arena. The Panthers have won 15 of their last 17 home contests. 

     The Cats played their third game of a four-game homestand. They will have their regular season home finale against the New York Rangers on Monday. 

      Tonight's contest would go into a shootout. Florida(47-29-4) got the only converted goal as Anton Lundell scored on the Panthers first attempt with a wrist shot to defeat Buffalo(35-37-7). 

Marlins Outduel Nationals

     The Washington Nationals were outlasted by the Miami Marlins 7-6 at loanDepot park on Saturday. The Marlins have won three of their last eight games. 

Xavier Scruggs On MLB Network

     Former Miami Marlins player Xavier Scruggs is now being seen at MLB Network. He is the co-host of The Lead Off Show on SiriusXM Radio.  

     Scruggs participated with the Marlins during the 2016 season. He had one home run, five runs batted in and a .210 batting average in 24 games with Miami.  

Michael Hill USA General Manager

    Michael Hill has been named the general manager of Team USA. He will in charge of the club when they play in the 2026 World Baseball Classic. 

     Hill was once the Miami Marlins general manager. Mark DeRosa was retained as Team USA manager by Hill.

Heat Pound Pelicans

     The Miami Heat walloped the New Orleans 153-104 at Smoothie King Arena on Friday night. It was one of the largest margin of victory for the Heat this season. 

     The Heat finished up a short road swing. They will host the the Washington Wizards in their regular season finale on Sunday. 

     Miami(37-44) rocketed out to 35-24 lead after the first quarter. They extended their lead to 71-54 by halftime. 

     The Heat piled on the points in the second half and were up 110-72 after three quarters. New Orleans(21-60) was outscored 43-32 during the final quarter. 

Marlins Fall To Nationals

     The Washington Nationals knocked off the Miami Marlins 7-4 at loanDepot park on Friday night. The Marlins started a six-game homestand. 

Panthers Roll By Red Wings

     The Florida Panthers passed by the Detroit Red Wings 4-1 at Amerant Bank Arena on Thursday night. Panthers head coach Paul Maurice passed Barry Trotz in coaching wins with 915 for third all-time in NHL history. The Cats continued their four-game homestand.  

     Detroit(36-35-7) roared out to 1-0 advantage at the  6:13 mark of the first period. Alex DeBrincat put in a wrist shot from the crease area by Sergei Bobrovsky for his 36th goal of the campaign.  

      In the second period, the Panthers evened it up on the power play at 2:58. Evan Rodrigues stuffed in a shot from the left goal line for his 15th goal this season. 

      Florida(46-29-4) took a 2-1 lead at the 8:46 mark of the period. Mackie Samoskevich snapped a shot from the inner left circle for his 15th tally of the year. 

      Brad Marchand collected his first goal in the Panthers uniform with 3:39 left in the second to make it 3-1. He skated through the slot and lifted a forehand shot from the top of the crease

      It became 4-1 for Florida with 5:57 remaining in the third period. Seth Jones fired a slap shot from the top of the zone and it was redirected in by Aleksander Barkov in the low slot for his 20th goal of the season. Barkov reached the 20-goal plateau for the 10th consecutive season.

Bruce Logan Exits WMEN-AM

     Local radio executive Bruce Logan has left his position at Hubbard Radio in West Palm Beach. He was with the company since June 2019. 

     Logan began as the operations manager and program director at WIRK-FM and WEAT-FM. He added duties at WMEN-AM, WFTL-AM, WRMF-FM and WMBX-FM as their operations manager in December 2019.

Inter Miami CF Advance By LAFC

     Inter Miami CF got by Los Angeles FC 3-1 in the second leg of the CONCACAF Champions Cup Quarterfinal matchup at Chase Stadium on Wednesday night. The Herons advanced to the next round on a 3-2 aggregate.

     LAFC leaped out to a 1-0 lead in the 10th minute on a tally by Aaron Long from nine yards away with his right foot. Lionel Messi scored for the Herons during the 35th minute on a left-footed shot from 16 yards out to tie it up 1-1.

     Noah Allen gave Inter Miami CF a 2-1 advantage in the 61st minute on a 21-yard lob shot. Messi put in a penalty kick into the right side of the cage in the 84th minute for a 3-2 aggregate.

Bulls Spin By Heat

     The Chicago Bulls took the Miami Heat 119-111 at United Center on Wednesday night. Miami(36-44) began a short two-game road trip.

Marlins March By Mets

     The Miami Marlins blanked the New York Mets 5-0 on Wednesday. The Mets had their six-game winning streak. 

      The Marlins finished off a five-game road trip. The Fish have tomorrow off and will host the Washington Nationals on Friday. 

Panthers Drop Maple Leafs

      The Florida Panthers downed the Toronto Maple Leafs 3-1 at Amerant Bank Arena on Tuesday night. The Panthers began their final homestand of the 2024-25 regular season and snapped a five-game winless streak.

     Both teams continued to battle it out for the division title. The Cats came off a four-game road trip against Atlantic Division foes. 

Mets Trash Marlins

     The New York Mets doubled up the Miami Marlins 10-5 on Tuesday at Citi Field. The Marlins will complete their five-game road swing tomorrow. 

Heat Bust 76ers

     The Miami Heat handled the Philadelphia 76ers 117-105 on Monday night at Kaseya Center. The Heat snapped a three-game losing streak.

      Miami(36-43) held a slight 29-28 advantage after one quarter. They were in front 61-53 by the midway point. 

     Philadelphia(23-56) gained ground and both teams were tied 83-83 at the conclusion of the third quarter. The Heat outscored the Sixers 34-22 in the fourth quarter. 

Mets Beat Marlins

      The New York Mets took the Miami Marlins 2-0 at Citi Field on Monday night. The Marlins continued their road trip. 

     New York(7-3) broke out to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third. Juan Soto doubled into left-center field and Francisco Lindor scored. 

      Miami(5-5) gave up a run in the eighth inning and they were down 2-0. Tyrone Taylor singled up the middle and Jose Siri crossed the plate.

Inter Miami CF Ties Toronto FC

     Inter Miami CF tied Toronto FC 1-1 at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale on Sunday night. The  Herons have not lost a game so far in the regular season. 

     Both teams scored during stoppage time at the end of the first half. Toronto FC(0-4-3) got ahead 1-0 on a tally by Federico Bernardeschi. Lionel Messi evened it up 1-1 for Inter Miami CF(4-0-2) just a couple of minutes later. 

Red Wings Fly Over Panthers

     The Detroit Red Wings downed the Florida Panthers 2-1 at Little Caesars Arena on Sunday night. The Panthers went winless on their four-game road trip. 

     Detroit(36-33-7)scored two goals during the second period. Andrew DeBrincat made it 1-0 on the power play at the 4:37 mark. J.T. Compher expanded it to 2-0 with 8:37 left in the second. 

     Florida(44-29-4) pulled their goalie in the final minute. It worked as Anton Lundell collected his 17th goal with 40 seconds remaining in the third period to make it 2-1. 

Marlins And Braves Postponed

     Today's game between the Miami Marlins and the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park was postponed. It will be rescheduled for August 9. 

Marlins Shut Out Braves

     The Miami Marlins blanked the Atlanta Braves 4-0 on Saturday night at Truist Park. The Marlins and Braves conclude their series tomorrow. 

     Miami(5-4) jumped to a 2-0 advantage in the top of the first. Matt Mervis smacked a two-run homer to right field on the first pitch to score Otto Lopez. It was the first home run for Mervis in a Marlins uniform. 

     The Marlins increased it to 3-0 during the top of the fourth. Liam Nicks knocked in Derek Hill with a base hit into left field. 

     Atlanta(1-8) gave up another run in the seventh and were down by four runs. Mervis powered a solo home run to right-center field for his first multi-homer game in his MLB career. 

Bucks Hold Off Heat

     The Milwaukee Bucks outlasted the Miami Heat 121-115 on Saturday night at Kaseya Center. The Heat have lost two straight games following a six-game winning streak. 

     Miami(35-43) led 30-23 at the conclusion of the first quarter. Both teams were tied 57-57 by the halftime break.  

     The Heat reclaimed the lead 88-81 by the end of the third quarter. Milwaukee(43-34) bounced back to tie it up 111-111 at the end of regulation time. The Bucks outscored the Heat 10-4 in overtime. 

     Bam Adebayo composed a double-double with 31 points and 12 rebounds for Miami. Alec Burks pumped in 24 points while Davion Mitchell dropped in 20 points. Kyle Anderson had a double-double of 12 points and 14 rebounds. 

     Giannis Anteokounmpo finished with a triple-double of 36 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists for Milwaukee. Kevin Porter Jr. scored 24 points and Brook Lopez poured in 17 points. 

Panthers Blanked By Senators

     The Florida Panthers were shut out by the Ottawa Senators at Canadiens Tire Centre on Saturday. Florida(44-28-4) have a 0-3-1 record in their last four contests. 

     The Panthers clinched a Stanley Cup Playoffs position for a club-record six consecutive season with a Columbus Blue Jackets loss tonight. The Cats will be making their 11th postseason appearance in franchise history. 

     The Senators are two wins away from reaching the playoffs for the first time since 2017. Florida were blanked for the first time since December 28 in Sunrise against the Montreal Canadiens.

     Ottawa(41-29-6) came out with two goals during the opening fame for a 2-0 lead. Jake Sanderson released a snap shot from the left-circle dot with 8:39 to go in the first period. Drake Batherson followed on the power play with a redirected shot from the crease area past Sergei Bobrovsky with 5:43 left in the first for his 22nd goal of the season. 

     The Panthers pulled their goalie for an extra attacker late in the final period. The Sens got an empty-net tally from Matthew Highmore from the slot area with 2:20 remaining in the third for his second goal this year. 

Braves Shell Marlins

     The Atlanta Braves shut out the Miami Marlins 10-0 at Truist Park on Friday night. The Marlins played their first road contest of the 2025 campaign. The Braves had their home opener following a winless seven-game California road trip. 

     Atlanta(1-7) moved out to a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the third. Marcell Ozuna doubled into left-center field to score Michael Harris II and Ozzie Albies. 

     It became a 3-0 lead for the Braves later in the frame. Austin Riley knocked in Ozuna on a base hit into right field. 

     Miami(4-4) surrendered two more runs in the bottom of the seventh and trailed 5-0. Ozuna homered to center field on a 0-1 pitch. Matt Olson followed with a solo home run to right field on a 3-0 count. 

     The Bravos added another four runs in the eighth inning for a 10-run margin. Albies drove in Nick Allen on a single to shallow center field. 

     Two batters later, Olson singled into center for Harris and Albies to score. Riley came up next with an RBI-single to left field which scored Olson. Olson would score on a base hit up the middle by Drake Baldwin. 

Joe Milton Traded To Cowboys

     The New England Patriots have traded quarterback Joe Milton to the Dallas Cowboys. He was selected by the Patriots in the sixth round of the 2024 NFL Draft. 

     Milton is a Pahokee native and participated in high school football with Olympia in the Orlando area. He played college football with the University of Michigan Wolverines and the University of Tennessee Volunteers.

Zach Pop Exits Blue Jays

     Relief pitcher Zach Pop has been released by the Toronto Blue Jays. He has been with that team since August 2022 when he was acquired from the Miami Marlins. 

     Pop began in the majors with the Fish in 2021 and 2022. He had a 3-0 record with a 3.98 earned run average in 68 relief appearances.

Calias Campbell Returns To Arizona

     Defensive lineman Calias Campbell will be returning to the Arizona Cardinals. He has signed a one-year contract worth $5.5 million. 

     Campbell begin his NFL career with the Cardinals from 2008 to 2016. He started in all 17 regular season games with the Miami Dolphins in 2024. 

Grizzlies Snap Heat

     The Memphis Grizzlies pulled by the Miami Heat 110-108 at Kaseya Center on Thursday night. The Heat had their six-game winning streak snapped and they will have a losing season in 2024-25. 

     Miami(35-42) had a 27-22 advantage at the conclusion of the first quarter. The Heat were barely ahead 50-49 at halftime. 

     Memphis(45-32) moved ahead early in the second half with a 21-12 spurt and were down 85-84 after three quarters. Ja Morant made a nine-foot shot with no time left in the fourth quarter to give the Grizzlies a 110-108 victory. 

     Tyler Herro finished with a game-high 35 points along with nine rebounds for Miami. Bam Adebayo contributed 26 points while Kel'el Ware compiled a double-double of 13 points and 15 rebounds. 

     Morant helped Memphis with a club-high 30 points. Desmond Bane and Scotty Pippen Jr. both scored 17 points each. 

Panthers Dropped By Maple Leafs

     The Florida Panthers lost to the Toronto Maple Leafs 3-2 at Scotiabank Arena on Wednesday night. The Panthers continued their four-game road trip in Canada. 

     The Maple Leafs increased their gap for first place in the Atlantic Division. They clinched a postseason spot with the victory. 

      There was no scoring in the opening frame. Florida(44-27-4) took a 1-0 lead at the 1:03 mark of the second period on a Gustav Forsling tally. 

     The Maple Leafs evened it 1-1 with 8:29 left in the second. William Nylander fired a shot and John Tavares deflected it in. 

      In the third period, Toronto(46-25-4) leaped to a 2-1 advantage with 9:10 remaining. Mitch Marner placed in a snap shot from the right circle past Sergei Bobrosky 

      It became 3-1 for the Leafs with 4:51 left in the third period. Marner sent a long lead pass from his own left circle. Matthew Knies skated through the slot area and slipped in a backhand pass from the crease area.

     The Cats got a power-play goal with 2:38 to go in the third and they trailed 3-2. Sam Reinhart collected his 37th goal of the season on a forehand shot from long range by Anthony Stolarz. 

Inter Miami CF Topped By LAFC

      Los Angeles FC beat Inter Miami CF 1-0 in a CONCACAF Champions Cup Quarterfinal at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles on Wednesday night. It was the first leg of the the series between both teams. 

     The Herons played their first MLS game in franchise history at that same venue back in March 2020. The second leg of this round will be held in Fort Lauderdale on April 9. 

     There was only one tally during this entire contest. LAFC broke the scoreless tie in the 57th minute when Nathan Ordez found the net on a 25-yard shot with his right foot. 

Celtics Surprised By Heat

     The Boston Celtics were upended by the Miami Heat 124-103 at TD Garden on Wednesday night. The Heat expanded their winning streak to six games. 

     In the first quarter, Miami(35-41) eventually got in front 29-22. The Heat increased it to a double-digit lead during the second quarter and led 59-45 at halftime. 

     Boston(56-20) cut into the deficit and trailed 91-84 at the end of the third quarter. Miami pulled away outscoring the C's 33-22 in the final quarter.

     Tyler Herro fell short of a double-double with 25 points and nine assists for the Heat. Bam Adebayo dropped in 21 points while Kyle Anderson had 19 points. 

     Jaylen Brown put together team-highs of 24 points and nine rebounds for the Celtics. Jayson Tatum finished with 16 points. 

Mets Topple Marlins

     The New York Mets outlasted the Miami Marlins 6-5 in 11 innings at loanDepot park on Wednesday. The Marlins will have tomorrow off and visit the Atlanta Braves on Friday.

     New York(3-3) raced out to a 1-0 advantage in the top of the first. Pete Alonso ended up with an RBI double. 

     Miami(4-3) leaped for the lead 2-1 during the bottom of the third. The Fish added two more runs in the seventh inning for a three-run margin.    

     The Mets tied it 4-4 in the top of the eighth. Alonso smashed a three-run homer to center field on a 2-2 pitch for his second home run of the season. He now has eight runs batted in this year. 

     It would be decided in the 11th inning. New York scored twice in the top of the frame while the Fish put up one run. 

Phillies Get Brett de Geus

     The Philadelphia Phillies have claimed pitcher Brett de Geus from the Miami Marlins. He was signed by the Marlins back in February. 

     de Geus played last season with the Seattle Mariners, Miami Marlins and Toronto Blue Jays. He had a 6.35 earned run average in seven games with the Marlins in 2024. 

Marlins Zip By Mets

     The New York Mets lost to the Miami Marlins 4-2 on Tuesday night at loanDepot park. The Fish will conclude their seven-game opening homestand tomorrow with a winning record. Marlins starting pitcher Sandy Alcantara picked up his first victory since September 3, 2023. 

     Miami(4-2) jumped ahead 2-0 in the bottom of the first on a two-run homer by Kyle Stowers to center field on a 1-0 pitch. It was the first home run of the year for him. 

     New York(2-3) was able to even it up 2-2 with one run in the second and one run in the third inning. Brandon Nimmo blasted a solo home run over the right-field wall on a 2-1 count during the top of the second. 

     The Marlins regained the lead 4-2 in the bottom of the fourth. Graham Pauley doubled to left-center field gap which scored Griffin Conine and Jonah Bride. 

Habs Come Back On Panthers

    The Florida Panthers blew a late lead and fell to the Montreal Canadiens 3-2 in overtime at Bell Centre on Tuesday night. The Panthers started a four-game road swing. Both teams faced each other in Sunrise two days ago. 

     Montreal(35-30-9) sprinted out to a 1-0 advantage at the 4:43 mark of the first period. Josh Anderson redirected a shot from the low slot past Vitek Vanecek for his 14th goal of the year. 

     Florida(44-26-4) tied it up 1-1 with 9:23 remaining in the first. Anton Lundell kicked the puck back on a left-circle faceoff. Niko Mikkola took a wrist shot from the left wing by Sam Montembeault for his sixth goal in 2024-25. 

     In the second period, the Cats took a 2-1 lead on the power play with 1:13 to go. Mackie Samoskevich snapped a shot from the top left circle for his 14th goal this season. 

     The Habs evened it up 2-2 with nine seconds left in the third period. Lane Hutson fired a shot from the left point. Nick Suzuki steered in a backhand shot from the right side of the crease. 

     The Canadiens won it 3-2 just 29 seconds into overtime. Suzuki skated through the right circle, behind the cage and scored on a wraparound forehand shot for his second tally of the game and 25th goal of the season.