Trey Mancini Goes To Angels

     Trey Mancini has inked a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Angels. He will be invited to their spring training camp. 

     Mancini signed a minor league deal for one year with the Miami Marlins in January 2024. He was cut in late March 2024 prior to the regular season. Mancini has not played in the majors since the 2023 campaign with the Chicago Cubs. 

Panthers Scoot By Blackhawks

     The Florida Panthers pushed by the Chicago Blackhawks 5-1 at United Center. The Panthers finished off and swept a three-game road swing. 

     The Cats concluded a stretch in which they played nine of their past 10 games on the road. The Blackhawks are playing their 100th season in the National Hockey League. 

     There was no scoring by either team during the opening frame. Florida(28-20-3) made it 1-0 with 4:27 remaining in the second period when Tobias Bjornfot placed in a wraparound forehand shot by Spencer Knight for his first tally this year. It was Bjornfot's first NHL goal since the 2020-21 season and his second career goal. Cole Schwindt was credited with the only assist on the play.

     Chicago(21-23-8) tied it up 1-1 with 29.3 seconds left in the second. Wyatt Kaiser intercepted the puck at the left point and zipped a pass across. Ilya Mikheyev fired a shot from the top right circle which was saved by Daniil Tarasov. Tyler Bertuzzi put in the rebound shot from the top of the crease for his 25th goal of the campaign. It was just the second time that Bertuzzi reached the 25-goal plateau. 

     In the third period. the Panthers regained the lead 2-1 at the 5:20 mark. Gustav Forsling dumped the puck in from the red line around the end wall. Mackie Samoskevich stopped it on the right wing and took a wrist shot from the right-circle dot for his fifth goal in 2025-26. 

     The Cats expanded their lead to 3-1 at 7:24 of the third. Forsling sent a long lead pass from his own zone. Evan Rodrigues carried the puck into the Blackhawks zone and centered the puck from the left circle. Carter Verhaeghe scored his 15th goal this season on a wrist shot from the high slot. 

     The Blackhawks pulled their goalie for an extra attacker with 2:55 to go. Reinhart backhanded a shot from the neutral zone into an empty net for his 26th goal of the season and gave the Panthers a 4-1 lead with 1:49 remaining. He became the first player in Florida Panthers history to have at least 50 points in his first five seasons with the team. Rodrigues and Aaron Ekblad picked up assists on the sequence. 

     Florida added another goal with 22 seconds left in the period to make it 5-1. Anton Lundell angled a pass to his right from the neutral zone. Verhaeghe made a diagonal pass from the top of the zone and Bjornfot chalked up his second goal of the contest on a forehand shot from the left circle. 

Heat Soak Up Suns

     The Miami Heat dashed by the Phoenix Suns 111-102 on Sunday night at Mortgage Matchup Center. The Heat concluded their five-game road trip with a 3-2 record. 

     Miami(25-22) broke out to a 32-21 advantage by the end of the first quarter. Phoenix(27-19) went on a 19-8 spurt to start the second quarter, however they were down 58-48 at halftime. 

     The Suns had a 17-9 run to begin the second half, but trailed 82-77 after three quarters. The Heat rolled out at the start of the final quarter with a 19-6 spurt to get their largest margin of the game of 18 points. 

     Bam Adebayo dropped down a team-high 22 points and Jaime Jaquez Jr. added 20 points for Miami. Andrew Wiggins completed a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds. Norman Powell was able to contribute 16 points and 10 rebounds for a double-double. 

     Dillon Brooks piled on with a game-high 26 points for Phoenix. Grayson Allen finished up with 18 points. 

Jacques Martin Senators Ring Of Honor

     Jacques Martin was placed in the Ottawa Senators ring of honor in a pregame ceremony on Saturday night at Canadian Tire Center in Ottawa. Yesterday also marked the 30th anniversary of him becoming the Senators head coach. 

     Martin was once the Florida Panthers head coach for three seasons from 2005-06 to 2007-08. He finished with a 110-100-36 record with the team. 

Luke Williams Stays With Braves

     Former Miami Marlins outfielder Luke Williams will be remaining with the Atlanta Braves as he has signed a minor league deal. He has been on the Braves since the 2023 season and contributed a .151 batting average in 80 contests. 

     Williams was with Miami during the 2022 season. He compiled one home run, three runs batted in and a .235 batting average in 71 games with the Marlins. 

Chad Wallach To Athletics

     One-time Miami Marlins catcher Chad Wallach has moved on to the Athletics. He has inked a minor league contract with the club. Wallach had two stints with the Los Angeles Angels over the past four seasons.  

     Wallach spent four seasons with the Marlins from 2018 to 2021. He composed three home runs, 20 runs batted in and a .213 batting average in 71 contests with Miami. 

Wild Fall To Panthers

     The Florida Panthers spoiled the Minnesota Wild 4-3 in overtime on Saturday night at Grand Casino Arena. The Panthers are in the middle of a three-game road trip

      Florida(27-20-3) roared out to a 1-0 lead at the 6:44 mark of the first period. Sam Reinhart collected his 25th goal of the season on a wrist shot from the low slot. It was the sixth consecutive season and seventh overall that Reinhart has reached the 25-goal plateau. 

     Minnesota(29-14-10) evened it up 1-1 on the power play at 9:17 of the first. Kirill Kaprizov picked up his 28th goal of the campaign on a shot from the low right circle. 

     The Panthers reclaimed the lead 2-1 on a power-play tally with 1:40 left in the period. Brad Marchand got his 24th goal in 2025-26 on a backhand shot from the inner left circle.

      The Wild tied it 2-2 with the man advantage at 4:33 of the second period. Joel Eriksson Ek chalked up his 12th goal this year when he released a backhand shot from the left side of the crease.

     In the third period, Minnesota moved ahead 3-2 with 7:51 to go. Matt Boldy went on a breakaway and from the slot area scored a shorthanded goal for his 28th goal this season.

     It became 3-3 as the Cats got a power-play goal with 6:49 remaining. Sam Bennett found the net as he lifted a wrist shot from the left side of the crease for his 19th goal this season.

      Florida won the game in overtime at the 3:00 mark. Carter Verhaeghe made a square pass in the low slot and Marchand got his second goal of the contest and 25th goal of the campaign on a forehand shot from the crease area. It was the 11th occasion that Marchand reached at least 25 goals in a single season. 

Heat Pound Jazz

     The Miami Heat bashed the Utah Jazz 147-116 at Delta Center on Saturday night. The Heat will conclude their five-game road swing tomorrow in Phoenix. 

     Miami(24-22) barely led 35-34 at the end of the first quarter. The Heat added to their lead in the second quarter and were ahead 73-52 at halftime.

     Utah(15-31) tried to come back and they were down 108-89 at the conclusion of the third quarter. The Heat pulled away from the Jazz in the final quarter.

     Bam Adebayo led Miami with game highs of 26 points and 15 rebounds for a double-double. Nikola Jovic piled on 23 points while Pelle Larsson added 20 points. Andrew Wiggins dropped in 17 points and Norman Powell was held to 13 points. 

     Brice Sensabaugh came off the bench for a club-high 23 points for the Jazz. Jusuf Nurkic ended up with a triple-double of 17 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds. Keyonte George was able to score 19 points. 

Tayron Guerrero Back In America

     Tayron Guerrero has returned to the United States. He has signed a minor league contract with the Boston Red Sox and will be invited to their spring training camp. 

     Guerrero was a relief pitcher for the Miami Marlins in 2018 and 2019. He ended up with a 2-5 record and a 5.80 earned run average in 112 games with the club. He has not played in the majors since that time.

     He played in Japan for the Chiba Lotte Marines in 2022 and 2025. Guerrero inked a minor league deal with the Cincinnati Reds for the 2023 campaign. 

Kyle Smith Dolphins Assistant General Manager

     The Miami Dolphins have announced Kyle Smith as their new assistant general manager. He will work under general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan, who was named by the team on January 9.

     Smith was in the Atlanta Falcons organization since 2021. He was their Falcons assistant general manager from 2023 until 2025. 

Mike McDaniel Joining Chargers

     Former Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel agreed to join the Los Angeles Chargers as their offensive coordinator earlier this week. He will work under head coach Jim Harbaugh. 

     McDaniel was the head coach of the Dolphins for four seasons from 2022 until 2025 and had a 35-33 record. He was the San Francisco 49ers offensive coordinator prior to that. 

Vidal Brujan Shifts To Mets

     One-time Miami Marlins utility player Vidal Brujan has been dealt by the Minnesota Twins to the New York Mets for cash. He was claimed off waivers by the Twins from the Atlanta Braves back on January 14. 

     Brujan played 102 contests with the Miami Marlins in 2024. He had two home runs, 16 runs batted in and a .222 batting average. 

Marlins Trade For Carlos Martinez

     The Miami Marlins have acquired catcher Carlos Martinez from the San Francisco Giants. The Fish sent back international bonus pool space. 

     Martinez joined the Giants organization last season. He split his time in the Dominican Summer League with the Giants Black and the Giants Orange. Martinez had a combined .143 batting average in 27 games with both clubs. 

Panthers Blow Up Jets

     The Florida Panthers knocked off the Winnipeg Jets 2-1 in a shootout on Thursday night. The Panthers opened up their three-game road trip. 

     There was no scoring by either club in the opening period. Florida(26-20-3) made it 1-0 with 1:11 remaining in the second period. Sam Bennett won the faceoff in the left circle. Matthew Tkachuk centered the puck from the left wing and Sam Bennett one-timed a slap shot from the top left circle by Connor Hellebuyck for his 18th goal of the season. It was Tkachuk's first point in the 2025-26 campaign. 

     Winnipeg(20-23-7) tied it up 1-1 at the 5:24 mark of the third period. Jonathan Toews stole the puck from Uvis Balinskis in the low right circle and sent a diagonal pass from the top right circle. Cole Perfetti then backhanded a shot from the top of the crease past Daniil Tarasov for his fourth goal of the year. 

      The Panthers converted on their two attempts during the shootout for the victory. Anton Lundell scored on a snap shot and Sam Reinhart followed with a forehand shot. 

Trail Blazers Bounce Heat

     The Portland Trail Blazers handled the Miami Heat 127-110 at Moda Center on Thursday night. The Heat are in the middle of a five-game road swing. 

     Portland(23-22) pushed out to a 38-31 advantage after one quarter. The Trail Blazers had a slim 64-63 lead at halftime. 

     Miami(23-22) was unable to keep up and trailed 103-92 at the end of the third quarter. The Blazers expanded their lead during the fourth quarter. 

     Bam Adebayo finished with 32 points and nine rebounds for the Heat. Norman Powell ended up with 18 points while Andrew Wiggins dropped in 14 points. 

     Shaedon Sharpe compiled 27 points and seven rebounds in the victory. Caleb Love came off the bench with 20 points and Jrue Holiday scored 15 points. 

Twins Get Tristan Gray

     The Minnesota Twins have acquired infielder Tristan Gray from the Boston Red Sox. It will be his fourth team since the start of the 2025 season. 

     Gray spent part of the 2024 campaign with the Miami Marlins. He participated in just seven contests and had a.000 batting average in seven at-bats. 

Seth Jones Off Team USA

     Florida Panthers defenseman Seth Jones will not be playing in the 2026 Winter Olympics next month. He has been taken off the Team USA roster and replaced by Anaheim Ducks defenseman Jackson LaCombe. 

     Jones suffered an injury a couple of week ago and is currently on the Panthers injured reserve list. He was acquired from the Chicago Blackhawks by Florida during the 2024-25 season and helped them win a second straight Stanley Cup title. 

Marlins Acquire Bradley Blalock

     The Colorado Rockies have traded starting pitcher Bradley Blalock to the Miami Marlins. The Fish send back pitcher Jake Brooks. 

     Blalock has been with the Rockies for the last two seasons. He had a 3-9 record and an 8.25 earned run average in 20 games with Colorado. 

Heat Drop Kings

     The Miami Heat downed the Sacramento Kings 130-117 on Tuesday night at Golden 1 Center. The Heat continued their five-game road swing. The Kings have the second-worst record in the Western Conference. 

     Miami(23-21) had a 32-25 advantage at the end of the first quarter. The Heat extended their lead to stay ahead 77-64 at halftime. 

     Sacramento(12-32) inched closer and were behind 100-89 after three quarters. The Kings could not dent into the lead during the final quarter. 

     Bam Adebayo compiled a game-high 25 points along with seven rebounds for Miami. Norman Powell scored 22 points and Andrew Wiggins pumped in 19 points. 

     DeMar DeRozan led Sacramento with 23 points in the defeat. Russell Westbrook had 22 points and seven assists while Zack LeVine put in 18 points. 

Anthony Veneziano Moves To Asia

      Former Miami Marlins pitcher Anthony Veneziano is heading to South Korea. He has agreed to a one-year contract with SSG Landers of the Korea Baseball Organization worth $750,000. 

     Veneziano was with the Miami Marlins in 2024 and 2025. He ended up 1-1 with a 4.18 earned run average in 34 games with the Fish. 

Warriors Waste Heat

     The Golden State Warriors outpowered the Miami Heat 135-112 at Chase Center on Monday night. The Heat began a five-game road trip. 

     Golden State(25-19) had a 36-34 advantage after one quarter. Miami(22-21) stayed in striking distance and were down 70-66 at halftime. 

     The Warriors remained in front 104-93 at the end of the third quarter. They went on a 15-0 run in the middle of the final quarter to make it 127-103 with 3:53 left. 

     Norman Powell finished with 21 points while Andrew Wiggins dropped in 18 points for Miami. Kel'el Ware came off the bench with 15 points. 

     Former Heat player Jimmy Butler suffered a knee injury and had 17 points in 21 minutes of play. Stephen Curry ended up with a double-double of 19 points and 11 assists for Golden State. 

Dolphins Hiring Jeff Hafley

      The Miami Dolphins are about to hire Jeff Hafley as their new head coach. He spent the last two seasons as the Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator. Hafley was the head coach of Boston College from 2020 to 2023.

      He replaces Mike McDaniel as the Dolphins head coach. Hafley has agreed to a five-year contract with the Fins. 

Hurricanes Lose CFP National Championship

     The 10th seeded University of Miami Hurricanes lost to the first seeded University of Indiana Hoosiers 27-21 in the CFP National Championship game at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens on Monday night. The Hurricanes attempted to capture their sixth national title in school history. The Hoosiers won their first national championship in college football. 

     Indiana(16-0) got in front 3-0 with 2:42 remaining in the first quarter. IU kicker Nico Radicic booted a 34-yard field goal.

     The Hoosiers made it 10-0 with 6:13 left in the second quarter. Running back Riley Nowakowski plunged up the middle from one yard away.

     Miami(13-3) closed it to 10-7 on their first possession of second half. Running back Mark Fletcher Jr. sprinted in on a 57-yard touchdown run down the right side at the 11:06 mark of the third quarter.

      It became 17-7 for Indiana with 5:04 to go in the third. The Canes had their punt blocked and it was recovered in the end zone for a score.

      In the fourth quarter, the Hurricanes cut it to 17-14 at 14:57. Fletcher rushed up the middle from three yards out.

      Indiana expanded their lead to 24-14 at the 9:18 mark of the final quarter. Quarterback Fernando Mendoza kept the ball on a 4th-and-5 play and raced in through the middle of the field from 12 yards away.

      The Canes scored to make it 24-21 with 6:37 left in the fourth. Wide receiver Malachi Toney took an inside handoff and dashed down the right hash marks from 22 yards out.

      The Hoosiers extended their lead to 27-21 with 1:42 remaining in the fourth. Radicic was able to kick a 35-yard field goal.

      Miami had one more opportunity to take the lead on their final possession. Quarterback Carson Beck threw an interception to the left sideline that was caught by defensive back Jamari Sharpe at the Hoosiers six-yard line with 44 seconds to go in the game. 

Sharks Bite Panthers In Tkachuk Season Debut

     The Florida Panthers were defeated by the San Jose Sharks 4-1 on Monday night at Amerant Bank Arena. It was the Panthers only home game during a 10-game stretch over a three-week period

     Panthers right wing Matthew Tkachuk made his regular season debut with the team tonight. He had not participated in a contest since Game 6 of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final last June when the Cats captured their second straight Stanley Cup title. 

     There was no scoring by either team in the first period. San Jose(25-20-3) took a 1-0 lead 50 seconds into the second period on the 14th goal of the season by Will Smith.

     The Sharks increased it to 2-0 at the 2:41 mark of the second. Vincent Desharnais got his first tally of the year.

      It became 3-0 for San Jose at 6:12 of the frame. Mario Ferraro collected his fourth goal of the campaign.

     Florida(25-20-3) cut it to 3-1 just 42 seconds into the third period. Aaron Ekblad passed from the right corner. Eetu Luostarinen released a wrist shot from the right point for his fifth goal of the season.

     The Panthers pulled their goalie for an extra attacker with 2:55 to go. The Sharks picked up an empty-net goal by Barclay Goodrow with 2:20 left in the third. 

Locals In CFP National Championship Game

     The CFP National Championship game will be played tomorrow night at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens between the Miami Hurricanes and the Indiana Hoosiers. Several players in the contest have a local high school connection to South Florida. 

     Hurricanes head coach Mario Cristobal played high school football with the Columbus Explorers and college football at the University of Miami. Canes running back Mark Fletcher Jr. and wide receiver Malachi Toney were with the American Heritage Patriots. 

     Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza spent time with the Columbus Explorers. He faced current Hurricanes quarterback Carson Beck one time when the Explorers lost to Mandarin Mustangs for the 2018 FHSAA Class 8A state championship in Orlando. Beck started for the Mustangs in that game while Mendoza was the Explorers backup quarterback and never played one snap. 

     Miami wide receiver Joshisa Trader spent time with the Chaminade-Madonna Lions while defensive lineman Ahmad Moten Sr. was with the Cardinal Gibbons Chiefs. The Hurricanes have representatives from the Miami Central Rockets that includes defensive lineman Rueben Bain Jr., defensive lineman Armondo Blount, defensive back Amari Wallace and linebacker Wesley Bissainthe. The St. Thomas Aquinas Raiders have running back Jordan Lyle, defensive back Ryan Mack and defensive back Isaiah Taylor on the Miami Hurricanes team. 

Panthers Ease By Captials

     The Florida Panthers hurried by the Washington Capitals 5-2 on Saturday night at Capital One Center. The Panthers concluded a six-game road swing. 

     Florida (25-19-3) leaped to a 1-0 lead with 6:37 left in the first period. A.J. Greer scored his 10th goal of the campaign on a snap shot from the top of the crease past Logan Thompson.

     Washington(24-19-6) took the lead 2-1 in the first half of the second period. Jakob Chychrun got his 16th goal at 2:04 and 17th goal at 10:04 of the frame against Florida goalie Daniil Tarasov. 

     The Panthers would reclaim the lead 3-2 later in the period. Sam Bennett placed in a wrist shot from the crease area for his 17th goal this season with 8:20 left in the second. Uvis Balinskis rifled a slap shot from above the right circle with 4:44 remaining for his third goal this year and his second tally in the past two contests. 

     The Caps pulled their goalie for an extra attacker with 1:35 to go. Anton Lundell fired the puck into an empty net from his own blue line to give the Panthers a 4-2 advantage with 1:20 remaining in the third. The Capitals pulled their goalie again with 45 seconds left. Carter Verhaeghe snapped a shot from the top left circle for an empty-net tally with 32.9 seconds remaining and Florida led 5-2. 

Heat Shock Thunder

     The Oklahoma City Thunder were surprised by the Miami Heat 122-120 at Kaseya Center on Saturday night. Both clubs met for the second time in six days. 

     The Heat finished off a three-game homestand. The Thunder are the defending NBA champions and have the best record in the league this season.  

     Oklahoma City(35-8) scooted out to a 37-30 lead by the end of the opening quarter. Miami(22-20) closed it to 65-60 at halftime. 

     Both teams were tied 95-95 at the conclusion of the third quarter. The Heat outscored the Thunder 5-0 in the final minute of the fourth quarter and was capped off by an Andrew Wiggins three-point shot with 31.7 seconds remaining.

     Bam Adebayo led the Heat with a double-double of 30 points and 12 rebounds. Norman Powell scored 19 points, Pelle Larsson contributed 16 points and Wiggins had 15 points. 

     Shai Gilgeous-Alexander finished with a game-high 39 points for the Thunder and Aaron Wiggins ended up with 18 points. Chet Holmgren compiled 14 points and 11 rebounds for a double-double. 

Din Thomas On Paramount+

     Former West Palm Beach sports talk host Din Thomas will continue to be a part of UFC fight telecasts. Paramount+ took over from ESPN and became the new television rightsholders of UFC broadcasts this month. 

     He was once a co-host of Josh Cohen and The Hometeam on ESPN West Palm 106.3 WUUB-FM along with Kristina Constanza and Cohen. Thomas remained with the program until April 2024. 

Panthers Extend Uvis Balinskis

     The Florida Panthers have signed defenseman Uvis Balinskis to a two-year extension. The new contract is worth $1.75 million. 

     Balinskis has played for the past three seasons with Florida and contributed to them winning two straight Stanley Cup titles. He has six goals and 23 assists for 29 points in 138 games with the Panthers.

Marlins Pick Up Osvaldo Biso

     The Miami Marlins has claimed pitcher Osvaldo Biso off waivers from the Tampa Bay Rays. It was the third time he was claimed off waivers during the offseason. He was claimed by the Rays from the Atlanta Braves and they claimed him from the Athletics. 

     Biso has played three seasons in the majors. He was with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2023, the Oakland A's in 2024 and the Athletics in 2025. Biso has a 9-13 career record with a 5.07 earned run average. 

Hurricanes Stomp Panthers

     The Carolina Panthers walloped the Florida Panthers 9-1 at Lenovo Center on Friday night. The Panthers will conclude a six-game road trip tomorrow night in Washington D.C. 

     The Cats visited the White House yesterday to see the President of the United States because they captured the Stanley Cup last season. The Hurricanes are first in the Metropolitan Division. 

     Carolina(29-15-4) was able to get a 1-0 lead with 1:25 remaining in the first period. Nikolaj Ellers released a forehand shot from the top of the crease for his 12th goal this season. 

     Florida(24-19-3) evened it up 1-1 at the 1:19 mark of the second period. Sandis Vilmanis carried the puck through the neutral zone and made a square pass at the Hurricanes blue line. Mackie Samoskevich pushed it from the top left circle and Uvis Balinskis blasted a one-time slap shot from the high slot for his second goal of the year. Vilmanis collected his first NHL point of his career on the play. 

     The Canes picked up two goals later in the second for a 3-1 advantage. Mark Jankowski scored with 6:50 to go and Alexander Nikishin scored with 3:32 left during a power play. 

      The Hurricanes blitzed the Panthers with six goals in the final period. Ellers added two more goals and got the hat trick to give them a 7-1 lead with 6:57 remaining. 

Florida Panthers At The White House Again

      The two-time reigning Stanley Cup champions the Florida Panthers visited the White House on Thursday to see  the President of the United States Donald Trump. The Panthers showed up previously in February 2025 after they captured their first Stanley Cup title in franchise history.

      It has been a tradition over the last several decades for the defending Stanley Cup champions to see the United States President. Florida will travel to Raleigh to take on the Carolina Hurricanes on Friday and return to Washington D.C. to face the Capitals on Saturday.

Celtics Come Back On Heat

     The Boston Celtics overcame the Miami Heat 119-114 on Thursday night at Kaseya Center. The Heat, who reached the midway point of the 2025-26 season, are in the middle of their three-game homestand. 

     Miami(21-20) raced out to a 36-25 advantage by the end of the first quarter. The Heat were up 64-54 at halftime. 

     Boston(25-15) tried to make a move and were down 93-83 at the conclusion of the third quarter. The Celtics went on a 18-7 spurt at the beginning of the fourth quarter to go ahead 101-100 with 5:21 remaining. 

     Norman Powell pumped in a team-high 24 points for Miami. Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo added 22 points each. Andrew Wiggins finished off with 16 points and eight rebounds. 

     Anfernee Simons chalked up a game-high 39 points for the C's and 18 points in the final quarter. Jaylen Brown compiled 27 points along with seven rebounds. Sam Hauser dropped in 17 points in the Celtics victory. 

Shaun Anderson Staying With Angels

     Shaun Anderson will remain with the Los Angeles Angels. He has signed a minor league contract with that organization. 

     Anderson spent a part of the 2024 season with the Miami Marlins. He finished with a 0-2 record and a 9.00 earned run average in four games with them. 

Vidal Brujan Lands With Twins

     Vidal Brujan has been claimed off waivers by the Minnesota Twins. He split his time in 2025 between the Chicago Cubs, Baltimore Orioles and Atlanta Braves. 

     Brujan was on the Miami Marlins squad in 2024. He finished with two home runs, 16 runs batted in and a .222 batting average in 102 contests with the team. 

Jose Urena Heading To Japan

     Former Miami Marlins starting pitcher Jose Urena is leaving Major League Baseball. He is signing a one-year contract with the Rakuten Eagles of the Nippon Professional League. 

     Urena has played for 11 different clubs in his MLB career. It includes playing with five different teams during the 2025 season. 

     He started his Major League Baseball career with the Fish playing his first six seasons with the team from 2015 until 2020. Urena had a 32-46 record and a 4.60 earned run average with the Marlins. 

Ryan Weathers Traded By Marlins

     The Miami Marlins have traded starting pitcher Ryan Weathers to the New York Yankees. Miami received back outfielder Dillon James, outfielder Brendan Jones, infielder Dylan Jasso and infielder Juan Matheus. 

     Weathers was acquired by the Fish from the San Diego Padres for Garrett Cooper in August 3. He was with Miami for three seasons from 2023 to 2025 and had a 7-10 record with a 4.11 earned run average in 27 games.

     He was a second-generation pitcher in the Marlins organization. His father David Weathers had two stints with the club and played for the team from 1993 until 1996 and in 2004. 

Gerard Gallant Leaves KHL

     Gerard Gallant has left his position as head coach of the Shanghai Dragons of the Kontinental Hockey League. He had a 13-17-0 record during his only season at the post. 

     Gallant was once the Florida Panthers head coach for three seasons from 2014-15 to 2016-17. He finished with a 96-65-25 record while at the helm with the Panthers. 

Heat Overcome Suns

     The Miami Heat came back on the Phoenix Suns 127-121 at Kaseya Center on Tuesday. The Heat began a three-game homestand.

     Miami(21-19) had a 36-28 lead at the conclusion of the opening quarter. The Heat expanded their lead to 71-54 by halftime. 

     Phoenix(24-16) dominated the third quarter outscoring their opponent 38-21 in the frame and tied it up 92-92. Miami went on a 17-4 run late in the fourth quarter and were victorious. 

     Bam Adebayo led the Heat with 13 points during the final quarter. He finished up with 29 points and nine rebounds. Norman Powell dropped in 27 points and Tyler Herro scored 23 points. Jaime Jaquez Jr. contributed 16 points along with eight assists. 

     Devin Booker fell short of a triple-double with 24 points, nine assists and nine rebounds for the Suns. Dillon Brooks and Grayson Allen added 25 points each while Mark Williams chalked up 18 points and 14 rebounds. 

Senators Sign James Reimer

     One-time Florida Panthers goalie James Reimer has signed a contract with the Ottawa Senators. The one-year deal is worth $850,000. 

      Reimer was with the Panthers for three seasons from 2016-17 to 2018-19. He had a 53-42-16 record and a 2.85 goals-against-average in 123 games with Florida. 

Panthers Point Sabres

     The Florida Panthers breezed by the Buffalo Sabres 4-3 at KeyBank Center on Monday night. The Panthers will be off until Friday in Carolina. 

      Former Panthers assistant coach and current Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff coached in his 1,900th NHL game. Panthers head coach Paul Maurice reached his 1,975th NHL contest behind the bench tonight. 

      Florida(24-16-3) rocketed out to a 1-0 lead on the man advantage at the 2:35 mark. Carter Verhaeghe passed the puck from the low left circle. Uvis Balinskis shot it from the top of the zone and Sam Reinhart deflected it in from the top of the crease by Colten Ellis for his 24th goal of the season. 

      Buffalo(24-16-4) tied it up 1-1 at 10:19 of the opening frame. Zach Metsa angled a pass from the top of the zone and Ryan McLeod connected a cross-ice pass from the right point. Jacob Bryson placed in a snap shot from left point by Sergei Bobrovsky for his second tally of the year. 

      The Panthers regained the lead 2-1 with 4:49 remaining in the first. Verhaeghe forwarded an outlet pass from his own zone. Sam Bennett carried the puck through the neutral zone and passed to his right. A.J. Greer chalked up his eighth goal this year when he snapped a shot from the top right circle. 

      The Sabres evened it up 2-2 with 2:03 left in the second period. Josh Doan handed the puck off to 

Tage Thompson on the left point and Thompson released a shot from the left wing which was saved. 

Zach Benson poked the puck in from the right side of the crease for his fifth goal of the campaign. 

      In the third period, the Cats pulled ahead 3-2 with 8:53 to go. Gustav Forsling ripped a shot from the blue line which was stopped. Eetu Luostarinen touched the puck in the crease area and Anton Lundell swept it into the cage from the right goal line for his 14th goal in 2025-26. 

      Buffalo pulled their goalie for an extra attacker and it did not work. Greer picked up his second tally of the contest and ninth goal this season with an empty-net goal from center ice to give Florida a 4-2 lead with 1:14 remaining in the third. 

      The Sabres did close it to 4-3 with 13.6 seconds left in the period. Alex Tuch backhanded the puck  from the left goal line and banked it off the back of Bobrovsky for his 15th goal of the season. 

Thunder Expose Heat

      The reigning NBA champions the Oklahoma City Thunder cracked the Miami Heat 124-112 on Sunday night. The Heat finished off their road trip and will host the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday. 

      Miami(20-19) eased out to a 34-32 lead at the end of the first quarter. The Heat stayed ahead 59-54 by halftime. 

      Oklahoma City(33-7) stormed by and led 93-85 at the conclusion of the third quarter. The Thunder kept the momentum throughout the final quarter. 

      Andrew Wiggins pumped in a club-high 23 points for the Heat. Davion Mitchell ended up with a double-double of 13 points and 10 assists. Tyler Herro was able to drop in 19 points in the defeat. 

      Shai Gilgeous-Alexander finished with a game-high 29 points along with eight assists for the Thunder. Jalen Williams contributed with 18 points. 

Rangers Cut Anthony Veneziano

     The Texas Rangers have released relief pitcher Anthony Veneziano. He signed with the club back on December 18. 

     Veneziano split his time in 2025 with the Miami Marlins and the St. Louis Cardinals. He had a 4.18 earned run average in 34 games over two seasons with the Marlins. 

Red Sox Add Seth Martinez

     The Boston Red Sox have inked relief pitcher Seth Martinez to a minor league contract. He will be invited to their spring training camp. 

     Martinez had a short stint with the Miami Marlins last season. He made six relief appearances and had a 5.40 earned run average in 2025. 

Ryne Stanek Heads To Cardinals

     One-time Miami Marlins relief pitcher Ryne Stanek has agreed to join the St. Louis Cardinals. It is expected to be a one-year deal. 

     Stanek was with the Marlins for two seasons in 2019 and 2020. He had a 0-2 with a 6.03 earned run average in 31 contests while with Miami. 

Panthers Knock Off Senators

      The Florida Panthers canned the Ottawa Senators 3-2 at Canadian Tire Centre on Saturday night. The Panthers continued their six-game road swing as they began the second half of their regular season. Sandis Vilmanis made his NHL  debut with Florida. 

       Ottawa(20-16-5) got out to a 1-0 lead at the 4:03 mark of the opening period. Fabian Zetterlund took a wrist shot from the low right circle that went off a defender and by Sergei Bobrovsky for his 11th goal this season.

       Florida(23-16-3) evened it up 1-1 on the power play with 8:26 left in the first. Evan Rodrigues released a forehand shot from the high slot for his ninth goal of the campaign. Aaron Ekblad was credited with the only assist on the play.

       In the second period, the Panthers moved ahead 2-1 with 6:47 remaining on another power-play goal. Carter Verhaeghe scored his 13th goal in 2025-26 on a wrist shot from above the top left circle.

       It became 3-1 for the Cats at 3:48 of the third period. Gustav Forsling blasted a slap shot from the top left circle for his second goal of the year.

       The Senators pulled their goalie for an extra skater with 2:20 to go. They scored with 1:42 remaining in the third to make it 3-2 on a goal by Claude Giroux from the left wing.

Heat Routed By Pacers

     The Miami Heat were pounded by the Indiana Pacers 123-99 on Saturday night at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. The Heat had their prior game on Thursday in Chicago postponed due to condensation on the court. The Pacers have the worst record in the NBA.

      Indiana(8-31) rushed out to a 16-7 lead to begin the contest and led 36-18 after one quarter. The Pacers held a 61-45 advantage at halftime.

      Miami(20-18) fell more behind 99-72 by the end of the third quarter. Reserve players were brought in during the final quarter.

      Tyler Herro led the Heat with a team-high 21 points and seven rebounds. Jaime Jaquez Jr. added 16 points while Bam Adebayo had 13 points along with nine rebounds. 

      Andrew Nembhard fell short of a double-double with 29 points and nine assists. Pascal Siakam ended up with 11 points and seven rebounds. 

Dolphins Hiring Jon-Eric Sullivan As General Manager

     The Miami Dolphins are hiring Jon-Eric Sullivan as their new general manager. He takes over for Chris Grier, who was released by the Fins during the 2025 season. 

     Sullivan comes from the Green Bay Packers organization. He was in Packers football operations for the past two decades. 

Miami Marlins Exit FanDuel Sports Network

     The Miami Marlins have ended their relationship with FanDuel Sports Network and their parent company Main Street Sports. The Marlins will no longer air their contests on the regional television channel FanDuel Sports Network Florida. 

     The club and Major League Baseball will look at other options to telecast their games for the 2026 season. The Marlins games aired on FanDuel Sports Network Florida for only one season in 2025. The team was under the prior corporate umbrella of Diamond Sports Group and Bally Sports Florida for their baseball telecasts from 2021 to 2024. 

Dolphins Fire Mike McDaniel

     The Miami Dolphins have let go head coach Mike McDaniel. The organization will begin a search for a new head coach. 

     McDaniel was hired by the Dolphins prior to the 2022 season. He finished up with a 35-33 record in four years with the team. 

Hurricanes Top Ole Miss In CFP Semifinal

     The 10th seeded University of Miami Hurricanes defeated the sixth seeded Ole Miss University Rebels 31-27 in the CFP Semifinal at the Fiesta Bowl in Arizona on Thursday night. The Hurricanes advanced to the CFP National Championship game to be held on their home field at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens on January 19. 

     The Canes will attempt to capture their sixth football national championship in school history in 11 days. They have not played for the national championship title since the 2002 season in the Fiesta Bowl against Ohio State. 

     Miami(13-2) inched out to a 3-0 advantage at 6:22 of the first quarter. Carter Davis was able to boot a 38-yard field goal. 

     Ole Miss(13-2) took a 7-0 lead just 10 seconds into the second quarter. Kewan Macy raced down the field on a 73-yard touchdown run to finish off a two-play, 80-yard drive. 

     The Hurricanes regained the lead 10-7 with 7:09 left in the second quarter. CharMar Brown bounced through the right side of the line from four yards away. 

     The Rebels were able to tie it up 10-10 with 4:38 to go in the quarter. Lucas Carneiro kicked a 42-yard field goal. 

     The Canes moved ahead 17-10 with 2:18 left in the second. Carson Beck connected a 52-yard touchdown pass to Keelan Marion behind the secondary in the middle of the field.

     It became 17-13 for The U with 11 seconds remaining in the first half. Carneiro converted again with a long 58-yard field goal. 

     In the third quarter, Ole Miss cut the deficit to 17-16 with 22 seconds left. Carneiro booted a 54-yard field goal off the left upright. The Rebels reclaimed the lead 19-17 at the 7:00 mark of the fourth quarter on a Carneiro 21-yard field goal. 

     Miami made it 24-19 with 5:04 remaining in the fourth. Beck tossed a swing pass to Malachi Toney on the left hash marks. He shifted to the middle and scored on a 36-yard touchdown pass to complete a four-play, 75-yard possession. 

     The Rebels marched down the field to take a 27-24 lead with 3:13 to go in the final quarter. Trinidad Chambliss connected a 24-yard touchdown pass to Dae'Quan Wright on the right sideline. Chambliss then rifled a pass to Caleb Odom on the right side of the end zone for a two-point conversion. 

     The Hurricanes made it 31-27 with 18 seconds left in the fourth. Beck scrambled out of the pocket and sprinted to the left side from three yards out to finish off a 15-play, 75-yard drive. 

Heat & Bulls Game Postponed

     The Miami Heat and the Chicago Bulls game at United Center on Thursday night was cancelled. The game was delayed for over one hour and 20 minutes due to condensation on the court. 

     This contest will be rescheduled and played between both teams later in the regular season. Miami(20-17) will visit the Indiana Pacers on Saturday night. 

Texier Hat Trick & Canadiens Chop Panthers

     Alexandre Texier collected a hat trick as the Montreal Canadiens handled the Florida Panthers 6-2 at Molson Centre on Thursday night. The Panthers are in the middle of a six-game road trip. The Canadiens jumped to first place in the Atlantic Division. 

     The Habs leaped out to a 1-0 advantage at the 2:59 mark of the first period. Oliver Kapanen won the faceoff in the right circle and Mike Matheson backhanded a pass from the right point. Noah Dobson blasted a one-time slap shot from the top of the zone past Sergei Bobrovsky for his eighth goal this season. 

     Montreal(25-13-5) increased their lead to 2-0 with 2:25 remaining in the first period. Juraj Slafkovsky kicked the puck from the end wall and Kapanen swatted the puck in on a backhand shot for his 15th goal of the season. 

     Florida(22-18-3) cut the deficit to 2-1 at 5:33 of the second period. Sam Montembeault sent a blind outlet pass to his right from behind the cage. Sam Bennett intercepted and then snapped a shot from the low left circle for his 15th goal in 2025-26. 

     The Canadiens extended their lead 3-1 with 6:19 to go in the second. Nick Suzuki backhanded a cross-ice pass from the right point. Alexandre Carrier took a shot from the top left circle and Texier redirected the puck with a backhand tap from the top of the crease for his fifth goal in the season. 

     In the third period, the Habs extended it to 4-1 at 7:26. Matheson passed ahead from his own zone. Texier came into the Cats zone on a 2-on-1 breakaway. had his square pass stopped and then he snapped a shot from the left of the crease. It was his second tally of the contest and sixth goal of the season. 

     The Panthers closed it to 4-2 with 8:38 remaining in the third. Evan Rodrigues brought the puck into the Canadiens zone and snapped a shot from left circle which was saved. Bennett steered in a forehand shot from the right of the crease for second goal of the game and 16th goal this season. 

     The Cats pulled their goalie for an extra skater with three minutes to go. Slafkovsky was awarded an empty-net goal when he had his stick broken by Carter Verhaeghe on a clear breakaway with 2:01 left in the third. 

     Texier picked up a hat trick to give Montreal a 6-2 lead with 49.8 seconds remaining in the contest. Joe Veleno shot the puck from the top of the zone and it was saved. It bounced off Sammy Blais in the low slot and Texier batted the puck in from the right of the crease for his third goal of the game. 

Marlins Trade Edward Cabrera

     The Miami Marlins have traded starting pitcher Edward Cabrera to the Chicago Cubs. Miami receives back outfielder Owen Caissie, middle infielder Cristian Hernandez and infielder Edgardo De Leon. 

     Cabrera spent his entire five-season MLB career with the Marlins. He finished with a 25-29 record and a 4.07 earned run average in 89 games for Miami. 

Christian Roa Off To Astros

     Christian Roa has inked a deal with the Houston Astros. It is a minor league contract where he will be invited to spring training camp. 

      Roa was picked up off waivers by the Miami Marlins in November 2024. He did make his Major League Baseball debut with two pitching appearances in 2025. 

Panthers On Team Latvia

     Team Latvia announced their roster for the upcoming 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy. The men's ice tournament will happen next month.

     Two players from the Florida Panthers organization were selected. They were defenseman Uvis Balinskis and left wing Sandis Vilmanis. 

Maple Leafs Drop On Panthers

     The Toronto Maple Leafs knocked off the Florida Panthers 4-1 on Tuesday night at Scotiabank Arena. The Panthers begin a six-game road swing and will play nine of their next 10 contests on the road. 

     The Cats started their second half of the regular season. The Maple Leafs extended their home winning streak to six games. 

     Toronto(20-15-7) broke out to a 1-0 advantage with 24 seconds remaining in the first period. Nicolas Roy sent a diagonal pass from above the top right circle. Nicholas Robertson centered from below the low left circle and Easton Cowan put in a wrist shot from the right of the crease past Sergei Bobrovsky for his fifth tally of the year. 

     The Maple Leafs expanded their lead to 2-0 just 42 seconds into the second period. John Tavares pushed the puck from the right goal line and Troy Stetcher one-timed a slap shot from above the top right circle. It was redirected it by Matthew Knies from the top of the crease for his 12th goal of the campaign. 

     It became 3-0 for the Leafs at 4:01 of the second. Knies carried the puck from the left wing through the left circle and the low slot. He made a drop pass and Auston Matthews snapped a shot from the low slot for his 21st goal of the season. 

     In the third period, Florida(22-17-3) got on the scoreboard with 8:22 to go. Carter Verhaeghe shot the puck from the end wall and it banked off Joseph Woll into the cage for his 12th goal this season. It was Verhaeghe's 150th goal in a Panthers uniform. 

     The Panthers pulled their goalie for an extra attacker with over three minutes remaining. Bobby McMann would steer the puck into an empty net from the slot area for his 13th goal this year with 7.3 seconds left to give Toronto a 4-1 lead. 

Timberwolves Mangle Heat

     The Minnesota Timberwolves mashed the Miami Heat 122-94 at Target Center on Tuesday night. It was the second time in four days that both teams faced each other. 

     Miami(20-17) had a slight 29-27 lead by the conclusion of the first quarter. Minnesota(24-13) rallied back and led 61-54 at halftime. 

     The Timberwolves extended their lead to 93-77 at the end of the third quarter. The Heat could not make a dent into the deficit during the fourth quarter. 

     Norman Powell scored a club-high 21 points in the loss for Miami. Tyler Herro fell short of a double-double with 19 points and nine rebounds.

     All five Minnesota starters ended up in double-digit scoring. Anthony Edwards had a game-high 26 points while Jaden McDaniels added 19 points. 

Dave O'Brien Massachusetts Sportscaster Of The Year

     Dave O'Brien has been named the 2025 recipient of the Massachusetts Sportscaster of the Year Award by the National Sports Media Association. He is currently the television play-by-play announcer of the Boston Red Sox. 

     O'Brien once worked with the Florida Marlins. He was the radio play-by-play announcer and television play-by-play announcer of the team from their inaugural season in 1993 until 2001. 

Dave Hyde Florida Sportswriter Of The Year

     The National Sports Media Association has named Dave Hyde of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel as the 2025 Florida Sportswriter of the Year. It is the fifth time that Hyde has received that honor. He last won the award in 2019 and 2020. 

     Hyde has a long reign with that newspaper. He began at that organization when it was known as the Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel in 1990. Hyde previously was a sportswriter with the Miami Herald from 1985 to 1990. 

Don Mattingly Joins Phillies

     The Philadelphia Phillies have hired Don Mattingly as their new bench coach. His son Preston Mattingly is the Phillies general manager. 

     Mattingly was the Miami Marlins manager from 2016 until 2022 and holds the most managerial wins in franchise history with 443. He was the Toronto Blue Jays bench coach for the past three seasons. 

Nationals Claim Joey Wiemer

     The Washington Nationals have claimed outfielder Joey Wiemer off waiver from the San Francisco Giants. He was purchased by the Giants from the Miami Marlins back in November.

     Wiemer played with the Marlins during the 2025 season. He had three home runs, 12 runs batted in and a .236 batting average in 27 contests. 

Jorge Alfaro Inks With Royals

     Jorge Alfaro has agreed to a minor league contract with the Kansas City Royals. He will be invited to their spring training camp.

     Alfaro was acquired by the  Miami Marlins from the Philadelphia Phillies for J.T. Realmuto in February 2019. He played three seasons with the Fish from 2019 to 2021 and helped the club to their first postseason appearance in 17 years during 2020. 

Dolphins NFL Draft Position

     The Miami Dolphins found their drafting position for the upcoming NFL Draft. It was decided following the playing of games on Sunday.

     The Dolphins finished the 2025 season with a 7-10 record. The Fins will have the 11th overall selection in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft. 

Panthers Down Avalanche

     The Florida Panthers dropped the Colorado Avalanche 2-1 at Amerant Bank Arena on Sunday night. The Panthers reached the midway point of the 2025-26 season. 

     Both teams have captured three Stanley Cup titles combined in the past four seasons. The Avalanche lost their third game in regulation this season. The Avs are on a pace for the best regular season record in NHL history.

     The Panthers will head off on a six-game road trip. The Cats will play nine of their next 10 games on the road. 

     Florida(22-16-3) moved out to a 1-0 lead at the 6:27 mark of the first period. Sam Bennett got his 14th goal of the season.

     Colorado(31-3-7) evened it up 1-1 with 8:09 left in the first. Artturi Lehkonen collected his 15th goal of the campaign.

      The Panthers regained the lead 2-1 with 1:48 remaining in the second period. Aaron Ekblad chalked up his third tally this year. There was no scoring by either team during the third period.

Heat Burn Pelicans

     The Miami Heat outhustled the New Orleans Pelicans 125-106 at Kaseya Center on Sunday. The Heat played at home for the second straight day. They have won five of their past six contests.

     Miami 20-16) had a 44-39 advantage by the end of the first quarter. The Heat remained in front 70-68 at halftime.

     New Orleans(8-29) trailed 93-83 at the conclusion of the third quarter. Miami kept their double-digit lead during the final quarter.

      The Heat were led by Norman Powell with a game-high 34 points. Nikola Jovic was able to contribute 19 points. Troy Murray Iii scored 27 points for the Pelicans.

Dolphins Lose Season Finale

     The New England Patriots powered by the Miami Dolphins 38-10 on Sunday at Gillette Stadium. It was the season finale for the Dolphins. The Patriots captured the AFC East Division title and ended the five-year reign by the Buffalo Bills in the division.

     New England(14-3)

     Miami(7-10)

Timberwolves Snap Heat

     The Minnesota Timberwolves ran by the Miami Heat 125-115 at Kaseya Center on Saturday night. Both teams will face each other twice in four days. They will meet again on Tuesday in Minnesota. 

     Miami(19-16), who had a four-game winning streak snapped, began the contest down 16-7. Minnesota(22-13) was ahead 27-25 after one quarter. The Timberwolves were able to stay in front 56-50 by halftime. 

     The Heat cut the lead slightly to 90-86 by the end of the third quarter. The Timberwolves went on a 25-8 run to start the fourth quarter and led by double digits. 

     Norman Powell ended up with a club-high 21 points for Miami. Davion Mitchell and Nikola Jovic both had 14 points each. Andrew Wiggins and Bam Adebayo finished with 12 points each. 

     Anthony Edwards pumped in a game-high 33 points for Minnesota. Julius Randle compiled a double-double of 23 points and 10 rebounds. 

Jeremy Loper In Chattanooga

     Former South Florida radio host Jeremy Loper has found a new position. He will become the morning host at WSKZ-FM in Chattanooga on January 12. 

     Loper had a two reigns as an on-air personality on 103.1 The Buzz WPBZ-FM in West Palm Beach. He held roles as a weekend host, overnight host, afternoon host and music director from 1997 to 2002. Loper was a morning show co-host from 2008 to 2012. He was also a disc jockey at WZTA-FM in Miami between both stints. 

     After leaving Florida, he got into sports broadcasting and became a mixed martial arts podcast co-host on Fox Sports.com with Damon Martin and Matt Brown during the mid-2010s. Loper also was named an MMA play-by-play announcer on CBS Sports Network in July 2017.

     Loper became the morning co-host at WRKZ-FM in Columbus from April 2012 until August 2022. He then co-hosted the Loper&Randi.com podcast with his wife Randi Rasar beginning in December 2022. Loper was the morning host on WNRQ-FM in Nashville for several months in 2024. 

Troy Aikman Named Dolphins Consultant

     Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross has named Troy Aikman as a consultant. He will be part of their search for a new general manager. 

     Aikman is currently a Monday Night Football game analyst on ESPN and he will continue that role. He contributed to the Dallas Cowboys winning three Super Bowl titles as a quarterback. 

Marlins Deal Eric Wagaman

     The Miami Marlins traded first baseman Eric Wagaman to the Minnesota Twins for pitcher Kade Bragg. Wagaman was designated for assignment earlier this week. 

     The Marlins signed Wagaman as a free agent in December 2024. He had nine home runs, 53 runs batted in and a .250 batting average in 140 contests last year. 

Florida Panthers On Team USA

     Team USA has decided on the players who will participate in the 2026 Winter Olympics. The men's ice hockey tournament will be played in Italy next month. 

     Florida Panthers right wing Matthew Tkachuk and defensemen Seth Jones were selected by the squad. Tkachuk has not played in an NHL game so far this season. 

     One former Florida Panthers player was taken by the team. It was New York Rangers center Vincent Trocheck. 

Florida Panthers On Team Finland

     Team Finland announced their roster for the upcoming 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy next month. Three players from the Florida Panthers will join the squad. 

     They will include center Anton Lundell, left wing Eetu Luostarinen and defenseman Niko Mikkola. Panthers captain and center Aleksander Barkov would have been on the team, however he was injured during training camp and has not played a game during the 2025-26 NHL season. 

Florida Panthers On Team Sweden

      There was one player from the Florida Panthers that was chosen to play for Team Sweden in the 2026 Winter Olympics next month in Italy. Panthers defenseman Gustav Forsling was selected for the club. 

     Team Sweden also announced two former Panthers players. They decided on New Jersey Devils goalie Jacob Markstrom and Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson.

Rangers Top Panthers In 2026 Winter Classic

     Mika Zibanejad finished with a hat trick as the New York Rangers defeated the Florida Panthers 5-1 in the 2026 Winter Classic at loanDepot park in Miami on Friday night. It was the first National Hockey League outdoor game played in the state of Florida. The roof of the domed stadium was opened up for the contest. Zibanejad was named the Most Valuable Player of the Winter Classic. 

     The Panthers participated in their first outdoor game in franchise history. The Rangers now have a 6-0-0 record in outdoor contests and been victorious in more NHL outdoor games than any other team. It was the southern-most regular season game in NHL history, surpassing games played by the Panthers at Miami Arena from 1993 to 1998. This turned out to be the 17th Winter Classic, which was introduced by the National Hockey League on January 1, 2008. 

     Tonight was the 15th National Hockey League game in a baseball stadium. The Miami Marlins have played their home games at loanDepot park since the 2012 season. Tonight's attendance was 36,153 and it was a new Panthers franchise record for their largest-attended NHL game. 

     New York(20-18-5) got out to a 1-0 lead on the power play with 4:51 remaining in the first period. Artemi Panarin angled a pass from the Panthers blue line. Alexis Lafreniere centered the puck from the low left circle and Zibanejad put in with a wrist shot from the top of the crease by Sergei Bobrovsky for his 13th goal of the campaign. Zibanejad tied a Rangers franchise record with his 116th power-play goal. 

     The Blueshirts went up 2-0 with 3:47 to go in the first. Lafreniere touched the loose puck in the left circle and Zibanejad cycled the puck from the end wall. Panarin carried the puck from the left point and snapped a shot from the top of the zone for his 15th goal this season. 

     In the second period, the Rangers increased their lead to 3-0 at 58 seconds. Former Panthers player Vincent Trocheck brought the puck from his own zone, tripped over the Rangers blue line and passed the puck ahead from the center circle while sliding on his backside. Lafreniere skated from the right point and slid a cross-ice pass from the right circle. Zibanejad collected his second tally of the contest and 14th goal this year on a snap shot from the inner left circle. Lafreniere chalked up his career-high third assist in one game. 

     Florida(21-16-3) scored with the man advantage at the 2:25 mark of the third period. Aaron Ekblad backhanded the puck from the left point. Sam Bennett then backhanded a square pass from the low slot and Sam Reinhart released a forehand shot from the low left circle past Igor Shesterkin for his 23rd goal of the season. It was Reinhart's fourth goal in the last three games. 

     New York made it 4-1 on the power play with 7:35 left in the third. Zibanejad pushed the puck from the left wing and Trocheck sent a diagonal pass from the left corner. Panarin fired a wrist shot from high slot for his second tally of the contest and 16th goal this year. 

     The Panthers pulled their goalie for an extra attacker with 3:22 to go. Zibanejad placed a short-handed, empty-net goal from his own zone with 1:28 remaining in the game to make it 5-1. It was the first ever Winter Classic hat trick in the event's history. Zibanejad picked up his fifth point, which was the most points by one player in an NHL outdoor game. 

West Palm Beach Ratings December 2025

     West Palm Beach sports talk format radio stations were given their ratings. The time span went from the second week of November to the second week of December. 

     ESPN West Palm 106.3 WESP-FM saw their audience increase as Inter Miami CF captured their first Major League Soccer in franchise history. They dominated on the road at FC Cincinnati 4-0 in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. The Herons came home to beat New York City FC 5-1 in the Eastern Conference Finals and to defeat the Vancouver Whitecaps FC 3-1 in the MLS Cup Final. 

     Fox Sports 640 South Florida WMEN-AM were by themselves in first place for the second straight month as they remained at a 0.3 in the period. The Florida Atlantic University Owls football team were defeated in their final three games and completed their season with a 4-8 record. The FAU men's basketball team began their 2025-26 campaign with a 7-3 record. 

     Sports Radio 1230 The Gambler fell to a 0.0 following three months at a 0.1. They were in first place or had a share of first place in the market from June until October. The University of Florida Gators football team ended up with a 4-8 record this season following a victory over the Florida State Seminoles. 

Miami Ratings December 2025

     Miami/Fort Lauderdale sports talk format radio stations received their ratings. The time period went from the second week in November to the the second week of December. 

     104.3 Sports WQAM-FM improved for the fourth consecutive month as they increased from a 1.1 to a 1.3 in the period. The University of Miami Hurricanes were victorious in their final four games of the regular season for a 10-2 record and were named the 10th seed in the 2025 College Football Playoff. The reigning two-time Stanley Cup champions the Florida Panthers found themselves in last place among teams in the Eastern Conference on December 2 and December 3. The Miami Heat were quickly eliminated from the NBA Cup tournament and had a four-game losing streak with a 14-11 record. 

     Fox Sports 940 WINZ-AM fell to a 0.4 following two months at a 0.5. The Miami Dolphins won three straight games and had a 6-7 record. The Fins climbed out of the basement into third place in the AFC East Division. The University of Florida Gators football team defeated the Florida State Seminoles and ended up with a 4-8 record this season. 

     Fox Sports 640 South Florida WMEN-AM remained at a 0.2 in the month. The Florida Atlantic University football team lost their final three contests and finished their 2025 season with a 4-8 record. The FAU men's basketball team did begin their season with a 7-3 record. 

     The stream of WINZ-AM on WZTU-FM-HD2 decreased from a 0.4 to a 0.3 in the period. It was the third time in the past four months that it was at a 0.3. The WQAM stream dropped from a 0.1 to a 0.0 in the month. 

Sid Rosenberg Final Local Show 10th Anniversary

     Yesterday was the 10th anniversary of the final sports show that Sid Rosenberg ever hosted in South Florida. He is currently the morning host at WABC-AM in New York City. 

     After he left his position at WFAN-AM in September 2005, he joined Sports Talk 790 The Ticket WAXY-AM as a fill-in host. It led to him becoming the midday co-host with O.J. McDuffie at that radio station. He would later be elevated to morning host and remained there until May 2009. 

     Rosenberg moved on to Sports Radio 560 WQAM-AM in September 2009 as a midday host. He later become the afternoon host from June 2010 to April 2012. 

     He was then hired by 640 Sports WMEN-AM as a morning host in August 2012. Rosenberg stayed there until his contract was not renewed in December 2015. 

Scott Ferrall Final Infinity Sports Network Show

     Former 560 WQAM-AM mid-morning host Scott Ferrall filled in as the final host ever on Infinity Sports Network back on December 28 hosting a late night show. Infinity Sports Network, which was previously branded CBS Sports Radio Network, changed their name to Westwood One Sports at midnight of that day. 

     Ferrall had prior experience as the last host and final voice for another nationally syndicated sports radio network. He hosted the final program ever on Sportsfan Radio Network back in April 2001. 

Florida Panthers On Team Canada

     Team Canada announced their roster for the 2026 Winter Olympics. The men's ice hockey tournament will be held next month in Italy. 

     Two players from the Florida Panthers were selected. They are left wing Brad Marchand and right wing Sam Reinhart. Center Sam Bennett was missing from the roster. 

Michael Irvin Launches Playmaker Production Group

     Michael Irvin will begin the Playmaker Production Group in the near future. It is unknown what it will consist of, but podcasting is a likely venture. 

      Irvin played wide receiver for the St. Thomas Aquinas Raiders in high school, the University of Miami Hurricanes in college football and the Dallas Cowboys in the National Football League. He captured a national championship with the Hurricanes in 1987 and three Super Bowl titles with the Cowboys. 

      He entered broadcasting with Fox Sports Net as a panelist on the The Best Damn Sports Show Period. 

It led to work as an studio analyst at ESPN. He had the same position at NFL Network from 2009 until May 2024. He was panelist on Undisputed and an NFL studio analyst on Fox Sports 1 from August 2023 to August 2024. 

      Irwin did have some radio experience. He started as a midday host at KESN-FM in Dallas. Irvin was a midday co-host on 560 WQAM-AM from July 2010 until July 2012. 

Heat Roll By Pistons

     The Miami Heat held off the Detroit Pistons 118-112 at Little Caesars Arena on Thursday night. It was the only contest of the Heat's road trip. They extended their winning streak to four games. The Pistons have the best record in the Eastern Conference. 

     Miami(19-15) broke out to a 33-26 lead at the end of the first quarter. Detroit(25-9) went on an 11-2 spurt during the second quarter to take a 44-43 lead with 4:53 remaining. The Heat did hold a 63-54 advantage at halftime. 

     The Heat extended their lead to 94-81 by the conclusion of the third quarter. The Pistons went on a 13-2 run and cut it down to a two-point margin 114-112 with 45.7 seconds left in the fourth quarter. 

     Norman Powell set the tone for Miami with a game-high 36 points. Jaime Jaquez Jr. came off the bench with 19 points while Andrew Wiggins contributed 17 points. Bam Adebayo finished with a double-double of 15 points and 14 rebounds. 

     Detroit was led by Cade Cunningham as he compiled a club-high 31 points and eight rebounds. Marcus Sasser scored 18 points and Duncan Robinson had nine points. 

Oregon Blanks Texas Tech In Orange Bowl

     The University of Oregon Ducks shut out the Texas Tech University Red Raiders 23-0 during the CFP Quarterfinals in the 2026 Orange Bowl at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami on Thursday. Both schools made their first appearances in the Orange Bowl. The Ducks moved on to the CFP Semifinals and will face the University of Miami Hurricanes in the Fiesta Bowl on January 8.

     Oregon(13-1) picked up a field goal in the first quarter and a field goal in the second quarter for a 6-0 halftime lead. Texas Tech(12-2) surrendered 17 points during the second half. 

Frank Gore NFL Hall Of Fame Finalist

     Former University of Miami Hurricanes running back Frank Gore is one of 15 finalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. It is his first year of eligibility for enshrinement. There will be two more rounds before the final decisions will be made on new Pro Football Hall of Fame members in early February. 

     Gore played most of his NFL career with the San Francisco 49ers. He was with the Miami Dolphins for 14 games in 2018. 

Jonathan Ford Returns To Packers

     The Green Bay Packers has picked up former Dillard Panthers defensive lineman Jonathan Ford off waivers from the Chicago Bears. It will be Ford's second stint with the Packers. 

      Ford was acquired by the Bears off waivers from the Packers back in December 2024. He was able to participate in eight games with Chicago this year.  

Steelers Release Daryl Porter Jr.

     The Pittsburgh Steelers have released defensive back Daryl Porter Jr. He made his NFL debut with the Steelers on December 21 against the Miami Dolphins. 

      Porter played high school football with the American Heritage Patriots and captured two FHSAA state titles in 2016 and 2017. He was later at West Virginia and Miami for college football. 

Bills Cut Michael Badgley

      The Buffalo Bills let go kicker Michael Badgley from their practice squad earlier this week. He played in the Bills two recent games. Badgley participated in seven contests with the Indianapolis Colts earlier in the 2025 season. 

      Badgley was with the University of Miami Hurricanes while being involved in college football. He has been with six different NFL teams since 2018. 

John Curtiss Signing With Diamondbacks

      One-time Miami Marlins pitcher John Curtiss will be staying with the Arizona Diamondbacks. He will sign a minor league contract and be invited to their spring training camp. 

      Curtiss spent one season with the Fish in 2021. He appeared in 35 games and had a 2.48 earned run average with the Marlins.