South Florida Local News

Here are the top stories for Monday, Dec. 9, 2024. Get the weather forecast for today here.

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Things we learned in Miami Dolphins’ 32-26 OT win over the N.Y. Jets

Want a job in the Trump administration? Be prepared for the loyalty test.

Trump says he can’t guarantee tariffs won’t raise US prices and won’t rule out revenge prosecutions

Victim shot in face with BB gun during altercation at Sunrise park, police say

Debut of Celebrity Cruises ship caps year of firsts for Port Canaveral

Hurricanes miss College Football Playoff, will play in Pop-Tarts Bowl in Orlando

Trump’s return may be a boon for Netanyahu, but challenges abound in a changed Middle East

What you need to know about tariffs, trade and Trump | Opinion

Guarding your children’s digital safety in the age of AI | Opinion

The moment when Heat’s Spoelstra ‘glitches’ and Adebayo lets him hear it, ‘He’s yelling at me. I love it’

 

A former veteran prosecutor who accused Broward State Attorney Harold Pryor of firing him, along with four other white colleagues, in an act of racial discrimination walked away from his discrimination lawsuit with a one-time $90,000 payout, including his attorney’s fees.

The settlement was announced in court in October, but the financial details were released this week in response to a public records request.

Andrew Newman had been with the Broward State Attorney’s Office for 26 years when Pryor was first elected in 2020 with a promise to ethnically diversify the agency’s staff. Newman and four other long-time prosecutors, Tony Loe, Tim Donnelly, Alex Urruela and Ted Daus, were all dismissed during Pryor’s first months in office.

Only Newman sued, though Urruela later said he sympathized with the lawsuit.

The settlement included no admission of wrongdoing, and the State Attorney’s Office explicitly said Newman’s claims were “not valid.” But, according to the settlement, both sides agreed it would be better to resolve the dispute than bring it to court.

A full-blown trial would have put numerous current and former employees on the stand to answer questions under oath about Pryor’s efforts to balance his promise of diversity with the rights of white employees. It would also have forced Newman to defend his job performance.

Newman gets $43,750 in compensatory damages and $18,750 in back pay. He is responsible for taxes on those payments. His lawyers get an additional $27,500.

In return, according to the settlement, Newman agreed to waive any claim he has against the office.

I read the four letters to the editor in the Dec. 6 paper, and I’m surprised how people do not appear to understand why Joe Biden pardoning his son was bad for the country and for the Democratic Party in particular.

First, Biden lied when he said numerous times that he would not pardon his son because he believed in the rule of law. By pardoning Hunter, he damaged his own credibility and dug a deeper hole for the Democratic party. That’s why the party is upset with him.

Naturally, it is the departing President’s right to pardon anyone, as Clinton, Bush, Trump, and others did.

The difference is, none of the previous presidents lied about it. Most importantly, Biden’s pardon covered the period from 2014 to 2024 when Hunter was involved with the Burisma board, and had dealings with Ukraine that could have left him open to prosecution. This is an unheard-of type of pardon.

Two of the aforementioned letters faulted the media for highlighting the pardon, forgetting that the media (other than Fox) is Democratic-leaning. The letter writers were upset that the media was telling it like it is.

Rob Berg, Boynton Beach

Send DeSantis far, far away

An Open Letter to Donald Trump:

I read with interest you might choose Gov. Ron DeSantis to replace Pete Hegseth as defense secretary. As a Floridian who has seen how DeSantis has governed this great state, I applaud the suggestion, and encourage you to put DeSantis where he belongs — far, far away from Florida.

He has done more than his share of damage to us, his constituents. While I have concerns about what he may inflict upon the morale of our armed forces, we could sure use a break down here.

Let’s see how he does in battles against real soldiers, not the unfortunate people of Florida.

Bruce Miller, Fort Lauderdale

SAT scores a failure

With Florida in a clear race to the bottom with regards to public education, nothing screams failure like the newly announced SAT scores. Florida now ranks tied for 47th place among all states.

The third most populous state in the nation is about to hit rock bottom. While it’s clear that Commissioner of Education Manny Diaz, Jr. and Gov. Ron DeSantis have spiked the ball at the 40-yard line, the students in Florida are the real losers.

Republican leadership, if you can call it that, has had years to fix problems like this but leadership has failed students over and over. The average national SAT score is 1024, and in Florida, it’s 948.

Tallahassee tries to blame Covid every chance it can, but this problem has been looming for a long time, and education experts have told reporting agencies that Florida’s vouchers-for-all program could be partially responsible for the latest SAT drop.

It’s no secret, Republicans are looking to somehow opt out of SAT testing but to do that is a very heavy lift. It seems to me that when you hire (elect) someone to fix a problem and year after year it never gets fixed, you fire (un-elect) that person. The problem with Florida is, they like it when things stay broken.

PJ Whelan, Orlando

An end to annoying ads

The elections are finally over, and all of the candidates’ political commercials are gone from the airwaves. Great!

Also, the Dec. 7 enrollment date for Medicare supplement plans has passed, and all those plan commercials are gone, too. Tremendous!

Now, let’s eliminate all of those annoying prescription drug commercials that Big Pharma is paying millions of dollars a day to blanket the airwaves. Only doctors need to have that information, no matter how you dress it up with pretty pictures. And listen closely: Have you ever heard all of the possible side effects?

W. Rick Garr, Fort Lauderdale

FORT LAUDERDALE — Don’t blink.

In 10 years, you might not recognize the busiest corridor along Fort Lauderdale beach. A dramatic transformation years in the making is finally underway.

Just take a look at the newly renovated Las Olas Marina, a $60 million project in the works for eight years.

The 88-slip marina, with floating concrete docks designed for some of the globe’s biggest yachts, opened on Dec. 1 at 151 Las Olas Circle, replacing an old city parking lot built in the 1950s.

The asphalt lot was dredged to make way for the world-class marina, which can handle vessels anywhere from 65 feet to 315 feet.

Big change is coming to that entire corridor, said Dan Lindblade, president and CEO of the Greater Fort Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce.

“We are no longer the Spring Break Capital of the World,” Lindblade told the South Florida Sun Sentinel. “We are now the Yachting Capital of the World. This is what we envisioned back in the 1990s. I know some people like the old Fort Lauderdale, but we have to move on and move forward. Everything is coming together for us now.”

The new marina is just one piece of the puzzle, though a very important one, said Vice Mayor Steve Glassman, whose district includes the new marina and nearby Bahia Mar, home to the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show.

“Everyone wants to be here — businesses, residents, yachts,” Glassman said. “We’ve become a very popular destination. And we have to plan for that.”

The new marina is like night and day from what was there before, Glassman said.

“I don’t remember how many slips were there, but it’s a fraction of what’s there now,” Glassman said. “And it was not a megayacht marina. It’s a whole new presence for that spot. It’s going to be a great destination.”

The newly renovated Las Olas Marina recently opened at 151 Las Olas Circle in Fort Lauderdale, replacing an old city parking lot built in the 1950s. The asphalt lot was dredged to make way for the marina. Shown are before and after images of the marina. (Photos courtesy of Suntex) On the map

Other projects in the pipeline nearby include:

— Bahia Mar: The long-awaited redevelopment of the taxpayer-owned peninsula south of Las Olas calls for four condo towers with 350 units that will stand 270 feet high; a 197-key luxury resort under the St. Regis brand that will be 300 feet tall; upscale restaurants; high-end shops; a public park and 25-foot-wide promenade encircling the entire 39-acre site. The 250-slip marina, home to the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, will be able to accommodate megayachts up to 350 feet. The Marina Village at Bahia Mar, a $16 million open-air entertainment village, opened earlier this year.

— Las Olas Ocean: The mammoth project would take up three blocks just north of the iconic Elbo Room at Las Olas and A1A. The developer plans to build what he calls a village with 29-story twin condo towers with 500 units; a 373-room hotel; upscale shops and restaurants; and a 1,323-space parking garage.

— The International Swimming Hall of Fame: A major $190 million makeover of the Hall of Fame complex is on the way, with plans for an aquarium, rooftop restaurant and new museum. The project will spruce up the city-owned peninsula south of Las Olas with a modern five-story building on the east side just a block from the beach and a six-story building on the west overlooking the Intracoastal. When the project is complete, two new buildings more than 100 feet tall will sit like bookends on either side of the Hall of Fame pools and dive tower.

Rendering of Las Olas Ocean, a mammoth project that calls for twin condo towers that would stand 300 feet high. (Kobi Karp Architecture and Interior Design Inc./Courtesy)

To help beautify the corridor, Fort Lauderdale has spent millions upgrading public amenities in the area.

Altogether, the city has invested a total of $70 million on projects that include the Las Olas Oceanside Park at A1A; the Las Olas Parking Garage; and the public promenade surrounding the marina.

The marina itself has been in the works for nearly a decade.

In 2016, Suntex was hired by Fort Lauderdale to build the marina at its own expense. Suntex is managing and operating the new Las Olas Marina under a 50-year lease with the city.

The project broke ground two years ago and came in just under budget at $60 million, said Eric Metz, senior director of development with Suntex Marinas.

A new anchor for the beach

But don’t think of the marina as just a place to dock your megayacht, Metz said.

It also will serve as a gathering spot with three upscale restaurants, including Ocean Prime. The nationally acclaimed seafood and steak place is expected to open next spring.

“The marina has the chance to re-anchor this part of the beach, with the public promenade and the walkability of the project,” Metz said. “Ocean Prime is a signature, high-caliber restaurant. When you put that into the fold of what we’re doing, it’s going to redefine that whole area.”

Marina customers will find a three-story building complete with a captains-and-crew lounge, chef’s kitchen, rooftop gym, plunge pool, restroom/shower facilities and dockmaster’s office.

“It will be a whole amenity package there for people who dock their yachts,” Glassman said. “And you won’t have to be a yacht owner to enjoy it.”

A rendering of the Bahia Mar condo and hotel project planned in Fort Lauderdale, just south of Las Olas Boulevard on the barrier island. (ArX Creative/Courtesy) Bigger marina, bigger impact

The marina sits on both sides of the bridge over the Intracoastal. For now, only the docks on the north side are open.

“We have two docks south of the bridge,” said McLayne Sisk, the marina’s general manager. “We’ll be looking to have the south side open as well in January or February.”

The old marina had only 60 slips — 28 fewer than the new marina. The slips could only handle boats up to 60 feet.

“I was here when we shut down the old marina on April 1, 2022,” Sisk said. “It was a smaller marina. They only had fixed docks. Our slips are a lot larger now. It was a complete rebuild.”

The new marina is just one piece of the dramatic change coming to that part of the barrier island, Glassman agreed.

“We’ve done a tremendous amount of work in that whole corridor, from the beach to the bridge,” he said. “And now we have the marina, the last piece of the puzzle. The marina is possibly going to be the crown jewel of all that work. Kids used to come from the bars on A1A and smash beer bottles on the parking lot. That’s gone now. It’s really been cleaned up. It’s a win-win.”

Susannah Bryan can be reached at sbryan@sunsentinel.com. Follow me on X @Susannah_Bryan

Q: Ira, isn’t it interesting that Erik Spoelstra gets questioned for his choices when the Heat are losing, but no one says anything when they win? He knows that Haywood Highsmith and Dru Smith were winning players and stuck with them. – Eddie.

A: And, again, he sees players in practice. He has the staff that breaks down the analytics. But, there also is a degree of intuition. So when the calls went out for more Nikola Jovic or Kel’el Ware, Erik Spoelstra worked through his permutations and found a winning formula. Which is particularly helpful for a team in need of wins. So now there is a lineup that works, as well as a sense of a bench that works. But plenty will remain fluid, including what happens when Pelle Larsson returns and how that could, or could not, impact the role that Dru Smith has played. In the end, this is about finding the best mix of players to complement Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro. For now, Spoelstra appears to have found just such a support system.

Related Articles

• Miami Heat | Submit your “Ask Ira” question here!

Q: Ira, when can we convert Dru Smith to a standard contract? – Steve.

A: Technically at any time, since the Heat have an open roster spot. In reality, because of the Heat’s position against the luxury tax, such a decision can be put on hold until after midseason without further consequence regarding Dru Smith’s availability on his two-way contract, provided he does not exceed 50 games on the active roster or the Heat’s two-way players do not exceed 90 total games on the active roster while the Heat remain at 14 players under standard contact, one below the maximum. The Heat are not going to lose the use of a contributor simply because he is on a two-way contract.

Q: Why are there no games on the schedule for two weeks? – Matt.

A: There are, just not on the original schedule. Because of the uncertainty of which eight teams would advance to the quarterfinals of the NBA cup, the league left open the span from this coming Monday through Dec. 19. There now are two Heat games in that void, one on Thursday at Kaseya Center against the Raptors, and another on Dec. 16 at Detroit. Still, that’s a long stretch with just a pair of games. Yes, the NBA Cup complicates things. But for a league that espouses the need to reduce back-to-back sets and acknowledges their impact in health and lineup, the Heat wind up with a back-to-back immediately before the limited schedule (Saturday and Sunday’s home games against the Suns and Cavaliers, respectively) and the a back-to-back set on Dec. 20 against the visiting Thunder and Dec. 21 at Orlando. So basically, fatigue, rest, fatigue. There has to be a better way, in order to offer a better product. Back-to-backs aren’t good for the game, nor are extended stretches of limited activity for teams. But, hey, the NBA was able to generate a few extra bucks by selling the Cup as part of the new television deal. So there is that.

General Daily Insight for December 09, 2024

Today speeds up from one minute to the next. Things start out gently when the Moon in dreamy Pisces conjoins foggy Neptune, but we’ll be pulled right out of that miasma when the Moon jumps into Aries at 8:38 am EST, boosting our energy levels way up. This shouldn’t be hard to handle, thankfully, as a lunar sextile to loving Venus in Aquarius will help things flow smoothly. Plus, one final trine from the Moon to Mars allows us to perform at top capacity!

Aries

March 21 – April 19

Time to hit the reset button, Aries. The Moon is marching into your sign for its monthly check-in, making this the perfect day to touch base with yourself and ensure everything is on the up-and-up. If you’ve been feeling a bit out of sorts lately, this transit will uplift your efforts to get everything back on track to where it needs to be. Give yourself permission to step back from the herd and focus on yourself to a reasonable extent.

Taurus

April 20 – May 20

It’s a new day, but that doesn’t mean you need to jump out of bed and hit the ground running. Actually, you can take things rather easy as the Moon settles into your sleepy 12th house — go ahead and hit the snooze button once or twice. Even if you have a long to-do list, take it at a gentle pace and feel your way forward, rather than rolling up your sleeves and putting your nose to the grindstone. There’s no need to chase anything.

Gemini

May 21 – June 20

Take any excuse to chat today — it shouldn’t be very difficult to find one as the intuitive Moon enters your 11th House of Global Communities. This sets the ideal stage for you to connect with people who can guide you through understanding the world in a fresh light. It also encourages altruism, so a little bit of charity couldn’t hurt. Whether you’re donating some clothing you no longer wear or a bit of your time to a good cause, you can’t go wrong.

Cancer

June 21 – July 22

Aim as high as you can! There is an emphasis on pursuing your goals as the Moon marches into your 10th House of Career, lighting a fire within you. Whether you’re aiming for the corner office or just getting your foot on the first rung of the ladder, this energy is terrific for letting your ambitious side out to play. You can even do so without worry that it will overtake everything else in your life. Work hard and then play hard.

Leo

July 23 – August 22

Life is a pool, and you can jump right in! It’s time to bound off and explore all the options and opportunities available to you as the Moon twirls into your 9th House of Quests, giving you a hunger for something unique and stimulating. Some of you may feel the urge to whip out your passport and let the wind take you wherever it may, but exploring an unfamiliar topic with a documentary or online course should also prove very fulfilling.

Virgo

August 23 – September 22

There is an undeniable intensity to the day, but that doesn’t mean you can’t handle it. The Moon is entering your 8th House of Shared Resources, which may require you to deal with one or two serious issues — likely ones that involve at least one other person. You may need to follow up on a debt or make a big payment, but if you are strategic, you may also receive a tidy windfall. Play your cards with care to find maximum success.

Libra

September 23 – October 22

Today will be more fun with someone by your side to help you handle it. You’re in your element as the Moon enters your 7th House of Interactions, which just so happens to be Libra’s natural domain. If there’s a specific pal you haven’t hung out with in a while, go ahead and hit them up for some fun! Whatever you want to achieve, it should be worlds easier with a partner. There’s absolutely no need to play the wallflower now.

Scorpio

October 23 – November 21

A little simplicity can make the world much more approachable. This is the perfect day to remove all the excess and only focus on essentials as the Moon enters your efficient 6th house, helping you approach your life with more care and consideration. Look for any minor habits or built-up issues that are getting in the way of you being your best self, then figure out how to rid yourself of them for good. You’ll feel worlds better with less on your plate.

Sagittarius

November 22 – December 21

Express yourself, Sag! Today is all about enjoying yourself to the fullest and letting your passionate side out to play as the Moon leaps into your 5th House of Creativity, so this is no time to mope about the hum-drum parts of existence. Do something that will bring a smile to your face, and don’t worry about pleasing anyone but yourself. That said, if others want to participate, try to welcome them. You know what they say: the more the merrier.

Capricorn

December 22 – January 19

Life could currently feel like bowling with bumpers. You deserve to have a little padding in life to keep you rolling in your desired direction. With the Moon moving into your sensitive 4th house, this is an ideal chance to give yourself extra space and care — especially if you’re feeling more raw than usual. Focus your attention on surrounding yourself with people and things that make you feel good, and if possible, put off anything serious or heavy. Be gentle with yourself.

Aquarius

January 20 – February 18

Everywhere you go, there you are. It wouldn’t be one bit surprising if you find yourself bouncing around town as the Moon enters your 3rd House of Local Community, making it the perfect time to get out and circulate. This sector encourages open communication, so be willing to start a conversation with people at the drop of a hat, even if that isn’t your normal style. You never know what exciting tidbits of information or exciting opportunities you’ll uncover if you don’t try.

Pisces

February 19 – March 20

Spending money is easy — even easier than usual! You’ll face all sorts of temptations to splash out on little treats as the Moon moves into your luxurious 2nd house. Window shopping could abruptly become a shopping spree. That said, it would be wise to hold off on making any big purchases for the time being. Instead, create a list of the things you want and meditate on it a bit before forking over any cash. It’ll save you from buyer’s remorse.

The trend for star college players looking for a big NFL payday in recent years has been to opt out of non-playoff bowl games.

Hurricanes quarterback Cam Ward appears to be bucking that trend.

In a FaceTime call posted on social media by Deion Sanders Jr., Ward said he plans on playing in UM’s Pop-Tarts Bowl appearance against Iowa State on Dec. 28.

“I’ve got to get ready for the Pop-Tarts Bowl,” Ward said.

A UM spokesperson did not respond to a request to confirm Ward’s participation late Sunday night.

“You’re (going to) see the best thing that’s ever happened in the Pop-Tarts Bowl,” Ward said. “The ‘Canes, baby.”

Ward said he plans to air the ball out in his final game with Miami before heading to the NFL.

“This the last game … We’re going to throw that ball,” Ward said. “You best believe my last game, I’m going to throw that damn ball.”

Ward also teased Colorado star quarterback Shedeur Sanders in the video, making fun of him for not winning 10 games and claiming Miami’s offensive line is better.

“I don’t get touched,” Ward said. “I’ve got them trench babies.”

The Hurricanes will face Big 12 runner-up Iowa State at Camping World Stadium on Dec. 28. Miami has not won a bowl game since 2016 — a Russell Athletic Bowl victory against West Virginia that was also at Camping World Stadium. UM is 2-12 in bowl games dating back to 2005.

“We’re trying to win our first bowl game in 20 years,” Ward said. “We’re going hard.”

Who would’ve won? pic.twitter.com/YUZD1mpShx

— Deion Sanders Jr (@DeionSandersJr) December 9, 2024

It’s Christmastime.

It’s that time of year when we have warmth in our hearts, a spirit of togetherness and the urge to reconnect with loved ones. A time to express gratitude for the people who made us what we are. A time to rediscover the magic of coming together once again.

The perfect time for Frosty the Showman — aka Scott Frost — to load up his pyrotechnic offense and dashing sideline demeanor to make his triumphant return to Orlando.

Everybody sing along:

“Frosty the Showman, made UCF dreams come true,

With a playbook bold, of Black and Gold,

He’s back to start anew!

There must have been some magic in that UCF hat he wore,

For when Frosty placed it on his head,

The Knights began to soar.”

We can only hope.

We can only hope that Frosty can rediscover the magic and resurrect the fading Knights like he did before — while also re-igniting his own once-promising coaching career.

There were certainly many UCF fans and donors at Frost’s introductory news conference Sunday night who are willing to take that leap of faith. The marching band was there, the cheerleaders were there and the room seemed to hum with hope, like a pep rally to celebrate the future — and to commemorate the past.

“It feels surreal,” said Frost, who left his job as an offensive analyst for the NFL’s Los Angeles Rams to return to UCF as the head coach.  “It feels like it was 100 years ago and yesterday at the same time [since he was at UCF].   I wouldn’t have come back to just any place, but this place gave me a start and — in a certain way — maybe I had a hand in giving UCF a start.”

Call me a hopeless romantic or a sappy sentimentalist if you want, but I love that UCF is bringing back Frost. I commend UCF athletics director Terry Mohajir for making such a bold, bodacious decision.

It would have been very easy for Mohajir to pick a safer candidate — maybe an up-and-coming Group of 5 coach (see Liberty’s Jamey Chadwell), or hot Power 5 assistant coach (see SMU offensive coordinator Casey Woods), or even a more proven retread (see former FSU coach Jimbo Fisher), but he was willing to take a chance on Frost’s ability to rebuild and redeem.

As I’ve said in previous columns, we all acknowledge that bringing back Frost is a gamble after he famously failed when he left UCF following the undefeated “national championship” season in 2017 to return to his alma mater at Nebraska. Then again, who hasn’t failed at Nebraska since Tom Osborne retired more than a quarter-century ago?

Besides, it’s not like Frost ever really wanted to leave UCF. But, honestly, who can blame him for returning to his home state to try to resurrect his once-proud alma mater while also spending quality time with his aging and cancer-ridden father who has since passed away?  Frost, who was the hottest coaching candidate in the nation at the time, faced a lot of urging from his former Nebraska teammates and coaches, and he felt a sense of obligation to leave UCF and try to return the Cornhuskers to their glory days. Plus, Nebraska gave him a 7-year, $35 million contract that more than doubled his UCF salary.

“There was a lot of pressure [to take the Nebraska job],” Frost says now. “It was hard for me to leave UCF. It was emotional. You know, when you’re climbing the ladder of success in life, sometimes they forget to tell you to stop when you’re happy.”

The critics of this hire will say that Frost has lost so much stature in the coaching profession that he has not been a candidate for any other coaching opening except UCF. This may be true, but so what? You simply cannot ignore his UCF connections and what he means to Knights fans.

Don’t kid yourself, Frost is perhaps the main reason UCF is in the Big 12 today. Without him, the Knights would likely still be in the American Athletic Conference — right alongside Memphis and USF — with their noses pressed against the glass, begging and pleading for a seat at college football’s big-boy table.

Frost came in after George O’Leary’s winless and grinless final season, recruited a quarterback named McKenzie Milton and, within two years, had the undefeated Knights beating Auburn in the Peach Bowl. When Frost departed for Nebraska, he left successor Josh Heupel with a roster that included stars such as Milton, Adrian Killins, Gabe Davis, Greg McRae, etc., and the Knights went unbeaten again in the 2018 regular season.

Those back-to-back undefeated seasons put UCF in the right place at the right time and were a major catalyst in the Knights finally gaining admission into the Big 12 three years later. Those seasons weren’t just victories on the field. They were the foundation of UCF’s rise to prominence; a statement and a declaration that the program belonged on the national stage. Frost’s relentless pursuit of excellence and his ability to galvanize a program transformed UCF from an afterthought into a contender.

That’s why his return is more than just a reunion; it’s a chance for Frost to rewrite his legacy and to once again ignite the fire that brought the Knights to the Big 12’s doorstep. The question is: Can he now elevate UCF from the depths of being a Big 12 doormat?

College football is a completely different game from when Frost was here before. Back then, UCF had one of the biggest athletic budgets in the American Athletic Conference but now has one of the smallest budgets in the Big 12. UCF is competing against programs with more history, heritage, resources and NIL money.

Let’s be honest, shall we? UCF’s program is in such bad shape right now that Gus Malzahn got out while the getting was good. After going 4-8 this season, he bailed and left $12 million of contract-buyout money on the table because he knew the Knights were facing a total and complete rebuild. He quit this season before likely getting fired next season.

Anybody who’s expecting lightning to strike twice and for Frost to come in and coach UCF to an unbeaten season within two years is delusional. This is going to take some time. Frost was a miracle worker when he took over in 2016 but now he must be a program builder.

“I hope everybody doesn’t think we’re going to go undefeated immediately,” Frost cracked.

Frost kept it real on Sunday night and did not make any outlandish promises. He actually said that he’s “not looking for an immediate turnaround at the expense of long-term success.”

Nobody knows if that long-term success will ever come, but at least in the short term this hire is already a success. Frost is UCF royalty and hinted on Sunday night that he would like to bring back Milton — another UCF legend who is now an offensive analyst at playoff-bound Tennessee — as an assistant coach. The fan base has been re-energized and Mohajir said Sunday that many donors have already pledged to start giving more. Optimism and hope — whether it’s nostalgia-induced or not — is always a good thing.

One of the most nostalgic descriptions I’ve ever heard about how Knight Nation embraces Frost came when thousands of UCF fans showed up at the downtown “national championship” celebration on Church Street after the 2017 season.

One of those fans — UCF alum and local historian Charles Tolman — compared the 2017 Knights to another iconic group of Knights:  King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table, who resided in Camelot.

In American history, the term “Camelot” is often used to refer to the presidency of John F. Kennedy. In an interview after the assassination of JFK, his widow Jacqueline referenced a lyric from the Broadway musical Camelot to describe the Kennedy White House.

Tolman, in an emotional moment while celebrating UCF’s greatest season, quoted that lyric:

“Don’t let it be forgot,

That once there was a spot,

For one brief shining moment,

That was known as Camelot.”

Lamented Jackie Kennedy after her husband’s death: “There will be great presidents again, but there’ll never be another Camelot.”

Maybe now there can be.

Maybe now Camelot has been resurrected at UCF.

It is, after all, Christmastime.

It’s that time of year in which the echoes of yesteryear can be heard even as you speed down the road to tomorrow. It’s a time when joy and nostalgia come together, uniting the past, present and future in a way no other time of year can.

Christmastime is also a season of harmony and hope. It’s a time to believe in miracles and dream of new beginnings and a brighter future.

It’s a time to believe in the magic of Frosty.

Email me at mbianchi@orlandosentinel.com. Hit me up on X (formerly Twitter) @BianchiWrites and listen to my Open Mike radio show every weekday from 6 to 9:30 a.m. on FM 96.9, AM 740 and 969TheGame.com/listen

 

 

MIAMI — Observations and other notes of interest from Sunday night’s 122-113 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers:

– The simplicity is the spacing.

– With the simplicity going by a familiar name.

– This is why Duncan Robinson was moved into the Heat’s starting lineup 10 games ago.

– Not only because of the threat.

– But because of the reality.

– For the second consecutive night, Robinson was on target.

– Which meant the Heat’s 3-point game did not solely have to be a Tyler Herro show.

– Further enhancing Robinson’s Sunday effort was also getting to the line.

– No, not as dramatic a performance as what Herro threw at the Cavaliers on this night.

– But complementary.

– Which is what is needed to balance out Herro, Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo.

– This Robinson and that Herro and plenty of warts can be masked.

– And plenty of problems can be created.

– With Sunday as Exhibit A.

– The Heat again opened with a lineup of Butler, Adebayo, Herro, Robinson and Haywood Highsmith.

– Entering 6-2 with that lineup.

– Heat coach Erik Spoelstra going into Sunday night’s game, “We’re searching for consistency. The team we’re playing has been very consistent all season long.”

– He added, “We’ll need that sustainability of our game tonight.”

– Kevin Love, playing against his former team, again played as sixth man.

– With Pelle Larsson missing a second consecutive game with an ankle sprain, Dru Smith then followed off the Heat bench.

– With Jaime Jaquez Jr. as eighth man.

– And Terry Rozier as the fourth reserve.

– Interestingly, when the Heat cycled through the rotation the second time, it was Thomas Bryant in place of Love.

– With Love, 36, playing both nights of the back-to-back set.

– Which could have made it a night for Kel’el Ware, if the Heat first-round pick wasn’t in the G League.

– Earlier Sunday, Ware closed with 20 points (9 of 14, 2 of 5 3s), 9 rebounds, 5 assists, 4 blocks in 31:24 in a Sioux Falls Skyforce G League loss to the Nuggets’ affiliate.

– Heat two-way player Josh Christopher had 34 points in the loss.

– With Heat camp prospect Isaiah Stevens closing with 14 assists and Heat invitee Nassir Little adding 21 points.

– Sunday’s double-double was the 204th of Adebayo’s career. Only Rony Seikaly (221) and Alonzo Mourning (205) have had more with the Heat.

Related Articles

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– Adebayo extended his career-best streak of consecutive games with at least five assists to nine.

— Herro extended his career-best streak of games scoring in double figures to 52. His previous high was 38 in a row.

— Along the way, Herro also extended his career-best streak of games with at least one 3-pointer to 56, 13 games off Robinson’s franchise record.

– The game concluded the first of the Heat’s four sets of back-to-back home games this season, coming off Saturday night’s 121-111 victory over the Suns.

– It was the 39th such home-home back-to-back set over the Heat’s 37 seasons.

– The Heat entered having swept such sets 12 times, been swept nine times and splitting 17.

– The sellout with the 610th in a row for the Heat (no counting pandemic games), tying the Chicago Bulls (1997-2000) for the fourth-longest such streak in NBA history.

– Joe Jonas was among those in the crowd.

MIAMI — The search is over. This is the statement win the Miami Heat have been needing and seeking.

Yes, the Cleveland Cavaliers were without Evan Mobley for the second half with an ankle sprain. Yes, they were playing for the third time in four days.

But still, they entered a league-best 21-3, still had Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland and Jarrett Allen in their Sunday mix.

So: Heat 122, Cavaliers 113.

With feeling.

And, for the first time this season, the Heat with a three-game winning streak

“You want your team to see the possibilities,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. “I think the locker room sees the possibilities with this team. We just have to keep on going.”

With another sizzling third quarter from Tyler Herro, another double-double from Bam Adebayo, more 3-pointers from Duncan Robinson and bench boosts from Terry Rozier and Dru Smith, the Heat put together their most complete effort of the season, following up victories over the Los Angeles Lakers and Phoenix Suns.

“Obviously it doesn’t mean everything,” Rozier said. “But we’re heading in the right direction.”

Herro led the Heat with 34 points, seven assists and six rebounds. Adebayo added 16 points and 13 rebounds. There also were 18 points 18 points from Jimmy Butler.

But that’s not all.

Robinson added 23 points, shooting 4 of 6 on 3-pointers, with Rozier scoring 14 and Smith 11.

Garland led the Cavaliers with 23 points, with Mitchell limited to 12 on 5-of-16 shooting.

“It feels like everything is happening in the right direction on both sides,” Herro said.

Five Degrees of Heat from Sunday night’s game:

1. Closing time: The Cavaliers led 25-21 after the first quarter, with the Heat turning it around to take a 59-51 lead into the intermission. It appeared the lead could have been 11, but Butler’s halfcourt heave bounded in off the shot clock, which nullified the basket.

The Heat then went up 15 in the third, before taking a 90-80 lead into the fourth.

But with Donovan Mitchell finding his offensive stride, the Cavaliers pulled within five early in the fourth, with Butler returning at that point, with 8:48 to play. Then, with 6:03 to play, Herro returned with the Heat up 107-99 with 6:03 left.

From there, Smith got hot from beyond the arc and put the Cavaliers away.

“Just play hard,” Smith said, “and everything works out.”

As it did.

“I think collectively we’re just playing great basketball.” Adebayo said. “Everybody is doing their part.”

Related Articles

• Miami Heat | ASK IRA: Is it time to credit Erik Spoelstra for identifying the right Heat buttons to push?
• Miami Heat | Winderman’s view: Robinson roll has Heat on the move
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• Miami Heat | ASK IRA: Is it up to Heat, Spoelstra to make this work with Terry Rozier?
• Miami Heat | Winderman’s view: Adebayo puts together a power play, energizing Heat victory over Suns

2. Herro ball: Herro was up to his 34 points at the end of the third period, with the Cavaliers at one point appearing to go into a box-and-one against him.

Included in Herro’s Sunday effort was a 19-point third quarter, following up on his 21-point third quarter on Wednesday night against the Los Angeles Lakers.

Herro this time was 4 of 4 on 3-pointers in the third after making seven consecutive 3-pointers in the third quarter against the Lakers.

He closed 10 of 19 from the field, including 5 of 9 on 3-pointers, and 9 of 9 from the line.

“I started shooting the ball a little slow tonight,” Herro said. “So getting to the line settles me in.”

3. New twists: With second-round pick Pelle Larsson missing a second consecutive game with the ankle sprain sustained during Friday’s practice, Smith, coming off Saturday’s solid game against Suns, played as the first Heat wing off the bench.

That put him in the rotation ahead of Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Rozier, among others.

Then, instead of former Cavalier Kevin Love returning for his second stint in reserve, Spoelstra turned to Thomas Bryant in that spot.

Bryant had gone 10 consecutive games without playing before getting minutes last Monday night in Boston, when Love was out due to back spasms. Bryant did not play Saturday night against the Suns.

“I really commend TB for staying ready,” Spoelstra said. “We needed him tonight. The way they were shifting and moving us around, we went a different way and TB gave us a spark.”

4. Supporting cast: A night after going 5 of 8 from beyond the arc against the Suns, Robinson kept it going from deep against the Cavaliers.

At one point, Robinson was his 4 of 6 on 3-pointers when the remainder of the roster was 4 of 18.

And this time there also was a boost off the bench, with Rozier bouncing back from Saturday’s scoreless outing against the Suns, when he closed 0 for 3, this time shooting 6 of 14, also with nine rebounds.

“Just controlling what I can control,” Rozier said of his aggression. “I just got to play like that every night.”

5. Now exhale: The Heat now find themselves with just two games over the next 11 days, and none until Thursday night’s visit by the Toronto Raptors.

The scheduling break is a product of the NBA Cup moving to the quarterfinal round of the in-season tournament and the league’s desire not to play other games on Cup nights.

For the Heat, that means a three-day break before hosting the Raptors, to be followed by another three-day break before a game at the Detroit Pistons on Dec. 16, and then another three-day break before the Dec. 20 home game against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Today is Sunday, Dec. 8, the 343rd day of 2024. There are 23 days left in the year.

Today in history:

On Dec. 8, 1980, rock star and former Beatle John Lennon was shot to death outside his New York City apartment building by Mark David Chapman.

Also on this date:

In 1941, the United States entered World War II as Congress declared war against Imperial Japan a day after the attack on Pearl Harbor.

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In 1987, President Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail S. Gorbachev signed a treaty at the White House calling for the destruction of intermediate-range missiles.

In 2012, Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel became the first freshman to win the Heisman Trophy.

In 2014, the U.S. and NATO ceremonially ended their combat mission in Afghanistan, 13 years after the Sept. 11 terror attacks sparked their invasion of the country to topple the Taliban-led government.

In 2016, John Glenn, whose 1962 flight as the first U.S. astronaut to orbit the Earth made him an all-American hero and propelled him to a long career in the U.S. Senate, died in Columbus, Ohio, at age 95.

In 2017, Japanese pitching and hitting star Shohei Ohtani announced that he would sign with the Los Angeles Angels.

In 2022, Russia freed WNBA star Brittney Griner in a high-profile prisoner exchange with the U.S., which released Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout.

Today’s Birthdays:

• Flutist James Galway is 85.
• Author Bill Bryson is 73.
• Actor Kim Basinger (BAY’-sing-ur) is 71.
• Actor Wendell Pierce is 62.
• Actor Teri Hatcher is 60.
• Basketball Hall of Famer Teresa Weatherspoon is 59.
• Baseball Hall of Famer Mike Mussina is 56.
• Actor Dominic Monaghan is 48.
• Singer Nicki Minaj is 42.
• Country singer Sam Hunt is 40.
• Actor AnnaSophia Robb is 31.

General Daily Insight for December 08, 2024

Left, right, up, down — we’re trapped in the center of a game of cosmic tug-of-war today. The Moon in Pisces begins things with a square to chatterbox Mercury in Sagittarius, amping up the excitement, only for it to hit a wall as the Moon then conjoins icy Saturn at 3:43 am EST. We’d better get serious! The Moon will go on to square powerful Jupiter in Gemini and the primal Sun in Sagittarius, making it difficult to settle on any single outcome.

Aries

March 21 – April 19

It’s alright if you want to check out from the world for the day. There is an emphasis on internal work and being alone with your thoughts as the Moon in your quiet 12th house conjoins stoic Saturn, empowering you to understand and act upon your intuition. You may be able to figure out a solution to an outstanding problem or experience an important realization. For the time being, though, it won’t be as easy if you surround yourself with lots of people.

Taurus

April 20 – May 20

Be conscious about who you choose as a current companion, Taurus. Some people may entertain while simultaneously draining your energy, and with the Moon and karmic Saturn conjoining in your 11th House of Interactions, this is no time to be frivolous with your company. Instead, focus on the most important and useful connections in your life. If you feel like you could use a few more, then consider setting aside time to look for more meaningful contacts or strengthen those you already have.

Gemini

May 21 – June 20

There’s no need to rush into anything. In fact, the planets are telling you to slow down and let your intuition guide you as the Moon aligns with Saturn in your 10th House of Goals. You’re prepped to block out any extra noise and get serious about what you must do to reach your personal finish line. That doesn’t mean you need to actually cross it right now, just that Saturn is assisting your efforts to strategize, so make use of it.

Cancer

June 21 – July 22

Today might demand extra effort to broaden your horizons, but that doesn’t mean it won’t be worth said effort. The Moon is flying through your 9th House of Journeys, and as it moves along, it conjoins masterful Saturn in this same sector, insistently calling your attention to the possibilities on offer. These possibilities may require you to roll up your sleeves or jump over a few hurdles in order to make them happen, but you’re absolutely capable of handling any such complications.

Leo

July 23 – August 22

You may have to face the music today. It may not be an entirely enjoyable process as the Moon syncs up with Saturn in your 8th House of Intimacy, forcing you to get serious about everything, from major finances to the deepest bonds in your relationships. A debt may come up for repayment, where you have to do the repaying or have to chase down someone who hasn’t been doing their fair share. This isn’t the time to just roll over.

Virgo

August 23 – September 22

Relationships require effort if you want them to work. That goes for all kinds of relationships, be they romantic, professional, or platonic. You’ll need to do your part as the Moon conjoins Saturn in your 7th House of Litigation, shining a light on the important plus-ones in your life. You may need to hash out an issue or two with a loved one, especially if your connection has found itself on uneven ground. Focus on returning to a place of equality and you’ll succeed.

Libra

September 23 – October 22

They say the devil is in the details, but that’s also where your task for the day lies. The Moon is in your mature 6th house, helping you streamline your life and the chores on your to-do list. You can tackle it all that much more effectively once the Moon conjoins Saturn in this same sector. Get serious and focus on any essential tasks in front of you — that way, Saturn can assist your efforts to check them off in a timely fashion.

Scorpio

October 23 – November 21

Making time for play is just as important as making time for work. The Moon and Saturn are coming together at the same degree in your exuberant 5th house, making it your personal assignment to pursue your pleasures and see where they take you. This is quite an artistic sector, so it would be a good time to put pen to paper or try some other creative pursuit. Even if you’ve never attempted to make art before, the experience should be quite rewarding.

Sagittarius

November 22 – December 21

Keep your focus close to home. The Moon in your homely 4th house is conjoining sober Saturn, making it the perfect time for a little spring cleaning, regardless of the actual season. You may need to deal with a few issues around the house, perhaps a repair or renovation of some kind. A relative could also pose a problem or two, potentially leaving you feeling like you’re the one who needs to fix things. Treat yourself to a comfy night on the couch afterward.

Capricorn

December 22 – January 19

Keep your eyes and ears open, Capricorn. The Moon is bounding through your 3rd House of Correspondence. While here, Luna will conjoin serious Saturn, making it likely that important interactions and conversations will be coming your way. That’s all well and good — as long as you speak with honest kindness and avoid frivolous gossip or unnecessary chit-chat, because someone (including you) could say something that comes back to haunt you. Steer clear of potential conflict by only saying what is necessary.

Aquarius

January 20 – February 18

Your value system is up for inspection. The Moon and Saturn are coming together in your 2nd House of Material Boundaries. This can set off a scarcity mindset, even if you have no real reason to feel that way. It can’t hurt to go over your finances and check for any discrepancies, because you could find a few painless money-saving measures if you do. If everything is on the up and up, then try researching ways to make your money work for you.

Pisces

February 19 – March 20

Try not to take yourself too seriously right now. There’s no need to feel like you have to be your most mature and effective self, though you may want to as the Moon aligns with stoic Saturn in your 1st House of Self-Expression. Still, don’t force yourself to be the adult in every situation or worry about other people when they can handle themselves perfectly fine. Instead, use this can-do energy to meditate on your goals and create some updated strategies to achieve them.

MIAMI — Observations and other notes of interest from Saturday night’s 121-111 victory over the Phoenix Suns:

– It took a while.

– And then the reality kicked in with Bam Adebayo.

– This wasn’t Jusuf Nurkic and his annoying bulk at center for the Suns.

– This was Mason Plumlee.

– Followed by Oso Ighodaro.

– In other words, a night for no excuses.

– So, as he would be expected to be in such a matchup, and would need to be in such a matchup, Adebayo made himself the game’s definitive man in the middle.

– If not the alley-oop finish, then it was the cuff dunk off a Jimmy Butler miss.

– But aggressive.

– No need to mess around with the rest of the boxscore in this one.

– Just dominate.

– Which Adebayo did in Saturday night’s third quarter.

– And which has to continue for the Heat to escape this cycle of mediocrity.

– With the size of Cleveland’s Jarrett Allen up next on Sunday.

– As a bonus, the crowd sang happy birthday to Adebayo’s mother before the start of the fourth quarter.

– Adebayo extended his career-best streak of consecutive games with at least five assists to eight.

– Also, the double-double was the 203rd of Adebayo’s career. Only Rony Seikaly (221) and Alonzo Mourning (205) have had more with the Heat.

– The Heat again opened with a lineup of Butler, Adebayo, Tyler Herro, Haywood Highsmith and Duncan Robinson.

– Entering 5-2 with that lineup.

– Suns coach Mike Budenholzer was effusive in his pregame praise of Herro.

– “He has a motor offensively that’s a little bit unique,” Budenholzer said. “You cannot stop or relax. The way Steph Curry plays — the handoffs, getting back and giving it up and chasing it — he has a high-level motor offensively that really tests you.”

– The Suns, playing in the absences of Kevin Durant and Nurkic, opened with a lineup of Tyus Jones, Devin Booker, Bradley Beal, Royce O’Neale and Mason Plumlee.

– The Suns entered 1-7 in Durant’s absence this season.

– “His gravitational pull, that alone makes everything easier for our group,” Budenholzer said of the challenge of playing in the void of Durant. “You can’t recreate that kind of fear that he has.”

– Missing from the Heat rotation Saturday was second-round pick Pelle Larsson, with the guard out of Arizona sidelined by an ankle sprain sustained during Friday’s practice.

– Asked if Larsson’s energy would be missed, Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said pregame, “Of course, But I’ve said it before, our depth is a big-time strength of ours. And we lean into that depth.”

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– Kevin Love entered as the Heat’s first reserve.

– With Terry Rozier and then Jaime Jaquez Jr. following.

– With, as Spoelstra suggested, Smith then getting the next call off the bench in the absence of Larsson.

– That had Nikola Jovic and Alec Burks, among others, out of the mix.

– Herro extended his career-best streak of games scoring in double figures to 51. His previous high was 38 in a row.

– Herro extended his career best streak of games with at least one 3-pointer to 55, 14 games off Robinson’s franchise record.

– With Saturday’s game, the Suns became the first opponent the Heat concluded a season series against.

– The Heat lost the first game of the two-game season series 115-112 on Nov. 6 in Phoenix.

– That comes with the Heat yet to play a game against Atlanta, Brooklyn, Chicago, Cleveland, Golden State, Houston, the L.A. Clippers, Memphis, New Orleans, Oklahoma City, Portland, San Antonio and Utah.

– The Heat went in having played just nine home games, tied with the Magic for fewest in the NBA.

– The game opened the first of the Heat’s four sets of back-to-back home games this season, to next host the Cavaliers on Sunday night.

– It is the 39th such home-home back-to-back set over the Heat’s 37 seasons.

– The Heat entered having swept such sets 12 times, been swept nine times and splitting 17.

MIAMI — Before Tyler Herro became a thing, became the Miami Heat’s best thing, this was a season that was expected to revolve around Bam Adebayo and Jimmy Butler.

Saturday night at Kaseya Center, that is how it played out in a 121-111 victory over the Phoenix Suns.

While Herro hardly was a no-show, with 17 points, nine rebounds and seven assists, it was Adebayo who turned the game in the Heat’s favor in the third quarter, and Butler who helped put it away in the fourth.

“We all know what they’re capable of,” Herro said of Butler and Adebayo.

With Kevin Durant sidelined for the Suns, the Heat seized the moment to move back above .500 at 11-10, backing up their solid effort in Wednesday night’s blowout victory over the Los Angeles Lakers.

Adebayo led the way with 25 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists, with Butler adding 24 points, seven rebounds and four assists.

“We want to win as many games as fast as we can,” Butler said. “That’s what that was.”

The Heat also got 19 points from Duncan Robinson and 14 from Haywood Highsmith.

“We need to start moving in this season,” coach Erik Spoelstra said of the consecutive victories.

Five Degrees of Heat from Saturday night’s game:

1. Closing time: The Suns led 29-26 at the end of the first period and 58-53 at halftime.

The Heat then used a 12-0 run early in the third quarter to move to a 13-point lead, before taking an 87-82 lead into the fourth.

The Heat would move to an 11-point lead early in the fourth, before the Suns closed within five. That’s when Butler moved to the scorers’ table to return, checking in with 4:56 to play, converting a 3-pointer with 4:16 to play to give the Heat a 106-100 lead, and then completing a 3-point play with 3:41 left to push the Heat lead to 109-100. Later, another Butler 3-point play with 3:14 to play put the Heat up 112-102.

“Jimmy in the fourth quarter, he just allows you to have those possessions where you can settle in and know where you’re going to get a smart decision when you put him in the middle of the floor,” Butler said. ” And he just made every right play going down the stretch.”

2. Robinson’s roll: The type of breakout 3-point game awaited from Robinson arrived Saturday, when he shot 5 of 6 from beyond the arc in the first half, after opening the Heat scoring with a 3-pointer.

That sizzling start came in the wake of Robinson shooting 5 of 25 from beyond the arc the previous four games, including 0 for 6 Monday night in Boston.

Entering Saturday, Robinson had converted more than two 3-pointers just once in his previous eight games.

He closed 7 of 12 from the field and 5 of 8 on 3-pointers Saturday.

“You see when everyone gets involved how fun the game can be,” Adebayo said.

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3. Rotation replacement: With Pelle Larsson out with the ankle sprain sustained late in Friday night’s practice, the Heat’s reserve rotation was reshuffled to again include Dru Smith.

Smith had played only once over a 12-game stretch before returning to the mix in the two games before Saturday.

“I’m really glad just like the rest of the staff and the team that Dru has gotten his feet wet, also, because he can fill in some of those minutes,” said Spoelstra, who had hinted pregame that Larsson’s minutes would go either to Smith or Nikola Jovic.

It was the first game Larsson has missed due to injury. He previously had been held out by coach’s decision five times earlier in the season, but had appeared in the previous eight games prior to Saturday.

Smith played 29:19, closing with seven points and four rebounds.

“He was aggressive on both sides of the ball,” Butler said.

4. Concerning no-show: After a scoreless, passive first half that saw him miss his lone attempt in 9:14 off the bench, Terry Rozier did not play in the third quarter, with Smith among those ahead of him in the rotation.

Rozier then entered at the start of the fourth, with practically no impact, on what turned into an 0-for-3 scoreless night, Smith playing ahead of him at closing time.

Rozier had scored in double figures in four of his six previous appearances, in a run that also included a four-point outing in Monday night’s blowout loss in Boston.

5. Back at it: The game opened a back-to-back set of home games that concludes Sunday against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

While Sunday also is part of a back-to-back set for the Cavaliers, their 1 p.m. Saturday game in Charlotte was over well before the Heat arrived at Kaseya Center for their game against the Suns.

Cleveland won 116-102 against the Hornets to improve to a league-best 21-3, despite being without Isaac Okoro due to a knee contusion. The Cavaliers also have been without former Heat guard Max Strus since the start of the season, due to an ankle sprain.

“They’re at the top of the East,” Herro said, “and that’s where we want to be.”

BEIRUT (AP) — Syrian opposition war monitor says President Bashar Assad has left the country to an undisclosed location.

SUNRISE — Matthew Tkachuk scored twice for his fourth consecutive multi-point game, Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 28 shots in his return to the lineup and the Florida Panthers beat the San Jose Sharks 3-1 on Saturday night.

It’s the fourth time Tkachuk has had multiple points in four straight games, his second such streak since joining the Panthers.

Aleksander Barkov also scored for Florida, which is 5-0-1 in its last six games. Bobrovsky was back after missing the Panthers’ two-game trip earlier in the week while he and his wife await the birth of a child.

The win was No. 408 of Bobrovsky’s career, breaking a tie with Glenn Hall for 11th-most in NHL history.

Mackenzie Blackwood stopped 50 shots for the Sharks, the third time in his career that he’s made that many saves. Tyler Toffoli scored with 1:26 left for San Jose to break up the shutout.

Takeaways

Sharks: San Jose probably couldn’t wait to get out of Florida. This visit to the Sunshine State — which started with an 8-1 loss at Tampa Bay on Thursday — was the fifth time in team history that the Sharks went 0-2-0 in the state.

Panthers: It was, by far, Florida’s highest shot output of the season. The Panthers finished with 53 shots; their previous season-high was 38 at Columbus on Oct. 15.

Key moment

San Jose’s Luke Kunin went in alone, short-handed, with about eight minutes left. Bobrovsky made the save on the glove side with no problem, protecting a 3-0 lead.

Key stat

Tkachuk had five goals in October and November combined. He has five in the first week of December alone.

Up next

San Jose’s six-game road trip continues at Carolina on Tuesday. The Panthers start a five-game road trip Tuesday in Seattle; they will visit Edmonton in a Stanley Cup Final rematch as part of the trip on Dec. 16.

___

AP NHL: https://www.apnews.com/hub/NHL

Everybody loves a sequel, and it appears that UCF does, too.

The university is bringing back Scott Frost as its next football coach, signing him to a 5-year deal that runs through 2029.

Frost, 49, reunites with the program he led to new heights in 2016-19, including a national championship based on the Colley Matrix in 2017, before leaving to return home to coach at Nebraska.

He replaces Gus Malzahn, who resigned on Nov. 30 after four seasons in charge of the Knights.

“Today marks an exciting reunion for UCF Football as we welcome back Scott Frost, a coach who ignites the spirit and passion of Knight Nation,” UCF athletics director Terry Mohajir said in a statement. “Scott’s love for his players, along with his leadership, enthusiasm and vision were pivotal in making the decision to bring him back to UCF. Throughout this national search, his passion for UCF was clear. I believe no one wanted to lead our program more than Scott.”

His hiring ends a coaching search that began in earnest following Malzahn’s departure. The 59-year-old compiled a 28-24 overall record at UCF but had lost eight of his last nine games and failed to qualify for a bowl game for the first time since 2015.

He was named Florida State’s new offensive coordinator on Monday.

News of the possible move has excited the fanbase, who watched Frost lead UCF to a 19-7 record in two seasons, including a 12-4 mark and an American Athletic Conference championship in 2017.

Frost left the program in 2018 to return home and coach his alma mater, but he was never able to capture his success at UCF and was fired after five seasons with the Cornhuskers in 2022.

Yes, UCF, bring back Scott Frost — and McKenzie Milton! | Commentary

During his time at Nebraska, the team never had a winning record. It finished with a 16-31 mark, including a 10-26 mark in the Big Ten.

The Los Angeles Rams hired him as an assistant to special-teams coach Chase Blackburn, but he would also work with the offense and defense.

Frost takes over a UCF program that is much different from the one he had when he arrived in 2016.

The Knights are set to enter Year 3 of the Big 12 and have worked to expand their athletic budget to contend in a Power Four conference. The department has been working with a partial revenue share from the conference over the past two seasons — about $19 million annually — but will begin receiving a full share of about $38-$40 million a year starting in 2025.

The Mission IV fundraising project has helped the department progress on several facility upgrades, including a new $90 million renovation of the Roth Tower connected to FBC Mortgage Stadium. That project, part of a larger football campus, has been funded by Orange County’s Tourism Development Tax.

LETS GOOOOOO!!!

CORAL GABLES — Chase Hunter scored 18 points, Ian Schieffelin had 15 points and 12 rebounds and Clemson pulled way late to beat Miami 65-55 in an Atlantic Coast Conference opener on Saturday.

Hunter scored 12 second-half points and Schieffelin picked up his fifth double-double this season as the Tigers (9-1) followed up their 70-66 triumph over No. 4 Kentucky on Tuesday with a victory over the Hurricanes for their sixth straight win.

Six-foot-11 Viktor Lakhin made just his fifth and sixth 3-pointers of the season in scoring all 12 of his points in the second half for Clemson, which shot 40%, making nine 3s.

Jalil Bethea scored 12 points off the bench to lead the Hurricanes (3-6), who lost their sixth straight after shooting 41% and just 4 of 25 from the arc. Lynn Kidd added 10 points but leading scorer Nijel Pack (16.1 ppg) was scoreless on 0-for-7 shooting.

Leading by three with 2:26 to go, the Tigers finished on a 9-2 run. After Pack missed a baseline 3, Hunter sank a foul-line jumper then Lakhin was fouled grabbing a defensive rebound and made two free throws for a 10-point lead with 33 seconds left.

Lahkin made consecutive 3-pointers midway through the second half in giving Clemson the lead for good.

There were seven lead changes and six ties in a game Clemson led 25-24 at halftime.

Schieffelin had 11 points, making all three of his 3-point attempts, and six rebounds in the first half when Clemson led by as many as 11.

Clemson is home against 16h-ranked Memphis next Saturday. Miami plays No. 3 Tennessee at Madison Square Garden in the Jimmy V Classic on Tuesday.

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BOCA RATON — The College Football Playoff selection committee snubbed the Hurricanes on Tuesday, opting to put 9-3 Alabama above Miami in the rankings, even though UM had one fewer loss.

The move drew the Hurricanes’ and ACC’s ire, but it doesn’t affect how a top local recruit views Miami’s prospects. West Boca Raton four-star 2026 running back Javian Mallory said he still views the Hurricanes positively, and the snub does not affect his opinion of UM.

“Not really, not at all,” Mallory said. “They should have gotten in. But them getting to the playoff isn’t (affecting) me making a decision on where I want to go. It’s the coaching style, how they coach, the scheme they run and if I feel like I have a chance to go in as a true freshman and play.”

Miami has been one of the schools reaching out to the West Boca star the most recently. Michigan, Penn State and Notre Dame have also been in touch frequently. The four-star prospect, who is rated the No. 19 running back and No. 251 player in the 2026 class, has nearly three dozen college offers.

Mallory said he likes how Miami has played true freshman running backs like Broward County stars Mark Fletcher Jr. and Jordan Lyle over the past two seasons.

“It’s definitely helping my recruiting process,” Mallory said. “Jordan Lyle’s a true freshman from South Florida. I played with Jordan when we were like eight years old. It’s really helping the recruiting process and making me open my eyes a little bit more.”

Mallory said he is in touch with UM running backs coach Matt Merritt and other staffers frequently.

“My relationship with coaches with Miami is pretty good, I’m not gonna lie,” Mallory said. “We talk on the phone every week. We text almost every day. I love Miami. I love everybody down there. They’re like family.”

Mallory, who has rushed for 676 yards and 10 scores in seven games for the state title game-bound Bulls, said he plans to visit Miami in the spring.

“I’ll definitely be down there,” he said.

MIAMI — Typically when the call “UCLA” is made from the sideline, it’s for a simple pass-and-cut motion off a screen set on the side of the foul line.

For the Miami Heat, when coach Erik Spoelstra turns to his bench and shouts “UCLA,” there’s an entirely different connotation.

It means it’s time for Kevin Love and Jaime Jaquez Jr. to jump into action, as in the duo of UCLA alums, the Heat’s Bruins off the bench.

“I usually just turn to the bench and say ‘UCLA,’ so they both know to get off the bench and go in there,” Spoelstra said, with the Heat taking on the Phoenix Suns on Saturday night at Kaseya Center. “And they sit by each other by their lockers. Yeah, they do have a good connection.”

Even with the age difference, Love at 36, Jaquez at 23, the UCLA connection is real, albeit with Love leaving the Bruins in 2008, when Jaquez was just 7.

While the Heat rotation has been altered by injury and illness, including absences by both Love and Jaquez, Spoelstra said there is an ongoing comfort playing the two together.

“That goes from last year, too,” Spoelstra said of Jaquez’s rookie season. “They had good chemistry. When we’re pretty consistent with our rotation — it tends to change — when we’re stable, usually those two guys are going in roughly the same time.”

Those comments came after Spoelstra again advocated for Love‘s ongoing value.

“You need veteran experience that is real in this league,” Spoelstra said. “This league, as has been well documented, has gotten younger. And you need guys that have done it, know how to communicate to different guys in the locker room and still can do it out on the court.

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“Kevin’s skill set is super high. He can do so many things that can help you offensively. He helps our best players and he’s really smart. So that ties a lot of things together for us. And then his rebounding for us is something that’s really welcomed.”

Memorable moment

Having scored his first NBA points on a dunk Monday night in Boston, undrafted Heat rookie forward Keshad Johnson said a followup text made the moment even more memorable.

“Nassir Little, he texted me and said there’s less than 5,000 people in the world that said they scored an NBA basket. So that changed my whole perspective,” Johnson said of his teammate with the Heat’s G League affiliate, the Sioux Falls Skyforce. “For me to tell my children or whoever I tell in the future that I got it on a dunk, that’s going to be a bigger story to tell.”

Having thrived in his G League action on his two-way contract, Johnson said he would expect the same benefit for Heat first-round pick Kel’el Ware, who currently is with the Skyforce.

“With the game reps, it’s going to automatically prepare him for when he comes back here.” Johnson said. “That’s going to help him a lot. Ultimately, the game will slow down for him, and he’s also going to get his wind. This is all going to be for a benefit.”

Ware is scheduled to be back in action Sunday with the Skyforce against the G League affiliate of the Denver Nuggets.

Adebayo event

Heat center Bam Adebayo will hold his annual toy drive Monday at Kaseya Center for 1,000 pre-selected children ages 4-13 from various foundations across the Miami area.

“This event is one of the highlights of my year,” Adebayo said. “The holidays are a time for giving, and there’s nothing more rewarding than seeing these kids so happy as they choose toys and enjoy the festivities. I’m honored to be able to bring some joy to their lives during this special time.”