South Florida Local News

By virtually any measure, Billy Napier entered 2024 squarely on the hot seat after consecutive losing seasons and a substandard brand of football. Florida AD Scott Stricklin disagrees and passionately backs the coach he hired to turn around the Gators. Will Stricklin be the one who ultimately decides Napier’s fate? During the latest Swamp Things, Mark and Edgar agree Stricklin has to stand by his man but wonder whether Napier’s approach to the transfer portal relative to the Gators’ competition is the latest red flag.

• Scott Stricklin on Billy Napier (:00)
• Adjusting coaching staff (8:05)
• Need to bring in better talent (10:00)
• Rumors flying about Stricklin (18:36)
• Using the portal (23:57)
• Men’s basketball (29:40)
• Jeremy Foley’s Corner (39:47)

By MARK SHERMAN (Associated Press)

WASHINGTON (AP) — Lawyers for former President Donald Trump on Thursday urged the Supreme Court “to put a swift and decisive end” to efforts to kick him off the 2024 presidential ballot over his efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss.

In a written filing, Trump’s lawyers called on the court to reverse a first-of-its-kind Colorado Supreme Court decision that said Trump should not be on the state’s Republican primary ballot because of his role in the events that culminated in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.

The justices are hearing arguments Feb. 8 in a case that both sides say needs to be resolved quickly so that voters know whether Trump, the leading Republican candidate for president, is eligible to hold the presidency.

The court is dealing with the dispute under a compressed timeframe that could produce a decision before Super Tuesday on March 5, when the largest number of delegates are up for grabs in a single day, including in Colorado.

The case presents the high court with its first look at a provision of the 14th Amendment barring some people who “engaged in insurrection” from holding public office. The amendment was adopted in 1868, following the Civil War.

Efforts to keep Trump off the ballot “threaten to disenfranchise tens of millions of Americans and … promise to unleash chaos and bedlam if other state courts and state officials follow Colorado’s lead and exclude the likely Republican presidential nominee from their ballots,” Trump’s lawyers wrote.

Trump should win on many grounds, they wrote, including that he has not engaged in insurrection. “In fact, the opposite is true, as President Trump repeatedly called for peace, patriotism, and law and order,” the lawyers wrote.

The Colorado court noted that Trump had held a rally outside the White House and exhorted his supporters to “fight like hell” before they walked to the Capitol.

Trump’s Supreme Court team is led by Texas-based lawyer Jonathan Mitchell, who devised aspects of the anti-abortion legislation that largely shut down abortions in Texas months before the Supreme Court overturned the Roe v. Wade decision in June 2022.

Republican members of Congress, attorneys general and Republican legislative leaders in 27 states, and three former U.S. attorneys general, including one who served Trump, are among those who have weighed in to back him in the Colorado case.

Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell and House Speaker Mike Johnson are among nearly 180 Republicans in Congress who have warned that a ruling upholding Colorado’s decision to remove Trump from the ballot would inevitably lead to tit-for-tat disqualifications of political opponents.

Colorado’s Supreme Court, by a 4-3 vote, ruled last month that Trump should not be on the Republican primary ballot.

A two-sentence provision in Section 3 of the 14th Amendment states that anyone who swore an oath to uphold the Constitution and then “engaged in insurrection” against it is no longer eligible for state or federal office. After Congress passed an amnesty for most of the former confederates the measure targeted in 1872, the provision fell into disuse until dozens of suits were filed to keep Trump off the ballot this year. Only the one in Colorado was successful.

Trump is separately appealing to state court a ruling by Maine’s Democratic secretary of state, Shenna Bellows, that he is ineligible to appear on that state’s ballot over his role in the Capitol attack. Both the Colorado Supreme Court and the Maine secretary of state’s rulings are on hold until the appeals play out.

The high court’s decision to intervene, which both sides have called for, is the most direct involvement in a presidential election since Bush v. Gore in 2000, when a conservative majority effectively decided the election for Republican George W. Bush. Only Justice Clarence Thomas remains from that court.

Three of the nine current Supreme Court justices were appointed by Trump, though they have repeatedly ruled against him in 2020 election-related lawsuits, as well as on his efforts to keep documents related to Jan. 6 and his tax returns from being turned over to congressional committees.

The issue of whether Trump can be on the ballot is not the only matter related to the former president or Jan. 6 that has reached the high court. The justices last month declined a request from special counsel Jack Smith to swiftly take up and rule on Trump’s claims that he is immune from prosecution in a case charging him with plotting to overturn the 2020 presidential election, though the issue could be back before the court soon depending on the ruling of a Washington-based appeals court.

And the court has said that it intends to hear an appeal that could upend hundreds of charges stemming from the Capitol riot, including against Trump.

Two Miami-Dade police officers trying to clear a Redland home of squatters were shot and injured Wednesday night after knocking on the door, police and sources said. A third officer, a female, was taken to the hospital as a precaution when blood was spotted on her.

The gunman, who hasn’t been named, was shot and killed when police returned fire. It wasn’t immediately clear how many officers fired their weapons. The two officers were shot in the arm and upper body areas, police said.

Two officers were released from the hospital Thursday, while the third remains in stable condition.

Police said the three officers were wearing protective vests that likely protected at least one of them. That’s because a fragment of buckshot fired from a shotgun at them struck a police body camera that would have been worn near the center of his body.

For the full story, please visit miamiherald.com

 

The ACC has asked a North Carolina court to bar FSU from “participating in the management” of the conference’s affairs and accused the school of “serial breaches of critical legal promises and obligations.”

Those are among the new details and claims the conference made Wednesday in Mecklenburg Superior Court.

Here’s the latest on the legal back-and-forth between the Seminoles and their conference home since 1991.

What happened?

The ACC filed an amended complaint covering 191 pages (including exhibits). It’s an update to the one the conference filed Dec. 21. It’s also a response of sorts to the complaint FSU filed against the conference the next day in Leon County Circuit Court.

What’s the most interesting new information?

The ACC wants Florida State and its representatives out of the conference’s affairs. The conference argues its members have a “fiduciary obligation” to the league and its peer schools to “act in ways that advance” common goals. FSU, instead, has filed a complaint against the conference to pursue a potential exit from the league. As a result, the ACC says, all of FSU’s actions “have been for its own benefit, with no regard for the best interest of the Conference.” Therefore, Florida State has breached its obligations and set up a conflict between the school and conference. The ACC concludes that FSU shouldn’t be involved in league affairs until that conflict is resolved.

What else is at stake?

Money, of course. The ACC said it has already been damaged by FSU’s actions in a yet-to-be-determined but likely “substantial” amount. That part wasn’t in the original complaint.

Any other new arguments?

Yes. The ACC added three other new claims of relief — buckets of alleged wrongdoing by FSU. One is that Florida State broke its promises regarding the “validity and enforcement” of the grant of rights by challenging it. The grant of rights is the document in which FSU and other schools give their TV rights to the conference, which sells them to ESPN and gives the money back to schools.

The conference also said the Seminoles deliberately released confidential, contract-related information in their suit and that the school failed to act in good faith. Collectively, they amount to “serial breaches of critical legal promises and obligations which it made over the last 13 years to the ACC.”

Did the ACC take issue with anything else?

Yes. The school’s board of trustees failed to give the customary one-week notice before its meeting last month. Instead, it scheduled an emergency meeting on the last workday before Christmas. The ACC said FSU didn’t tell the public the nature of the emergency that prevented it from giving the legally required notice.

“In fact, there was no ‘emergency,’ but only Florida State’s desire to file a preemptive lawsuit against the ACC in Leon County, Florida, Florida State’s home county,” the claim said.

What’s next?

A lot of litigating, starting with continued debate about where that litigation will take place — either in the ACC’s home court (it’s based in Charlotte, N.C.) or FSU’s home court in Tallahassee. In both cases, the legal teams have agreed to file their next motions by Feb. 16.

 

What are the most stylish and inclusive fashion brands?

In 2016, a study published in the International Journal of Fashion Design, Technology and Education discovered the average size of an American woman is between 16 and 18, increasing from the previous industry standard of size 12. While many fashion brands are starting to cater to more body shapes and designer labels are putting plus-size models on the runway, finding stylish and inclusive fashion brands remains challenging. So whether you’re looking for men’s, women’s or gender-neutral clothing, check out these brands that offer inclusive sizes to finally get the perfect fit.

What is inclusive sizing?

For years, brands carried clothing only up to a size 8, sometimes a size 14. This lack of inclusivity made shopping an unpleasant experience for those who didn’t fall within the industry standard. Finally, barriers are breaking down, and companies are expanding their size range in women’s clothing. While it’s a step in the right direction, not all brands are jumping on board, and men’s inclusive sizing remains relatively untouched.

The latest call to the fashion industry is focusing not on plus sizes above the industry standard but on inclusive sizes for everyone. From swimsuits to jeans, the ultimate goal of inclusive sizing is to support all genders, body sizes and shapes.

How to choose inclusive fashion brands Size range

The most important feature when choosing inclusive brands is the size range. Many agree that to be considered inclusive, brands should carry sizes up to 24 at a minimum. Some brands now offer up to size 40. To find your perfect fit, you should know your measurements around your bust, waist and hips and your desired length.

Fit

A significant problem among plus-size clothing has been merely offering bigger sizes but not adjusting those sizes to fit all shapes. For example, when going from toddler to kid sizes, the fit also changes to accommodate a longer torso or slimmer legs. Inclusive fashion doesn’t just offer larger sizes but also scales the clothing to fit a real person.

Best clothing with inclusive sizes

[ Cocoship Vintage Sailor Swimsuit ]

With over 20 designs and sizes from small to 6X, anyone will love this retro skirtini swimsuit. Gain coverage on the bottom with shorts and skirt cover-up while staying comfortable and stylish, thanks to the flattering halter top. The cups are also removable during washing or to find the perfect fit.

[ Lee Women’s Plus Size Relaxed-Fit Bermuda Short ]

The stretch denim material of these Bermuda shorts and the high waist fit make them both comfortable and flattering. As a bonus, the 10-inch inseam falls perfectly on the thigh. These Bermuda shorts also have five pockets and go up to size 26.

[ Goodfellow & Co Men’s Short Sleeve Perfect T-shirt ]

The brand named this the perfect T-shirt for many reasons. Inclusivity is the goal of this T-shirt, with big sizes up to 5XL, tall sizes up to XLT and big and tall sizes up to 5XLT. It comes in black and white.

[ Hanes Men’s Sweatshirt ]

Comfort is trending, and this cotton-blend fleece sweatshirt is designed to be warm and cozy. It comes in sizes small through 5X and 17 color options. This crew neck sweatshirt is versatile enough to dress down or up and is pill-resistant even when machine washing. Plus, the double-needle stitching at the arm and neck seams ensures durability.

[ WallFlower Women’s Bootcut Midrise Insta Stretch Jeans ]

Getting the perfect fit in jeans is always tricky, but this bootcut pair is up to the challenge. Choose from sizes 0 to 24 in various dark and light washes. They’re also midrise with a contoured waist to eliminate the dreaded waist gap.

[ Kanu Surf Men’s Barracuda Swim Trunks ]

This brand offers men’s swim trunks in 45 design options and sizes small through 5X to fit a wide range of body styles. The material is rated UPF 50+ for excellent sun protection and is also quick-drying.

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Bre Richey writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.

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Which of the loudest Bluetooth speakers are best?

Bluetooth speakers are great for parties, camping and for any livening up any situation. Even with Bluetooth speakers becoming better and more affordable over time, sometimes the volume just isn’t loud enough. Parties have a lot of background noise, and some rooms and areas are just not well-optimized for speakers. For a lot of people, the challenge is getting a speaker that is loud enough without compromising the sound quality. The best way to get around this is to buy a higher-quality speaker that can handle increased volume.

How volume works with speakers

Factors to consider

Best loud Bluetooth speakers for those on a budget

[ JBL FLIP 4 ]

For those on a budget, the JBL FlLIP 4 offers great performance with modern features like an IPX7 waterproof rating and voice command. It maxes out at 90 decibels, though it sounds best when under 85 decibels. It has surprisingly good bass for the price point. Boasting 12 hours of battery life and 1.1 pounds total weight, this will be ample for many people’s needs. It can be paired with other JBL speakers for a larger sound.

[ Ultimate Ears MEGABOOM 3 Portable Wireless Bluetooth Speaker ]

The MEGABOOM 3 is well-respected thanks to its ability to maintain a clean sound at 90 decibels and its whopping 20 hours of battery life. This speaker has a stronger bass sound than most of the other budget speakers, and it can be paired with other MEGABOOM speakers for an even louder sound. It also comes with some modern conveniences like wireless charging and strong waterproofing.

[ Echo Studio ]

The Echo Studio is a smart speaker that uses Amazon’s Alexa for voice commands and has multiple speakers that can sense the layout of a room and change the speaker output to match them. This speaker only reaches about 80 decibels by itself, but it can be paired with other Echo devices to make the sound louder. The sound quality is amazing and well-optimized for the price. The only cons are that the EQ settings are simple and don’t allow for a more personalized sound.

Best mid-range loud Bluetooth speakers

[ Bose SoundLink Revolve+ Portable and Long-Lasting Bluetooth 360 Speaker ]

Bose is synonymous with quality, and the Soundlink Revolve+ delivers 360 sound with plenty of modern amenities. The SoundLink Revolve speakers are amazingly durable and last a long time. Command the speaker with voice commands and enjoy a 16-hour battery life. It sounds best around 70 decibels, but pairing it up with other Bose speakers can further amplify the volume. The only real con is that it is rated at IPX4, meaning it is only splash-resistant, not waterproof.

[ JBL Xtreme 2 ]

The JBL Extreme is everything the Flip series offered with more features and a slightly more robust sound. It is fully waterproof and lasts 16 hours between charges. Although the Extreme 2 maxes at around 72 decibels, the sound is very even between the bass, mids and highs, and it can be paired with other devices like the JBL Flip 4 for a truly larger-than-life sound.

Best high-end Bluetooth speakers

[ Marshall Woburn II Wireless Bluetooth Speaker Black ]

Those who love loud, clear music will appreciate the Woburn II. It has an extremely balanced sound, even when outputting over 100 decibels. It can utilize Bluetooth 5.0, which increases the range of connectivity, and the Marshall app lets you play with EQ settings and perfect the sound. This speaker does weigh almost 19 pounds, so lugging it around will feel like carrying a small guitar amp.

[ JBL PartyBox 300 ]

JBL’s Party Box 300 is their second loudest speaker, and it sounds great despite lacking some bass without the bass booster feature turned on. It lasts 18 hours between charges and comes with inputs for microphones and guitars. Despite being marketed as portable, it weighs about 35 pounds, so you won’t want to move it around too much. It can be paired with other JBL speakers for a louder sound.

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BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. BestReviews and its newspaper partners may earn a commission if you purchase a product through one of our links.

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AUSTIN, Texas  — Jaylin Sellers had 24 points, Shemarri Allen scored 15 of his 17 points in the second half and UCF rallied from a 15-point deficit in the second half to beat Texas 77-71 on Wednesday night.

The Knights trailed 59-46 with 11:59 remaining before holding Texas to four made shots — all from 3-point range — the rest of the way. The Knights finished the game on a 24-9 run.

Controversial transfer Mikey Williams not allowed to enroll at UCF for months | Commentary

Max Abmas’ 3-pointer gave Texas its last lead at 68-67 with 4:29 remaining.

Sellers and Allen then scored four points apiece during a 10-3 surge to end it.

Texas made just two of its last 10 shots in the final six minutes.

The Longhorns shot 68% (17 of 25) in the first half but cooled to 34.5% (10 of 29) in the second.

Sellers was 7 of 12 from the floor that included a pair of 3-pointers, and he made all eight of his free throws.

Allen also had seven assists. Darius Johnson added 11 points for UCF (11-5, 2-2 Big 12). C.J. Walker and Omar Payne chipped in 10 points apiece. Ithiel Horton, a grad transfer who played for UCF last season, scored 20 points to lead Texas (12-5, 1-3).

Abmas and Dillon Mitchell each added 15 points for Texas.

Texas built a 44-32 halftime advantage, and Horton’s jumper stretched the lead to 55-40 with 14:30 remaining.

Allen scored five straight points and Sellers capped the 14-3 surge with consecutive jumpers that gave the Knights a 67-65 advantage before pulling away.

UCF is on the road against No. 5 Houston on Saturday.

Texas, which has lost three of its last four games, hosts No. 9 Baylor on Saturday in the first of six straight games against teams ranked in the top 25.

The Longhorns had been ranked in the AP poll for 36 consecutive weeks before falling out on Monday.

 

By The Associated Press

SUNRISE — Dylan Larkin scored a power-play goal 1:09 into overtime and the Detroit Red Wings beat the Florida Panthers 3-2 on Wednesday night, snapping a 10-game losing streak in the head-to-head series.

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Michael Rasmussen and Robby Fabbri scored in regulation for the Red Wings, who are 6-0-1 in their last seven games. Alex Lyon made 32 saves against his former team.

“We’ve got our identity going and it’s just been great,” Larkin said. “You are confident when your goaltender is playing like that, so it’s a huge win.”

Sam Reinhart and Gustav Forsling scored for the Panthers, and Sergei Bobrovsky made 26 saves. Florida has lost a season-high three straight (0-1-2).

Reinhart’s short-handed goal that opened the scoring at 5:38 of the second period was significant for multiple reasons. It tied his career high of 33 and extended his NHL-record streak of games with a goal on special teams to eight. It also broke Pavel Bure’s 2000-01 record for the longest goal streak in Panthers history (seven games) and gave him his 500th career point.

“Anytime you’re in a conversation with Pavel Bure, that’s pretty cool,” Reinhart said.

Yet it wasn’t enough. The Panthers wasted leads of 1-0 and 2-1, then headed to the penalty kill with 38.9 seconds left in regulation when Aaron Ekblad was called for hooking. Larkin scored with 13 seconds left in the Detroit power play to win it.

“I think you can finish on some of the chances, you can do a little heavier defensively and there’s a couple of other reasons too,” Florida coach Paul Maurice said. “You know what? We lost one (in regulation), we lost two in overtime, that’s a 3-on-3 game or a 4-on-3 game and that’s really not what the game of hockey is. I’m not disappointed. The thing I’m most frustrated about, I’m not answering. But we’re not far off our game.”

It was Detroit’s first game without forward Patrick Kane, who will also miss Friday’s game in Carolina due to a lower-body injury. The injury is unrelated to the hip surgery he had in the offseason.

Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov also missed the game with a minor lower-body issue due to “precautionary reasons.” He also missed the final minutes of regulation and overtime in a 5-4 loss to Anaheim on Monday.

Lyon was honored with a video tribute in his first game back in Sunrise since leaving the Panthers in free agency. He started every game of an eight-game winning streak which helped them secure a playoff spot and an eventual berth in the Stanley Cup Final last year.

“It’s awesome,” Lyon said. “That’s a very classy move and I have nothing but love for my time here. I appreciate that a lot and they have great fans in a great building.”

UP NEXT

Panthers: Host Minnesota on Friday night.

 

TORONTO — Observations and other notes of interest from Wednesday night’s 121-97 loss to the Toronto Raptors:

– Instead of these past two games with Jimmy Butler’s return answering questions, it only seems to have furthered the issue of Butler, Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro together.

– The start on Monday night in Brooklyn was awful.

– This one was awful-er.

– Butler passive, Herro launching and Adebayo trying to find a middle ground has merely provided deficits.

– That’s not to say that it can’t work.

– It’s just not at the moment.

– At least at the outset.

– It’s not an indictment on any of the three.

– But chemistry matters.

– And fighting back from such deficits takes a toll.

– So it might not be a matter of who plays at the outset.

– But rather of how they play.

– Perhaps this is when the Nikola Jovic experiment ends.

– Perhaps time to get back to the plan of starting Haywood Highsmith.

– Or even Caleb Martin.

– Or perhaps you don’t realize how energizing Jaime Jaquez Jr. is until he’s not there.

– Jaquez as a starter could yet endure once the groin strain heals.

– Even with Butler back.

– Then there is the matter of Kevin Love also being out.

– He, too, has been a stabilizing presence.

– But, again, it can’t be about who is missing.

– With this arguably as healthy as the Heat rotation has been this season.

– So toss this one aside?

– Or take note of an awful start Monday?

– And an awful-er one Wednesday?

– The Heat for the second consecutive game, and second time this season, opened with a lineup of Adebayo, Jovic, Butler, Herro and former Raptor Kyle Lowry.

– It was the eighth consecutive start for Jovic.

– And the 10th time this season Adebayo, Butler and Herro were available for the same game.

– The Raptors opened with a lineup of Scottie Barnes, RJ Barrett, Jontay Porter, Gary Trent Jr. and Immanuel Quickley.

– Martin played as the Heat’s first reserve, entering for Adebayo and shifting Jovic to center.

– Josh Richardson and Highsmith then entered off the bench together for eight deep.

– With Duncan Robinson following.

– And then the same desperation as Monday’s first half in Brooklyn, with Thomas Bryant entering in the second period.

– That left Orlando Robinson and Cole Swider the only available players at that stage yet to see action.

– Heat coach Erik Spoelstra recognized the unique spot for the Raptors, who were in the midst of trading Pascal Siakam to the Pacers at game time.

– “If you’ve been around this league long enough, teams that make trades, they can be extremely dangerous right away, especially if they lose a big component,” he said.

– The Heat essentially prepared for one team during the morning shootaround and got a different one Wednesday night.

– “We’ve been focusing on ourselves, anyway,” Spoelstra said. “That’s why we want to focus on us,”

– Since the teams last played, the Raptors added RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley from the Knicks at the cost of OG Anunoby.

– Spoelstra said that trade appears liberating for Quickley.

– ” He has a different role here,” he said of Quickly playing as a starter. “It probably has been invigorating for him. So we’re dealing with a dangerous player who’s ignitable.”

– There was a pregame moment of silence for late Warriors assistant coach Dejan Milojevic.

TORONTO — Well, that’s one way to end the first half of the season.

By virtually assuring that the start of the second half has to be better.

Now 24-17 at the midpoint of their season, Miami Heat took a game seemingly there for the taking and kicked it away Wednesday, on a night they had a franchise-record 35-point halftime deficit on the way to a 121-97 loss to the Toronto Raptors at Scotiabank Arena.

“I can’t say I would have predicted that from our prep,” coach Erik Spoelstra said. “It was an avalanche at the beginning.”

With the Raptors shorthanded as they worked to finalize a trade of Pascal Siakam to the Indiana Pacers, the Heat created their second consecutive disaster of a first half, this time the hole too deep to recreate their comeback of Monday night against the Brooklyn Nets at the start of this two-game trip.

The glass half full? The Heat ended the first half of their season with three victories in their last four games.

The glass half empty? The Heat ended the first half of their season 5-5 in their last 10, the type of mediocrity that lands you in the play-in round.

With what had been league-leading 3-point shooting proving to be something far less, the Heat closed 6 of 28 from beyond the arc, compared to 20 of 38 for the Raptors.

Jimmy Butler, Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo each scored 16 for the Heat.

“We’ve got to find a way to get our pace going,” said point guard Kyle Lowry, with the Heat held below 100 points for the third time in four games.

The Raptors got 28 points from Gary Trent Jr., 26 from RJ Barrett, 20 from Scottie Barnes, and 19 from Immanuel Quickley.

“They got comfortable,” Herro said of the Raptors, “and from there, they got confident.”

Five Degrees of Heat from Wednesday night’s game:

1. Game flow: The Heat trailed 41-18 at the end of the first period and 78-43 at halftime, the largest halftime deficit in the Heat’s 36 seasons.

The silver lining? The record for most first-half opponent points remains 83 by the Bucks in December 2020.

The Heat then trimmed their deficit to 19 in the third quarter, before going into the fourth down 94-73.

From there, the Heat moved within 96-83 with 8:46 to play, but a pair of Raptors 3-pointers then effectively ended it.

“Once we got it to 13, we had a chances,” Spoelstra said. “I just felt we needed to get it to single digits.”

Spoelstra then pulled the plug with his primary rotation players with 2:21 to play and the Heat down 118-92.

“We just didn’t have any of the spirit we’ve shown over the last three games,” Spoelstra said, with the Heat having carried a three-game winning streak into the night.

2. Awful at outset: So you thought Monday night’s first half in Brooklyn was bad, when the Heat were down 45-31 at halftime, a game the Heat opened 0 for 13 on 3-pointers? Think again.

This time the Heat trailed by that 41-18 count at the end of the first period, at 7 of 21 from the field and 1 of 7 on 3-pointers, with just three assists.

The Raptors, by contrast, were 15 of 24 from the field and 7 of 10 on 3-pointers in the period, with 14 assists.

It effectively was 18-18 former Knicks vs. Heat at the end of one, with Quickley with 10 points in the period and Barrett with eight, two players Toronto acquired from New York in last month’s trade for OG Anunoby.

Each of the eight Heat players who saw action in the first quarter was at least minus 11, with Herro and Adebayo minus 23.

“Our starters definitely did not set the tone,” Spoelstra said.

3. Three for all: Perhaps the most telling stat of the first half was the 3-point shooting, with the Raptors outscoring the Heat 42-3 from beyond the arc, with Toronto 14 of 22 and the Heat 1 of 16 in the first 24 minutes.

“We didn’t make them miss.” Butler said.

While Herro had the Heat’s lone 3-point conversion of the first half, he also closed the Heat 1 of 7 from beyond the arc. Lowry and Duncan Robinson both were 0 of 3 on 3-pointers in the first half.

“We couldn’t score,” Lowry said, “and they shot the heck out of the ball.”

Combined with Monday’s struggle in Brooklyn, it left the Heat 1 of 28 in the first halves of the two games.

“That’s very low on my list of priorities,” Spoelstra said of the 3-point shooting. “I thought we got some good clean looks.

“Our game does not need to be dependent on whether we can make 3-pointers or not.”

4. Jovic again: Nikola Jovic made his eighth consecutive start for the Heat, opening for the second consecutive game alongside Adebayo, Herro, Butler and Lowry.

It was a sad day for Jovic, who is friends with the son of Dejan Milojević, the Golden State Warriors assistant and former Serbian national-team coach, who died Wednesday from a heart attack.

There was a pregame moment of silence before Wednesday night’s game, as there was around the league.

Spoelstra offered condolences on behalf of the Heat when he opened his pregame comments.

5. What’s next: The Heat now go from the sobering realities of Wednesday night to Friday night’s retirement of Udonis Haslem’s No. 40 at Kaseya Center. That 8 p.m. start against the Atlanta Hawks will have an extended 25-minute halftime.

CORAL GABLES — The Hurricanes’ basketball team has achieved new heights over the previous two seasons, but one accomplishment still eludes them: beating rival Florida State at home.

The Seminoles (11-6, 5-1 ACC) came to the Watsco Center having won five straight games in Coral Gables, and they extended that streak to six with an 84-75 win over Miami (12-5, 3-3 ACC) on Wednesday night.

“It’s like a chess match, and Leonard (Hamilton) got me in checkmate,” Miami coach Jim Larrañaga said.

The Hurricanes struggled with the Seminoles in the first half, falling behind by 10 points as the first half came to an end.  The deficit got wider early in the second half, as FSU went up 53-37 early in the second period.

“They’re playing really, really well, they pay together,” Miami guard Nijel Pack said. “(Darin) Green came out, made a couple of threes that got them going outside. They got into the paint; we knew that’s what they like to do, and they were able to get there. And then when they missed, they were able to clean it up, as well, so it was kind of clicking for everything for them.”

Miami fought back in the second half, going on an 8-0 run to cut into FSU’s lead and getting within two points of Florida State. But the Seminoles held off the Hurricanes’ advance and held onto their lead.

A Norchad Omier basket put Miami back within two points with five minutes left in the second half, but Florida State once again kept UM at bay.

“Pretty much, that whole first half, I would say we were on our heels, and then we turned into the aggressor,” Pack said. “That’s what changed the game for us.”

The Seminoles, who have won five straight games, dominated Miami in the paint, outscoring UM 52-34. FSU’s size advantage helped it beat Miami 41-35 on the boards, as well.

UM ended the game shooting 46.6 percent from the field and 25 percent from behind the arc, below their season averages of 49.2 percent and 40.7 percent, respectively.

“They executed their game plan very well, and we had a very hard time — at both ends of the court — executing our game plan,” Larrañaga said. “Why? Because, defensively, they disrupted us, and offensively, they’re just so tall.”

The Hurricanes also had an uncharacteristically poor night shooting from the free-throw line, making just 58.3 percent of their shots. They entered the game shooting nearly 79 percent on foul shots.

Nijel Pack led the Hurricanes with 19 points, while Omier and Wooga Poplar added 15 each. Omier also racked up 15 rebounds. Matthew Cleveland, facing off against his former team, scored two points.

“I’m going to worry too much about Matthew Cleveland,” Larrañaga said. “He’s having a great season. … I’m sure he’ll be fine.”

The Hurricanes picked up a key addition for their secondary Wednesday night.

Washington starting defensive back Mishael Powell committed to the Hurricanes via the transfer portal, announcing his decision on social media.

Powell started 14 of 15 games for the national runners-up, primarily playing cornerback but also spending time at free safety. He played 477 snaps at slot cornerback, 34 at wide cornerback, 122 at safety and 165 in the box, according to Pro Football Focus.

Powell racked up 38 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and three interceptions last year, scoring one touchdown. In three seasons at Washington, he had 92 tackles with four tackles for loss.

Pro Football Focus gave Powell a 69 defensive grade with a 73.9 grade in coverage last season.

Powell, who spent five seasons at Washington, likely has one year of eligibility remaining.

Powell is the third defensive back that UM has added through the transfer portal, joining safeties Savion Riley (Vanderbilt) and Isaiah Taylor (Arizona).

#Coast2Coast

By TARA COPP and LOLITA C. BALDOR (Associated Press)

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. military fired another wave of ship- and submarine-launch missile strikes against Houthi-controlled sites Wednesday, U.S. Central Command said, marking the fourth time in days it has directly targeted the group in Yemen as violence that ignited in the wake of the Israel-Hamas war continues to spill over in the Middle East.

The strikes were launched from the Red Sea and hit 14 missiles that the command deemed an “imminent threat.” The strikes followed an official announcement Wednesday that the U.S. has put the Houthis back on its list of specially designated global terrorists. The sanctions that come with the formal designation are meant to sever violent extremist groups from their sources of financing.

“Forces conducted strikes on 14 Iran-backed Houthi missiles that were loaded to be fired in Houthi controlled areas in Yemen,” Central Command said in a statement posted on X late Wednesday. “These missiles on launch rails presented an imminent threat to merchant vessels and U.S. Navy ships in the region and could have been fired at any time, prompting U.S. forces to exercise their inherent right and obligation to defend themselves.”

Despite the sanctions and military strikes, including a large-scale operation Friday carried out by U.S. and British warships and warplanes that hit more than 60 targets across Yemen, the Houthis are continuing their harassment campaign of commercial and military ships. The latest incident occurred Wednesday when a one-way attack drone was launched from a Houthi-controlled area in Yemen and struck the Marshall Islands-flagged, U.S.-owned and -operated M/V Genco Picardy in the Gulf of Aden.

The U.S. has also strongly warned Iran to cease providing weapons to the Houthis. On Thursday a U.S. raid on a dhow intercepted ballistic missile parts the U.S. said Iran was shipping to Yemen. Two U.S. Navy SEALs remain unaccounted for after one was knocked off the vessel by a wave during the seizure and the second followed the overcome SEAL into the water.

On Wednesday, Pentagon press secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said the U.S. would continue to take military action to prevent further attacks.

“They are exploiting this situation to conduct attacks against the ships and vessels from more than 50 countries … around the world. And so we’re going to continue to work with our partners in the region to prevent those attacks or deter those attacks in the future,” Ryder said.

There have been several incidents since the Friday joint operations. The Houthis fired an anti-ship cruise missile toward a U.S. Navy destroyer over the weekend, but the ship shot it down. The Houthis then struck a U.S.-owned ship in the Gulf of Aden on Monday and a Malta-flagged bulk carrier in the Red Sea on Tuesday. In response Tuesday, the U.S. struck four anti-ship ballistic missiles that were prepared to launch and presented an imminent threat to merchant and U.S. Navy ships in the region.

Hours later, the Houthis claimed responsibility for the attack on the Malta-flagged bulk carrier Zografia. The ship was hit, but no one was injured and it continued on its way.

—-

Associated Press writer Aamer Madhani and Ellen Knickmeyer contributed from Washington.

Which small radio should you buy?

The world is full of ways to listen to music, radio shows and podcasts these days. But when there’s no Wi-Fi signal available, you might be glad to have a more traditional way of listening. With a small radio in your home or car, you can tune into music, talk shows or traffic and weather reports at any time. So, what’s the best small radio to pick up?

Types of small radio

Radio stations operate on different sound frequencies, or amplitudes. The frequency they use affects how far the signal travels and the quality of sound that arrives through your speaker. The main types of radio waves are:

Small radio features

There are lots of extra features you can look for beyond access to your favorite radio stations.

best small radios to buy

[ Panasonic Portable AM/FM Radio ]

For those who don’t want complicated controls or additional functionalities, the large dial of this high-quality radio is easy to use. It can be powered with an AC adapter or AA batteries and has a headphone jack for private listening.

[ Prunis J-160 Portable Retro Transistor Radio ]

Built with a fashionable retro look, this radio has a wireless Bluetooth speaker so you don’t need to be limited to its AM/FM and shortwave channels. Tablets and smartphones connect easily with its intuitive design features.

[ Fuhongyuan Portable Pocket Radio ]

With excellent signal reception, this AM/FM radio can be used anywhere. It provides high-quality and high-volume sound either through the speaker or by using headphones.

[ DreamSky Portable Radio ]

This long-lasting radio has excellent energy efficiency. Its four AA batteries let it last up to 55 hours or you can use an adapter to plug it in. The sturdy rectangular design keeps the radio steady on any surface, making it ideal for a boat trip.

[ Nextron Portable CD Player and Radio Boombox ]

Portable and stylish, this AM/FM radio with a stereo sound system lets you listen to the radio while cooking, cleaning, in the garden or enjoying a picnic. You can use the headphone jack or take advantage of the Bluetooth connection for wireless headphones.

[ ByronStatics Vintage Portable Radio ]

This inexpensive, quirky retro radio is perfect for lovers of ’50s fashion. You can power it with an electrical outlet or batteries, and the manually adjustable knob makes it easy to scan for stations.

[ Flyoukki Portable Headset Radio ]

This headset comes with an FM-only radio built in, so you don’t have to worry about separate radio and in-ear listening devices. The headphones are noise-reducing and the automatic search and store feature means you can find and save your favorite stations at the touch of a button.

[ Vondior Portable Pocket Radio ]

A great choice for people looking for a handheld, pocket-sized and long-lasting radio. It can pick up AM and FM stations and offers users a break from modern technology with its traditional functionality.

[ Jimeng Portable Radio ]

This compact portable radio has excellent sound quality. It’s built to be robust and has a long antenna that provides superior reception. Powered by a battery or power cable, it can be used at home or outdoors.

[ Emerson SmartSet Alarm Clock Radio ]

Enjoy the dual functionality of a digital alarm clock and an AM/FM radio in this compact but sturdy device. You can even set the radio’s alarm so you wake up to your favorite station.

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BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. BestReviews and its newspaper partners may earn a commission if you purchase a product through one of our links.

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Self-tanner removal tips

One of the benefits of many self-tanners is that they don’t wash off in the shower. Instead, they fade over time. But as self-tanner fades, it can result in a patchy tan. At that point, you might want to remove the tanner and apply a fresh layer.

While it may be tricky to fully remove self-tanner before it fades on its own, there are a few things you can do to speed up the process.

What do you need to remove self-tanner?

Removing self-tanner doesn’t need to be overcomplicated or expensive. All you need is:

You probably have most of these tools at home. While you can get by without a bath, you can’t scrimp on moisturizer. This is because self-tanner and the exfoliation required to remove it dries out the skin.

If your self-tanner application was very recent, you might want to try a tan extender instead. Trying to remove self-tanner shortly after application can result in noticeable patches left on the skin.

How to fully remove self-tanner

Even after following the steps below, you may be left with faded patches of self-tanner on drier areas of skin, such as the elbows or wrists. If that’s the case, simply follow the same steps the next day to remove the last traces of self-tanner.

Step 1: Have a relaxing bath

While filling your tub with warm, soapy water, take a generous dollop of moisturizing shower gel in one hand and mix it in, rubbing your hands under the flowing tap water. Adding shower gel or body cleanser to the bathwater helps soften the skin, letting tan come off easier.

Soak in the tub for 15 minutes, then rub a patch of skin vigorously with your thumb. If you start to see the tan coming off, it’s time to move to the next step.

Step 2: Scrub in the shower

Once the shower is on, apply exfoliating shower gel to your hands, loofah or sponge.

Next, scrub deep into the skin in a circular motion to remove the top or loose layers of tan. It’s best to start from your hands and feet and work your way in.

You can keep the shower on or off while you scrub. Either way, rinse thoroughly before moving on to the next step.

Step 3: Exfoliate the skin

After you have rinsed off, grab an exfoliation cloth or glove and move over each tanned area until you see your natural skin tone return. Exfoliate vigorously, but not so hard that you break or damage the skin.

Start at your feet and progressively move up your legs. Similarly, start at your hands or wrists and move up your arms to make sure you cover all areas.

Step 4: Moisturize

Both the self-tanner and its removal can dry out your skin, so moisturize after you dry off from the shower. Cover all body areas so your skin can rehydrate and repair consistently.

Step 5: Aftercare

If any patches of tan remain, try baby oil to remove them. Just apply some oil to the skin and gently rub it with your exfoliator.

Moisturize thoroughly for four or five days after the process so your skin fully hydrates.

Some people like to remove tan to put more back on. If that’s you, apply moisturizer to your skin before applying a new layer of self-tanner.

What you need to buy for removing self-tanner

[ EcoTools EcoPouf Loofah ]

Made entirely from recycled material, this affordable loofah comes with a hanging ribbon so it can dry easily after use. The dense layers make it durable and long lasting.

[ Earth Therapeutics Hydro Exfoliating Gloves ]

These gloves provide deep exfoliation without being too harsh on the skin. They’re made with anti-microbial weave to keep them clean and free from bacteria over multiple uses.

[ Olay Daily Exfoliating Sea Salt Body Wash ]

The sea salt ingredients in this body wash provide thorough exfoliation. At the same time, Olay’s Lock-in-Moisture technology moisturizes deep into your skin without leaving a residue.

[ Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Body Lotion ]

This moisturizer is made with oats to soothe your skin without leaving any greasy residue. It is ideal for normal to dry skin and is fragrance-free.

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BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. BestReviews and its newspaper partners may earn a commission if you purchase a product through one of our links.

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The cold reality of the Miami Dolphins’ playoff elimination in Kansas City was documented in the season finale of HBO series “Hard Knocks” covering the team in-season.

While the episode carried a lot of game footage from the 26-7 wild-card round playoff loss to the Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium on Saturday night that eliminated the Dolphins, candid conversations and heartfelt moments between players and coaches were captured.

Coach Mike McDaniel, in part, told his team after the game: “We didn’t deliver, so we’re going to figure out how to (expletive) doing that, because there’s championship (expletive) all over this team.”

Defensive tackle Christian Wilkins, in the locker room, told players to take the feeling of the loss into the offseason as motivation, relaying a message Tyreek Hill shared with the media postgame.

Fellow defensive tackle Zach Sieler, exiting the field: “Man, this sucks. Man, that’s not how you want to go out.”

Wide receiver Jaylen Waddle, in the late stages of the game, was filmed telling Hill: “Defense did all they could do. We just didn’t put up points. This (expletive) annoying as (expletive). We’re too talented to be doing (that). If anything, defense should be struggling. They got 11 new players.”

Tuesday’s finale was the only episode that started with scenes from the game as the Dolphins got suited up in the locker room and then warmed up on the field at Arrowhead for the game in subzero temperatures before flashing back five days to the start of the week.

The talk inside Dolphins facilities was shown, with McDaniel and various position coaches getting players mentally prepared for the environment they were about to face.

An interesting practice nugget that shows some of McDaniel’s process with injured players, he was seen, at specific points in practice after seeing each Waddle, Hill and running back Raheem Mostert complete plays in Thursday’s practice, cutting them loose and telling them to call it a day.

The new outside linebackers room was featured with veterans Justin Houston and Bruce Irvin joining the team after injuries to Andrew Van Ginkel and Cameron Goode last week, which followed the season-ending injuries of Bradley Chubb and Jaelan Phillips. Cameras even followed Melvin Ingram, who signed a month prior, to a dinner on South Beach with a former college teammate as he shared his perspective in a conversation.

A humorous practice scene showed Hill telling fellow speedsters Waddle, Mostert and De’Von Achane that they all had to race one day while wearing tight singlets.

By Al Lesar

Associated Press

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Dalton Knecht scored a career-high 39 points and had 8 rebounds to lead No. 6 Tennessee past Florida 85-66 on Tuesday.

Jonas Aidoo had 19 points and a team-high 10 rebounds to help the Volunteers (13-4, 3-1 SEC) win their 12th straight at home.

UF AD Scott Stricklin insists Billy Napier is not on hot seat: ‘It has nothing to do with reality’

 

“Anytime Jonas is aggressive and locked in, he’s a major factor,” said Tennessee coach Rick Barnes. “The guys are starting to understand each other where they need the ball.”

Knecht averaged 32 points in two games last week as he captured SEC Co-Player of the Week.

“I’m just playing with confidence,” Knecht said. “It’s a lot easier with my teammates. It’s a lot of hard work. My teammates make it super easy.”

Knecht shot 13 of 23 overall including 4 of 6 on 3-pointers and made all nine of his free throws.

“He’s been doing that to everybody,” said Florida coach Todd Golden. “He did a lot in transition and broken plays. We weren’t good enough to protect the rim.”

The Gators (11-6, 1-3), who haven’t won in Knoxville since 2014, were led by Walter Clayton Jr. with 16 points and Riley Kugel with 12. Tyrese Samuel had 10 points and a game-high 11 rebounds and Zyon Pullin scored 11.

“I thought we got our opportunities at the rim,” Golden said. “We didn’t match their physicality. [The Vols] play with an edge at home.”

Florida was limited to 29% shooting from the field (20 of 68).

“They’re an outstanding offensive team,” Barnes said of the Gators. “They’re one of the fastest teams in the country. When you hold a team to 29%, you’re doing a good job.”

Knecht hit 9 of 10 field goals — including three 3-pointers — and scored 22 points in the first half as Tennessee jumped to a 44-32 halftime lead. A 12-3 run midway through the half gave the Vols some breathing room. Kugel had 10 to lead the Gators in the half.

“We’re just feeding off the crowd,” said Knecht. “It starts with our defense: Make a stop and score.”

Florida could not make up the deficit.

“You don’t want to fall behind against this team,” Golden said. “They’re very disciplined. They’re not going to make mistakes.”

The game started two hours early because of dangerous weather conditions.

UF football transfer tracker: Colorado State QB Clay Millen joins Gators

Top takeaways

Florida: The loss to Tennessee started a stretch of tough games for the Gators. They will play what figures to be four more Quadrant 1 games, considered in the NCAA Evaluation Tool, over the next two weeks. Florida is 0-5 this season in Q1 games and 2-19 over the last two seasons.

Tennessee: The Vols are giving up eight more points a game (66.0-57.9) compared to last season, but they are scoring eight more points a game (78.7-70.8). The focus for Barnes has been consistency. The Vols have struggled with that all season and it continues to haunt them at different times.

Up next

Florida: The Gators have another road game Saturday night against Missouri.

Tennessee: The Vols will remain at home Saturday for a battle with Alabama.

Who do you think is the most powerful person in college football?

SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey?

Big Ten Commissioner Tony Petitti?

NCAA President Charlie Baker?

College Football Playoff Executive Director Bill Hancock?

Influential ESPN commentator Paul Finebaum?

Wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong and wrong.

You’re not even close.

It’s college football coaching super-agent Jimmy Sexton, the man who has literally and legally convinced college athletic directors to sign away mega-millions, if not billions of dollars, in one-sided coaching contracts to his grateful clients over the years.

Sports agent Jimmy Sexton speaks during the Division I Leadership Council meeting during the annual NCAA Photos via Getty Images Convention held in San Antonio in 2011.  (Getty file)

The retiring Nick Saban may be the most dominant, dynastic figure to ever roam a college football sideline, but Sexton is the most dominant, dynastic figure to ever sit at a college football bargaining table. When he walks through the door, ADs just instinctively curl up in the fetal position and start whimpering, “Please, Mommy, don’t let the mean man in the nice suit take all my money.”

This is not a column of admonishment about Sexton; it’s a column of admiration. We should all be so lucky as to have a representative like Jimmy Sexton protect and enhance our financial success.

“You hear about all of these antitrust lawsuits,” one college administrator said and laughed. “The government should investigate Jimmy Sexton for having an illegal monopoly on the best coaches.”

Sexton doesn’t represent every college football coach, but he represents many of the best ones. He represents three of the four head coaches who were in the college football playoff and 11 of 14 coaches in the SEC last season.

He represents Saban and new Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer. He represents Georgia’s Kirby Smart, Clemson’s Dabo Swinney, Texas’ Steve Sarkisian, Oklahoma’s Brent Venables, Oregon’s Dan Lanning and Mississippi’s Lane Kiffin. In Florida, he represents three of the state’s Big 4 coaches — FSU’s Mike Norvell, Florida’s Billy Napier and UCF’s Gus Malzahn.

Denver Broncos first-round draft pick Tim Tebow, left, talks on his cell phone while arriving for an after-draft news conference with his agent Jimmy Sexton at the Glen Kernan Golf & Country Club in Jacksonville in 2010. (AP file)

Sexton isn’t just the master of working the system that has created these obscenely massive contracts for college coaches; he pretty much created the system.

A perfect example came last week when Alabama’s Saban shockingly announced his retirement. The top candidates to replace Saban were Norvell, Lanning, Sarkisian and DeBoer — all Sexton clients.

I’m just guessing, but this is how I imagine Alabama decided upon DeBoer: After Lanning quickly took his name out of consideration, Sexton organizes a Zoom meeting with Norvell, Sarkisian and DeBoer in which the following dialogue takes place:

Sexton to Norvell: “Mike, are you interested in the Alabama job?”

Norvell: “Are you freaking crazy? No way do I want to follow the Sabanator at Alabama, where the only direction you can go is down. Besides, we’ve got it rolling at Florida State right now. I’m happy in Tallahassee.”

Then Sexton goes to Sarkisian and says: “Well, Sark, how about you? Are you interested in the Alabama job?”

Sark: “Hell, no. I was the offensive coordinator at Alabama under Saban so I know how crazy those Bama fans are. They’ll poison your trees if they don’t like you. And we’ve got it rolling at Texas, too. I’m happy in Austin.”

Then Sexton goes to DeBoer and says: “What about you, Kalen, are you interested in the Alabama job?”

DeBoer: “I’m only making $4 million a year at Washington. If you can get me $10 million or $11 million a year at Alabama then I’ll give it a shot. Besides, it was probably a fluke that we made the national championship game this season. I’ll probably never get this chance again. Let’s do it, Jimmy. I’ll take the Alabama job.”

Sexton (rubbing his hands together): “OK, boys, it’s settled. Coach DeBoer gets a big raise for taking the Alabama job and Coach Norvell and Coach Sarkisian will get big raises for NOT taking the Alabama job! How does that sound?”

Norvell, DeBoer and Sarkisian joyfully and in unison break into a rendition of the old Jim Croce song: “You Don’t Mess Around With Jim.”

“You don’t tug on Superman’s cape,You don’t spit into the wind,You don’t pull the mask off that old Lone Ranger,And you don’t mess around with Jim!”

Indeed, Sexton got Norvell and Sarkisian big raises for turning down a job that they likely weren’t even interested in to begin with. Norvell, for instance, now has a new 8-year contract at FSU for more than $10 million dollars per season.

Isn’t it ironic that college athletic departments nationwide are shaking down fans and boosters for NIL money to pay players, but at the same time they think nothing of giving a coach a 10-year, $100 million contract?

You see, Sexton has all the leverage because a great coach in college football is so hard to find that ADs will agree to anything in an attempt to hire one or keep one. After Norvell went 13-0 this past season, FSU AD Michael Alford wasn’t willing to risk losing him to Alabama even though Norvell had just signed a new contract before the season that paid him $8 million annually through 2029. Instead, in response to Norvell being contacted by Alabama, FSU quickly extended the contract again and gave Norvell even more money.

What makes this such a bad deal is that the coach gets all the money and the school takes all the risk.  ADs typically give a coach a nearly fully guaranteed contract that they must pay off if the coach is fired, but the coach has a minimal buyout if he wants to accept another job. For instance, if Norvell had accepted the Alabama job last week, he would have owed FSU just $12 million. If FSU wanted to fire him, the Seminoles would owe him nearly $50 million.

Of course, I don’t think FSU is going to fire Norvell anytime soon because he appears to be a really good coach; maybe even a great coach.

But I used to think Jimbo Fisher was a great coach, too, after he won a national championship at Florida State, bolted to Texas A&M and had the Aggies ranked No. 4 in the country at the end of the 2020 season with one of the top recruiting classes in the country.

That’s when then-Texas A&M AD Ross Bjork idiotically gave Fisher a raise to $9 million a year and extended his original 10-year, $75 million contract four more years through the 2031 season. Consequently, after Jimbo was fired in November, the Aggies were forced to pay him $77 million over the next eight years NOT to coach at Texas A&M.

Anybody want to take a guess who Jimbo Fisher’s agent is?

That’s right, it’s Jimmy Sexton.

The most powerful man in college football.

Who else can turn college athletic directors — who are otherwise a collection of exceptionally competent, highly intelligent people — into a bunch of desperate, fiscally reckless squanderers of other people’s money?

You don’t mess around with Jim.

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

 

In a race seen as a bellwether for Democratic chances in November, Democrat Tom Keen flipped what had been a Republican state House seat in Central Florida in a special election held Tuesday.

Keen, a Navy flight officer who works in the aerospace training and simulation industry, defeated Republican Erika Booth, a teacher and member of the Osceola School Board. Unofficial totals for the District 35 seat had Keen with 51.3% of the vote to Booth’s 48.7%.

“A huge THANK YOU to all our supporters, volunteers, and voters who believed in our vision for a better, brighter District 35,” Keen wrote on social media. “Your dedication, hard work, and votes have brought us to this incredible moment.”

Keen, who made abortion rights and property insurance key issues in the race, got between 65% to 70% of nonpartisan, or NPA, voters to make up for Republicans turning out in larger numbers than Democrats, said Matt Isbell, a Democratic elections analyst.

“What actually clinched the win for Democrats was this massive margin with NPAs and perhaps some Republican moderates as well,” Isbell said. “If anything, this should be concerning for the GOP because it indicates a voter anger that maybe they have not understood.”

The special election for the district in eastern Orange and Osceola counties was triggered when former Republican state Rep. Fred Hawkins resigned last year to become president of South Florida State College in Highlands County.

The district has an almost even collection of Democrats, Republicans and independents.

The election was considered a test of whether Florida Democrats will be more competitive in 2024 following their blowout loss to Gov. Ron DeSantis in 2022, which swept in a GOP supermajority in both houses of the Legislature.

“This proves that Democrats can win close races in the Sunshine State,” said state House Democratic Leader Fentrice Driskell, D-Tampa, in a statement. “Florida is worth fighting for … Our work together has just begun.”

Keen canvassed with local Democratic stars U.S. Rep. Maxwell Frost and state Rep. Anna Eskamani, launched an ad targeting the GOP on abortion rights and mailed out flyers attacking Republicans on the property insurance crisis.

Booth, whose website stated that she would “protect our children from indoctrination” and crack down on illegal immigration, was backed by a state GOP campaign slamming Keen as a “radical,” including a website and television ads. Booth did not respond to repeated requests for interviews.

Mysterious text messages also were sent to Democrats from a supposed progressive group claiming Keen agreed with DeSantis on the controversial Parental Rights in Education Act, called ‘don’t say gay’ by its opponents. Keen has been a vocal critic of the law.

The group, Florida Committee for Progressive Values, listed Austin Hurst of Riverlake Boulevard in Bartow, Polk County, as its registered agent, chair and treasurer. According to state records, a Michael Austin Hurst is registered at that address as a Republican.

The Keen campaign compared the texts to the “ghost candidate” scandal of 2020, which involved three independent candidates who ran for competitive state Senate seats.

Candidates of both parties criticized Gov. Ron DeSantis for scheduling the special election 10 days into the 2024 legislative session, preventing the winner from attending key meetings and hearings and from introducing new bills. Another open seat in South Florida was filled in a special election in December.

Democrats claimed DeSantis set the election after the Iowa Republican presidential caucuses on Monday so if Democrats flipped the seat it would not embarrass him on the campaign trail.

DeSantis came in a distant second to former President Donald Trump in Iowa, losing by nearly 30 points, and trails both Trump and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley in polling for the New Hampshire primary on Jan. 23.

The District 35 seat will be up again in November for a full two-year term.