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Iowa caucuses: What to watch as voters weigh in on the Republican campaign’s first contest of 2024

South Florida Local News - Sun, 01/14/2024 - 16:07

By Nicholas Riccardi, Associated Press

As frigid temperatures scour the Midwest, the Republican presidential nominating process will officially start Monday with Iowa’s caucuses.

The quadrennial contest has been unusually quiet this year, a mark of former President Donald Trump’s commanding lead in the race. An arctic blast dropping the state into subzero temperatures and dumping snow during the final days of the runup didn’t help, either.

But there’s plenty to consider heading into the caucuses, and after years of speculation and maneuvering over who will face President Joe Biden this November, we’ll finally have the first votes tallied.

Here are some things to watch:

WHO WINS SECOND

Iowa appears to be a battle for second place given Trump’s dominance. The real question is whether either of the two Republicans who lead the pack of very distant also-rans can make it a two-person race in the long run.

To do that, they probably need to at least come out of Iowa with a silver medal.

A man walks past a sign that reads “Iowa Caucuses 2024” in downtown Des Moines, Iowa, Saturday, Jan. 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis once talked of winning the state, but he’s lowered expectations to simply having a good showing. With his campaign apparatus in turmoil and funds drying up, he needs a strong finish in a state where its movement conservatives would normally be his natural audience.

Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley’s technocratic and consensus-building pitch doesn’t seem tailor-made for Iowa, but the caucuses come just as she gained increased attention and financial support. Her strongest state may be the next one up, New Hampshire, and a second-place finish in Iowa could put her in a strong position as attention shifts to New England.

Rarely has so much ridden on a second-place finish in the first nominating state.

WHO BRAVES THE COLD?

Heading into the caucuses, much of the focus has been on Trump’s strong standing. The surprise may ultimately be more about the turnout and who would benefit from the brutal winter storm limiting participation.

After all, the caucus isn’t built for convenience. Those who participate must venture out after dark to one of 1,567 locations, almost always requiring a drive. The roads will be icy, the wind chill will be dozens of degrees below zero. Iowans are a famously hardy stock, but even they may flinch at venturing out in those conditions. The National Weather Service last week warned people not to leave their homes if possible.

A man walks across the street below a sign for the Iowa Caucuses in downtown Des Moines, Iowa, Saturday, Jan. 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

On top of all that, people can be less motivated to vote in contests where winners are seen as inevitable.

On the flip side, Trump’s voters are very motivated to support him. DeSantis may benefit from having a deep organization to ferry nervous participants to caucus sites. Overall, conservative voters are excited to get 2024 underway — they’re angry at the state of things, like their candidates and see Biden as easily beaten in November.

The comparison will be 2016 when 186,000 Republicans turned out in the last competitive caucus. That’s a small number to have such a huge role in determining the nominee to lead a country of 330 million. Will we see fewer people this time?

WHAT’S TRUMP’S MARGIN?

The polls have been impressive but you don’t know how a candidate will fare until the votes are counted. Will Trump’s polling dominance translate to a big win on Monday? Or will there be a surprise?

Campaign signs for Republican presidential candidates, former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley and Florida Gov. Ron Desantis line the road in front of Drake University, where CNN hosted a presidential debate on January 10, 2024 in Des Moines, Iowa. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Trump has popped into the state in the final days of the contest, but he’s also diverted his attention elsewhere in ways that are unusual for a candidate seeking to lock down an Iowa win. He, for instance, spent time last week at an appeals hearing in one of his criminal cases and the end of his fraud trial, hoping that would put him in better stead with Republican voters than crisscrossing Iowa. His rivals have dinged him for being gone, but it’s unclear whether it’ll hurt him in the state.

The odds of a surprise are always low — that’s why they’re surprises — but anything can happen in politics, especially with this weather. If Trump underperforms it could shake up a nominating contest that, to date, has been the sleepiest in modern memory.

RAMASWAMY’S MARK

One of the more unexpected side plots in the 2024 Republican primary has been Vivek Ramaswamy, a 38-year-old pharmaceutical entrepreneur who wrote a book called “Woke, Inc.” and then decided to run for president. His aggressive, social media-driven approach initially attracted some curiosity from Republican voters but seemed to turn many off after he attacked rivals during the debates.

Ramaswamy’s hard-charging style may not exactly be “Iowa nice,” but neither is Trump’s and he’s far ahead. Ramaswamy has been all over Iowa, hitting the campaign milestone of visiting all 99 counties in the state not once, but twice.

It’s not clear what Ramaswamy is competing for — he goes out of his way not to criticize Trump, but flames all other candidates in a potential audition for the frontrunner’s administration. Iowa will help determine whether he has a reason to keep running his quixotic campaign.

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Five decisions Dolphins have to make as they immediately dive into offseason

South Florida Local News - Sun, 01/14/2024 - 14:58

KANSAS CITY — The Miami Dolphins immediately go from competing to advance in the postseason to exit interviews and planning out their offseason.

It happens that quickly when an NFL team gets eliminated from the playoffs, like the Dolphins did Saturday night, losing, 26-7, to the Chiefs in an AFC wild-card round game in below-0-degree weather in Kansas City.

Miami’s season was fun, exciting, but all the big stats and extravagant touchdown celebrations still didn’t lead the team to a playoff win. The franchise is still without one since 2000. It didn’t even get a home playoff game with a division title after leading by three games in the AFC East with five weeks remaining in the regular season.

Sure, injuries at the end of the season played a factor, but it’s extremely disappointing that a roster with this much talent on it across the board still netted a first-round exit.

The Dolphins have several offseason decisions to make. Here’s a look at them:

What to do with Tua?

Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa led the NFL in passing yards in 2023 — a year after he led the league in quarterback rating.

Sounds like a guy that’s a slam dunk to get a big contract extension, right? He even stayed healthy for a full season for the first in his professional career.

Not so fast.

Although he has done mostly everything asked of him, Tagovailoa still has questions surrounding whether he can win big games, his ability to handle pressure from opposing defenses, how he handles inclement weather and if he can perform when missing one of his top two wide receivers.

The Dolphins have Tagovailoa under contract for next season at a figure just south of $23.2 million because they exercised the fifth-year option on his contract last offseason.

General manager Chris Grier and the Dolphins’ front office will have to determine if what he has proven warrants a new deal. They probably wouldn’t want to put him in the upper echelon of quarterback salaries, like Joe Burrow, Lamar Jackson, Jalen Hurts and Justin Herbert, who are above $50 million in average annual salary.

It could be worth Miami offering him something in the lower 40s and allowing Tagovailoa to decide if he wants to take it. If he doesn’t — or if the Dolphins are still not ready to commit to anything long-term — play out the fifth year of his deal to see if it swings the decision one way or the other. If the decision is still in flux after that, the Dolphins have the option to franchise tag him at that point, too, to continue taking it year to year.

Christian Wilkins’ free agency

Speaking of fifth-year options, the Dolphins’ standout defensive tackle just finished playing on his, and he had another quality output for the most part.

Wilkins, who held out portions of the training camp due to his contract but later set his focus on the season, needed to prove he can provide an interior pass rush this season. He did that, totaling nine sacks, which doubles his previous high, and putting 23 hits on a quarterback.

It came at the expense of some of his every-down tackle production. He was down to 65 tackles, from 98 in 2022 and 89 in 2021.

He and Zach Sieler, who already got his extension, are a fierce duo and great friends. Wilkins has said he wants to stay with the Dolphins. He probably also expects to be paid among the NFL’s best at the position, despite not yet having a Pro Bowl on his resume.

Something to keep in mind with both Tagovailoa and Wilkins’ negotiations: Miami is projected to be about $40 million over the cap in 2024. But that figure can be manipulated with trades, cuts and contract restructuring to create adequate space for the franchise’s prioritized moves.

Coaching decisions

No, coach Mike McDaniel isn’t on any hot seat for the way this season ended. He is certainly secure heading into the 2024 season, but if problems persist and he doesn’t lead this roster to playoff success and legitimate contention, questions could start to be asked after that.

McDaniel has to have honest conversations with himself on a number of things.

Often criticized for his play-calling, should he give up those duties to focus on overseeing the entire operation while delegating play-calls to offensive coordinator Frank Smith?

Smith, by the way, has been requested for an interview for a head coaching position with the Carolina Panthers. If he does end up getting that job or another one across the league’s array of openings, does quarterbacks coach Darrell Bevell immediately become offensive coordinator? Bevell, with ample experience in that role, should again draw interest around the league for such a position.

There are always coaching changes. Does McDaniel opt to move on from special teams coordinator Danny Crossman? Kick and punt returns were costly in Miami’s final two regular-season losses to the Ravens and Bills, which put the team in the predicament of going on the road in the first round of the playoffs. But McDaniel stuck by Crossman last offseason when the Dolphins had a rough season with his unit.

Other smaller position coaching moves could happen. Linebackers coach Anthony Campanile could get a look for a defensive coordinator job somewhere.

McDaniel should also look into his replay review system. Winning a challenge Saturday night brought his success rate up to just 3 of 13 in two seasons as a head coach.

Free agency

Beyond Wilkins, the Dolphins have key free agents in center Connor Williams, right guard Robert Hunt, outside linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel, safety DeShon Elliott, nose tackle Raekwon Davis and several others.

Williams has been great in two seasons at center in Miami, but he tore an ACL in early December. Hunt dealt with an injury, his hamstring, for the first time in his four-year career. The two, if healthy, could be staples on the long-term outlook on the offensive line with right tackle Austin Jackson locked in on an extension and Pro Bowl left tackle Terron Armstead aging.

Van Ginkel’s season ended prematurely with a foot injury, but he was valuable filling in for the injured Jaelan Phillips late in the season. It’s unknown how much his injury affects his contract status.

Aside from free agents, 2021 first-round picks Jaylen Waddle and Phillips are up for decisions on the fifth-year options of their contract for the 2025 season. Waddle seems like a no-brainer. Phillips’ situation, which would’ve been a home run midway through this season, now is complicated by his torn Achilles that may cost him training camp and the start of next season.

With the salary cap situation what it is, not all will be brought back, especially if either Tagovailoa or Wilkins get paid. Miami can also find cheaper options elsewhere.

Draft young quality talent

For the first time in three offseasons, the Dolphins will have a first-round pick.

Well, that’s if they don’t trade it before the late April draft.

Miami needs to hit on this selection. Their first picks in the past two drafts, second-round cornerback Cam Smith in 2023 and third-round linebacker Channing Tindall in 2022, have barely seen defensive snaps.

With so many expensive contracts on the books, the Dolphins need to be able to fill holes with quality players on rookie contracts to sustain themselves as competitive once bringing in more expensive free agents becomes untenable.

Grier usually drafts best player available, but a well-rounded tight end could be a quality addition.

Heat’s Spoelstra has empathy for McDaniel, sees better Dolphins days ahead

South Florida Local News - Sun, 01/14/2024 - 14:45

MIAMI – Yes, Erik Spoelstra watched. Yes, he empathizes. And, yes, he’s been there.

Having seen several good Miami Heat seasons turning into something less at the finish, Spoelstra offered empathy Sunday for Mike McDaniel after the Miami Dolphins’ season-ending loss Saturday night to the Kansas City Chiefs.

“You feel the full gamut when you watch those kinds of games,” Spoelstra said before his Heat faced the Charlotte Hornets at Kaseya Center.

Spoelstra has spoken frequently of his affinity for McDaniel, including taking his sons to Dolphins games and dressing on Halloween as McDaniel, sunglasses and all.

“I watched the game last night,” Spoelstra said, “like probably a lot of us in South Florida.”

From his perspective, Spoelstra said he sees the Dolphins still as a team on the rise, having gone through similar setbacks during his Heat coaching career, including losing to the Dallas Mavericks in the 2011 NBA Finals during the first season with the Big Three of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh.

“They’re building something and you feel something really good is happening,” Spoelstra said of the Dolphins. “They’re not skipping steps with it.

“There’s a lot to be proud of from the season they had. And you definitely get the sense they’ll be able to take another big step next year.”

That said, Spoelstra said he appreciated the angst of these coming days for McDaniel, even with what Spoelstra perceives as better Dolphins days ahead.

“That,” Spoelstra said, “doesn’t make it any easier going into the offseason, as we all know.”

Chris Perkins and David Furones break down Dolphins’ playoff loss to Chiefs, assess Miami’s season overall | VIDEO

South Florida Local News - Sat, 01/13/2024 - 23:08

In this video, the South Florida Sun Sentinel’s Chris Perkins and David Furones discuss the Miami Dolphins’ loss Saturday night to the Chiefs in Kansas City at a frigid Arrowhead Stadium in the wild-card round of the playoffs. They also assess the season overall, and talk about the key things to watch in the offseason.

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Things we learned in Miami Dolphins’ 26-7 playoff loss to the Kansas City Chiefs

South Florida Local News - Sat, 01/13/2024 - 21:52

KANSAS CITY — It was the biggest game of the Miami Dolphins’ reconstruction and the Mike McDaniel-Tua Tagovailoa era.

And the Dolphins flopped, losing 26-7.

Everything was on the line in this AFC wild-card playoff game between the Dolphins and Kansas City Chiefs at freezing Arrowhead Stadium. And, yes, Taylor Swift was in attendance to see her boyfriend, Kansas City tight end Travis Kelce.

This was an ugly way to end a once-promising season.

The Dolphins’ 8-3 start turned into an 11-6 regular-season finish. They still had a chance to salvage big value from the season with a playoff win. It didn’t happen.

Here are some more takeaways from Saturday night:

Dolphins in cold weather

The official temperature at kickoff was minus-4 degrees with a wind chill of minus-27.

This was the fourth-coldest game in NFL history. The so-called “Ice Bowl” between Green Bay and Dallas on Dec. 31, 1967, remains the coldest game.

This was the coldest game in Dolphins history, replacing the Dec. 21, 2008 game at Kansas City that had a temperature of 10 degrees at kickoff.

The air temperature dipped to 7-below zero at halftime Saturday. The temperature when the game ended was minus-8 with a wind chill of minus-28.

Miami entered the game losing their past 10 games when the temperature at kickoff was 40 degrees or below. — Chris Perkins

The swirling wind

The breeze at Arrowhead Stadium was primarily coming from the northwest but it was swirling inside the stadium. The swirling wind might have been partly responsible for Dolphins punter Jake Bailey booting a 28-yard punt in the first quarter.

The flags atop the uprights could be seen blowing west one minute and then suddenly switch to blowing east in a matter of seconds. If your pass or kick happened to be going into the wind at that exact moment, it could have created havoc.

Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes threw a deep first-quarter incompletion for Mecole Hardeman that might have got caught up in the wind.

Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa threw a 53-yard touchdown pass to Tyreek Hill in the second quarter that seemed to get caught up in the 14-mile per hour wind, which was gusting up to 28 mph.

Tailgating in frigid conditions

Kansas City fans did tailgate before the game. The scene resembled a lake full of ice fishermen. Fans had square tents, and many had generators and heaters. Very few people were simply sitting in the parking lot unprotected from the elements, but a small number of hearty souls were out there in the cold and wind.

Dolphins pass rush struggles

Miami, which was missing six defensive starters from earlier in the season, struggled to pressure Kansas City quarterback Patrick Mahomes. Miami, which entered the game No. 3 in sacks at 56, ended with no sacks and just five quarterback hits.

A few times Mahomes had more than four seconds to throw. The Dolphins were without edge rushers Jaelan Phillips (Achilles) and Bradley Chubb (knee), linebacker Jerome Baker (arm), cornerback Xavien Howard (foot) and safety Jevon Holland (knees).

Late in the second quarter the Dolphins had no sacks and one quarterback hit.

Mahomes used the time to spot open receivers and pepper the Miami defense with accurate passes.

Dolphins struggle running the ball

The Dolphins, who entered the game No. 6 in the NFL at 135.8 yards per game, didn’t gain any meaningful traction in the run game Saturday.

The Dolphins, who had 49 yards rushing on 11 carries in the first half, ended up rushing for 76 yards on 18 carries. Running back Raheem Mostert ended with 33 yards on eight carries.

Kansas City seemingly had an answer for almost every running play.

The Dolphins have had decent rushing totals in losses this season.

The Dolphins had 154 yards rushing in their 56-19 loss at Baltimore. Miami rushed for 142 yards in its 48-20 loss at Buffalo. The Dolphins had 117 yards rushing in their 21-14 loss to Kansas City in Germany. Miami had 158 yards rushing in its 28-27 loss to Tennessee.

Tua’s playoff debut

Tagovailoa had a forgettable playoff debut.

He ended 20 of 39 for 199 yards, one interception, one touchdown and a 63.9 passer rating.

Tagovailoa threw a first-quarter interception to safety Mike Edwards. But he bounced back for a 53-yard touchdown pass to Hill in the second quarter.

Tagovailoa appeared to spot Hill too late on a fourth-and-1 pass incompletion from Miami’s 44-yard line later in the second quarter.

Tagovailoa was injured (concussion) for last year’s 34-31 wild-card round loss at Buffalo.

Tagovailoa led the league in passing yards (4,624), ranked No. 5 in passer rating (101.1) and had career highs in touchdown passes (29) and interceptions (14).

Slowing down Mahomes wasn’t effective

Kansas City quarterback shredded the Dolphins secondary, ending 23 of 41 for 262 yards, one touchdown, no interceptions and a 83.6 passer rating.

Mahomes crushed the Dolphins with his arm and feet.

Mahomes had a 28-yard scramble on fourth-and-4 from the Chiefs’ 38-yard line.

Mahomes had a 39-yard completion to wide receiver Rashee Rice (eight receptions, 130 yards, one touchdown) on third-and-10 from the Chiefs’ 44-yard line.

Dolphins defensive coordinator Vic Fangio seemed to blitz more than usual in an attempt to disrupt Mahomes. It didn’t work.

The Dolphins entered the game ranked 27th in blitz frequency at 21.5%.

Dolphins’ big plays surface once, and only once

The Dolphins, who have been ineffective scoring offensive touchdowns for a while, needed big plays on both sides of the ball to secure a victory Saturday. It didn’t happen aside from the 53-yard touchdown pass from Tagovailoa to Hill.

Defensively, Miami couldn’t generate a pass rush or a turnover.

Offensively, Miami couldn’t find anything that worked on the ground or through the air.

As an example of the offensive issues consider that Miami didn’t get its first third-down conversion until about 10 minutes remained in the game. The Dolphins were 0 for 7 previously and ended 1 of 12 on third downs.

The Chiefs, who have a stingy defense, entered the game ranked No. 2 in total defense (289.8 yards allowed per game) and No. 4 against the pass (176.5 ypg). The Chiefs were tied for 17th against the run (113.2 ypg).

Tyreek not very good in his Chiefs rematch

Hill wasn’t effective against his former team, and now that makes two times the Chiefs have limited their former player.

Hill ended with five receptions for 62 yards and one touchdown.

Hill’s highlight was the 53-yard touchdown reception in the second quarter in which he slowed down and backtracked a bit to catch a pass that might have been caught in the wind.

Hill had eight receptions for 62 yards when these teams played on Nov. 5. He also was infamously stripped of the ball after a reception, lost the fumble and saw it returned for a touchdown.

Hill led the league in receiving yards this season (1,799) and tied for the league lead in receiving touchdowns (13).

Dolphins end with losing road record

The Dolphins end with a 4-5 road record. They were 0-5 on the road against teams that finished with winning records, losing to Buffalo, Philadelphia, Kansas City (in Germany), Baltimore and Kansas City (in Kansas City).

The Dolphins’ road wins came against the Los Angeles Chargers, who finished 5-12, New England (4-13), New York Jets (7-10) and Washington Commanders (4-13).

As an aside, the Dolphins fell to 3-13 all-time in road playoff games.

The three truisms that Tua Tagovailoa must improve upon in 2024

1. In temperatures of 45 degrees or under, Tagovailoa fell to 0-7 with these stats: 135-243, 1,670, 8 TD, 10 INT, 70.8 passer rating, 7 fumbles.

2. In the 16 games Tua Tagovailoa has played in when the Dolphins have been on a national broadcast, his passer rating has been 84.1. The stats: 295-465 for 3,352 yards with 15 touchdowns and 13 interceptions, plus nine fumbles. He has gone 4-10 in those games with two no-decisions.

3. Against teams with at least 10 wins, the Dolphins starting QB fell to 6-15 with these stats: 400-673, 4,344 yards, 26 TD passes, 19 INT, 79.6 passer rating, 10 fumbles and 16.5 net offensive points per game. — Steve Svekis

Dolphins continued to get gouged by running QBs in key spots

On a fourth-and-5 in the first half, Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes slipped past the line of scrimmage and scooted 28 yards to give Kansas City a first-and-goal at the 10. A later 13-yarder represented the ninth scamper by an opposing quarterback or at least 10 yards in the past four games. The Dolphins escaped the Cowboys, but then lost the final three games of the season, with those runs absolute killers in key situations.

Dolphins made one significant accomplishment in the freeze

In the Super Bowl era, there now have been five playoff games played where the temperature at kickoff was below zero, In the previous four, the visiting team had averaged 3.5 fumbles per game (14 fumbles). The Dolphins’ ball carriers never lost control of the pigskin.

Is it possible Tua Tagovailoa’s arm was fatigued?

In the 2023 season, Tagovailoa threw 599 passes, 49.8% more than his previous high (400 in 2022). Here are the number of passes thrown by the Dolphins quarterback in each of the past six seasons: 2018: 355; 2019: 252; 2020: 290; 2021: 388; 2022: 400; 2023: 599.

Tagovailoa’s sack splits suffered after the first third of the season

In Tagovailoa’s first 218 dropbacks, he was sacked 6 times (36.3 dropbacks per sack). In his last 412 dropbacks, he was sacked 25 times (16.5 dropbacks per sack).

Hyde10: Offense freezes, season fizzles, dumb plays contribute — 10 thoughts on Dolphins’ 26-7 playoff loss to Chiefs

South Florida Local News - Sat, 01/13/2024 - 21:27

The game kicked off in minus-4-degree weather.

It then got colder for the Miami Dolphins. They got dominated on both offense and defense in losing their wild-card playoff game to the Kansas City Chiefs, 26-7, to end their season.

Here are 10 thoughts on the game:

1. Stat of the Game: Seven points. Throw in the Dolphins offense’s six first downs into the fourth quarter as they fell behind 26-7 and you’re getting the picture of this offensive no-show. It didn’t help they were 1 of 9 on third- and fourth-down conversions to that point (and finished 2 of 13 for the game). Coach Mike McDaniel and quarterback Tua Tagovailoa couldn’t find an answer on a night where the full offensive output was one play: A 53-yard touchdown pass from to Tyreek Hill. Tagovailoa was not good enough, completing 20 of 39 passes for 139 yards, the touchdown and an interception.

2. Stat of the Season: 1-6. That’s the Dolphins record against teams with winning records this season. Even that doesn’t tell the full story as they’re a minus-110 point margin in those games. Simply put, they beat up on bad teams and couldn’t play with good teams. That was telling over the final three weeks as they lost the No. 1 seed and home-field advantage at Baltimore, lost the No. 2 seed and home-field advantage to Buffalo and got run out of the playoffs Saturday night in Kansas City.

3. In the post-game, Tagovailoa talked of “miscommunication” and plays getting in late (calling out McDaniel) and not having enough practice time with certain teammates. None of that helped, of course. But this was a game Tagovailoa had to put his fingerprints on this game and he really didn’t do much in it. Maybe the cold affected some early throws, but defenses also are on to this offense throwing wide-receiver screens and quick slants. Whether it’s McDaniel or Tagovailoa, finding answers against good defenses is priority No. 1 this offseason.

4. You can’t blame the defense. Twenty-six points? That’s not bad, given the situation. The Dolphins began the game with six injured starters missing from defense, and it became seven in the first quarter when cornerback Eli Apple went out (but later returned). In came undrafted rookie Ethan Bonner, who was elevated from the practice squad before the game and had only played 12 snaps this season. It’s telling that second-round pick Cam Smith was left inactive for this game to round out a rookie season where the Dolphins got nothing from him. It was also interesting defensive coordinator Vic Fangio put in edge rusher Malik Allen on the first drive. Allen was signed on Tuesday. And yet Fangio’s defense hung in there. The key for the defense was it held Kansas City to four field goals on five trips to the red zone. Fangio’s defenses are known for red-zone strength and that played out as they were undermanned the final two weeks against Buffalo and Kansas City. Twenty-six points considering their problems? You’d take that coming in and expect the offense to do more.

5. Yes, it was cold for this game. It was needlessly cold, too. You can’t blame the NFL for chasing money by putting a playoff game on streaming TV with Peacock. It was just insane to play in Houston’s dome in the afternoon and hold this at night in sub-zero weather. It’s not just the players’ health. It’s the fans attending the game. This was the fourth-coldest game in NFL history with a temperature of minus-4 at kickoff (the 1967 Ice Bowl between Dallas and Green Bay is the coldest at minus-16). It goes without saying it was the coldest Dolphins game of all-time. That means the franchise has The Longest Game in NFL history the 1971 playoffs at Kansas City and what we’ll call The Coldest Game in these playoffs. Let’s not overdo the weather for this game considering this is the situation the Dolphins put themselves in by losing the home-field advantage in the playoffs over the past month.

6. How You Lose a Big Game I: First quarter. Third-and-inches at the Dolphins 44-yard line. De’Von Achane runs for 2 yards. But receiver Cedrick Wilson Jr. didn’t line up properly (he covered the tight end, Durham Smyth) resulting in a 5-yard penalty. On third-and-six, Tagovailoa threw off his back foot and his pass floated over the middle for an interception. So, they went from gaining a first down, committing a training-camp penalty and then throwing an interception.

7. How You Lose A Big Game II: With the game in big trouble, the Dolphins forced Mahomes to throw incomplete on third-and-20 from the Dolphins 27-yard line early in the fourth quarter. But there was Christian Wilkins running a few steps into Mahomes after he threw the pass, then needlessly giving a hard shove. It wasn’t a penalty a decade ago. It is in today’s game. That gave Kansas City a first down that resulted in a touchdown and 26-7 lead. Ball game.

8. What was Mike Tirico talking about, “There’s a name for you to follow, Miami Dolphins fans,” as he singled out Ethan Bonner after a fumble recovery with a couple of minutes to go. Maybe Bonner develops into a contributing part of this franchise but that’s beside the point. The Dolphins were just finishing an awful close to this season and their 23rd year without a playoff win. And the silver lining is Ethan Bonner?

9. Quick Hits:

* Mahomes played like a champ: 23-41, 262 yards, a touchdown and no interceptions. Winning football given the conditions;

* Jaylen Waddle played but wasn’t a factor with two catches for 31 yards;

* Brandon Jones made a blatant hold in pass coverage in the second quarter and it wasn’t called;

* Add Houston and quarterback CJ Stroud to the list of tough AFC teams for the next few years.

* Peacock (NBC) cameras could’ve done with fewer shots of Andy Reid’s snot-covered moustache.

* Yes, Taylor Swift was at the game.

10. Next Game: The Dolphins are officially on the clock for the draft held April 25-27 in 2024. We’ll have to see how the wild-card round shakes out, but the Dolphins entered it drafting 24th. The top need? We’ll have months to debate this, but cornerback looks to be at the top of the list. Xavien Howard is 31 next year and an injury question. Can Cam Smith rebound from a disastrous rookie season? Depending on what they do in free agency, the Dolphins need help at cornerback.

Dolphins extend drought without a playoff win after loss to Chiefs in freezing Kansas City

South Florida Local News - Sat, 01/13/2024 - 21:21

KANSAS CITY — The Miami Dolphins’ pursuit of their next playoff win will have to wait another year.

The long drought for the franchise, since 2000, continued after their AFC wild-card round loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in their coldest game in franchise history, fourth-coldest in NFL history, with kickoff temperature at -4 degrees.

The Chiefs, the No. 3 seed in the AFC playoffs, were more physical in the freezing conditions and the sixth-seeded Dolphins could never get a drive going, leading them to the wrong side of a 26-7 decision Saturday night at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.

Miami, although ravaged by injuries down the final stretch, was eliminated in the first round of the playoffs for the second consecutive season under coach Mike McDaniel and finished on a three-game losing streak after having a shot at the top seed in the conference ahead of their Dec. 31 game against the Baltimore Ravens.

Kansas City, the defending Super Bowl champion, marches on to the AFC divisional round, where it will face either the Buffalo Bills or Houston Texans.

The Dolphins had the viable excuse of injuries — with replacement players starting at five of the 11 positions defensively — and it was difficult to imagine them winning a game in Saturday’s frigid conditions when they hadn’t seen a kickoff temperature below 40 degrees all season. But neither McDaniel nor his players using those excuses.

“We had goals that weren’t accomplished tonight,” McDaniel said after the game. “The reason why it hurts so bad is because nobody on this team really harbored all the excuses — all the different variables that people talk about, injuries, weather, all that stuff. We came here to win. It didn’t happen. We fell short of our goals.

“One thing I didn’t see in that locker room was finger-pointing or excuse-making. I saw a lot of emotion with regard to hurt. … Tonight, I’m just trying to aid some of those hurt souls.”

Added quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, who went 20 of 39 for 199 yards, a touchdown and an interception, of injuries: “We’re not the only team that dealt with that. I would say, it did hurt, not having the guys that we started with.”

But the team was left wondering what could have been after its season started so promising but ended with three consecutive losses.

“It wasn’t good,” Tagovailoa said of the mood in the locker room. “Losing is never fun. When stakes are higher, when it’s playoff time, you feel that maybe ten times more, whether it’s a win or a loss. We’ve got to live with that loss.”

Tyreek Hill, who had five catches for 62 yards and a touchdown in his return to Arrowhead, said the team needs to use Saturday night’s loss as motivation for next season.

“I thought we had a great season,” Hill said. “I think a lot of people doubted us. We kind of exceeded expectations. The season didn’t end the way we wanted it to end, but as far as the season, I think guys really laid it on the line.

“We just can’t be a bunch of front-runners. Next year, I feel like we’ll learn from it.”

The Dolphins were unable to sustain drives, failing on their first seven third downs Saturday, converting their first with just more than 10 minutes remaining. They finished 1 for 12 on third downs.

Although Miami ran the football and stopped the run well during the regular season, Miami did neither Saturday. Struggling to tackle in the blistering cold, the Chiefs outgained the Dolphins on the ground, 146-76.

“It is what it is. Obviously, the weather is different weather than you’ve ever played in before,” defensive tackle Christian Wilkins said, “but I feel like our guys fought hard and we fought until the very end.”

Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, facing minimal pressure against a Miami defense down four edge defenders and playing three pass rushers it just signed this past week, went 23 of 41 for 262 yards and a touchdown, despite multiple drops from his pass-catchers. He rushed for another big 41 yards.

Tagovailoa struggled to get the offense moving in his first playoff game and most-frigid temperatures he has ever experienced.

Hill had 53 of his 62 yards come on one long touchdown, Miami’s lone highlight of the night.

Kansas City rookie wide receiver Rashee Rice had eight catches for 130 yards and the touchdown. Tight end Travis Kelce, despite struggling with some drops, posted 71 yards on seven catches.

The dagger was delivered when running back Isiah Pacheco capped a 14-play, 72-yard drive that consumed seven minutes of second-half clock with a 3-yard rushing touchdown with 11:06 remaining. The Chiefs pounded Pacheco into the Dolphins defense 24 times for 89 yards.

Down, 10-0, early in the second quarter, Tagovailoa threw his first career postseason touchdown pass, connecting deep with Hill, who scored a 53-yard touchdown despite being interfered with by the Chiefs’ Trent McDuffie.

“That’s like Tua’s favorite play,” Hill said. “He just threw it down the field, and I was able to make a play.”

Trailing, 13-7, deep into the first half, the Dolphins had a drive end at the Kansas City 45-yard line, failing on fourth-and-2 as Tagovailoa saw Hill open too late and the defense got there.

Kansas City added another field goal before halftime to go into the intermission up, 16-7. Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker made four short field goals as the Chiefs missed multiple opportunities from in close as Miami hung tough once it got into the red zone.

The Chiefs scored first Saturday night, in the exact same way their opening drive in the regular-season meeting with Miami in Germany was capped. They had Rice go for an 11-yard touchdown. Kansas City stormed down the field easily after facing an initial third-and-10, opening with one of Kelce’s three first-half drops.

Tagovailoa, later in the first quarter, threw his interception by overthrowing an open Jaylen Waddle, leading safety Mike Edwards to a diving interception.

A second-quarter Mahomes-to-Rice touchdown was wiped away by an illegal block, leading to one of Butker’s field goals.

Dolphins cornerback Ethan Bonner forced a late fumble that defensive tackle Da’Shawn Hand recovered. Miami did not sack Mahomes and went deep into the game before even putting its first hit on him.

The Dolphins’ last postseason win remains the home victory over the Indianapolis Colts in the 2000 wild-card round. Miami has one road playoff win since 1972, in the 1999 postseason at Seattle.

Instant Analysis: Kansas City Chiefs 26, Miami Dolphins 7

South Florida Local News - Sat, 01/13/2024 - 21:17

Quick thoughts from South Florida Sun Sentinel staffers on the Miami Dolphins’ loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in the wild-card round of the playoffs Saturday night at Arrowhead Stadium:

Dave Hyde, Sports Columnist

Thud. The Dolphins season ended in embarrassing fashion with a no-show from the offense Saturday night. It completed the fun-to-fraud conclusion of this team as they finished 1-6 against playoff teams. All that tanking and rebuilding for this?

Chris Perkins, Dolphins Columnist

The injury-riddled Dolphins laid an egg in their wild-card playoff game. The offense was non-existent and the defense couldn’t stop quarterback Patrick Mahomes or wide receiver Rashee Rice. Even if you didn’t expect a Dolphins victory, you expected a better performance.

David Furones, Dolphins Writer

The Dolphins looked like a team that hadn’t seen a kickoff temperature below 40 degrees in a playoff game played in below-0 weather. They didn’t want to tackle, and it didn’t help that they started 0 for 7 on third downs. A season that started with so much promise ends with the thud of three consecutive losses and a second straight first-round exit in the playoffs. Injuries played a role, of course.

Keven Lerner, Assistant Sports Editor

What a long, long offseason this will be. The defense? For all the attrition, the unit did much better against expectations in the 2-4 finish than the offense did. Question marks galore for Mike McDaniel’s side of the ball and his quarterback. Two 8-3 starts, two depressing finishes.

Steve Svekis, Sports Senior Content Editor

Everything felt so different early on this season, but that 2-and-4 December-January finish stacks up with any of the ignominious stems in that rancid bouquet and, for better or worse, those are two Miami finishes equaling a cumulative 4-10 record under Mike McDaniel. And, does Miami really give Tua Tagovailoa a massive-pay extension, or let him play the final year of his initial contract at $23 million in 2024?

Daws stops 36 shots, Devils top Panthers 4-1 to end Florida’s 9-game winning streak

South Florida Local News - Sat, 01/13/2024 - 18:36

By TIM REYNOLDS (AP Sports Writer)

SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) — Nico Daws stopped almost everything that came his way. The goalposts helped out a little bit as well.

Daws stopped 36 shots, Jesper Bratt scored for the second straight game and the New Jersey Devils snapped Florida’s nine-game winning streak by topping the Panthers 4-1 on Saturday night.

“He made some big saves,” Devils coach Lindy Ruff said. “I think you need that. We were undermanned a little bit and I think you’ve got to rely on your goaltender for quality saves — and he gave us some quality saves.”

Bratt’s goal was his 16th of the season, tying Tyler Toffoli for the New Jersey lead this season. Alexander Holtz and Erik Haula each got their 10th goal of the season for the Devils, who have gotten 13 of a possible 18 points in their last nine games by going 6-2-1.

Daws was making just his fourth appearance of the season for the Devils, who scored the game’s first three goals and sealed it on John Marino’s empty-netter with 18.6 seconds left.

“The more games that I play, the more confident that I get,” said Daws, who improved to 3-0-0 on the road this season. “I’m feeling really good about my game right now.”

Sam Reinhart got his 31st goal for Florida, and Sergei Bobrovsky — announced as an All-Star selection earlier in the day when fan voting was revealed — stopped 18 shots for the Panthers.

By Florida coach Paul Maurice’s count, his team hit the post six times. He tipped his cap to Daws regardless.

“Their guy had a really big night,” Maurice said.

Reinhart has 13 goals in his last 10 games and has scored in each of the last six for Florida. Matthew Tkachuk and Brandon Montour got the assists on Reinhart’s power-play goal that made it 3-1 late in the second.

Tkachuk’s point streak stretched to eight games; he’s got seven goals and 10 assists in that span.

The nine-game winning streak was the third-longest in any Panthers season, behind only a 13-game run from March 29-April 23, 2022 and a 12-game stretch from Dec. 15, 2015 through Jan. 10, 2016. The Panthers remained No. 2 in the Eastern Conference with the loss, behind only Atlantic Division rival Boston.

Bobrovsky said he considers it a privilege to be picked as an All-Star.

“It’s an honor to represent our franchise at that event,” Bobrovsky said. “It’s great to be in that group with the young, superstar generation goalies. It’s special.”

The Panthers celebrated Pride Night, which included, among other promotions, several players using pride-themed tape on their sticks for warmups, the national anthem being performed by the Gay Men’s Chorus of South Florida and the team’s foundation auctioning exclusive Pride jerseys with all proceeds benefiting local South Florida LGBTQ+ organizations.

In 2013, Florida was the first NHL team to play host to a pride night.

UP NEXT

Devils: Visit Boston on Monday afternoon.

Panthers: Host Anaheim on Monday afternoon.

___

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

Dolphins play franchise’s coldest game in frigid Kansas City, one of the coldest games in NFL history

South Florida Local News - Sat, 01/13/2024 - 18:30

KANSAS CITY — The Miami Miami Dolphins played their coldest game in franchise history and one of the coldest playoff games in NFL history Saturday night against the Kansas City Chiefs at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.

The official recorded temperature for the 8 p.m. kickoff was -4 degrees with a wind chill of -27.

It’s the fourth-coldest game on record in league record, with the top five entirely comprised of postseason matchups.

Miami Dolphins | How to watch Saturday’s Dolphins-Chiefs game, the NFL’s first playoff game not on broadcast TV nationally

The game smashed the Dolphins’ record for coldest game the franchise has played in. Miami’s previous low was a 10-degree kickoff temperature on Dec. 21, 2008, also in Kansas City and a 38-31 Dolphins win. The Dolphins’ previous coldest playoff game was their 2016 AFC wild-card loss to the Steelers at Pittsburgh (17 degrees).

Saturday night’s game at Arrowhead is up there with the coldest postseason games in NFL history. The 1967 NFL Championship, also known as the Ice Bowl between the Cowboys and Packers at Green Bay’s Lambeau Field has the record at -13 degrees (-48 wind chill). The 1981 AFC Championship between the Bengals and San Diego Chargers in Cincinnati was -9 (-59 wind chill). A 2015 wild-card round game between the Seahawks and Vikings in Minneapolis was -6 (-25 wind chill).

While never playing in below-0 temperatures before Saturday night, the Dolphins hadn’t fared well even in less than 40-degree weather. They lost their previous 10 such games entering Saturday.

The quarterbacks had stark differences in experience and success playing in games below 45 degrees at kickoff. The Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes entered 26-12 with 274 total yards per game, 73 touchdowns and 20 interceptions. Miami’s Tua Tagovailoa: 0-4, 221 yards per game, four touchdowns and four interceptions.

There is a wind chill warning in Kansas City, noting the wind chills that could reach 40-below could cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 10 minutes.

The National Weather Service released an advisory: “Dangerously cold temperatures and wind chills continue (Saturday) night.”

While there was snow earlier in the week in Kansas City and some flurries Saturday morning and afternoon, there is a forecasted 0 percent chance of precipitation at night in the area.

The NFL decided to keep Saturday night’s Dolphins-Chiefs game on as scheduled while postponing Sunday afternoon’s wild-card pairing between the Steelers and Buffalo Bills in Orchard Park, New York to Monday at 4:30 p.m.

The league cited “public safety concerns in light of the ongoing weather emergency in western New York” in a press release. The decision was made in consultation with New York Governor Kathy Hochul.

The postponement, while making for safer conditions for fans to travel to Highmark Stadium, could put the winner at a disadvantage in the divisional round of the playoffs. The two other wild-card round winners will be settled Saturday, meaning two days before either the Steelers or Bills advance, and the top seed Baltimore Ravens are waiting on a bye week.

The Dolphins could have avoided traveling to freezing temperatures for the first round of the playoffs had they not blown a three-game lead in the AFC East with five weeks remaining to Buffalo.

Miami would instead be playing in roughly 70-degree weather Saturday night in Miami Gardens had the team sealed the division, clinching the No. 2 seed in the conference’s playoff picture.

Gators bounce back with resounding win against Arkansas

South Florida Local News - Sat, 01/13/2024 - 17:53

GAINESVILLE — The Florida men’s basketball team and star Riley Kugel followed their most embarrassing performance with an emphatic response to avoid an inescapable hole in SEC play.

The Gators’ 90-68 win Saturday against Arkansas was the bounce-back performance coach Todd Golden’s squad (11-5, 1-2 SEC) and Kugel needed after a 103-85 lopsided loss Wednesday at Ole Miss.

The Rebels were the first opponent to crack the century mark against UF since Tennessee in 2008, and Kugel failed to score during just four minutes after getting crossways with his coach.

But against Arkansas, to 6-foot-5 Orlando native led five Gators in double figures with 20 points — Kugel’s highest point total since he dropped 25 during a Nov. 29 loss at Wake Forest and the season’s fourth 20-point outing.

“We’re not the best versions of ourselves unless Riley Kugel is playing well,” Golden said. “When he plays like that, obviously our ceiling gets a lot higher.”

Florida coach Todd Golden looks on during the Gators’ 90-68 win against Arkansas Jan. 13 in Gainesville to avoid an 0-3 SEC start. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images)

Many of Kugel’s points were courtesy of highlight-reel plays during Florida runs as the Gators avoided an 0-3 start to conference play in front of a sold-out crowd of 10,449 at the O’Connell Center.

Kugel closed the first half with an end-to-end layup and baseline dunk, one of his four slams in the game. .

“He does something different every day. I’m like, ‘Who are you?’” shooting guard Will Richard said. “We know what he can do. I’m just proud of him getting back on track.”

A banked 3-pointer for his final points culminated Kugel’s evening and even elicited a smile from the usually stoic 20-year-old.

“That was the basketball gods,” he said.

As the final minutes wound down, Golden and Kugel shared a hug. Two days earlier, they shared a heart-to-heart after the season’s low point for both.

Neither shared many details of their conversation.

“We were just talking,” Kugel said. “We’re on the same page now.”

Florida coach Todd Golden and Riley Kugel embrace during the final moments of the Gators’ 90-68 win against Arkansas Jan. 13 at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center in Gainesville. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images)

Arkansas (9-7, 0-3) never had a chance once Kugel, the Gators and the O’Dome crowd got going.

But the Razorbacks had reason to be flat. Winter storms in Fayetteville forced coach Eric Musselman’s team to hunker down in Gainesville following Wednesday’s loss at Georgia and prepare for Saturday’s game.

Now in his fifth season at Arkansas, Musselman coached the Hogs to at least 22 wins and the past three NCAA Tournaments. But a program with appearances in two Elite Eights (2021, 2022) and the 2023 Sweet 16 is searching for answers.

“We’ve been a team that’s been super tough-minded, we’ve been a team that competes, we’ve been a team that battles, we’ve been a team that has grit,” the 59-year-old said. “We have not done that this year at all.”

The Gators seized control early on with an 11-0 run, culminating with a 3-pointer by 6-foot-10 Tyrese Samuel for a 16-7 lead. UF extended the advantage to 29-10 before the Razorbacks responded, though they never could get closer than 9 points the rest of the way.

Samuel went on to finish with 17 points and 11 rebounds for his seventh double-double of the season and confidence boost akin to Kugel’s. The Seton Hall transfer scored just 3 points during an 87-85 season-opening loss Jan. 6 to Kentucky and committed 5 turnovers at Ole Miss.

“I needed that,” Samuel said. “My coaches this week asked me if everything was OK. ‘Are you good?’ They’re willing to do anything to help me get back to how I was playing.

“I’m going to continue with this trend and continue to win games for Florida.”

Florida post player Tyrese Samuel dunks the ball en route to a double-double during the Gators’ 22-point win against Arkansas Jan. 13 at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center in Gainesville. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images)

The Gators look to maintain their momentum at Tennessee, one of the SEC’s top teams.

“This is going to be a bear on Tuesday night,” Golden said. “We got to go on the road, play with poise, not let the environment take our team over and take care of the ball and just do the winning things that we did today.”

In addition to Kugel and Samuel’s confidence-building outings, point guard Zyon Pullin finished with 15 points and 8 assists with just 1 turnover while 6-foot-11 Aussie freshman Alex Condon registered 9 rebounds and 3 blocked shots as the Gators built a 48-31 advantage on the backboard.

“This is our most complete performance of the year,” Golden said.

Edgar Thompson can be reached at egthompson@orlandosentinel.com

Riley Kugel scores 20 points, Florida routs Arkansas 90-68 to end 3-game skid against Razorbacks

South Florida Local News - Sat, 01/13/2024 - 17:49

GAINESVILLE — Reserve Riley Kugel scored 20 points to lead five in double figures, and Florida routed Arkansas 90-68 on Saturday to end a three-game losing streak against the Razorbacks.

Tyrese Samuel scored 17 points and grabbed 11 rebounds for Florida (11-5, 1-2 SEC), which also ended a two-game skid after going 6-0 in December.

Kugel, who didn’t score while playing about four minutes in the Gators’ 103-85 loss at Mississippi on Wednesday, was 8-of-14 shooting and made a pair of 3s against Arkansas. Zyon Pullin added 15 points for the Gators. Will Richard chipped in 13 points and Walter Clayton Jr. had 11.

Layden Blocker scored 12 of his 14 points in the second half to lead Arkansas (9-7, 0-3). Jeremiah Davenport scored all 13 of his points in the first half for the Razorbacks, but he was 0 of 2 from the floor and played just eight minutes in the second. Tramon Mark and Joseph Pinion added 12 points apiece.

Florida opened on a 27-9 run and led 46-33 at the break. Pullin scored 11 first-half points, Clayton added nine and Kugel eight for the Gators, who made four 3-pointers and shot 49% overall in the first half.

The Gators opened the second half on a 13-4 run and led 57-37. Samuel scored six points during the surge and capped it with a dunk. Pinion’s 3 pulled Arkansas to 58-44 with 14:33 remaining, but the Razorbacks didn’t get closer.

Florida is on the road against fifth-ranked Tennessee on Tuesday.

Arkansas will look to end its three-game losing skid when it hosts Texas A&M on Tuesday.

Orlando Magic at Miami Heat | PHOTOS

South Florida Local News - Fri, 01/12/2024 - 21:32

Winderman’s view: Heat take bite out of NBA dog days with win over Orlando

South Florida Local News - Fri, 01/12/2024 - 20:47

MIAMI — Observations and other notes of interest from Friday night’s 99-96 victory over the Orlando Magic:

– How do you define the NBA doldrums, the period between Christmas and the All-Star break?

– You define them as nights such as Friday at Kaseya Center.

– When you wind up with nothing like you would see in April, May or beyond.

– For the Heat, that meant no Jimmy Butler, Tyler Herro or Kyle Lowry.

– For the Magic, no Franz Wagner or Wendell Carter Jr.

– As players bide their time across the league.

– So Nikola Jovic starting for the Heat.

– Caleb Houstan, Chuma Okeke and Goga Bitadze for the Magic.

– Want star power?

– Well, there was Matthew McConaughey in the stands.

– Want a read on where the Heat stand as they approach next week’s midpoint of the season?

– Not even sure Erik Spoelstra can offer that at this stage.

– So you take the win.

– And move on.

– Barely.

– Butler, Herro and Bam Adebayo have played eight games together so far this season.

– And finished only six together, with injuries knocking Herro out of one, Butler out of another.

– While Friday was a start in trying to get the defense back to speed, with the return of Caleb Martin, you still need Butler for a truer read.

– So, yes, you get to learn about the depth of the roster.

– While also recognizing that many on display these days won’t be part of that depth come the playoffs.

– So doldrums? Dog days? These are them.

– With Butler, Herro and Lowry out, the Heat opened with their 21st lineup in their 38 games.

– This time it was Adebayo, Haywood Highsmith, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Jovic and Duncan Robinson.

– It was Jovic’s fifth consecutive start, after starting only once previously this season.

– Kevin Love and Josh Richardson entered together in the Heat’s first substitution.

– Caleb Martin followed with 3:26 left in the opening period, his first action in eight games, after sitting with a sprained right ankle.

– With Spoelstra trying to make due with those eight.

– With the Heat and Magic in a tight pack of teams in the middle of the Eastern Conference playoff race, Orlando coach Jamahl Mosley said it stood as a game with meaning.

– “You take it one game at a time, but you know that you’re always going to be battling Miami, no matter what,” he said pregame. “So I think you look at that as a little bit of heightened focus.”

– He added, “You look up at the standings and there is that group of teams that is bunched so closely together.”

– Mosley said he felt he arrived a week too early, with the Heat to retire Udonis Haslem’s No. 40 next Friday.

– “I was like, ‘Gosh, I wish I could be here for that.’ Because it’s something special,” Mosley said, “and what he has meant to this organization and this group of people, the way he’s brought a toughness to the team and it represented everything they are, and that’s who he is.”

Adebayo’s late jumper lifts Heat over Magic 99-96 in absence of three starters

South Florida Local News - Fri, 01/12/2024 - 20:44

MIAMI – Yes, this was Miami Heat-Orlando Magic. Sort of.

With the Heat without three starters, the Magic without two.

In the end, it wasn’t half bad for the Heat, which was good enough for a 99-96 victory Friday night at Kaseya Center.

“That,” Heat guard Duncan Robinson said, “was grind it out. We talked about it, just find a way to win, no matter if it’s pretty, ugly, somewhere in between. I thought we had stretches where we played well, some stretches where we gutted out a win.”

With the Heat lacking Jimmy Butler, Tyler Herro and Kyle Lowry, and with the Magic without Franz Wagner and Wendell Carter Jr., this hardly was the truest test of Florida supremacy.

But it was a needed bounceback for the Heat after Wednesday night’s drubbing by the Oklahoma City Thunder,

So, after a go-ahead jumper by Bam Adebayo and two late clutch free throws from Haywood Highsmith, with Sunday night’s game against the Charlotte Hornets remaining, there remains the opportunity to close out a 3-1 homestand.

“We had to win it ugly,” Adebayo said.

The Heat got 23 points from Robinson, 19 from Jaime Jaquez Jr. and 21 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists from Adebayo.

“This is a throwback Miami Heat game,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. “It’s OK to keep the score down and defend and then find a way to win at the end.”

The Magic were led by 25 points from Paolo Banchero.

Five Degrees of Heat from Friday night’s game:

1. Closing time: The Heat led 30-22 after the first quarter and 56-55 at halftime, after pushing to an 11-point lead in the second period.

Even with a 12-0 Magic run in the third quarter, the Heat were able to take a 75-73 lead into the fourth.

Eventually, it stood as a two-point Heat lead when Adebayo went to the line with 1:24 to play, making only the second of the two free throws for a 95-92 Heat lead, with Banchero then burying consecutive jumpers for a 96-95 Magic lead with 38 seconds left.

Out of a timeout, Adebayo was swarmed in the paint, with the ball going out of bounds off the Magic. After an unsuccessful Magic challenge on the out-of-bounds ruling, Adebayo buried a 13-foot jumper for a 97-96 Heat lead with 18.8 seconds remaining.

“We were running basically every action through him,” Spoelsrta said.

Orlando followed with its final timeout, with Banchero off on a pair of shots, including one on an offensive rebound.

“I thought it was fitting we were able to seal it for a defensive stop,” Spoelsta said.

That then had Highsmith at the line with 7.8 seconds remaining, with his two free throws closing out the scoring.

“I haven’t been in that situation in my career a lot,” Highsmith said, “so I just wanted to step up and make two free throws.”

The game ended on an errant desperation 3-point attempt by Banchero.

“It would have been nice to have it a little easier than that,” Heat forward Caleb Martin said.

2. The complete (exhausted) Bam: On a night of ample missed shots, Adebayo took control of the boards early, with seven first-quarter rebounds.

Then, with his offense off early, he turned to playmaker, with five first-half assists.

Later, unlike when Spoelstra typically rests his leading man at the start of the fourth, be it Butler or Herro when available, he this time had Adebayo on the court at the open of the final period . . . and through to the finish.

The exhaustion eventually showed . . . until that final go-ahead jumper.

Adebayo said the winner came from muscle memory.

“The hours and hours and work of doing that shot,” Adebayo said. “That comes from all the work I’ve done for that one that, that one moment.”

Adebayo played all 12 minutes in the fourth, with seven points in the quarter,

“I just felt he had his fingerprints all over this game,” Spoelstra said. “I felt like he had a triple-double. His playmaking was elite and essential.”

3. Martin back: Martin was back for the Heat after missing the previous seven games with a sprained right ankle, entering for the first time with 3:26 left in the opening period.

Spoelstra said it was a welcomed infusion of intangibles.

“It’s hard to actually explain it,” Spoelstra said. “You just feel it when he’s out there. It’s the quick twitch, that speed, quickness. And he fills in a lot of those X-factor gaps that I talk about that lead to winning.”

Martin, who was injured during the Christmas night victory over the Philadelphia 76ers, had pushed to return sooner.

“I know how badly he’s wanted to get out there,” Spoelstra said. “So it’s good to see him in a better mood.”

Martin said he tried not to force the action,

“I wanted to feel the game out,” he said.

Martin had seven points early in the fourth to keep the Heat afloat, closing with 11 points and four rebounds in his 23:57.

“He’s a gnarly competitor,” Spoelstra said.

4. No. 21: With Butler, Herro and Lowry out, the Heat opened with their 21st lineup in their 38 games.

This one was somewhat unique, without a true point guard, instead opening with Adebayo, Jaquez, Robinson, Highsmith and 6-foot-10 Nikola Jovic as the ballhandler. It was Jovic’s fifth consecutive start, after starting only once previously this season.

The 21 lineups tie for the most in the NBA.

“When I do my prep, that’s different for every game,” Spoelstra said. “You definitely can’t check boxes and mail it in.”

5. The streak: With the victory, the Heat improved to 8-0 within the Southeast Division and made it a franchise-record 21 consecutive home wins within the division, with an opportunity to extend that streak to 22 on Sunday night, when the Charlotte Hornets visit.

The previous Heat record had been 20 consecutive such divisional home wins, from March 2004 to March 2006.

The current home divisional winning streak, the longest active such run in the NBA, began on March 11, 2021.

The other two teams in the division are the Atlanta Hawks and Washington Wizards.

US military strikes another Houthi-controlled site after warning ships to avoid parts of Red Sea

South Florida Local News - Fri, 01/12/2024 - 19:17

WASHINGTON — The U.S. military early Saturday struck another Houthi-controlled site in Yemen that it had determined was putting commercial vessels in the Red Sea at risk, two U.S. officials said.

Associated Press journalists in Sanaa, Yemen’s capital, heard one loud explosion.

The first day of strikes Friday hit 28 locations and struck more than 60 targets. However, the U.S. determined the additional location, a radar site, still presented a threat to maritime traffic, one official said.

The officials spoke anonymously to the AP to discuss an operation that hadn’t yet been publicly announced.

President Joe Biden had warned Friday that the Houthis could face further strikes.

The latest strike came after the U.S. Navy on Friday warned American-flagged vessels to steer clear of areas around Yemen in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden for the next 72 hours after the U.S. and Britain launched multiple airstrikes targeting Houthi rebels.

The warning came as Yemen’s Houthis vowed fierce retaliation for the U.S.-led strikes, further raising the prospect of a wider conflict in a region already beset by Israel’s war in Gaza.

U.S. military and White House officials said they expected the Houthis to try to strike back.

The U.S.-led bombardment — launched in response to a recent campaign of drone and missile attacks on commercial ships in the vital Red Sea — killed at least five people and wounded six, the Houthis said. The U.S. said the strikes, in two waves, took aim at targets in 28 different locations across Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen.

“We will make sure that we respond to the Houthis if they continue this outrageous behavior along with our allies,” Biden told reporters during a stop in Emmaus, Pennsylvania.

Asked if he believes the Houthis are a terrorist group, Biden responded, “I think they are.” The president in a later exchange with reporters during a stop in Allentown, Pennsylvania, said whether the Houthis are redesignated as such was “irrelevant.”

Biden also pushed back against some lawmakers, both Democrats and Republicans, who said he should have sought congressional authorization before carrying out the strikes.

“They’re wrong, and I sent up this morning when the strikes occurred exactly what happened,” Biden said.

The Pentagon said Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin ordered the military action from the hospital where he is recovering from complications following prostate cancer surgery.

The White House said in November that it was considering redesignating the Houthis as a terrorist organization after they began their targeting of civilian vessels. The administration formally delisted the Houthis as a “foreign terrorist organization” and “specially designated global terrorists” in 2021, undoing a move by President Donald Trump

Lt. Gen. Douglas Sims, director of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said the Friday’s U.S. strikes were largely in low-populated areas, and the number of those killed would not be high. He said the strikes hit weapons, radar and targeting sites, including in remote mountain areas.

As the bombing lit the predawn sky over multiple sites held by the Iranian-backed rebels, it forced the world to again focus on Yemen’s yearslong war, which began when the Houthis seized the country’s capital.

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Since November, the rebels have repeatedly targeted ships in the Red Sea, saying they were avenging Israel’s offensive in Gaza against Hamas. But they have frequently targeted vessels with tenuous or no clear links to Israel, imperiling shipping in a key route for global trade and energy shipments.

The Houthis’ military spokesman, Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree, said in a recorded address that the U.S. strikes would “not go unanswered or unpunished.”

Rep. Elissa Slotkin, a Michigan Democrat and former U.S. intelligence official, welcomed the U.S. strikes but expressed concern Iran was aiming to draw the U.S. deeper into conflict.

“We should be worried about regional escalation,” Slotkin wrote on X. “Iran uses groups like the Houthis to fight their battles, maintain plausible deniability and prevent a direct conflict with the U.S. or others. … It needs to stop, and my hope is they’ve gotten the message.”

Biden told reporters that Iran has received a clear message. “I already delivered the message to Iran. They know not to do anything,” he said.

Though the Biden administration and its allies have tried to calm tensions in the Middle East for weeks and prevent any wider conflict, the strikes threatened to ignite one.

Saudi Arabia — which supports the government-in-exile that the Houthis are fighting — quickly sought to distance itself from the attacks as it seeks to maintain a delicate détente with Iran and a cease-fire it has in Yemen. The Saudi-led, U.S.-backed war in Yemen has killed more than 150,000 people, including fighters and civilians, and created one of the world’s worst humanitarian disasters, killing tens of thousands more.

It remained unclear how extensive the damage was from Friday’s strikes, though the Houthis said at least five sites, including airfields, had been attacked. The White House said the U.S. military was still assessing the extent the militants’ capabilities might have been degraded.

U.S. Air Forces Central Command said the strikes focused on the Houthi’s command and control nodes, munition depots, launching systems, production facilities and air defense radar systems. The strikes involved more than 150 precision-guided munitions including air-launched missiles by F/A-18 Super Hornets based on the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, and Tomahawk missiles from the Navy destroyers USS Gravely and USS Mason, the Navy cruiser USS Philippine Sea, and a U.S. submarine.

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The United Kingdom said strikes hit a site in Bani allegedly used by the Houthis to launch drones and an airfield in Abbs used to launch cruise missiles and drones.

Meanwhile, the U.S. Treasury Department on Friday announced it imposed sanctions on two firms in Hong Kong and the United Arab Emirates for allegedly shipping Iranian commodities on behalf of Iran-based Houthi financial facilitator Sa’id al-Jamal. Four vessels owned by the firms were also identified as blocked property.

In a separate development, Iran released footage of its seizure of an oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman that once had been at the center of a dispute between Tehran and Washington.

In the footage, a helicopter hovers over the deck of the St. Nikolas. Iran’s navy seized the vessel Thursday. The vessel had been known earlier as the Suez Rajan. The U.S. seized 1 million barrels of sanctioned Iranian oil off the vessel last year.

In Yemen, Hussein al-Ezzi, a Houthi official in their Foreign Ministry, said that “America and Britain will undoubtedly have to prepare to pay a heavy price and bear all the dire consequences of this blatant aggression.”

The Red Sea route is a crucial waterway, and attacks there have caused severe disruptions to global trade. Benchmark Brent crude oil traded up some 4% Friday at over $80 a barrel. Tesla, meanwhile, said it would temporarily halt most production at its German factory because of attacks in the Red Sea.

In Saada, the Houthis’ stronghold in northwest Yemen, hundreds gathered for a rally Friday, denouncing the U.S. and Israel. Another drew thousands in Sanaa, the capital.

Houthis now control territory that is home to some two-thirds of Yemen’s population of 34 million. War and misgovernment have made Yemen one of the poorest countries in the Arab world, and the World Food Program considers the vast majority of Yemen’s people as food-insecure.

Yemen has been targeted by U.S. military action over the last four American presidencies. A campaign of drone strikes began under President George W. Bush to target the local affiliate of al-Qaida, attacks that have continued under the Biden administration. Meanwhile, the U.S. has launched raids and other military operations amid the ongoing war in Yemen.

That war began when the Houthis swept into Sanaa in 2014. A Saudi-led coalition including the United Arab Emirates launched a war to back Yemen’s exiled government in 2015, quickly morphing the conflict into a regional confrontation as Iran backed the Houthis with weapons and other support.

The conflict, however, has slowed as the Houthis maintain their grip on the territory they hold. In March, Saudi Arabia reached a Chinese-mediated deal to restart relations with Iran in hopes of ultimately withdrawing from the war.

Iran condemned Friday’s attack in a statement from Foreign Ministry spokesperson Nasser Kanaani.

“Arbitrary attacks will have no result other than fueling insecurity and instability in the region,” he said.

In Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning called on nations not to escalate tensions in the Red Sea. And Russia on Friday condemned the strikes as “illegitimate from the point of view of international law.”

___

AP writer Jon Gambrell reported from Dubai, United Arab Emirates. AP writers Bassem Mroue in Beirut, Jill Lawless in London, Nasser Karimi in Tehran; Fatima Hussein, Ellen Knickmeyer and Chris Megerian in Washington; and Seung Min Kim in Emmaus, Pennsylvania, contributed to this report.

After huge win, UCF gets even bigger news with commitment from 5-star Mikey Williams

South Florida Local News - Fri, 01/12/2024 - 19:08

Five-star swing player Mikey Williams, the No. 26 player in the nation for the Class of 2023 (247 Sports), has committed to UCF, according to ESPN.

Williams, who signed with Memphis last year, never played a game for the Tigers due to a criminal matter involving a shooting outside his San Diego County home earlier last year. He entered the NCAA transfer portal on Monday and news circulated Friday that he had committed to play for the Knights.

The huge news is coming off the Knights’ shocking 65-60 victory over No. 3 Kansas on Wednesday night at Addition Financial Arena. UCF (10-4) hosts No. 18 BYU on Saturday at 4 p.m. (CBS Sports Network).

Whether he will be eligible immediately is unclear and it is also unclear if he has already enrolled in classes at UCF. Coach Johnny Dawkins was unavailable for comment. He was driving at the time the Sentinel attempted to text-message him.

“All I needed was a chance,” Williams posted on his Instagram account, with several photos of him in a UCF uniform.

He has nearly four million followers on his @mikey account.

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General Daily Insight for January 13, 2024

South Florida Local News - Fri, 01/12/2024 - 17:01

General Daily Insight for January 13, 2024

Balance is possible. As logical Mercury slides into serious Capricorn at 9:49 pm EST, we’re provided with the focus that we need to reach our goals — especially when it comes to our responsibilities and careers. Graceful Luna then dances into sensitive Pisces, offering us the spiritual peace we need to push forward. The Moon also works together with Mercury, as our intuition and our logic walk hand-in-hand to make our dreams come true. Our heads and our hearts together create equilibrium.

Aries

March 21 – April 19

Foundations can become stronger. There may have been a missing piece to your puzzle when it came to your career, financial security, or even self-confidence. Whether this security is improving in a material or spiritual sense, you’re likely to feel this increase soon. Take a breath and let cosmic calm wash over whatever your endeavors turn out to be. This tranquility will enable you to make clear decisions — you can absolutely put such clarity to good use regarding impactful choices.

Taurus

April 20 – May 20

Shifting scenery may also bring inner change. You may not realize it at the time, but traveling outside of your comfort zone can remind you of your true self. This adventure could be as simple as an atypical route home or as dramatic as a trip outside your country. Whether you go a little or a lot out of your way, try to absorb the unfamiliar environment and inspirational sights. Being present in the moment will let you make the most of your surroundings.

Gemini

May 21 – June 20

You’re getting something off of your chest. Unpleasant but necessary statements may have been weighing you down as of late. You may not want to admit them, even to yourself. Still, once you get started, the truth can flow from your soul like a river of relief. This may not even be something that you say to someone else out loud — it’s possible that you’ll end up writing your thoughts down in a journal or letter to your future self. Let it out.

Cancer

June 21 – July 22

Who, what, when, where, why — your mind is filled with questions and answers, Cancer. You might be bursting to share or hear the hottest gossip! On the other hand, perhaps you’re about to encounter someone who matches your conversational energy, potentially sparking thoughts of a deeper friendship. Opportunities abound throughout the day, likely related to communication, networking, and other ways of bridging gaps between yourself and your peers. If you shut yourself in, you could miss out on a great connection.

Leo

July 23 – August 22

A routine can increase your personal security. You might have been feeling a little blown off course recently, which could be because you’re not following a set routine. This rootless feeling is likely to continue unless you find your way back to order. It can be hard to let go of some of your more carefree ways, and you don’t have to let go of them all. Still, once you start seeing the results of a schedule that works, you may never go back!

Virgo

August 23 – September 22

No walls can hold your mental powers today, Virgo. Thinking outside of the box should give you the power to solve all sorts of problems. If you’ve been feeling constricted or powerless, remind yourself that you don’t have to give up just because there’s a roadblock, no matter how intimidating it is. In fact, this is an opportunity for you to exercise your brain and look for a way forward that’s not immediately obvious. Maybe the solution that you find will help other people, too.

Libra

September 23 – October 22

Your heart is speaking! As a Libra, you may normally try to keep the peace, but you are capable of rocking the boat or, at least, defying people’s perceptions. If you see injustice or behavior that doesn’t sit right with you, now is NOT the time to keep quiet. Whether you’re updating your boundaries to clarify what makes you comfortable with a pal or family member, or you’re refusing to indulge bad behavior from a coworker or acquaintance, tell it like it is.

Scorpio

October 23 – November 21

A new addition could be about to join your circle of friends. This person might approach you in an unexpected way, but not an unwelcome one. You may begin developing an emotional connection to them right away. You — and even other friends of yours — could warm up to this person more quickly than normal, and conversation might flow very easily. Connections you develop at this time can continue long after today, so be open to what meeting different people can bring.

Sagittarius

November 22 – December 21

You might be someone’s rock today. This person might be feeling down on their luck and need a shoulder to cry on — you’re steady enough to be their pillar of support. You can be there for them by letting them vent and doing other things that show them that you care. We all need a hand in times of stress, so, if possible, let this person pour their heart out to you. They’ll likely afford you the same kindness in the future.

Capricorn

December 22 – January 19

You can advocate for yourself right now. You’re potentially attempting to convince other people of your side while you’re in a debate, or you might be in a job interview, encouraging a company to hire you for your skills and talents. Regardless, it probably won’t be easy to beat out the competition, as there are likely intelligent and witty people competing, but you have the facts to back up what you’re saying. You know who you are, now show them what you’re made of!

Aquarius

January 20 – February 18

You’re asking your soul what it needs. It could be that you feel less outgoing or sociable, and you’re craving some time in nature or desperate to crash on the nearest couch. Instead of pushing yourself to fulfill countless social opportunities by visiting each party or every event, it could be worth it to tell others that you have other plans. It’s okay if those other plans are yoga, meditation, or simply a long nap. Don’t underestimate the importance of rest.

Pisces

February 19 – March 20

You can flutter around, free as a social butterfly! While you may not normally have the spotlight on you, there could be people who want to hear your story and are presently asking you for information that was previously hidden from them. Perhaps you’ll be literally on a stage delivering a speech or a performance that will enlighten others about aspects of your inner self. While it can be intimidating, don’t be afraid to leave your chrysalis and show everyone who you are.

Photos: See the latest tech at CES 2024

South Florida Local News - Fri, 01/12/2024 - 16:44

The XPeng AeroHT ” modular flying car,” which will enter mass production with pre-orders beginning in the fourth quarter of 2024, is displayed at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, Nevada, on January 11, 2024. (Photo by Frederic J. BROWN / AFP) (Photo by FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images) A demonstration of the PalmPlug, which offers visual cues illuminating the wearer’s interactions by precisely tracking hand and fingers every movement, is seen during the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) on January 7, 2024, in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Frederic J. BROWN / AFP) (Photo by FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images) LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – JANUARY 10: Attendees look at the world’s first transparent MicroLED display at the Samsung booth during CES 2024 at the Las Vegas Convention Center on January 10, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. CES, the world’s largest annual consumer technology trade show, ran through January 12 and featured about 4,000 exhibitors showing off their latest products and services to more than 130,000 attendees. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) Samples of the Evie Women’s ring from Movano Health which monitors health, menstrual, sleep and activity is seen on display during the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) on January 7, 2024, in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Frederic J. BROWN / AFP) (Photo by FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images) Antoine Massebeuf gives a demonstration of the SKWheel, which offers high-end everyday skiing with no snow required during the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) on January 7, 2024, in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Frederic J. BROWN / AFP) (Photo by FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images) The Wimagine implant from CEA, a device seen on a replica brain which helps patients with spinal cord issues walk again is on display during the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) on January 7, 2024, in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Frederic J. BROWN / AFP) (Photo by FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images) Roberta Wilson-Garrett, of Blind River, Ontario, who has Parkinson’s disease, poses with her GyroGlove, made by GyroGear. The GyroGlove, which uses a gyroscope to help stabilize tremors, was demonstrated at the Mandalay Bay resort before this week’s Consumer Electronics Show (CES) on January 8, 2024, in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Brendan Smialowski / AFP) (Photo by BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Images) The Moxie Robot from Embodied, Inc., which will be updated with AI, is seen during a demonstration at the Venetian Resort during the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, Nevada on January 8, 2024. (Photo by Brendan Smialowski / AFP) (Photo by BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Images) A person uses Nimble Beauty’s Nimble Device to paint their nail during Pepcom’s Digital Experience at the The Mirage resort during the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, Nevada on January 8, 2024. (Photo by Brendan Smialowski / AFP) (Photo by BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Images) Japanese automaker Honda unveils its electric vehicle concept Saloon during the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, Nevada on January 9, 2024. (Photo by Frederic J. Brown / AFP) (Photo by FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images) An AR-navigated surgery aid from Decasight is seen at the Eureka Park exhibition in the Venetian Expo Center during the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) on January 9, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Brendan Smialowski / AFP) (Photo by BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Images) A finger points out where the cartridge for hair dye goes on L’Oreal’s Colorsonic, an at-home reusable hair color device that uses a mess-free process to mix hair color and apply it evenly, on display at L’Oreal on January 7, 2024 at the 2024 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, Nevada. With products offering perfect manicures at home and personalized advice on skin care and make-up thanks to artificial intelligence, the beauty industry is taking advantage of technological innovations with the aim of democratizing services sometimes reserved for the more affluent. (Photo by Frederic J. BROWN / AFP) (Photo by FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images) Japanese automaker Honda unveils its electric vehicle concept Space-Hub during the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, Nevada on January 9, 2024. (Photo by Frederic J. Brown / AFP) (Photo by FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images) People view the Scuba S1 pool cleaner from Aiper on display at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) on January 9, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Frederic J. BROWN / AFP) (Photo by FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images) Emily Stephens demonstrates usage of L’Oreal’s Airlight Pro hairdryer, which uses patented infrared light technology, on January 7, 2024 at the 2024 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Airlight Pro uses infrared light to dry hair, increasing drying efficiency 30%, preserving the hair’s moisture, and enables energy savings of 31% compared with a conventional appliance, Adrien Chrétien, head of augmented beauty development at L’Oréal, explained to AFP. It is due to go on sale in April. (Photo by Frederic J. BROWN / AFP) (Photo by FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images) People view and sample sitting on the S2 Del Mar EV motorcycle from Livewire, offering 113 miles on a full charge and powered by Mitsubishi’s semiconductor J1 series at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) on January 9, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Frederic J. BROWN / AFP) (Photo by FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images) The Mix Master Moodie, an AI-generated cocktail maker from Doosan Robotics, delivers a drink during a display at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) on January 9, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Frederic J. BROWN / AFP) (Photo by FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images) The tech-laden 405 Conquest boat from Brunswick, produced by Boston Whaler and loaded with stereo cameras for auto docking and a fathom power system using lithium ion batteries instead of traditional generators, is displayed at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) on January 9, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Frederic J. BROWN / AFP) (Photo by FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images) People view the Moonwalker from Shift, the first-ever mobility device that allows one to walk at the speed of a run up to three times faster than walking, during Showstoppers on January 9, 2024 at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Frederic J. BROWN / AFP) (Photo by FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images) A person works the joystick on the Mousetrap, a mouse for computer aided design and computer usage on display at Showstoppers on January 9, 2024 at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Frederic J. BROWN / AFP) (Photo by FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images) A man tries on the Aduro Facial Tronic facemask from Red Lite Therapy Collective during Showstoppers on January 9, 2024 at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, Nevada. Aduro Facial Tronic facemask from Red Lite Therapy Collective offers seven colours for treatment in red, green, blue, yellow, orange, cyan, purple and infrared to help with inflammation, anti-ageing, acne, spot removal, softer skin, balanced skin tones and cell rejuvenation (Photo by Frederic J. BROWN / AFP) (Photo by FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images) Glidance founder Amos Miller, who lost his eyesight early in life, demonstrates a Glide device that acts as a tech version of a guide dog to safely walk along at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) on January 9, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Glide can be given a destination and lead the way for someone holding its handle, or be easily pushed along sensing obstacles and steering users along safe routes. “You simply walk, and the wheels will steer,” Miller told AFP as he demonstrated the device. (Photo by Glenn CHAPMAN / AFP) (Photo by GLENN CHAPMAN/AFP via Getty Images) Visually impaired sports fans place their hands on a OneCourt device during the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, Nevada on January 9, 2024. OneCourt uses vibrations to relay real time gameplay action like how players or balls are moving. (Photo by Glenn CHAPMAN / AFP) (Photo by GLENN CHAPMAN/AFP via Getty Images) A vertical takeoff electronic aircraft from Supernal is seen outside the Las Vegas Convention Center during the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, Nevada on January 10, 2024. (Photo by Brendan Smialowski / AFP) (Photo by BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Images) People look at a Duobo coffee machine from LG Labs at the Las Vegas Convention Center during the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) on January 10, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Brendan Smialowski / AFP) (Photo by BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Images) ARpedia from Woongjin, an augmented reality reading teaching tool, is displayed at the Las Vegas Convention Center during the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) on January 10, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Brendan Smialowski / AFP) (Photo by BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Images) A person uses a Neural Earbud from Naqi Logix, which detects micro facial gestures and allows for hands, voice and screen free control of almost any digital device, at the Naqi Logix booth during the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, Nevada on January 10, 2024. (Photo by Frederic J. BROWN / AFP) (Photo by FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images) Competitors fly their drones for a Drone Soccer Match as it makes its global debut at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, Nevada on January 10, 2024. The high-tech innovative sport was developed in South Korea in 2016, involves two teams of five players competing with drones enveloped in protective wire casings to resemble airborne balls with points scored by maneuvering the drone through the opposing teams hoop which lights up when a goal is scored. (Photo by Frederic J. BROWN / AFP) (Photo by FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images) Keith Fischer from Bemis pushes a button on the side of the toilet seat to activate the Bio Bidet BB-1200 during the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, Nevada on January 10, 2024. The Bio Bidet BB-1200 bidet toilet seat from Bemis includes a heated-seat, unlimited warm water, an air dryer and and an app for wireless remote control. (Photo by Frederic J. BROWN / AFP) (Photo by FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images) A person displays the .Sims device from .Simstechnology in the palm of their hand during the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, Nevada on January 10, 2024. The .Sims device from .Simstechnology helps alert people when others are approaching from up to 45 feet behind, with alerts from 25-feet behind, offering an SOS button that will reach 3 emergency contacts receiving location and understanding of threat and capturing of images at 15 frames per second which get uploaded to the cloud. (Photo by Frederic J. BROWN / AFP) (Photo by FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images) The Wireless Weather Station from La Crosse Technology is on display at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, Nevada on January 10, 2024. The Wireless Weather Station from La Crosse Technology offers information on weather forecast, barometric pressure, featuring atomic time and four language options (English, Spanish, French and German). (Photo by Frederic J. BROWN / AFP) (Photo by FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images) A woman photographs a Humanoid Robot from AI Life with Bio-Inspired communicative AI, on display at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, Nevada on January 10, 2024. (Photo by Frederic J. BROWN / AFP) (Photo by FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images) A baby monitor from Hubdic is seen at the Las Vegas Convention Center during the Consumer Electronics Show January 10, 2024, in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Brendan Smialowski / AFP) (Photo by BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Images) An automated ramen machine from Yo-Kai at the Las Vegas Convention Center during the Consumer Electronics Show January 11, 2024, in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Brendan Smialowski / AFP) (Photo by BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Images) An Adam robot from Richtech Robotics makes coffee at the Las Vegas Convention Center during the Consumer Electronics Show January 10, 2024, in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Brendan Smialowski / AFP) (Photo by BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Images) A finger pushes a button on the GermPass elevator operating unit from Micro Lumix, which kills germs on touchpoints, on display at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, Nevada on January 11, 2024. (Photo by Frederic J. BROWN / AFP) (Photo by FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images) The futuristic concept Alpha-Able electric vehicle from LG is displayed at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, Nevada, on January 11, 2024. (Photo by Frederic J. BROWN / AFP) (Photo by FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images) A person uses the iYU, a hands-free robotised massage bed, from Capsix Robotics at the Venetian Expo Center during the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, Nevada, on January 11, 2024. (Photo by Brendan Smialowski / AFP) (Photo by BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Images) Stephane Hersen wears the silent mask invented by his company, Skyted, that uses advance noise absorption technology to make confidential phone calls in public places, during the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, Nevada, on January 11, 2024. (Photo by Julie JAMMOT / AFP) (Photo by JULIE JAMMOT/AFP via Getty Images) A man checks his blood pressure on the BPBio-750 blood pressure measurement machine from InBody during the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, Nevada, on January 11, 2024. (Photo by Frederic J. BROWN / AFP) (Photo by FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images) People view the 45-inch screen from BOE Technology in Chinese auto maker Geely’s Galaxy E8 electric vehicle on display during the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, Nevada, on January 11, 2024. (Photo by Frederic J. BROWN / AFP) (Photo by FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images) The GermPass bathroom stall door handle from Micro Lumix, which kills germs on touchpoints, is pictured during the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, Nevada, on January 11, 2024. (Photo by Frederic J. BROWN / AFP) (Photo by FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images) Urtopia chief executive Bo Zhang poses with an electric bicycle with chatbot capabilities powered by OpenAI’s ChatGPT at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, Nevada, on January 10, 2024. Electric bicycle makers at CES touted slick features like ChatGPT as they rode a trend of people wanting to enjoy a breeze in their face without sweat on their brow. Some 44 million “e-bikes” were sold worldwide last year, and that number is expected to top 77 million by the year 2030, according to market tracker Statista. E-bike sales are outpacing sales of electric cars, according to market researchers and companies pitching their latest models at the Consumer Electronics Show. (Photo by Glenn CHAPMAN / AFP) (Photo by GLENN CHAPMAN/AFP via Getty Images) Jad Sassine from Hydro-One, demonstrate how to use the Y-Brush, an electric toothbrush supposed to clean the teeth in only 20 seconds total, during the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, Nevada, on January 11, 2024. (Photo by Julie JAMMOT / AFP) (Photo by JULIE JAMMOT/AFP via Getty Images) LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – JANUARY 09: Attendees look at the Stillness Experience Bath at the Kohler booth during CES 2024 at The Venetian Convention & Expo Center on January 9, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. CES, the world’s largest annual consumer technology trade show, runs through January 12 and features about 4,000 exhibitors showing off their latest products and services to more than 130,000 attendees. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – JANUARY 09: A Mirokai social logistics robot by Enchanted Tools uses its AI to interact with attendees in real time during CES 2024 at The Venetian Convention & Expo Center on January 9, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The company said the robot, which can grab things with its opposable thumbs and carry them using its rolling globe base, can be used for social therapy in medical establishments like hospitals. CES, the world’s largest annual consumer technology trade show, runs through January 12 and features about 4,000 exhibitors showing off their latest products and services to more than 130,000 attendees. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) Genesis Systems co-founder Shannon Stuckenberg discusses the inner workings of a WaterCube device that extracts water from the air during the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, Nevada, on January 12, 2024. Tech aimed at battling climate change and even pumping fresh water out of thin air attracted crowds as the annual CES show gadget extravaganza showed its green side. With calls to fight climate change escalating, technology firms are finding ways to help, according to organizers of the Consumer Electronics Show that wraps up in Las Vegas on January 12, 2024.. (Photo by Glenn CHAPMAN / AFP) (Photo by GLENN CHAPMAN/AFP via Getty Images) LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – JANUARY 09: A Wybot X solar-powered robotic pool cleaner is shown in a display pool at the Wybot booth during CES 2024 at The Venetian Convention & Expo Center on January 9, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. CES, the world’s largest annual consumer technology trade show, runs through January 12 and features about 4,000 exhibitors showing off their latest products and services to more than 130,000 attendees. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – JANUARY 10: LG Signature OLED T televisions, the world’s first 4K wireless transparent OLED TV, are displayed at the LG Electronics booth during CES 2024 at the Las Vegas Convention Center on January 10, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. CES, the world’s largest annual consumer technology trade show, runs through January 12 and features about 4,000 exhibitors showing off their latest products and services to more than 130,000 attendees. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – JANUARY 10: An Afeela electric sedan by Sony Honda Mobility Inc., a joint venture between Sony Group Corp. and Honda Motor Company to produce battery electric vehicles, is shown during CES 2024 at the Las Vegas Convention Center on January 10, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. CES, the world’s largest annual consumer technology trade show, runs through January 12 and features about 4,000 exhibitors showing off their latest products and services to more than 130,000 attendees. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – JANUARY 10: (EDITORS NOTE: This image was shot with a fisheye lens.) Attendees walk under a CES sign during CES 2024 at the Las Vegas Convention Center on January 10, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. CES, the world’s largest annual consumer technology trade show, ran through January 12 and featured about 4,000 exhibitors showing off their latest products and services to more than 130,000 attendees. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – JANUARY 10: Attendees, including Mehmet Koyuturk (L), play the video game “Gran Turismo 7: The Real Driving Simulator” at the Sony booth during CES 2024 at the Las Vegas Convention Center on January 10, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. CES, the world’s largest annual consumer technology trade show, runs through January 12 and features about 4,000 exhibitors showing off their latest products and services to more than 130,000 attendees. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – JANUARY 10: The ROBOCube intelligent street cleaner, an autonomous driving vehicle by Lotus Robotics that can be used in urban cleaning, controlled traffic areas and sidewalks, is demonstrated during CES 2024 at the Las Vegas Convention Center on January 10, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. CES, the world’s largest annual consumer technology trade show, runs through January 12 and features about 4,000 exhibitors showing off their latest products and services to more than 130,000 attendees. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – JANUARY 10: An attendee plays a video game using a Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra cell phone as a virtual gamepad at the Samsung booth during CES 2024 at the Las Vegas Convention Center on January 10, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. CES, the world’s largest annual consumer technology trade show, runs through January 12 and features about 4,000 exhibitors showing off their latest products and services to more than 130,000 attendees. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

Fox News stops running MyPillow commercials in a payment dispute with election denier Mike Lindell

South Florida Local News - Fri, 01/12/2024 - 16:44

By STEVE KARNOWSKI (Associated Press)

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — MyPillow chief executive and prominent election denier Mike Lindell said Friday that Fox News has stopped running his company’s commercials, disputing the network’s assertion that it is simply because he hasn’t paid his bills.

Lindell went public by tweeting that Fox, which had been one of MyPillow’s biggest advertising outlets, had canceled him. He said in his tweet that he didn’t know why but that he suspected that the network was trying to silence him. Fox denied that.

Losing Fox was just the latest in a series of financial and legal setbacks for Minnesota-based MyPillow and Lindell, who continues to propagate former President Donald Trump’s lies that the 2020 election was stolen from him, in part by rigged voting machine systems. Several big-box retailers, including Walmart, have discontinued his products, and lawyers who were defending him against defamation lawsuits by voting machine companies quit.

“As soon as their account is paid, we would be happy to accept their advertising,” Fox spokeswoman Irena Briganti said.

In an interview with The Associated Press, Lindell acknowledged that MyPillow owes money to Fox. He put the figure at $7.8 million, but he insisted that the sum is within his credit line with the network. He said MyPillow has long spent an average of $1 million a week to run its ads on Fox. And he said the network had long allowed him 12 weeks of credit until it recently cut that to eight weeks.

Lindell said he believes Fox wants to silence him “because I want to secure our election platforms” — an assertion that Fox disputes. And he said he suspects the network is sore because his Lindell TV/FrankSpeech online channel recently hired former Fox Business host Lou Dobbs, whose debut show on Monday night featured an interview with Trump, who made further false claims that the 2020 election was rigged.

Fox last April agreed to pay Dominion Voting Systems nearly $800 million to avert a trial in the voting machine company’s lawsuit that would have exposed how the network promoted lies about the 2020 election on shows by Dobbs and other hosts. Fox canceled Dobbs’ show three years ago.

Lindell acknowledged in an interview in October that he owed two law firms that were defending him against lawsuits by Dominion and Smartmatic millions of dollars that he couldn’t pay, which is why they quit. He said MyPillow had been “decimated.”

But Lindell insisted Friday that MyPillow is “doing great.” He said it’s still running ads on another conservative network, Newsmax, and on his own platforms. But he conceded that losing Fox will hurt the business and said he would run his ads there again if Fox would take them.

“Obviously, it would be great if Fox said, ‘Hey, come back,’” Lindell said.

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Fox News stops running MyPillow commercials in a payment dispute with election denier Mike Lindell