Orlando

Orlando City SC Acquires Two-Time MLS Cup Champion Will Johnson

Published

9 years ago

December 28, 2016

ORLANDO, Fla. (FNN SPORTS) – Orlando City SC has bolstered its squad by signing two-time MLS Cup Champion and three-time MLS All-Star free agent Will Johnson to a two-year contract with an option for a third.

“We are thrilled to add Will to the team,” Lions General Manager Niki Budalic said. “He is a proven and accomplished MLS player that knows the league and [Head Coach Jason Kreis’] system very well from their time at Real Salt Lake. We are confident he will help the Club achieve its goals moving forward.”

Johnson, a 10-year MLS veteran, signs a two-year contract with the Lions following a successful season with Toronto FC. The 29-year-old started 20 matches among 29 appearances for the defending runners-up and scored two goals and five assists. Johnson played at Real Salt Lake from 2008-12 under Lions head coach Jason Kreis and made 30 starts in RSL’s 2009 MLS Cup campaign. Johnson also made 13 appearances in the Portland Timbers’ 2015 MLS Cup title run.

A three-time MLS All-Star and 2013 MLS Best XI selection, Johnson adds a plethora of experience to the Lions, having played 212 MLS regular season games, 193 of them starts, as well as 25 playoff matches, registering 29 goals and 22 assists overall.

The Toronto native, who holds Canadian, American and English citizenship, has scored four goals in 41 caps for the Canada national team since making his senior debut in 2005, including call-ups to three CONCACAF Gold Cups. Johnson was awarded the Canadian Men’s Player of the Year in 2013 by the Canadian Soccer Association after captaining the Timbers to the top of the Western Conference in 2013.

TRANSACTION: Orlando City SC signs free agent Will Johnson to a two-year contract with an option for a third year.

Name: Will Johnson
Height: 5’10”
Weight: 160 lbs.
Birth Date: Jan. 21, 1987
Birthplace: Toronto, Canada
Citizenship: Canada, United States, England

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Golf

Russell Henley Wins Red Cardigan at 2025 Arnold Palmer Invitational

Published

8 months ago

March 9, 2025

Mike Brodsky

Russell Henley wins the 2025 Arnold Palmer Invitational (Photo credit: Mike Brodsky, Florida National News)

ORLANDO, Fla. (FNN Sports) – Russell Henley wins his first red cardigan at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, today, along with $4 million of the $20 million prize pool. The red cardigan was first awarded in 2017, in memory of Arnold Palmer who passed the year before. This is Henley’s fifth win on the PGA Tour.

Russell Henley is greeted by his family on the 18th green after winning the Arnold Palmer Invitational (Photo credit: Mike Brodsky, Florida National News)

Henley finished at 11 under par for the four day tournament, carding a 70 today. Collin Morikawa finished in second place at 10 under par. API defending champion, Scottie Scheffler, finished today at 4 under par, tied for 11th place.

Scottie Scheffler tees off at the Arnold Palmer Invitational (Photo Credit: Mike Brodsky, Florida National News)

This coming week, the top golfers head to TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra, for The Players Championship. The winner will walk away with $4.5 million of the $25 million up for grabs. This is the PGA Tour’s largest regular season purse. Stay tuned to www.FloridaNationalNews.com for more.

NFL

UCF Hall of Fame Inductee Shaquem Griffin Launches Search For Greatness Combine With Joey Grant and GMTM

Published

1 year ago

October 30, 2024

Mike Brodsky

UCF Hall of Fame Inductee Shaquem Griffin Launches Search For Greatness Combine With Joey Grant and GMTM

Former UCF football players Shaquem Griffin and Joey Grant have partnered with GMTM to launch their Search for Greatness Combine at UCF on Saturday, November 9th. They’re giving local athletes a chance to showcase their talents and explore new sports opportunities. Griffin will be inducted into the UCF Hall of Fame on Saturday, November 2nd, during halftime of the Arizona vs. UCF football game. He is remembered for his tenacity, setting an NFL Combine record with the fastest 40-yard dash by a linebacker, and playing four seasons in the NFL, overcoming the challenge of only having one hand. He is now training to make the USA Paralympic Track and Field Team and hopes to compete in the 2028 Olympics. Joey Grant, the co-founder and CEO of GMTM, is a former UCF team captain, playing mostly Center for the Knights from 2011-2015.

Participation at the upcoming combine is free and invite-only, targeting athletes over the age of 18. To be considered, athletes must submit a highlight video via GMTM’s platform, showcasing their athleticism. GMTM will evaluate submissions and invite the most promising athletes to participate in the combine. The goal for this year’s event is to get 1,000 athletes to submit videos and be part of the combine process. Athletes chosen will receive personalized invites with further instructions, including event time slots and details. The athletes will be evaluated for their key athletic traits, to identify opportunities for them across multiple Olympic sports or professional sports programs. To learn more, or to apply for the combine, visit: https://gmtm.com/articles/the-search-for-greatness-at-ucf-with-shaquem-griffin-what-you-need-to-know.

Florida National News spoke with Shaquem and Joey about the combine, college football in the era of NIL and the transfer portal, and Griffin’s hall of fame induction. You can watch the full interview here:

Shaquem Griffin and Joey Grant interview

Stay tuned to www.FloridaNationalNews.com and www.FloridaSportsChannel.com for more.

Florida

Scottie Scheffler Wins Second Red Cardigan at 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational

Published

2 years ago

March 10, 2024

Mike Brodsky

Photo credit: Mike Brodsky, Florida National News

ORLANDO, Fla. (FNN Sports) – Scottie Scheffler wins his second red cardigan at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, today, along with $4 million of the $20 million prize pool. The red cardigan was first awarded in 2017, in memory of Arnold Palmer who passed the year before. Scheffler first won the API in 2022.

Scottie Scheffler wins the Arnold Palmer Invitational. (Photo credit: Mike Brodsky, Florida National News)

The number one ranked golfer in the world, Scheffler finished at 15 under par for the four day tournament, carding a 66 today. Wyndham Clark finished in second place at 10 under par. API defending champion, Kurt Kitayama, did not make the cut, this weekend, finishing 7 over par after the first two rounds on Thursday and Friday.

This coming week, the top golfers head to TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra, for the 50th anniversary of The Players Championship. The winner will walk away with $4.5 million of the $25 million up for grabs. This is the PGA Tour’s largest regular season purse. Stay tuned to www.FloridaNationalNews.com for more.