Orlando

Orlando City, WRDQ TV 27 Reveal Cast for Locally Televised Matches

Published

9 years ago

February 1, 2017

ORLANDO, Fla. (January 31, 2017) – Orlando City SC and WRDQ TV 27, part of the Cox Media Group Orlando TV group including WFTV 9 (ABC), announce the cast for the Lions’ 2017 Major League Soccer (MLS) campaign, the first season ever in the new downtown soccer stadium.

WRDQ TV 27 will broadcast the Lions’ non-nationally televised MLS regular season matches through its multi-year partnership with the Club. The 2017 schedule on TV 27 consists of extensive coverage of 20 live matches, including a 30-minute pregame show presented by SunPass, the Ford halftime show, and a 30-minute post-game show, as well as weekly installments of Orlando City Insider on WFTV 9 and WRDQ TV 27.

In 2016, WRDQ TV 27 had the top three most viewed Orlando City matches across all locally and nationally televised MLS matches in market.

“Our goal is to bring our product on the field to life,” Orlando City SC VP of Corporate Partnerships Rob Parker said. “This is a great year for the Club with the new stadium opening, and we are excited to see how the match day atmosphere translates on TV and enhances the broadcast.”

“We are proud to once again be the broadcast home for Orlando City Soccer Club on WDRQ TV 27 in 2017,” said Paul Curran, Vice-President and General Manager of WFTV and WRDQ. “With the team’s move into a brand new downtown stadium, WRDQ TV 27 will be there at every turn with the most comprehensive on-air and online coverage in the market. TV 27 will be home to exclusive access and inside information for their loyal fan base and anyone looking to learn more about the team up close and personal. Orlando City is transforming local sports in Central Florida and TV 27, along with WFTV Channel 9, will be there every step of the way in 2017.”

For a full schedule of matches this season, visit: www.OrlandoCitySC.com/schedule.

The 2017 Cast on TV 27 includes:

Mackenzie Thirkill, Co-Host

Mackenzie Thirkill is the new host of Orlando City on TV 27. She brings an insider look of all things Orlando City to the news desk joined by the Club’s panel of soccer experts. Host of Orlando City Today and The Show With No Name on OrlandoCitySC.com, Thirkill has also served as a commentator for Kick TV’s UEFA EURO programming and assisted with MLS All-Star and playoffs coverage in 2016. Mackenzie was a sideline reporter for Orlando City home games in 2016.

Tom Traxler, Co-host

Traxler is back for his sixth season with Orlando City. One of the most recognizable soccer personalities in Central Florida, Tom Traxler is also president of the Club’s official soccer specialty store partner, United World Soccer.

Jeff Radcliffe, Play-by-play Announcer

Radcliffe is the voice of Orlando City on TV and Radio since the Club’s inaugural season in 2011. Before becoming one of the most distinguishable voices of soccer in the state of Florida, the Virginia Tech graduate has worked as an Anchor, Sports Reporter for several organizations in his 21-year TV career. Radcliffe will also call the Orlando Pride, National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) matches in 2017.

Lewis Neal, Color Analyst

Orlando City legend Lewis Neal – who scored City’s first ever goal in 2011 – will enjoy his second season as a color analyst on TV 27 while captaining Orlando City B in the USL. A former Stoke City midfielder in England’s First Division, Neal has also played three MLS seasons for D.C. United before being reacquired by Orlando City in the 2014 MLS Expansion Draft.

Paul Shaw, Color Analyst

Shaw has enjoyed a lengthy professional career in England that included six years with Arsenal FC in the Premier League before spending three seasons in Hungary as an attacking midfielder for the traditional Ferencváros TC. Paul Shaw currently serves as Orlando City’s Youth Soccer Director of Coaching.

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Golf

Russell Henley Wins Red Cardigan at 2025 Arnold Palmer Invitational

Published

1 year 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.