Connect with us

Sports

Tampa Community Leader Les Miller Honored as Lightning Community Hero

Published

on

Miller (left) receives a custom jersey and donation during the first period of tonight's Tampa Bay Lightning match at Amalie Arena. Photo: NHL.

TAMPA BAY, Fla. (FNN SPORTS) – Source: Tampa Bay Lightning // The Tampa Bay Lightning honored Les Miller as the third Lightning Community Hero this season during the first period of tonight’s game against the Nashville Predators. Miller, who received a $50,000 donation from the Lightning Foundation and the Lightning Community Heroes program, presented by Jabil, will donate the money to the Tampa Alumni Guide Right Foundation and Gamma Theta Omega, Inc.

Miller is a shining example of devotion for helping out others in the Tampa Bay community. For three decades Miller has trailblazed his career in public service, as a member of the Tampa City Council, the Florida House of Representatives, the Florida Senate and as a Hillsborough County Commissioner. He has committed himself to many causes that provide growth opportunities through mentorship and career advancement programs for Tampa Bay Area African American students.

Together with his wife, Gwen, he has endowed a scholarship at his alma mater, the University of South Florida, for education majors engaged in their Black Leadership Network. Les’ legacy has built and continues to build a better tomorrow for many in the Tampa Bay community.

Miller becomes the 414th Lightning Community Hero since Jeff and Penny Vinik introduced the Lightning Community Hero program in 2011-12 with a $10 million, five-season commitment to the Tampa Bay community. Through this evening’s game, in total, the Lightning Foundation has granted $21.65 million to more than 750 different nonprofits in the Greater Tampa Bay area. During the summer of 2016, the Viniks announced that the community hero program will give away another $10 million over the next five seasons.

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Jacksonville

Jaguars Charge Past Los Angeles 35-6

Published

on

Photo credit: Arthur “Dell” Morgan, Florida National News

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (FNN SPORTS) – The Jacksonville Jaguars (6-4) handily beat the Los Angeles Chargers (7-4) 35-6 at EverBank Stadium today. The last time the Jags faced the Chargers, they overcame a 27 point deficit to win the AFC Wild Card 31-30 in January 2023.

Chargers K Cameron Dicker was the first to score with a 41 yard field goal. But the Jaguars responded with a scoring drive that culminated in RB Bhayshul Tuten’s 4 yard touchdown run, followed by K Cam Little’s extra point at the end of the first quarter, to put Jacksonville ahead 7-3.

Bhayshul Tuten scores a TD to end the 1st quarter. (Photo credit: Arthur “Dell” Morgan, Florida National News)

In the second quarter, Jaguars DE Josh Hines-Allen sacked Chargers QB Justin Herbert, which gave Hines-Allen Jacksonville’s franchise record of 56 sacks, breaking the record previously held by DE Tony Brackens. On the next play, Dicker kicked a 46 yard field goal, to bring the Chargers within one of the Jaguars, 7-6. But the Jags responded on their next scoring drive, which was capped off by Travis Etienne Jr.’s 2 yard touchdown run and Little’s XP, to put Jacksonville up 14-6.

Josh Hines-Allen sets franchise record with 56th career sack. (Photo credit: Arthur “Dell” Morgan, Florida National News)

Early in the third quarter, WR Jakobi Meyers, playing for the first time at EverBank stadium as a Jaguar, had a reception that put him over 5,000 career receiving yards. Later on that drive, QB Trevor Lawrence ran up the middle for a 1 yard touchdown, followed by Little’s XP, extending the Jaguars lead to 21-6.

The Jaguars added more points early in the fourth quarter as Trevor Lawrence threw a 1 yard touchdown pass to WR Tim Patrick, and Little added the XP, to put the Jaguars ahead 28-6. As the Chargers took possession of the ball, Herbert’s first pass was picked off by S Antonio Johnson, who returned the ball 44 yards. Two plays later, the Jags added another score on Travis Etienne Jr.’s 13 yard touchdown run, followed by Little’s XP, making the score 35-6, which remained the score at the end of the game.

Trevor Lawrence finished with 153 passing yards, 1 passing TD, and 1 rushing TD. Bhayshul Tuten led the Jaguars’ rushing with 74 yards and 1 TD. Jakobi Meyers was the leading receiver with 64 yards. Today’s attendance was 58,461.

Today was the Jaguars’ 2025 Salute To Service game, part of the NFL’s commitment to recognize and honor the military and veteran community. Over the past 15 years, the NFL has raised more than $75 million for charitable organizations that support the military community.

Today was Jacksonville’s 2025 Salute To Service game. (Photo credit: Mike Brodsky, Florida National News)

The Jaguars travel to Arizona to play the Cardinals on Sunday, Nov. 23 at State Farm Stadium. Kickoff is at 4:05 p.m. The Jags face the Titans the following week before returning to EverBank Stadium on Dec. 7 to face the Indianapolis Colts. Be sure to follow www.FloridaNationalNews.com for more.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________

MikeBrodsky | MikeBrodsky@FloridaNationalNews.com

Continue Reading

Central Florida News

Osceola Magic Set Franchise Record in 43-Point Blowout Win Over Birmingham Squadron 120-77

Published

on

KISSIMMEE, Fla. (FNN SPORTS) — The Osceola Magic (4-0) continued their dominant start to the season Friday night, setting a new franchise record for the largest margin of victory in a commanding 120-77 win over the Birmingham Squadron (1-3) at Osceola Heritage Park. The previous record was a 38-point win, achieved when the Lakeland Magic defeated the Cleveland Charge 129-91 in March 2022.

Javonte Smart delivered another standout performance, erupting in the fourth quarter with 12 points on 4-of-6 shooting, all from three-point range. The former LSU guard finished with 26 points, knocking down eight of the Magic’s 18 made threes.

For Birmingham, Hunter Dickinson posted a strong double-double with 16 points and 16 rebounds, while Chase Hunter added 15 points off the bench.

Osceola showcased exceptional depth, with seven players scoring in double figures. Orlando Robinson, the Magic’s two-way player, recorded his second double-double in as many games with 17 points and 13 rebounds.

Coach Dylan Murphy on Javonte Smart

“Javonte plays with supreme confidence, and we have that confidence in him. He knows what the right shots are, and even when he’s got it going, he still makes the right plays. I’m proud of him and how he’s been playing to start the season—and obviously, we need him.”

Up Next

The Magic close out their November homestand on Sunday, November 16, when they host the Squadron again at Osceola Heritage Park. Tip-off is at 3 p.m. ET. The night will feature Orlando Magic Night, presented by AdventHealth and Rothman Orthopaedics. The first 1,000 fans in attendance will receive an exclusive Osceola–Orlando Magic reversible replica jersey.

Continue Reading

Sports

Jahmyr Gibbs, DeMarcus Lawrence, and Nathan Shepherd Earn NFC Player of the Week Honors for Week 10

Published

on

NEW YORK, N.Y. (FNN SPORTS) – The National Football League (NFL) has announced its NFC Players of the Week for Week 10 (November 6, 9–10), recognizing standout performances from Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs, Seattle Seahawks linebacker DeMarcus Lawrence, and New Orleans Saints defensive tackle Nathan Shepherd.

OFFENSE: RB JAHMYR GIBBS, DETROIT LIONS

Gibbs exploded for 172 scrimmage yards (142 rushing, 30 receiving) and three total touchdowns (two rushing, one receiving) in the Lions’ 44-22 victory over Washington.

He led the NFC in scrimmage yards, rushing yards, rushing average (9.5 yards per carry), and touchdowns for the week. This marks Gibbs’ second career NFC Offensive Player of the Week honor (previously Week 14, 2024).

Gibbs joins quarterback Jared Goff (Week 2) as the second Lion to earn the offensive award this season. He is also the second Detroit running back—after Hall of Famer Barry Sanders (11-time winner)—to win multiple NFC Offensive Player of the Week awards.

A proud Alabama Crimson Tide alumnus, Gibbs becomes the fifth Alabama running back to earn multiple Player of the Week honors, joining Derrick Henry, Shaun Alexander, Mark Ingram, and Eddie Lacy.

DEFENSE: LB DEMARCUS LAWRENCE, SEATTLE SEAHAWKS

Lawrence turned in a dominant defensive performance in Seattle’s 44-22 win over Arizona, tallying four tackles, two fumble recoveries returned for touchdowns, one tackle for loss, and half a sack.

He became just the third player in NFL history to return two fumbles for touchdowns in a single game, joining Jeremy Chinn (2020) and Fred Evans (1948).

This marks Lawrence’s second career NFC Defensive Player of the Week award (first in Week 3, 2017). He is the first Seahawk to win since Leonard Williams (Week 13, 2024) and the first Seattle linebacker since Uchenna Nwosu (Week 1, 2022).

Lawrence is also the first former Boise State player to win multiple Defensive Player of the Week honors, joining Jay Ajayi as the only other Bronco to win multiple Player of the Week awards.

SPECIAL TEAMS: DT NATHAN SHEPHERD, NEW ORLEANS SAINTS

Shepherd made his mark on special teams, blocking a crucial field goal attempt that preserved the Saints’ 10-7 lead in the third quarter of their 17-7 win over Carolina—the only field goal block in the NFL during Week 10.

He added two tackles and a sack, contributing to a Saints defense that shut out the Panthers in the second half.

This is Shepherd’s first career Special Teams Player of the Week award, and he becomes only the second defensive lineman in Saints history to earn the honor (joining Bryan Bresee, Week 14, 2024). Shepherd is also the first player from Fort Hays State to ever win an NFL Player of the Week award.

Continue Reading
Advertisement
Advertisement Ticket Time Machine ad
Advertisement Orlando Regional REALTOR Association logo
Advertisement Parts Pass App
Advertisement Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Metro Orlando
Advertisement
Advertisement African American Chamber of Commerce of Central Florida
Advertisement FNN News en Español
Advertisement Indian American Chamber of Commerce logo
Advertisement Florida Sports Channel

FNN Newsletter

Trending