Sports
WATCH: PGA Champion Patrick Cantlay Press Conference
Published
1 year agoon
By
FNN SPORTSORLANDO, Fla. (FNN SPORTS) – PGA champion Patrick Cantlay respond to questions at the 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational press conference in Orlando.
Sports
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Announce Simeon Rice as 16th Ring of Honor Inductee
Published
3 days agoon
May 19, 2025
TAMPA, Fla. (FNN SPORTS) — The Tampa Bay Buccaneers announced today that legendary pass rusher Simeon Rice will be inducted into the Buccaneers Ring of Honor at Raymond James Stadium during the 2025 NFL season. Rice becomes the 16th inductee in franchise history and the fifth defensive player from the team’s iconic 2002 Super Bowl-winning roster to receive the honor.
INDUCTION CEREMONY SET FOR WEEK 13
Rice’s induction will take place during halftime of the Buccaneers’ Week 13 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, November 30, 2025, at 1:00 p.m. ET. The halftime ceremony will celebrate Rice’s dominant career and his pivotal role in Tampa Bay’s championship history.
DOMINANT CAREER AND SUPER BOWL LEGACY
A cornerstone of Tampa Bay’s historic 2002 Super Bowl XXXVII championship run, Rice amassed 69.5 sacks in just six seasons (2001–2006) with the Buccaneers, ranking third all-time in franchise history behind Hall of Famers Lee Roy Selmon and Warren Sapp. In 2002, he led the team with 15.5 sacks in the regular season and added 4.0 more in the playoffs, including 2.0 crucial sacks in Super Bowl XXXVII.
HISTORIC NFL RECORDS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS
From 1998 to 2005, Rice tallied an NFL-best 101.5 sacks, outperforming contemporaries like Michael Strahan and Jason Taylor. He posted five consecutive seasons with double-digit sacks (2001–2005) and logged eight career seasons with 10.0 or more sacks, ranking among NFL legends like Bruce Smith and Reggie White. Over his 12-year career, Rice recorded 122.0 career sacks, placing him in the top 20 all-time upon retirement.
CAREER HONORS AND COLLEGIATE LEGACY
A three-time Pro Bowler, Rice was also named a First-Team All-Pro and twice earned Second-Team All-Pro recognition. In 1996, he captured Associated Press Defensive Rookie of the Year honors after tallying 12.5 sacks in his debut season with Arizona. At the University of Illinois, Rice was a two-time All-American, three-time First-Team All-Big Ten selection, and recipient of the Jack Lambert Trophy.
OFFICIAL STATEMENT FROM BUCCANEERS OWNERSHIP
“During his Hall of Fame-worthy 12-year career, Simeon Rice established himself as one of the most dominant pass rushers in NFL history and is immensely deserving of his place as the 16th member in the Buccaneers Ring of Honor,” said Buccaneers Owner/Co-Chairman Bryan Glazer. “He left an indelible mark on our franchise, and we look forward to honoring his career this upcoming season.”
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Jermaine Kimbrough
Sports@FloridaNationalNews.com
Sports
Orlando City SC Crushes Inter Miami 3-0 to Extend Club-Record Unbeaten Streak
Published
4 days agoon
May 18, 2025By
FNN SPORTS
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (FNN SPORTS) — Orlando City SC (6-2-6, 24 points) delivered a commanding 3-0 victory over interstate rival Inter Miami CF (6-3-4, 22 points) Sunday night at Chase Stadium, matching a club-record 12-game unbeaten streak across all competitions. The result came during MLS Rivalry Week and marked the third consecutive match where the Lions scored at least three goals — and the sixth time this season.
Match Highlights
Luis Muriel opened the scoring in the 43rd minute after a perfectly placed long ball assist from goalkeeper Pedro Gallese, allowing Muriel to slip past the Miami defense and slot the ball into the lower-left corner.
Just eight minutes into the second half, Marco Pašalić doubled the lead in the 53rd minute following a well-worked setup by Martín Ojeda. Pašalić’s strike slipped through Miami goalkeeper Oscar Ustari’s hands, giving Orlando City full control of the match.
The Lions sealed the deal in stoppage time (90+4’) as Dagur Dan Thórhallsson finished a swift counterattack led by Duncan McGuire and Kyle Smith, tapping in Orlando’s third of the night.
Standout Performances
Luis Muriel tallied his sixth goal of the 2025 season, raising his all-time Orlando total to 11.
Marco Pašalić also claimed his sixth goal of the campaign.
Martín Ojeda notched his fifth assist of the season, marking his 28th career assist across all competitions.
Dagur Dan Thórhallsson scored his third goal of 2025.
Pedro Gallese earned his second career assist for the Lions while making four critical saves — earning him Heineken Star of the Match honors.
Match Stats & Details
Final Score: Orlando City SC 3, Inter Miami CF 0
Possession: Inter Miami 62.3%, Orlando City 37.7%
Shots: Inter Miami 21, Orlando City 17
Fouls: Inter Miami 16, Orlando City 10
Attendance: 20,859
Weather: Clear
Notably, despite Miami’s 62.3% possession advantage and 21 shots, it was Orlando’s clinical finishing and organized defense that secured the clean sheet victory.
Next Match
Orlando City SC returns to the City Beautiful on Wednesday, May 21, for the Round of 16 in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, hosting Nashville SC at Inter&Co Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET, with the match airing live on Paramount+.
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Harry Castiblanco
Sports@FloridaNationalNews.com
Sports
Lions Extend Unbeaten Streak to 10 as Ojeda Shines with First Home Hat Trick
Published
2 weeks agoon
May 11, 2025
ORLANDO, Fla. (FNN SPORTS) — In a thrilling, rain-soaked battle at Inter&Co Stadium on Saturday night, Orlando City SC (4-2-6, 18 points) played to a 3-3 draw against the New England Revolution (5-4-2, 17 points), led by a record-setting performance from Martín Ojeda, who netted the first-ever home hat trick in Club history and the Lions’ first hat trick since 2015.
With the result, the Lions extended their unbeaten streak to 10 matches across all competitions, placing them within striking distance of their Club record.
KEY MOMENTS
Martín Ojeda’s Historic Hat Trick
Ojeda lit up the stadium with goals in the 24th, 33rd, and 55th (penalty kick) minutes, marking the first home hat trick for Orlando City SC and the first since Cyle Larin’s memorable trio in 2015.
⚽ Rookie Milestone: Joran Gerbet
2025 MLS SuperDraft selection Joran Gerbet recorded his first professional assist, delivering a pinpoint through ball to Ojeda for his second goal.
Shutout Streak Snapped
The Lions’ club-record shutout streak ended at 653 minutes in all competitions, including 563 consecutive minutes in MLS play, after New England’s Alhassan Yusuf scored in the 38th minute.
Oscar Pareja’s Take
Post-match, Head Coach Oscar Pareja acknowledged the intensity and frustration, emphasizing his squad’s need to better manage games when ahead.
“We should have been better when we were up 3-2 and we let it go,” Pareja admitted.
MATCH STATS SNAPSHOT
Possession: ORL 46.9% | NE 53.1%
Shots: ORL 23 | NE 16
Attendance: 18,505
Weather: Rain
Heineken Star of the Match: Martín Ojeda
NEXT UP
Orlando City SC will stay home for a rematch of the Audi 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs’ Round One, hosting Charlotte FC on Wednesday, May 14 at 7:30 p.m. ET, live on MLS Season Pass via Apple TV.
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Javier Garcia, Harry Castiblanco
Sports@FloridaNationalNews.com
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