Orlando Entertainment News : Playoffs? Markelle Fultz says Magic can win Eastern Conference

Sentinel Sports Final

Wednesday, October 4, 2023

The Magic enter training camp fully healthy for the first time during coach Jamahl Mosley's three seasons, but Markelle Fultz needs an emergency checkup. They can win the East? How about being the best team in the state. Accomplish that (Miami won the conference last season) and everyone will take notice. Milwaukee (Giannis, Dame and Khris) and Boston (Jayson, Jaylen and Jrue) would like a work with Markelle. ... I don't care if it's a midweek afternoon game but the Rays drawing fewer than 20,000 is shameful. Mike Tyson once took a cheap shot at ticket sales for Lennox Lewis vs. Evander Holyfied at Madison Square Garden. I can't repeat it all but he quipped: "I could sell out Madison Square Garden (use your imagination how he completed this sentence here)." The same probably applies to Rays. ... Orlando City can continue to build on its record-setting season for the club in MLS. ... Billy Napier needs to change gears quickly. He was supposed to be innovative and adaptable. Not stale and predictable. If he keeps this up, they might as well bring back Jim McElwain. His fibs were more entertaining. ... Is it Timmy McClain, John Rhys Plumlee or both starters for UCF this weekend at Kansas? There's a school of thought that says, if you have two "starting QBs" you really don't have any.

Playoffs? Markelle Fultz says Magic can win Eastern Conference \| Commentary

Did he really say the Magic, who finished 12 games below .500 last year, could become East champions in a season when superstar Damian Lillard just joined the Milwaukee Bucks and All-Star Jrue Holiday just joined the Boston Celtics?

High school sports scores and top performers from Tuesday, Oct. 3

Among girls volleyball winners on Tuesday were Winter Park, Kissimmee Osceola, Orangewood Christian, Foundation Academy and Lake Brantley, while Lake Mary Prep and Hagerty had boys golf wins. The First Academy and Circle Christian also notched girls golf wins.

Magic open training camp healthy with defense top of mind

Coach Jamahl Mosley stressed the importance of continuity helping his team get off to a faster start to open camp Tuesday. "That's the great part about that continuity — they can really coach themselves," he said after the first practice.

Rays didn't show up for Game 1, and neither did their fans

Thank goodness the crowd was so small or that might have really been embarrassing. Never have so few shown up to watch such ugly postseason baseball as Tuesday afternoon's Game 1 of the American League Wild Card Series.

Has UF reached the point where Vanderbilt is a big game? \| Analysis

Few expected Billy Napier to be 9-9 at this point. His SEC-worst offense is predictable and punchless, averaging just 19 points vs. FBS competition. The Gators consistently commit special teams gaffes and line up with the improper number of players — as many as 13 and few as eight.

Orlando City can sharpen postseason focus with rivalry matchup at streaking Nashville

The Lions are MLS's best road team at 7-4-4, but Nashville hasn't lost in its last five matches. This rivalry between them has grown in the last few years with some aggressive play on both sides.

Could UCF see return of QB John Rhys Plumlee vs. Kansas? \| Analysis

With the return of the 5th-year starter, the Knights could have a decision to make on who will start at Kansas this weekend: Plumlee or backup Timmy McClain, who started the past three games.

Horizon football standout Bo Kenney hoping colleges notice \| Recruiting Insider

The dilemma for Horizon High is that it's only a third-year school. The other problem is that the school is located somewhat in the middle of nowhere off Central Florida's Western Beltway, State Road 429 or otherwise known as the Central Florida Expressway. There is not even an exit off the 429, coming from the north, at Seidel Road, where Horizon is located.

Rays make a mess in opening loss to Rangers, must win to stay alive

All the momentum, all the good vibes, all the optimism the Tampa Bay Rays had going into the Wild Card Series opener against Texas disappeared quickly when they played a miserably sloppy game in all facets, losing 4-0.

GATORS PODCAST: Gators pick up pieces after Kentucky no-show

During the latest Swamp Things, Edgar and Mark shed light on a path forward and serve as a voice of reason during a tense time in Gator Nation.

Dolphins Q&A: Why hasn't Miami's defense been better under Fangio? Is RB Jeff Wilson Jr. coming for starting job?

In the latest installment of our Miami Dolphins Q&A our writers answer questions from readers, including why did the defense struggle so much vs. the Bills?