Greg Cote's Hot Button Top 10: Dolphins open camp, Marlins & Messi stay hot & more
GREG COTE'S HOT BUTTON TOP 10 (JULY 20): WHAT IN SPORTS HAS GRABBED US THIS WEEK: Our Sunday Hot Button Top 10 notes column brings you what's on our minds, locally and nationally but from a Miami perspective and accentuating stuff that's big, weird, damnable, funny or otherwise worth needling as the sports week just past pivots to the week ahead. Welcome to the 111th edition of your HB10:
1. DOLPHINS: High-pressure season unfurls as training camp begins: The temperature around coach Mike McDaniel is rising as he begins his fourth season, after an 8-9 record last year and a betting over/under of only 7 1/2 wins in '25 as the full squad reports for camp on Tuesday. (First open-to-the-public practice is next Saturday.) Purely speculative at this point, but I predict Miami must make the playoffs -- and likely end the club's embarrassing 25 years without a playoff win -- for McDaniel and general manager Chris Grier to keep their jobs. And so much of that depends on the health and success of QB Tua Tagovailoa entering his sixth NFL season.
2. MARLINS: Fightin' Fish stay hot after All-Star Break: The Marlins are within five games of .500 (46-51) and within 6 1/2 in the NL wild-card race after starting the second half 3-0. Miami has now won four straight overall and is on a 16-6 run entering today's series-ender vs. Kansas City. Sizzlin' Fish then have three more at home vs. San Diego before hitting the road. Might Miami be a buyer before the July 31 trade deadline? The question itself was preposterous before the recent streak.
3. INTER MIAMI: Another Messi braces leads big Herons win: Miami is 12-4 (with five ties) and fifth in the MLS East after Saturday's big 5-1 road win at New York Red Bulls followed a 3-0 Wednesday loss at Cincinnati. Lionel Messi had two more goals -- extraordinarily his sixth brace in the last seven games. The Herons are at home next Saturday in a rematch vs. Cincy before league schedule pauses for Leagues Cup play starting July 30 in Fort Lauderdale vs. Mexican side Atlas.
4. HURRICANES: UM preseason launches with ACC Football Kickoff: ACC Football Kickoff (a.k.a. annual Media Days) is this Tuesday through Thursday in Charlotte, N.C., with Canes training camp to soon follow. Mario Cristobal drew an early Tuesday slot and will be the second of 17 head coaches to speak. Meantime the Walter Camp Preseason All-America first team includes two Canes: offensive lineman Francis Mauigoa and kick returner Keelan Marion. Miami, off a 10-3 season and narrowly missing the 12-team playoff, debuts at home Aug. 31 in a marquee season opener vs. Notre Dame.
5. GOLF: Scheffler in command, chasing 4th major at British Open: World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, the pre-tournament betting favorite ahead of Rory McIlroy, owns a big 4-shot lead entering Sunday's final round of the British Open in Portrush, Northern Ireland. Scheffler is chasing his fourth major win after two Masters triumphs and the PGA Championship trophy earlier this year. He recently said, 'I'm not out here to inspire someone to be the best player in the world, because, what's the point? This is not a fulfilling life.' Please. C'mon, Scott. If you aren't fulfilled dominating your profession as crowds cheer and money rolls in, that's on you.
6. SOCCER: England, Spain lead mammoth semis in Women's Euro '25: The 14th iteration of the UEFA women's European Championships is down to the semifinals in Switzerland: Reigning champ England vs. Italy and Spain vs. Germany. The championship match is next Sunday. England won its first crown in '22 on home turf. Italy is a two-time runnerup. Betting favorite Spain is in its first Euro final. Germany is a record eight-time champion but not won since 2013.
7. COLLEGE FOOTBALL: Stirring the pot on Saban return ... to Dolphins?: Former Alabama quarterback Greg McElroy, in an interview with ESPN's Paul Finebaum during SEC media days, said 'somebody notable' whom he has 'lots of respect for' told him Nick Saban isn't done coaching. The legend stepped down after the '24 season and replacement Kalen DeBoer went a disappointing 9-4 in his first year. Asked, DeBoer said politely, 'Well, he's one of the greatest to ever do it, and so he's earned the right to do what he wants.' Finebaum suggested Nick Saban 'go down to Miami, shake that system up' by returning to the Dolphins, who he coached in 2005-06. For what it's worth, Saban's daughter said on Instagram that Dad's not coming back.
8. HEAT: Miami misses NBA Summer League playoffs: Heat's kiddie corps finished a blah 2-3 in main NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, though ending with a one-point win over Milwaukee led by Vladislav Goldin's 18 points, 10 rebounds and four blocks in 22 minutes. From a four-team playoffs it's Sacramento vs. Charlotte Sunday night in an unlikely final for the Summer crown ... but does it matter? Anyone recall the Heat won the 2024 Summer League title? Probably not. Did it foretell a big season for Miami? Um, no.
9. WNBA: Caitlin's injury deflates All-Star Weekend: The WNBA All-Star Game in Indianapolis went on Saturday night with Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark a cheerleader in street clothes because of a groin injury -- a massive letdown. Such is the impact of the league's most popular star. Clark has missed 10 of the Fever's 23 games with various injuries. Clark and Napheesa Collier were All-Star team captains; Team Collier won 151-131 in a defensive struggle (!) led by Napheesa's 36 points. In other news, WNBA star rookie Paige Bueckers confirmed she is dating former UConn teammate Azzi Fudd. So there.
10. MEDIA: ESPYs fail to honor double-champ Panthers: No shock or issue with U.S. gymnast Simone Biles and NBA star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander winning best female and male athlete at the latest annual ESPY Awards. And South Florida's Coco Gauff winning best tennis player was a nice surprise. But 'best team' to the Philadelphia Eagles? After the Florida Panthers won a second straight Stanley Cup? Plain football bias by voting fans and the erstwhile Worldwide Leader in Sports.
THE LIST: DOLPHINS & CANES' SHARED 10-WIN SEASONS: As 2025 training camps are set to begin, only eight times in their shared 59-year history -- and not for more than 20 years -- have the Miami Dolphins and UM Hurricanes both won at least 10 games the same season:
Year Dolphins and Canes Head coaches
2003 10-6 and 11-2 Wannstedt, Coker
2001 11-5 and 12-0 Wannstedt, Coker
2000 11-5 and 11-1 Wannstedt, Davis
1994 10-6 and 10-2 Shula, Erickson
1992 11-5 and 11-1 Shula, Erickson
1990 12-4 and 10-2 Shula, Erickson
1985 12-4 and 10-2 Shula, Johnson
1983 12-4 ans 11-1 Shula, Schnellenberger
Note: Dolphins have had 24 10-win seasons in 59 years; Canes have had 16 in 88 seasons. The longest streaks of double-digits wins have been six by the Fins (1970-75) and eight by UM (1985-92).
Other select most recent stuff from me: Why Miami staunchly remains a Football Town even as Dolphins and Canes disappoint // Strobe lights? Trajekt Arc? How Marlins' trust in youth, player-development is paying off // Previous HB10 // Jalen Ramsey, now Asante Samuel drama = Dolphins mess at cornerback // Heat getting 3-point ace Powell a pickpocket-win for Riley // Champion Panthers keep revving this summer while Heat stays quiet // Dolphins' gamble on Waller after Ramsey & Smith for Fitzpatrick was net loss // Inter Miami falls to PSG but won big to reach Club World Cup final 16 // Poll Dance: Pat Riley // Panthers celebrate as 1 of 4 South Florida sports dynasties -- with no end near // Champions! Panthers crush Edmonton, McDavid, make history with 2nd straight Stanley Cup // Stanley Cup preview: On Connor 'McOverrated,' dream Cup rematch, Panthers as face of changed NHL // Major news on future of Dan Le Batard Show, Meadowlark Media, DraftKings // Giannis? Durant? Embarrassed Heat need major help after 55-point loss and playoff sweep // Miami Dolphins should be fed up with Tyreek Hill, but team is too desperate to trade him // To owner Bruce Sherman of low-hope Marlins: Spend more on payroll, or sell team // Dolphins' 18-month decline, quiet offseason heap pressure on Tua, coach, GM in '25 // A tribute to Miami sports legend Jimmy Johnson as he retires from Fox TV // 15 years later, Dolphins Cancer Challenge is the life-saving legacy of Jim Mandich // Unprofessional Jimmy Butler quit on Heat, ruined his legacy in Miami // And my latest podcast:
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