South Florida Voices
Mateo’s Hoop Diary: The harpoon brought in Giannis Antetokounmpo
The Heat went from irrelevancy to Eastern contention now that Giannis Antetokounmpo has been traded to Miami. It took parting with some quality goods, which included Tyler Herro, Kel'el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kasparas Jakučionis, three first-round picks, one pick swap and a second-round pick. But it needed to be done after four-straight years in ...
The Miami Heat’s ’06 files: The ride for the title
Every NBA player eventually learns that they cannot underestimate their opponent. It was the Chicago Bulls who taught the Miami Heat that lesson in round one. The Chicago outfit was an overachieving team with a nice mix of youngsters and veterans who got hot at the end of the regular season, closing with a 12-2 ...
Mateo’s Hoop Diary: Kevin Garnett has harsh criticism of Milwaukee Bucks
If there’s anyone qualified to speak on Doc Rivers’ coaching tenure, it’s Kevin Garnett. His credentials as one of the top 10 power forwards in history make the now podcast star one of the more insightful and entertaining commentators on NBA matters. He is arguably the main reason Rivers is a champion, and the two ...
Former Puerto Rican basketball player is enjoying the journey in his true passion of wrestling
From playing in the NBA to overseas, and then transitioning into pro wrestling, Peter John Ramos will never stop trying to become the best version of himself. That’s what keeps him working out late into the evening at age 41. Today, he’s Beast Mode, a professional wrestler living out his passion, and his stories could ...
Mateo’s Hoop Diary: The 2025-26 New York Knicks were a special team
It’s a special day for the New York Knicks and their fans now that the team delivered a championship. They hadn’t gotten it done since 1973, and some of their alumni — Walt “Clyde” Frazier, Patrick Ewing and Allan Houston — were present in San Antonio for the coronation. Going into Game 5 must’ve been ...
Mateo’s Hoop Diary: Knicks win NBA championship in San Antonio
The 53-year championship drought is over. It took five games in the Finals and the New York Knicks won their last three road games of the year. Their pressure suffocated the Spurs in the fourth quarter and had Victor Wembanyama unwilling to take the big shot in key moments. The Knicks put Dylan Harper on ...
Mateo’s Hoop Diary: The Heat being relevant hinges on getting Giannis Antetokounmpo
The Heat are all in on Giannis Antetokounmpo and there was never a secret to it -- yet if they fail to get him, the top brass will have to do damage control with the assets so the relationships aren’t fractured. But it could get worse. Reportedly, the Boston Celtics are also in on the ...
Mateo’s Hoop Diary: The Spurs suffered the worst meltdown in Finals history in Game 4
Josh Hart was so close to becoming public enemy number one in New York after blowing an open layup on the break to the horror of home fans, but De’Aaron Fox bailed him out with one of the sorriest plays in NBA Finals history: rushing for a layup when OG Anunoby, of all people, was ...
Marlins SS Otto Lopez Should be an All-Star
MIAMI — While there is still a month’s worth of baseball to go, we have seen enough. Miami Marlins shortstop Otto Lopez should be an All-Star. Not just an All-Star, but the starting shortstop of the National League. After all, the third-year Marlin leads Major League Baseball in batting average (.341) and hits (89). He ...
Mateo’s Hoop Diary: The Finals have been better than advertised
Three Finals games and three road wins. Each night has been decided by an average of five points and neither side has seen much success outside of the lane for long stretches. According to ESPN Press Room, Game 2 of the Finals averaged 16.43 million viewers, making it the most-watched Finals outing since Game 2 ...
Mateo’s Hoop Diary: The Spurs need more from Victor Wembanyama in the Finals
The New York Knicks are living their dreams up 2-0 in the Finals while the San Antonio Spurs are suffering through a nightmare. It’s been a fun series with Game 2 being the best playoff outing since the Western Conference Finals opener, and now the championship round has shifted to New York. One could point ...
Miami’s Relief Army Leads Charge Against Tampa Bay
MIAMI — The Miami Marlins celebrated 90’s Day at loanDepot park on Saturday by having manager Clayton McCullough play his bullpen like a deck of Pokémon cards. With injuries impacting half of the starting rotation, McCullough played seven relievers during Saturday’s 4-3 win over the Tampa Bay Rays. Starting with Lake Bachar, who tossed three ...
Indiana reporter Scott Agness says treatment from Pacers and Fever is “a little like bullying”
Independent reporter Scott Agness doesn’t think he would be getting shut out by the Indiana Pacers and Fever if he had ESPN or the Indianapolis Star attached to his name with an editor overseeing his work. If he was at one of those spots, he would have the backing of an editor to handle what ...
Independent reporter says he was denied access by the Pacers and Fever
It’s never a good day when a reporter has his credentials snatched for doing his job. Scott Agness, the independent reporter who created his Substack newsletter Fieldhouse Files, says the Indiana Pacers (in 2024) and the Fever recently took his. He reported on Caitlin Clark’s absence that it was “part of a strategic management plan ...
Mateo’s Hoop Diary: The 2026 Finals will be a special series
What a time to be alive for New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs fans. The former have patiently waited to get back to the promised land since their magical eighth-seed run in 1999, and the latter has come this far in the build’s first playoff run. Keep in mind that these have been the ...
Mateo’s Hoop Diary: Notes on the Western Conference Finals between OKC and San Antonio
The Western Conference Finals are headed for Game 7 in Oklahoma City on Saturday, deciding which team will face off against the New York Knicks in the championship round. As it was correctly pointed out on Game 6’s NBC/Peacock broadcast, it’s been the best WCF since 2018. Here are some quick stats ahead of Game ...
