Sports: Columns - The Independent Florida Alligator

New York Yankees' Alex Rodriguez, center right, celebrates with CC Sabathia after Rodriguez hit a home run — his 3,000th career hit — during the first inning of a baseball game against the Detroit Tigers on June 19 at Yankee Stadium in New York.

Sports

A-Rod? More like A-Fraud: Rodriguez milestone is a Big Apple-sized fiasco

By Luis Torres | June 29, 2015

Alex Rodriguez’s baseball accomplishments shouldn’t be celebrated.

Florida's Buddy Reed runs toward first base during the Gators' 15-3 victory against Miami in the NCAA Men's College World Series on Saturday, June 13, 2015 at TD Ameritrade Park in Omaha.

Sports

Reed Speed: Outfielder crucial for UF

By JORDAN MCPHERSON | June 18, 2015

Buddy Reed has all the qualities a baseball coach looks for in a center fielder.

In this Dec. 5, 2009, file photo, former UF running back Chris Rainey warms up prior to Florida's 32-12 loss to Alabama in the 2009 SEC Championship Game in Atlanta.

Sports

ESPN investigation embarrassing for Gators

By GRAHAM HALL | June 15, 2015

The University of Florida, along with nine other schools, has received criticism for the systems in place that seemingly indicate that athletes receive preferential treatment when accused of criminal activity.

UF's Bobby Poyner throws a slider during Florida's 14-3 win against the South Carolina Gamecocks on April 11, 2015 at McKethan Stadium.

Sports

UF baseball seniors seeking to close out collegiate careers with national title

By JORDAN MCPHERSON | June 10, 2015

Come Saturday, the final leg of the No. 4 national seed Florida baseball team’s quest for its first national title officially begins.

UF's JJ Schwarz runs past third base and heads to score during the first inning of Florida's 13-5 win against Florida State in the NCAA Super Regionals on June 5, 2015, at McKethan Stadium.

Sports

JJ Schwarz, Gators peaking heading into College World Series

By IAN COHEN | June 8, 2015

If you were sitting in the stands of McKethan Stadium on April 7, watching closely as JJ Schwarz hit his fourth home run of the game, and then followed the freshman as he trotted around the bases and galloped back into his dugout, you might have thought this was the norm.

UF softball coach Tim Walton hugs senior shortstop Kathlyn Medina during the Gators' post-championship celebration on Thursday at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium.

Sports

UF softball coach Tim Walton praises senior Kathlyn Medina at championship celebration

By Luis Torres | June 8, 2015

When the Florida softball team was celebrating its second national title in as many seasons in Gainesville last Thursday, three players addressed the fans and answered questions.

Aleshia Ocasio pitches during Florida's 4-1 win against Illinois State on Feb. 21 at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium.

Sports

Air Jordan: Five UF softball players to watch for heading into 2016

By JORDAN MCPHERSON | June 3, 2015

With the Florida softball team winning its second-consecutive national title following its 4-1 win over Michigan in Wednesday’s decisive third game of the championship series, the quest for a three-peat has officially begun. And while coach Tim Walton has a heavy task ahead of him in replacing his six-player senior class — highlighted by 2015 National Player of the Year Lauren Haeger — he has pieces in place to make another deep postseason run. And with that, here’s your way-too-early list of five players to watch out for in the 2016 season.

UF coach Tim Walton walks to the dugout during Florida's 1-0 win against Florida Atlantic in the 2015 NCAA Regionals on May 17, 2015, at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium.

Sports

Torres Tells It: Tim Walton joins elite company with back-to-back national championships

By Luis Torres | June 3, 2015

Tim Walton is building something special in Gainesville.

Federal agents carry out boxes of evidence taken from the headquarters of the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF,) Wednesday, May 27, 2015, in Miami Beach, Fla. Swiss prosecutors opened criminal proceedings into FIFA's awarding of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, only hours after seven soccer officials were arrested Wednesday pending extradition to the U.S. in a separate probe of "rampant, systemic, and deep-rooted" corruption.

Sports

InstaGraham: FIFA corruption investigation alleges decades of crimes

By GRAHAM HALL | May 28, 2015

The longstanding rumors of corruption throughout FIFA appear to be true — but the president of soccer’s global governing body, Sepp Blatter, looks to have come out of Wednesday’s indictments unscathed.

Justine McLean bats during Florida’s 2-0 win against Ole Miss on March 9 at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium.

Sports

#Gators: A social media guide to following UF baseball and softball

By JORDAN MCPHERSON | May 18, 2015

With the top-ranked UF softball team already in the midst of the NCAA Tournament and the sixth-ranked UF baseball team beginning postseason play in the Southeastern Conference Tournament on Wednesday, the alligatorSports staff will be busy live-tweeting the events over the next month.

Sports

Johnson’s Journal comes to a close as staffer, columnist turns a new page

By RICHARD JOHNSON | Apr. 21, 2015

There is inherent power in the written word, and I’ve come to realize the impact. I need not look any further than the handmade card that sits on the desk in my room, written to me nearly two years ago. The cover reads: "congrats on quitting the Alligator," in bold letters. That’s how excited I was to leave this newspaper after Summer 2013. It was an occasion warranting celebration. It was before I understood the value of written words.

Sports

Staff writer thankful for co-workers, memories as college career comes to a close

By MORGAN MORIARTY | Apr. 21, 2015

As I write my byline one final time, I can’t help but get misty-eyed. I cannot believe my time at The Alligator is coming to a close.

Florida gymnastics head coach Rhonda Faehn celebrates winning the NCAA national championship during the 2015 NCAA gymnastics championships on Saturday in Fort Worth, Texas.

Sports

Air Jordan: UF gymnastics isn't done winning

By JORDAN MCPHERSON | Apr. 19, 2015

Rhonda Faehn is building a dynasty.

Bridget Sloan celebrates after scoring a 10 on the uneven parallel bars during the Southeastern Conference Championships on March 21, 2015, in Duluth, Georgia.

Sports

Air Jordan: Florida gymnastics growing from early-season struggles, capable of three-peat

By JORDAN MCPHERSON | Apr. 16, 2015

This is it.

Florida football playes run out of the tunnel during the 2015 Orange and Blue Debut Spring game April 11, 2015, at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.

Sports

Johnson’s Journal: Gators still have a long way to go before season opener

By RICHARD JOHNSON | Apr. 11, 2015

Spring is a time of renewal, but not so much in the swamp. All new coaches, even some new players, or at least ones we haven’t seen thanks to injury.

Georgia State head coach Ron Hunter hugs his son R.J. after taking him out of the game against Xavier during the second half of GSU's 75-67 loss on Saturday in the third round of the NCAA Tournament in Jacksonville.

Sports

Johnson's Journal: Georgia State's NCAA run ends, father and son walk off court together possibly for last time

By RICHARD JOHNSON | Mar. 21, 2015

JACKSONVILLE — With 19 seconds left in 14-seeded Georgia State’s 75-67 loss to Xavier, a father subbed his son out of the game.

Florida head coach Billy Donovan speaks with Florida guard Chris Chiozza (11) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in the quarter final round of the Southeastern Conference tournament against the Kentucky, Friday, March 13, 2015, in Nashville, Tenn.

Sports

Johnson's Journal: Gators still leaving a legacy despite underwhelming season

By RICHARD JOHNSON | Mar. 13, 2015

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Friday’s game between Florida and Kentucky was one of dueling legacies — yes, average teams leave legacies too.

Sports

The ugly truth: Sports can come with unavoidable safety risks

Mar. 8, 2015

I’m a runner. In no way am I a professional athlete or anywhere close. I don’t do very well on teams either, so I wanted to choose a completely individual sport with minimal human interaction. Running seemed like my cup of tea.

Kentuck's Willie Cauley-Stein, third from left, address the crowd during a ceremony marking the teams undefeated season after the Wildcats' 67-50 win against Florida on Saturday at Rupp Arena in Lexington, Kentucky.

Sports

Johnson's Journal: Kentucky not done yet after perfect regular season

By RICHARD JOHNSON | Mar. 7, 2015

LEXINGTON, Ky. — Two and a half hours had passed since Kentucky beat Florida 67-50 to make history, the first power conference team since 1976 to finish a regular season undefeated, 31-0.

Billy Donovan looks down the court during Florida's 66-49 win against Tennessee on Feb. 28 in the O'Connell Center. Donovan will be named the head coach of the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Sports

Johnson's Journal: Donovan's career one for the record books

By RICHARD JOHNSON | Feb. 28, 2015

Billy Donovan stood about where his name will probably be immortalized one day on the O’Connell Center court.