Sports | Columns - The Independent Florida Alligator

Sarah Landauer and the author, Richard Johnson, after a Young Life event in 2010 at Trinity United Methodist Church.

SPORTS | COLUMNS

Remembering a friend, a bet and the 2010 World Cup

By RICHARD JOHNSON | July 9, 2014

I was reminded of 2010 a few nights ago. My memory was thrown back there thanks to an article in The Atlantic about friends who have died, yet still live through Facebook. It is an interesting take on a phenomenon that is now all too real for our ultra plugged-in generation of millennials, including myself. The story prompted me to read back through wall posts and messages of a friend I’d lost, and that brings me to where this summer intersects with that one.

United States’ goalkeeper Tim Howard leaps over Omar Gonzalez to tip the ball away during the U.S.’ 2-1 loss to Belgium on Tuesday.

SPORTS | COLUMNS

Column: Embrace the bandwagoners

By JONATHAN CZUPRYN< | July 2, 2014

A week prior to the start of the World Cup, I may have been able to name three players on the U.S. men’s national soccer team. And one of them would have definitely been Landon Donovan (oops).

Washington Redskins helmets sit on the field during NFL football minicamp. The U.S. Patent Office ruled Wednesday that the Washington Redskins nickname is “disparaging of Native Americans.”

SPORTS | COLUMNS

Patent office ruling a step in righting Washington’s wrong

By RICHARD JOHNSON | June 18, 2014

Appealing to Washington Redskins owner Daniel Snyder’s pathos was never going to work. You can make commercials and documentaries that tug on the heartstrings and you can even use surveys to get your point across that the nickname is offensive, but you weren’t going to get through to him.

Miami Heat forward LeBron James participates in practice on Wednesday in San Antonio, Texas. The Heat face the San Antonio Spurs tonight for Game 1.

SPORTS | COLUMNS

NBA Finals fire up in Texas

By RICHARD JOHNSON | June 4, 2014

And so they meet again, the two foes that could not be more different.

UF coach Kevin O'Sullivan watches from outside the dugout during the Gators' 9-7 loss to Southern Miss. in game one of NCAA Super Regional play in McKethan stadium Saturday, June 6, 2009. O'Sullivan and the Gators were eliminated from the 2014 NCAA Tournament in the regional round on Saturday.

SPORTS | COLUMNS

Florida’s postseason struggles signal time for a change

By JONATHAN CZUPRYN< | June 2, 2014

I thought this wasn’t the standard for Florida baseball.

SPORTS | COLUMNS

Keeping in mind those preparing to serve on Memorial Day

By RICHARD JOHNSON | May 26, 2014

It’s my show this week at alligatorSports because our main editor Jonathan Czupryn is at his brother’s graduation.

Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling looks on during the first half of their NBA basketball game against the Los Angeles Lakers on Feb. 25, 2011, in Los Angeles. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has banned Sterling for life and fined him $2.5 million for making racist comments.

SPORTS | COLUMNS

Column: Don't be fooled by Sterling's apology on CNN

By RICHARD JOHNSON | May 14, 2014

I was 16 years old when I most vividly remember being judged for the color of my skin. I was a black kid with a crush on a white girl, and I’ll never forget the way I felt when she told me that her mother had made it clear that our relationship wasn’t OK. If the girl’s father were still alive, he absolutely wouldn’t have let it happen, she said.

SPORTS | COLUMNS

Busy summer in UF athletics

By JONATHAN CZUPRYN< | May 12, 2014

If you’ve ever watched ESPN during the summer, you know that the guys up in Bristol scrape the bottom of the content barrel to fill their one-hour SportsCenter shows every day.

Tampa Bay goalie Anders Lindback (39) makes a save as Montreal winger Max Pacioretty (67) looks for a rebound during Game 1 of their first-round playoff series in Tampa.

SPORTS | COLUMNS

Playoff hockey is worth watching

By GORDON STREISAND< | Apr. 16, 2014

Hockey is effing great. It’s full of cool stuff.

Will Yeguete jumps on teammate Patric Young's back in celebration following Florida's 62-52 win against Dayton on Saturday in FedEx Forum in Memphis, Tenn.

SPORTS | COLUMNS

Gators still worth cherishing despite Final Four loss

By JONATHAN CZUPRYN< | Apr. 7, 2014

ARLINGTON, Texas — Trust me Gators fans, I know this sucks.

Gators basketball seniors Scottie Wilbekin, Will Yeguete, Casey Prather and Patric Young embrace after leaving the floor of the Stephen C. O’Connell Center for the last time during Florida’s 84-65 win against Kentucky on March 8.

SPORTS | COLUMNS

UF fans should savor basketball team while they have the chance

By ADAM LICHTENSTEIN< | Mar. 19, 2014

Enjoy this, Gators fans.

SPORTS | COLUMNS

NFL should end extra point, other sports’ rules should change

By ADAM LICHTENSTEIN< | Jan. 22, 2014

Every now and then, Grantland.com attempts to write the worst sports column on Earth. Today, Adam will try, too.

Seattle cornerback Richard Sherman (25) hits the ball away from San Francisco receiver Michael Crabtree (15) during the NFC Championship game on Sunday in Seattle.

SPORTS | COLUMNS

Sherman OK by me

By LANDON WATNICK< | Jan. 20, 2014

By now, you’ve probably read about or listened to Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman’s controversial postgame comments following his team’s 23-17 win in the NFC Championship over the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday night.

Jameis Winston attempts a pass during Florida’s 37-7 loss to Florida State on Saturday in Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.

SPORTS | COLUMNS

Picks Column: Conference Championship Weekend

Dec. 3, 2013

Another year has come and gone for the alligatorSports Brand Picks Column, and we’re in a nostalgic mood.

SPORTS | COLUMNS

Columnist thankful for lessons learned through mistakes

By JOE MORGAN< | Dec. 3, 2013

Former alligatorSports Editor Matt Watts looked at my computer screen and laughed.

UF coach Will Muschamp watches on during Florida's 37-7 loss to No. 2 FSU on Saturday at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. The Gators earned commitments from two 2014 four-star recruits on Thursday.

SPORTS | COLUMNS

Time for UF to move on from ugly season

By ADAM PINCUS< | Dec. 1, 2013

God must hate Florida football.

Alabama quarterback AJ McCarron (10) celebrates a touchdown against LSU on Nov. 9 in Tuscaloosa, Ala.

SPORTS | COLUMNS

Picks Column: Florida State

Nov. 25, 2013

In honor of this miserable season coming to a close, we at the alligatorSports Brand Picks Column would like to honor Florida’s bowl-less offseason. Well, no, that’s not entirely true. There will be plenty of bowls of chips to go around when the Gators are watching any one of 35 bowl games that they couldn’t get invited to. Make sure to remember the French onion dip!

Will Muschamp walks off the field following Florida’s 26-20 loss to Georgia Southern on Saturday in Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. The Gators’ loss to the Eagles was their first loss to a current FCS team since 1946.

SPORTS | COLUMNS

Muschamp deserves more time

By JOE MORGAN< | Nov. 24, 2013

I know you’re mad.

UCLA quarterback Brett Hundley passes during the first half of a 37-10 win against California in Pasadena, Calif., on Oct. 12, 2013.

SPORTS | COLUMNS

Picks Column: Georgia Southern

Nov. 21, 2013

We here at the alligatorSports Brand Picks Column are extraordinarily excited for this weekend. For the Georgia Southern-Florida game, you ask? Of course not. The second installment of the ‘Hunger Games’ series, “Catching Fire” premiered last night at midnight! If that doesn’t get your heart pumping, then we don’t know what’s wrong with you. Just watch the trailer, for crying out loud!

By adding three-star prospect Deiondre Porter out of Tampa Jefferson High, coach Will Muschamp now has 22 commits in his 2014 class. The class is currently ranked seventh in the country, according to Rivals.com.

SPORTS | COLUMNS

Dark season still offers hope

By PHILLIP HEILMAN< | Nov. 18, 2013

I'm not much of a fan of extended metaphors.