Miami, FL
ASK IRA: Will Jimmy Butler’s sparring turn into something more with the Heat?
Q: We’ve been hearing lots of Jimmy Butler trade rumors and lots of contract-extension rumors, but I’ve yet to hear anything about how Jimmy’s injured knee rehab is coming along. With the Celtics waltzing through the injury-riddled Eastern Conference to the NBA Finals, I would like nothing better than to see a “Celtic nightmare” Jimmy Butler revenge tour (with the Miami Heat) next season. – Greg, Jacksonville.
A: Jimmy Butler’s knee injury never was considered a long-term issue, with plans, in fact, to have returned had the Heat made a deeper playoff run. Based on Jimmy’s coast-to-coast whirlwind since the end of the Heat season, including stops the past week at WNBA games, I would not be overly concerned about the knee issue standing as a long-term concern. And based on his comments at a recent Sparks game and the No. 22 looking good in Los Angeles colors, clearly he already has begun his offseason verbal sparring sessions. It should be a very fun July ahead.
Q: Ira, has any player ever been more in the right place at the right time than Markieff Morris? He won the 2020 title against the Heat in the bubble with the Lakers and now can add another ring with Dallas. It would be funny if he winds up with more bling than Joker. – Sid.
A: But NBA Finals history is replete with unlikely ring winners. Earl Barron, Wayne Simien and Dorell Wright won rings with the Heat in 2006, with Eddie Curry, Dexter Pittman, Ronny Turiaf, Jarvis Varnado and Terrell Harris winning rings with the Heat during the Big Three era. There is plenty to be said about being in the right place at the right time. For all Markieff Morris went through with missed time after taking that shove from Nikola Jokic (albeit with some instigation of his own), there at least is the consolation of ancillary bling.
Q: Ira, how much stock do the Heat put in these draft workouts. I’m sure plenty of Heat players look good in practice and then never match that in games. – Tim.
A: Based on the degree of scouting and video available, actual performance in the sessions likely is second to the work ethic, diligence and competitiveness. Yes, it might sound trite to some, but the Heat do try to sort out potential fit with the team’s culture. Several players have struggled in their Heat pre-draft workouts only to thrive during their Heat careers, with Dwyane Wade at the top of that list.
Miami, FL
These Miami pizza spots rank among America’s best
Miami is many things: a beach town, a nightlife capital and a place where people will gladly queue for a cafecito. But increasingly, it’s also becoming one of the country’s most serious pizza destinations.
That’s according to the newly released 50 Top Pizza USA 2026 ranking, one of the world’s most influential pizza guides, which just named three Miami pizzerias among the top 15 in the United States—and gave the city another major nod in its ranking of the country’s best slice shops.
Leading the local charge is Francesco Martucci, which landed at No. 5 nationally, making it the highest-ranked Florida pizzeria on the list. The restaurant finished behind only a handful of heavy hitters, including New York’s top-ranked Una Pizza Napoletana and California standouts Pizzeria Sei and Tony’s Pizza Napoletana.
Two more local favorites—La Leggenda and ‘O Munaciello—tied for 11th place nationwide, giving Miami three pizzerias in the guide’s top 15. That’s a remarkable showing for a city that, until relatively recently, wasn’t exactly mentioned in the same breath as New York or Naples when pizza debates broke out.
And if your pizza preference involves a quick foldable slice rather than a sit-down pie, Miami earned another bragging right. Miami Slice was named the third-best pizza slice shop in the country, trailing only New York’s L’Industrie Pizzeria and Washington, D.C.’s Slice & Pie.
The rankings were unveiled on Wednesday during an awards ceremony in New York. This year’s guide features 116 pizzerias across 29 states, with Florida earning 10 total entries—trailing only New York and California for overall representation. For a city better known for stone crabs and Cuban sandwiches, that’s a pretty impressive slice of recognition.
The 50 best pizza spots in the U.S. for 2026
- Una Pizza Napoletana — New York, NY
- Pizzeria Sei — Los Angeles, CA (tie)
- Tony’s Pizza Napoletana — San Francisco, CA (tie)
- Razza — Jersey City, NJ
- Truly Pizza — Dana Point, CA
- Francesco Martucci — Miami, FL
- Don Antonio — New York, NY
- Jay’s — Kenmore, WA
- Ribalta — New York, NY (tie)
- Robert’s — Chicago, IL (tie)
- Leña — Cleveland, OH
- Ken’s Artisan Pizza — Portland, OR
- La Leggenda — Miami, FL (tie)
- ‘O Munaciello — Miami, FL (tie)
- Valentina’s — Madison, WI
- Stretch Pizza — New York, NY
- Audace — New York, NY
- Pasquale’s — South Kingstown, RI (tie)
- Pizza Secret — New York, NY (tie)
- Pizzeria Beddia — Philadelphia, PA
- Ops — New York, NY
- Partenope Ristorante — Dallas, TX
- MPN – Mission Pizza Napoletana — Winston-Salem, NC
- Inferno Pizzeria Napoletana — Darnestown, MD
- Kesté — New York, NY
- Flour House — San Luis Obispo, CA
- Il Forno — San Antonio, TX
- Fabrica Pizza — Tampa, FL
- Nardò — Huntington Beach, CA
- GRANA — Portland, OR
- Pizza Delicious — New Orleans, LA
- Coals — Louisville, KY
- Craft 64 — Scottsdale, AZ
- Sho Pizza Bar — Nashville, TN
- Bricco — Haddon Township, NJ
- Salsa — New York, NY
- Antico Pizza — Atlanta, GA
- Zeneli — New Haven, CT
- Posto — Somerville, MA
- Andrew Bellucci’s Pizzeria — New York, NY
- A Modo Mio — Arlington, VA
- Tribute Pizza — San Diego, CA
- Pasquale Jones — New York, NY
- Pizzeria Florian — East Aurora, NY
- Penelope Pizza — Tucson, AZ
- Pizza Baby — Charlotte, NC
- Coda di Volpe — Chicago, IL
- Angeli’s Pizzeria — Baltimore, MD
- Lincoln Winebar — Mount Vernon, NY
- Hapa Pizza — Beaverton, OR
- Si Cara. — Cambridge, MA
- Nostrana — Portland, OR
- Quattro — Boston, MA
- Lucky Dough Pizza — Pensacola, FL
Miami, FL
Miami lands commitment from Rivals300 LB Noah Glover
Miami has scored a huge win on the recruiting trail.
Rivals300 Haymarket (Va.) Battlefield linebacker Noah Glover committed to the Hurricanes on Sunday night shortly following his official visit.
“I love Coach (Corey) Hetherman and Coach (Mario) Cristobal. I feel like Coach Hetherman is a great coach and can develop me. He can help me get to my ultimate goal, which is the NFL. I know I would be in good hands at Miami. The atmosphere is really nice. Coral Gables is a really nice area. Everybody is close. It’s family oriented. The coaches have their sons there. I really love it there.”
Glover picked Miami over fellow finalists Georgia, Notre Dame and Texas A&M
Miami defensive coordinator Corey Hetherman led the way in Glover’s recruitment. Hetherman visited Glover throughout the offseason and really moved the needle on his official visit.
“I love how Coach Heatherman runs the defense,” Glover said. “He has a lot of blitz packages and allows his linebackers to play free. Nothing really holds them back. They just attack and go. It’s always next play mentality. I feel like that’s a great fit for me.”
Miami head coach Mario Cristobal also made a big impact.
“He’s always sending me videos and quotes,” Glover said. “He stays in touch and calls me, too. My contact with him has been very good. He’s building a great team. You saw it last year. They almost won the national championship. He’s creating a good team and culture. Everything there is next level.”
At 6-foot-1, 200 pounds, Glover is ranked as the No. 19 linebacker and No. 199 overall prospect in the country, per the Rivals Industry Ranking.
Miami now has 17 commitments in the 2027 recruiting class — Glover, five-star Long Beach (Calif.) Poly cornerback Donte Wright, five-star Miami (Fla.) Carol City wide receiver Nick Lennear, Top 100 Dotahn (Ala.) High cornerback Ai’King Hall, Top 100 Garner (N.C.) High linebacker AJ Randle, Top 100 Lombard (Ill.) Montini Catholic quarterback Israel Abrams, , Rivals300 Houston (Texas) Langham Creek defensive lineman Ezekiel Ayangbile, Rivals300 Phenix City (Ala.) Central offensive lineman Jatori Williams, Rivals300 Poplarville (Miss.) High running back Ty Keys, Rivals300 Fort Pierce (Fla.) John Carroll offensive lineman Sean Tatum, four-star Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) Cardinal Gibbons tight end Demarcus Deroche, four-star Pearland (Texas) High defensive lineman Demarco Jenkins, four-star Davie (Fla.) McArthur defensive back Jaylyn Jones, three-star Gainesville (Ga.) High offensive lineman Tyler Ford, three-star Key West (Fla.) High defensive lineman Josh Johnson, three-star Lake Worth (Fla.) Santaluces EDGE Jayvon Dawson and three-star Davie (Fla.) McArthur defensive back Sherrod Gourdine .
Miami entered the day with the No. 4 recruiting class nationally.
Miami, FL
Deputies searching for 2 men accused of shooting man during attempted robbery in SW Miami-Dade
Two suspects accused in an overnight shooting in Southwest Miami-Dade remain on the loose, deputies said.
According to the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office, the shooting happened on Saturday night in the area of Southwest 143rd Avenue and Southwest 260th Street.
Deputies said that a man was shot as he was trying to get away from two people who tried to rob him.
The man was taken to Baptist Hospital by a friend, but was then airlifted to Jackson South Medical Center in stable condition.
An investigation into the shooting remains active.
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