Franchise Opportunities in Miami, FL

Miami football has added a slew of commitments to its 2023 class recently including a 3-star QB. The Hurricanes are also battling Florida for Jaden Rashada.

The Miami football program has landed three verbal commitments in the 2023 class in the last week and with Jaden Rashada’s decision looming this Sunday, the Hurricanes might not be done.

The whole recruitment of Jaden Rashada has been interesting to follow. Oregon seemed like the favorite at one time, as did Ole Miss. But recently, Florida has emerged as the top contender after hosting him for two visits in June, one of them being an official visit.

Rashada, who is ranked 42nd overall in the 2023 class according to the On3 consensus rankings and seventh among quarterbacks, was supposed to decide last weekend, yet he pushed his decision back to this weekend and some thought it was to visit Miami.

And despite the fact that Miami football took the commitment of three-star QB Emory Williams, this week, a prospect ranked No. 880 overall and 43rd at the position, Rashada is now expected to take an official visit to Coral Gables before announcing his commitment.

Can Miami beat out Florida, and Texas A&M?

Mario Cristobal is one helluva recruiter and of all the head coaches in the mix for Rashada, he’s known him the longest and has probably had the strongest relationship from his time at Oregon, when the Ducks recruited him heavily.

Rashada is out of Pittsburgh, California, but seems like he is destined to play his college football in Florida. Texas A&M hosted five-star QB Dante Moore for an unofficial visit last weekend and the Aggies seem to be shifting their focus to him.

Surely, A&M would take the commitment of Rashada, who also visited there in June. Yet, the Aggies never seemed to build the same buzz that Florida did.

Now, Miami will get its chance. Florida is the leader according to the On3 prediction machine and has a 46 percent chance to land his commitment, while Miami is second at 18 and the Aggies are in third at 16 percent.

Rashada’s visit to Miami shows that the Hurricanes are still a clear contender and at the very least, they will get the chance to make the final in-person sales pitch before Sunday.

We’ll see what the buzz says coming out of this visit but there still haven’t been any crystal ball projections yet, which tells you this thing is still wide open with days to go.

MIAMI - A team of biologists recently hauled in the heaviest female Burmese python ever captured in Florida, officials said.

The python weighed in at 215 pounds (98 kilograms), was nearly 18 feet long (5 meters) and had 122 developing eggs, the Conservancy of Southwest Florida said in a news release.

The team used radio transmitters transplanted in male "scout" snakes to study python movements, breeding behaviors and habitat use, said Ian Bartoszek, wildlife biologist and environmental science project manager for the conservancy's program.

"How do you find the needle in the haystack? You could use a magnet, and in a similar way our male scout snakes are attracted to the biggest females around," Bartoszek said.

The team used a scout snake named Dionysus - or Dion for short - in an area of the western Everglades.

"We knew he was there for a reason, and the team found him with the largest female we have seen to date."

Biologist Ian Easterling and intern Kyle Findley helped capture the female snake and haul it through the woods to the field truck.

A necropsy also found hoof cores in the snake's digest system, meaning that an adult white-tailed deer was its last meal.

National Geographic documented the discovery, highlighting the continued impact of the invasive pythons, which are known for rapid reproduction and depletion of surrounding native wildlife.

Bartoszek said removal of female pythons plays a critical role in disrupting the breeding cycle.

"This is the wildlife issue of our time for southern Florida," he said.

Since the conservancy's python program began in 2013, they've removed over 1,000 pythons from approximately 100 square miles (25,900 hectares) in southwest Florida.

Over that stretch, necropsies have found dozens of white-tailed deer inside Burmese pythons. Data researchers at the University of Florida have documented 24 species of mammals, 47 species of birds and 2 reptile species from pythons' stomachs.

Prior to the recent discovery, the largest female removed through the conservancy's program weighed 185 pounds (84 kilograms) and was the heaviest python captured at the time in Florida, officials said.

The state's python removal program runs for two weeks in August. Participants compete for prizes, including $2,500 for capturing the most pythons.

Last year's challenge involved more than 600 people from 25 states.

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Jabari Smith, PF from Auburn

I believe this pick is all wrapped and ready to go for the Orlando Magic. Smith brings long playmaking energy to the Power Forward position which would be a fantastic addition to the young core of Cole Anthony, Jalen Suggs, and Franz Wagner. Smith also brings a shooting touch that is needed in the evolving game of today’s NBA. Smith can space the floor and knock down the outside jumper with ease. If Smith continues to work at his on-ball scoring and finishing at the rim, the sky could be the limit for this young man.

Player Comp: a combo of Jerami Grant and Chris Bosh.

Wendell Moore Jr. from Duke.

If Moore falls to Miami at 27, Pat Riley and Erik Spoelstra should sprint to the podium with their selection. Moore fixes so many problems that became present in this years run to the NBA Finals. Moore is a prototypical 3 and D player but emphasizes the three. He can shoot the lights out, would be a fantastic spark off the bench, and could contribute immediately. Also, Moore could be an excellent addition if Miami decides to move on from Duncan Robinson. Moore would be able to step into that role and provide more of a spark on the defensive side which aligns with Miami’s grit mentality.

Player comp: Mikal Bridges with a quicker first step.

Max Christie, SG from Michigan State.

After Orlando gets their bonafide big man, it’s time for someone who can score the rock. Orlando struggled sometimes last season, having stretches of offensive inconsistencies and scoring droughts. Christie is a lights-out shooter who can attack off the dribble as well. Christie would be a perfect scoring spark off the bench for the Magic and could help them continue to grow their young core. Christie does lack some size in his frame, but he makes up for it with quickness and a release that looks pure. Christie is going to be an elite shooter with a scoring upside that would be a perfect option for the Magic in the second round.

Player comparison: Immanuel Quickley.

Christian Koloko from Arizona.

Koloko brings an old-school style of tenacity that could fuel the Magic and aid on the defensive end. Koloko is an efficient beast down-low, shooting 65% from the field last season at Arizona. Koloko is also a presence on the defensive side of the ball, averaging 2.8 blocks per game and 3.9 per 36. Koloko is a grind-it-out big man who could be a valuable role player and a defensive presence to an average defensive team (17th in defensive rating last season). Koloko might not be the prototypical stretch-big in the modern NBA but I firmly believe that his style of play could still make a serious impact for the Orlando Magic now and in the future for years to come.

Player Comp: Mitchell Robinson.

Calling all the queerdos and club kids: The Black Market, the bimonthly alternative flea market, is back and gayer than before, ready to give you the alternative, campy Pride experience you didn't know was possible.

The group is taking over downtown Fort Lauderdale on Saturday for its Super Queer Carnival. The event will span three venues and feature performers like Dragula Season 3 finalist Dollya Black, Orlando drag queen Venus Envy, rock 'n' roll quartet Bruvvy, and intergalactic bass warrior Otto Von Schirach. Hosting it all are Miami drag legend Shelley Novak and Yoko Oso.

The plan is for Revolution Live to host the music, Stache the sideshow performers (including a knife thrower and a fire performer), and Backyard all things drag. (All three venues are owned by Damn Good Hospitality and adjacent to each other.) Eight local drag performers will also battle it out for the chance to win $1,000.

And as is commonplace at all Black Market events, expect to see vendors selling everything from vinyl records to vintage clothing and handmade crafts.

Organizer Panther Cordts tells New Times he expects a crowd of at least 1,500, adding that he had a waiting list of local bands that wanted to perform at the event.

Although the alternative scene is largely queer, this is one of the first times the Black Market has specifically been marketed this way to celebrate Pride Month.

The Black Market started in 2017 at Churchill's Pub before moving to Las Rosas, with attendance increasing in November 2020 as people looked to get out of their homes after lockdown, according to Cordts. In the past, the event has been largely centered in Miami, but Cordts says after the event "extinguished" Miami's resources and he decided to branch out north of the county line, with the last few Black Market events taking place at Revolution Live.

Though Fort Lauderdale's queer scene is more known for "polo shirts and khakis" than being alternative, Cordts hopes the event will inspire everyone to find their inner freak flag.

"Although it's alternative, it's inclusive to everybody," Cordts says. "That's our main thing: We just want everybody to come and have a good time."

Even if you consider yourself to be a bit strait-laced than most, Cordts encourages you to come out and see it for yourself. Drag from both near and far, local music, and an alternative scene on the rise await.

"Give it a chance," he says. "Everyone that comes leaves happy."

The Black Market Super Queer Carnival. 6 p.m. to 3 a.m. Friday, June 25, at Revolution Live, Backyard, and Stache, 100 SW Third Ave., Fort Lauderdale; linktr.ee/theblackmarketmia. Tickets cost $25 to $50 via universe.com.

Mold on equipment and on food and a rodent corpse helped take the flavor out of the pastelito for a couple of Presidente Supermarkets in Miami-Dade.

Unlike inspections of restaurants by the state Department of Business and Professional Regulation, failed Florida Dept. of Agriculture inspections of supermarkets, grocery stores, convenience stores, retail bakeries, food storage and food distribution facilities don’t result in shutdowns.

The inspector can, however, put Stop Use Orders on equipment or areas of the store or equipment. Sometimes, when several areas of the store are under Stop Use Orders, the business decides opening isn’t worth the time or effort until the Stop Use Orders are lifted.

If you wish to file a complaint about any of the aforementioned kinds of establishments, go to the Department of Agriculture’s website.

What follows are from the inspections, but are just the lowlights.

In chronological order of inspection...

On June 10, Inspector Simeon Carrero found the top manager ignorant in matters that do relate to customer health: “Person in charge does not correctly respond to questions that relate to preventing transmission of foodborne disease by a food employee.”

Deli area employees either were fuzzy on the concept of single-use gloves or just didn’t care as Inspector Carrero saw them “handling various tasks while wearing the same gloves...using a rag with detergent, and continuing to process with the same gloves after they have become contaminated and grabbing a piece of deli ham.”

Also in the deli area, cut lettuce and sliced tomatoes weren’t kept safely cooled, even though they were in a walking cooler. The same poor refrigeration problem was shared by bean sprouts and house cut melons in the produce area. Meanwhile, not being kept warm enough in the cafeteria area were white rice, yuca, pork ribs, empanadas (beef, chicken and spinach), croquetas (ham, chicken and cod), stuffed meat yuca and stuffed potatoes.

Out on the retail shelves, the inspector found chicken salad packed at the store that had been in the cold holding unit longer than seven days.

All the above food? Basura.

In the meat department, “old food residue” decorated a meat tenderizer, and an ice machine sported “soil and some kind of mold inside the wall and ice chute.”

The inspector saw “several small flies” in the cafe, meat, deli, seafood and produce departments.

On his Thursday visit, Inspector Jose Pavon found a similar lack of knowledge that Inspector Carrero found in Miami Gardens regarding the top manager and “questions relating to foodborne illness or symptoms associated with diseases transmissible through food.”

Two handwashing sinks were missing paper towels, meaning people either had to use their clothes or flap their arms to try hands. This seems a bit lazy and/or Mr. Krabs cheap — a supermarket presumably has rolls of paper towels and could swallow the cost of a couple of rolls.

Staying on the lazy tip, Pavon saw in the kitchen, “multiple metal trays of in-house baked breads stored uncovered on ready rack next to baking ovens.”

Saran Wrap, people.

In the produce area, “multiple packages of bean sprouts” got tossed for being 57 to 60 degrees when they needed to be cooled to 41 degrees or under. But, that’s probably better than the “multiple green bell peppers with mold-like substance throughout” elsewhere in the produce area.

A package of bulk liver ham had been open in the deli area reach-in display cooler nine days, which is two days too long.

“Multiple band saws” in the meat area were “encrusted with old food particles throughout the blade area” as was the band saw in the seafood section.

Under pallets of paper towels (told you they had some) in the storage area, Pavon spotted “a dead rodent on a glue board.”