Jeter hits airwaves
Captain shakes up Marlin broadcasts
IT APPEARS Derek Jeter has made one thing clear in Miami: He’s The Captain now.
As the Marlins continue to transition under new ownership, Fox Sports Florida announced Wednesday that it has dropped play-by-play man Rich Waltz along with two studio analysts: Jeff Conine and Preston Wilson. Conine has already been publicly critical of Jeter’s handling of the team, turning down an offer to return to the front office with a diminished responsibility and salary. He had previously served nine years as a special assistant to David Samson, the former Marlins president.
While Fox took responsibility for the moves, the Miami Herald reports that sources have indicated that the network had previously been in favor of retaining Waltz before Jeter arrived and believe the moves are his doing. In addition, a source close to Conine says that it was the former Yankees shortstop who did not want Conine to remain a part of the broadcast team. —Zachary Ripple
BRADY SITS ONE OUT
Patriots quarterback Tom Brady sat out practice Wednesday with what the team says is an Achilles tendon injury.
l Coach Pete Carroll was taking responsibility for decisions that contributed to Seattle’s loss against Atlanta that left the Seahawks having to play catch up in the NFC playoff race.
The 34-31 loss on Monday left the Seahawks at 6-4 heading into this week’s game at San Francisco. The Seahawks are one game behind the Rams in the NFC West race, but are also now chasing the Falcons and others in the wild-card hunt.
It’s those upcoming challenges that only magnify the mistakes Seattle made in its loss to Atlanta, which included a failed fake field goal attempt, losing a replay challenge in the fourth quarter and poor timeout management.
CLIPPERS LOSE BEVERLEY
Los Angeles Clippers guard Patrick Beverley is expected to miss the rest of the season after arthroscopic surgery on his right knee.
The Clippers said Beverley had surgery Wednesday in Houston to repair a lateral meniscus. The surgery was performed by Dr. Walt Lowe at the Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center.
Acquired in the offseason deal that sent Chris Paul to Houston, the 29-year-old Beverley appeared in 11 games for the Clippers, averaging 12.2 points, 4.1 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 1.73 steals and 30.3 minutes. He averaged 9.5 points and 4.2 assists last season for the Rockets.
l Goran Dragic scored 27 points, Dion Waiters had 26 with a pair of big 3-pointers in the final minutes and the Heat held on to beat visiting Boston, 104-98, snapping the Celtics’ 16-game winning streak.
l Russell Westbrook scored a seasonhigh 34 points and added 10 rebounds and nine assists to help the Thunder roll past the visiting Warriors, 108-91.
It was Oklahoma City’s first victory over the Warriors since Kevin Durant left the Thunder to join the Warriors after the 2015-16 season. Golden State won all four meetings last season by an average of nearly 20 points.
Westbrook said it was just another game in the buildup, but he didn’t play like it. At one point in the third quarter, Westbrook and Durant went forehead to forehead and were called for double technicals.
Westbrook’s new All-Star teammates came through. Carmelo Anthony scored 22 points and Paul George added 20.
MANHATTAN FALLS
Levi Bradley hit a floater in the lane with 15 seconds left, Eugene German had a block at the other end and Northern Illinois held off Manhattan, 70-68, in the seventh-place game of the Gulf Coast Showcase.