Greg Cote's Hot Button Top 10: Messi vs. PSG, Cats, Heat, red-hot Marlins & more

Miami Herald

2 days ago

Note to readers: Hot Button Top 10 and the Poll Dance are taking next Sunday off for the long holiday weekend. See you back here with a new edition of each on July 13!
GREG COTE'S HOT BUTTON TOP 10 (JUNE 29): WHAT IN SPORTS HAS GRABBED US THIS WEEK: Our Sunday Hot Button Top 10 notes column brings you what's on our minds, locally and nationally but from a Miami perspective and accentuating stuff that's big, weird, damnable, funny or otherwise worth needling as the sports week just past pivots to the week ahead. Welcome to the 109th edition of your HB10:
1. INTER MIAMI: Team Messi on biggest stage vs. PSG in Club World Cup final 16: It's Lionel Messi and Inter Miami repping Major League Soccer today/Sunday from Atlanta vs. reigning European champion Paris Saint-Germain in a marquee round-of-16, knockout-stage match in the FIFA Club World Cup. Added spice: Messi, of course, played two seasons for PSG (2021-23) after leaving Barcelona and before coming to Miami. His leaving Paris was less than harmonious. Team Messi is a decided underdog today, with the winner advancing to a July 5 quarterfinals match vs. survivor of Brazil's Flamengo and German power Bayern Munich.
2. HEAT: Big loss (Durant) but then big win (Draft) for Miami: Heat lost out again on Kevin Durant when it came down to Miami or Houston as the Rockets outbid Heat to seal trade with Phoenix. But then came the NBA Draft and Miami hit big in getting Illinois guard Kasparas Jakucionis with the 20th overall pick. He'd been rated No. 10 by ESPN and fits a big Heat need for a playmaking shot-creator. Also loved getting Russian center Vlad Goldin as a top unsigned free agent. Miami's kid-roster opens NBA Summer League July 10. Lots of summer shopping left, too, with prize bigger than Durant maybe still available. Maybe a run at Giannis Antetokounmpo?
3. PANTHERS: Bennett, Zito, Bobrovsky, Draft: No surprise: Sam Bennett re-signed just as he drunkenly promised he would at E11even nightclub. Bill Zito got passed over yet again for NHL general manager of the year -- a travesty! The Stanley Cup champions swung a pre-draft trade to acquire goaltender Daniil Tarasov, 26, from Columbus to groom as eventual heir to Sergie Bobrvosky. (It was an emotional gift, as Bob now gets to mentor the son of Vadim Tarasov, a fellow Russian goalie whom Bobrvosky idolized growing up.) Meanwhile the '25 NHL Entry Draft in Los Angeles was quiet for Florida, as team sent its first-round pick to Calgary as part of the Matthew Tkachuk trade. Panthers had no pick 'til fourth round. Top pick: a person named Mads Kongsbak Klyvo.
4. MARLINS: The Fish are red-hot! No, seriously...: Miami has now won a season-best six games in a row, 11 of the past 15 and, perhaps most remarkable, eight straight on the road. The season record still is only 36-45, but the low-spending, no-name Fish have climbed out of the NL East cellar ahead of Washington and are now shouting from third-place Atlanta. Marlins close a road trip at Arizona today before heading home to what should be a hearty holiday reception.
5. SOCCER: Proving continues for U.S. in Gold Cup quarterfinals: United States breezed 3-0 through the Gold Cup group stage vs. weaker foes but could be tested today/Sunday vs. Costa Rica in a knockout-stage quarterfinal match in Minneapolis. Based on World Football Elo Ratings (more up-to-date than FIFA World Rankings), U.S. is No. 40 men's team internationally to Costa Rica's 47th. Americans are without captain Christian Pulisic, who controversially skipped the Gold Cup to rest this summer. U.S.-C.R. winner will face today's Canada-Guatemala winner the semifinals July 2. The USMNT is out to prove to doubters it will be capable of surviving group play in the 2026 World Cup the U.S. is hosting with Canada and Mexico next summer.
6. PANTHERS 2.0: Panthers = Partyers as champs redefine celebrating: How does one team run up a $500,000 party bill? Gleefully! Florida Panthers toasted their second straight Stanley Cup by running up (drinking up) that bill at Miami's E11even nightclub -- which picked up the tab. Revelry included a 15-liter bottle of Belaire champagne (retail $3K) donated by rapper Rick Ross. Tables at the club cost the commonfolk up to $4,000 and bottles of alcohol start at about $700. Team supped earlier that night at Miami's trendy Maple & Ash. Fitting name, as en route to the repeat crown the Cats turned the Maple Leafs and then Edmonton to ash.
7. NBA: OKC celebrates Thunder's first championship: Speaking of championships and 500,000, Oklahoma City held a bus parade for its new NBA-champ Thunder that drew an estimated half-million fans. The Thunder became youngest NBA champs since Portland in 1977, their youth evident as postgame videos showed players appearing to have difficulty uncorking champagne bottles. We suspect that's because their servers generally do that for them, but, should the Thunder need tips in how to properly celebrate, the Florida Panthers are more than qualified to give seminars.
8. SOCCER: Women's Euro on deck with Spain, England out front: The 2025 UEFA European Women's Championship begins this coming Wednesday and runs through July 27 in Switzerland. England beat Germany in the previous edition three years ago in a final that set viewership records for women's soccer. Reigning FIFA Women's World Cup champion Spain is the betting favorite this time among the 16 teams at 2-1 odds, followed by England at 3-1, France 9-2 and Germany 5-1.
9. TENNIS: Wimbledon unfurls, reflects sport's new competitiveness: Wimbledon gets underway for real today/Sunday and bunched betting odds are a refreshing change for the sport. Reigning men's champ Carlos Alcaraz is narrow favorite at +150 to Jannik Sinner's +162, with old warhorse Novak Djokovic lurking at +450. Aryna Sabalenka tops women's side at +333 with Iga Swiatek and Elena Rybakina both +500 and then America Coco Gauff a reasonable longshot fresh off her French Open crown. Serena Williams was the last American woman to win in London, in 2016. A U.S. man last won Wimbledon in 2000 when Pete Sampras reigned.
10. NFL: Now, Justin, maybe an apology or show of contrition?: The NFL suspended disgraced former Baltimore Ravens kicker Justin Tucker for the first 10 weeks of the 2025 regular season after finding he violated its personal conduct policy related to sexual misconduct allegations by 16 Baltimore-area massage therapists. Suspension is largely ceremonial, as Tucker was cut and at 35 is a tainted free agent unlikely to be signed. But the NFL probe substantiating the 16 women is yet another reason Tucker owes his accusers an apology or at least a hint of contrition?
THE LIST: MIAMI HEAT'S BEST 20-AND-LOWER DRAFT PICKS: Heat this week picked Illinois guard Kasparas Jakucionis 20th overall in NBA Draft. Team's top five selections at No. 20 or lower in club history, based on career scoring average with Heat:
Pts. Player Pick Year
16.0 Sherman Douglas 28th 1989
12.2 Kevin Edwards 20th 1988
11.6 Grant Long 33rd 1988
11.6 Josh Richardson 40th 2015
8.7 Nikola Jovic 27th 2022
Note: Jovic is still with team.
Other select most recent stuff from me: No Durant, but might Miami Heat have summer blockbuster with Giannis? // Panthers celebrate as 1 of 4 South Florida sports dynasties -- with no end near // Previous HB // Champions! Panthers crush Edmonton, McDavid, make history with 2nd straight Stanley Cup // Poll Dance: Panthers playoff MVP // Stanley Cup preview: On Connor 'McOverrated,' dream Cup rematch, Panthers as face of changed NHL // Florida Panthers oust Carolina in five, reach 3rd straight Stanley Cup Final // Major news on future of Dan Le Batard Show, Meadowlark Media, DraftKings // Game 7 magic as Panthers rout Toronto 6-2, reach 3rd straight East finals // Panthers' 4-1 ouster of Tampa declares intent, and ability, to repeat as champs // Giannis? Durant? Embarrassed Heat need major help after 55-point loss and playoff sweep // Miami Dolphins should be fed up with Tyreek Hill, but team is too desperate to trade him // To owner Bruce Sherman of low-hope Marlins: Spend more on payroll, or sell team // Dolphins' 18-month decline, quiet offseason heap pressure on Tua, coach, GM in '25 // A tribute to Miami sports legend Jimmy Johnson as he retires from Fox TV // 15 years later, Dolphins Cancer Challenge is the life-saving legacy of Jim Mandich // Unprofessional Jimmy Butler quit on Heat, ruined his legacy in Miami // And my latest podcast: