In case you missed it, here were the top sports stories from FOX Sports Florida from Thursday, Oct. 17:
* For a game worth only two points in the standings, Tim Thomas wanted this win. Maybe not as much as the victory which earned him a Stanley Cup.But he still wanted one Thursday. Badly. Read More
* Tim Thomas allowed a goal in the final minute as he and the Panthers fell at home to the Bruins, his former team. Read More
* Steven Stamkos broke a third-period tie with five minutes remaining in the host Lightning’s 3-1 victory over the Wild. Read More
* Dallas Crawford ran for a career-high 137 yards, including the go-ahead 3-yard touchdown with 16 seconds left that gave Miami a 27-23 victory over North Carolina on Thursday night. Read More
* Miami’s Duke Johnson and Phillip Dorsett exited Thursday’s game against the Tar Heels with first-half injuries. Read More
* LeBron James said he was shocked upon learning Boston Celtics stars Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Jason Terry were traded to Brooklyn in the offseason. Not because of basketball but because of what James perceived to be some hypocrisy. Read More
* Jaguars wide receiver Cecil Shorts will be a game-time decision on Sunday when Jacksonville hosts the Chargers. Shorts is nursing a sprained joint connecting the breastbone and collarbone. Read More
* Though the Florida Gators have lost two games and four starters, they still have a shot at the SEC East title and have a chance to make up some valuable ground against division-leading Missouri on Saturday. Read More
* Florida big man Patric Young isn't dazzled by all the hype surrounding Kentucky's latest crop of hotshot NBA prospects. The freshmen will have to earn the brawny Young's respect -- and all those projected victories. Read More
* The Florida men's basketball team is ranked No. 8 in the preseason coaches’ poll, which was released on Thursday afternoon. Read More
* A person familiar with the situation told the Associated Press that the Chicago Cubs were interviewing Tampa Bay Rays bench coach Dave Martinez for their manager's job. Martinez, who played for the Cubs in the 1980s, has spent the past six seasons as the Rays' bench coach. He could be a good fit with Chicago's management because Tampa Bay relies heavily on statistical analysis. Read More
* Tampa Bay Buccaneers reserve running back Jeff Demps had surgery Thursday for a groin injury, and there's no timetable for his return. Bucs coach Greg Schiano made the announcement less than a week after the injury sidelined the track star following two catches for 13 yards in a loss to the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday at Raymond James Stadium. Read More
* Growing up a Miami Dolphins fan some four miles from their home stadium, Thad Lewis spent most Sundays limited to cheering on Dan Marino and company from his living room. Lewis won't have any issues getting into Sun Life Stadium on Sunday. Read More
