In case you missed it, here were the top sports stories from FOX Sports Florida from Thursday, September 26:
* The Rays, Indians and Rangers all win to keep pace in the race for the American League wild-card. Andrew Astleford breaks down what it all means and what is on the horizon. Read More
* Rays rookies played dress-up after finishing their sweep of the Yankees, with costumes including Wil Myers as a baby and Tim Beckham looking like something out of Octoberfest. Read More
* Nikita Kucherov scored four minutes into overtime to lift the Lightning past the Panthers in their preseason showdown. Read More
* The Rays put a bit of a damper on Mariano Rivera’s final appearance at Yankee Stadium, finishing off their sweep of the Yankees to extend their win streak to seven games hold on to their slight edge in the wild-card race. Read More
* Florida State safety Tyler Hunter, who suffered a neck injury against Bethune-Cookman, will miss Saturday’s road contest against Boston College. Read More
* He may be young, but Florida State redshirt freshman quarterback Jameis Winston is showing knowledge and poise beyond his years during his unbeaten start to his career. Read More
* New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees confirmed that it was team doctors for Miami who thwarted his attempt to join the Dolphins in 2006. Miami will visit the Saints for a Monday night showdown. Read More
* Buccaneers co-chairman Bryan Glazer says the team will not have any of its remaining seven home blacked and out and all will be shown on local television. Read More
* Wide receivers Mike Wallace and Vincent Jackson both missed practice Thursday for the second straight day, putting their status in question for the Buccaneers upcoming matchup against the Cardinals on Sunday. Read More
* Dwyane Wade is fired up heading into training camp. That's not bad at all. Wade could be the key to the Miami Heat's fortunes this season. Read More
* Jimbo Fisher said that running back was the easiest position on the field to learn. And just a few weeks into his new job, Karlos Williams is making the transition from safety to tailback look all-too-easy. Read More
* Vincent Viola grew up in Brooklyn, graduated from West Point, is a former chairman of the New York Mercantile Exchange and after the Sept. 11 attacks founded a center devoted to combating terrorism. He's now the new owner of the Florida Panthers, said a person familiar with the situation. Read More
* Dominique Easley is listed at 6-foot-2, 285 pounds, but his presence in the middle of Florida's defensive line this season dwarfed his official measurements. Easley's impact and the attention opposing teams gave him created plays for others. Read More
