Sports Columnist

Mike Bianchi

Orlando Sentinel columnist Mike Bianchi is one of the foremost sports voices in the Southeast. He covers many teams, including the Orlando Magic, Florida Gators, UCF Knights and Florida State Seminoles. Mike's favorite quote: "The job of a sports columnist is to observe the battle from the mountain top and then ride down and bayonet the wounded." He also hosts the "Open Mike" show weekday mornings from 6-9 a.m. on 96.9 FM The Game.

Rays owner Stuart Sternberg backed out of a stadium deal in St. Petersburg on Thursday, leaving the door open for the team to possibly move to Orlando (Jefferee Woo/Tampa Bay Times)

Group of investors ready to buy Tampa Bay Rays and move team to Orlando

March 14, 2025 at 12:36 p.m.

The Orlando Dreamers — a group of investors trying to bring a Major League Baseball team to Central Florida — are ready to pounce.

Dustin Johnson celebrates after winning the U.S. Open in 2016 as the legendary Jack Nicklaus applauds. Johnson has resigned from the PGA Tour to join a new Saudi-funded golf league while Nicklaus was reportedly close to endorsing the new league as well.

Golfers taking Saudi money is same as PGA Tour and China money | Commentary

June 8, 2022 at 9:00 p.m.

Why do we expect professional golfers to have more ethics and morals than sitting U.S. presidents, CEOs of billion-dollar corporations, commissioners of major sports leagues, LeBron James and, of course,...

Florida Gators athletic director Scott Stricklin says the SEC should explore having its own postseason playoff.

SEC-only playoff is a serious threat to college football | Commentary

June 1, 2022 at 11:07 p.m.

There are many important business items on the agenda for Commissioner Greg Sankey, conference coaches, athletic directors and Paul Finebaum to discuss at the Southeastern Conference spring meetings, which started...

UCF named Gus Malzahn the Knights' next football coach and will introduce him during a news conference at 2 p.m. Monday.

UCF names Gus Malzahn its next football coach

February 18, 2021 at 3:53 p.m.

UCF named Gus Malzahn the Knights' next football coach. Malzahn is the 12th head coach in UCF history. He replaces Josh Heupel, who left to take over as the Tennessee...

Bianchi: Gators, Jim McElwain are why dishonest, deceitful coaches like Urban Meyer keep their jobs

April 24, 2019 at 4:17 a.m.

Florida Gators coaching flop Jim McElwain is the reason Urban Meyer — as disgustingly deceitful and dishonest as he is — still has a job with the Ohio State Buckeyes....

Farewell to Frost: It’ll be sad if UCF coach goes to Nebraska, but he gave us a season for the ages

April 24, 2019 at 4:15 a.m.

Unless there is a last-minute change of heart, it’s sounding more and more like Scott Frost will be leaving UCF and heading home to Nebraska. During his weekly appearance on...

Bianchi: Suspended band of alleged thieves threaten to ruin Florida Gators season

April 24, 2019 at 4:14 a.m.

Forget what I wrote earlier today about the Florida Gators discipline issues simply being indicative of what's going on across the college football landscape. That was written before two more...

Gators stomp Iowa, earn most important bowl win since 2008 national title

June 6, 2018 at 4:35 p.m.

Never has a second-tier bowl game named after a chain steakhouse meant so much. Never has the meat been so sweet. Never has Outback tasted so good for Coach Jim...

The Ponce de Leon Inlet Lighthouse is a Central Florida landmark.

My favorite thing: Ponce Inlet Lighthouse illuminates old Florida landscape

August 23, 2019 at 7:07 p.m.

To one of the few native Floridians remaining in our provisional peninsular paradise, there's no better stretch of coast line in our state than Ponce Inlet, which offers the expansive...

Mike Bianchi: Will Grier’s foolish decision jeopardizes Gators’ fairy-tale season

June 16, 2018 at 6:54 p.m.

Another feel-good fairy tale ruined by the stain of steroids. The Florida Gators storybook football season now feels like that thrilling Mark McGwire-Sammy Sosa home run chase; or Lance Armstrong...

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