In Ft. Lauderdale, Chris Perkins wrote Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel is a big part of “recruiting players to the Dolphins during free agency.” In addition to a “magnetic personality,” McDaniel has a “vibrant, swaggy multi-cultural mixture in his own right.” He is able to “straddle an imaginary line of taking NFL things seriously but not taking NFL things too seriously.” Perkins: “That’s not lost upon players seeking a new home. It’s a bonus for the Dolphins in free agency” (South Florida SUN-SENTINEL, 3/21).
PATIENCE IS KEY: In Montreal, Stu Cowan noted this is only the second full season of the Canadiens’ rebuild, but some fans “are already starting to lose patience” with EVP/Hockey Operations Jeff Gorton. However, it seems like team owner Geoff Molson “will be much more patient” with Gorton than Rangers owner James Dolan. A “big reason” why the Canadiens hired Gorton is his experience rebuilding the Rangers. While he was fired after three years in N.Y., the Rangers this year will make the playoffs for the third straight season (MONTREAL GAZETTE, 3/21).
GOING TO THE RAFTERS: In Minneapolis, Kent Youngblood noted the WNBA Lynx will retire Maya Moore's No. 23 on Aug. 24 in what “should be a festive occasion, for a number of reasons.” Moore will “complete the retirement of the entire starting five from the last two of the Lynx's four WNBA title teams.” Additionally, the Lynx that night will play the Fever and likely No. 1 draft pick Caitlin Clark, which will be the “perfect pairing -- Clark has already said Moore is her favorite player” (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 3/21).
