In The (Gator) Zone: Wambach Keeps on Scoring, Haden's Personal Story, Plus More
Tuesday, October 21, 2014 | Scott Carter
Note: Video is on autoplay, so click autoplay "off" to stop it until you are ready to watch.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Flipping through the channels Sunday morning I stopped when a story popped up on ESPN about former Gators All-American cornerback Joe Haden.
The story focused on the special relationship Haden has with his younger brother Jacob, who is mentally handicapped.
The oldest of five brothers, when Joe was 9 he rescued 4-year-old Jacob from the bottom of a swimming pool at their grandmother's home. Once Joe pulled Jacob to the surface, his aunt performed CPR on Jacob until paramedics arrived.
Jacob remains an inspiration to Joe, now in his fifth season with the Cleveland Browns and one of the highest-paid cornerbacks in NFL history.
Haden gets emotional when discussing the connection he has with his younger brother. You can watch the story in the video above. You won't regret it. Oh, and you might need a Kleenex.
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To no one's surprise the U.S. women's soccer team defeated Haiti on Monday night at RFK Stadium in Washington. Team USA now owns a 90-game unbeaten streak on home soil dating to Nov. 6, 2004.
The Americans won Group A of the 2014 CONCACAF Women's Championship, which is the qualifying tournament for the 2015 Women's World Cup.
Former Gators standout Abby Wambach chipped in as usual, scoring a pair of goals to increase her career international goal total to 173.
Two-time Olympic gold medalist & #USWNT veteran @AbbyWambach now has 173 career goals - 15 more than legend @MiaHamm https://t.co/Qdc8QFjTK8
— US Olympic Team (@USOlympic) October 21, 2014
The 34-year-old Wambach, profiled earlier this month in a long-form story by ESPN.com writer Kate Fagan, is preparing for what will likely be her final World Cup.
Next up for Wambach and her U.S. teammates is the semifinals Friday in Chester, Pa.
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Marissa King won a pair of national titles during her time with the UF gymnastics team, helping the Gators win the program's first national title as a senior in 2013 and then as a student coach last spring. As a sophomore, King was the NCAA vault champion.
The accomplished gymnast, who came to Florida from England, is ready for the next chapter of her career. King's next routine will be as a member of Cirque du Soleil's traveling Amaluna show.
King isn't the first UF gymnast to join Cirque du Soleil. Others have continued to perform with the Canadian company, including Corey Hartung and Nicola Willis.
Dream come true and I'm off to join CIRQUE DU SOLEIL!!!!!! Watch out for the show Amaluna if it's touring near you! pic.twitter.com/khgHN7aQvg
— Marissa King (@TheBritRiss) October 19, 2014 *****
Florida women's basketball coach Amanda Butler and players Kayla Lewis and Cassie Peoples spent Tuesday in Charlotte, N.C., at SEC Media Days held at the SEC Network studios.
They bumped into some familiar faces. Two former Gators head coaches – Carol Ross and Carolyn Peck – and former UF player Steffi Sorensen have been hired as SEC Network commentators this season.
Talk about connections.
Butler, entering her eighth season, played for Ross, replaced Peck, and coached Sorensen.
Look who we found! #Gator alum Steffi Sorensen! #GatorMade pic.twitter.com/PEJav1ggsq
— Gator WBasketball (@GatorZoneWBK) October 21, 2014
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Former Gators golfer Billy Horschel has been a busy man of late. Not so much on the golf course but at home helping his wife care for their newborn daughter, Skylar.
Of course, like any new dad, Horschel has been taking plenty of baby pictures.
However, his photos are cooler than most.
.@BillyHo_Golf had a pretty great photo to use for Skylar's birth announcement. #FedExCup (via @playofffinale) pic.twitter.com/lX7aShYkgy
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) October 15, 2014 *****
EXTRA, EXTRA
Jonotthan Harrison was snapping the ball to Jeff Driskel, Tyler Murphy and Skyler Mornhinweg a season ago. He was not selected in the NFL Draft but signed as a free agent and has quickly earned a starting position. Harrison has a fan in Colts quarterback Andrew Luck … Former UF quarterback Tim Tebow, now an analyst with the SEC Network, chimed in on the Gators' struggles during a radio interview Tuesday morning on Jacksonville station 1010 XL … In his brief NBA career, Erik Murphy has been drafted by Chicago, signed by Utah and traded to Boston. The former Gator was cut by the Celtics on Tuesday and now is in search of his next stop … One of Tebow's favorite targets at UF, receiver Percy Harvin, had a messy exit from Seattle according to the Seattle Times.
