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.

At least UF's football team raises money it spends whereas former president Ben Sasse was spending millions in taxpayer money to reward his cronies.

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Mike Bianchi: Not even Billy Napier spends money as outrageously as outgoing UF president Ben Sasse

August 14, 2024 at 4:00 p.m.

At least UF's football team raises money it spends whereas former president Ben Sasse was spending millions in taxpayer money to reward his cronies.

Despite his first losing season in 2023, UCF coach Gus Malzahn has made all the right moves with recruiting and the transfer portal to restock. (Willie J. Allen Jr./Orlando Sentinel)

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Mike Bianchi: UCF fans better appreciate Gus Malzahn — or else

August 6, 2024 at 2:39 p.m.

In the upcoming recruiting cycle, UCF is ranked 25th nationally, ahead of every other school in the Big 12 except TCU and ahead of several SEC schools — including Florida.

Caeleb Dressel gets emotional after receiving his gold medal during the swimming competitions at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Michael Goulding/ Orange County Register)

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Mike Bianchi: Financially strained college programs may soon snuff out Olympic torch

July 24, 2024 at 10:50 a.m.

Let us not forget how many Olympians benefit from a collegiate athletic model that is now in financial peril.

Like Messi at Inter Miami, when Kaká signed with Orlando City, he became the highest paid player in MLS at $7 million per year and then helped legitimize the league by giving an expansion franchise some gravitas.

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Mike Bianchi: Orlando City’s Kaká was Messi before Messi

July 8, 2024 at 1:20 p.m.

Like Messi at Inter Miami, when Kaká signed with Orlando City, he became the highest paid player in MLS at $7 million per year and then helped legitimize the league...

Gabe Davis doesn't just go the extra mile; he goes the extra marathon.

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Mike Bianchi: Hey, kids, if you want to be an NFL (or NIL) millionaire, let UCF, Jaguars star Gabe Davis show you how to work out

June 16, 2024 at 12:55 p.m.

Gabe Davis doesn't just go the extra mile; he goes the extra marathon.

Billy Donovan, briefly hired in 2007 as coach, and Magic GM Otis Smith speak at a press conference. Donovan would later change his mind. (Orlando Sentinel file)

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Mike Bianchi: Dan Hurley rejecting Lakers evokes memories of Billy Donovan embarrassing Magic

June 11, 2024 at 7:31 p.m.

Dan Hurley’s snub of the Lakers earlier this week wasn’t nearly as embarrassing as Billy Donovan’s about-face with the Magic 17 years ago, but it was humiliating nonetheless.

Former Gators coach Charley Pell was fired and blackballed from the profession for violations that seem laughable in today's pay-for-play world of college football.

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Mike Bianchi: Free Charley Pell! Former Gators coach wasn't a cheater; he was pay-for-play pioneer

June 9, 2024 at 6:02 a.m.

In today’s world, Charley Pell's booster "slush fund" is now known as an NCAA-approved NIL collective filled with millions to pay players

The leaders, er, non-leaders of college athletics have been trying to foul up college football for generations, but somehow some way it just keeps getting bigger and better.

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Mike Bianchi: College football is idiot-proof and will thrive despite having to pay players

May 26, 2024 at 8:08 a.m.

The leaders, er, non-leaders of college athletics have been trying to foul up college football for generations, but somehow some way it just keeps getting bigger and better.

Georgia coach Kirby Smart had to settle for an Orange Bowl victory against FSU last season after not making the College Football Playoff. But the Bulldogs have dominated the Gators in the SEC just the same. (Rebecca Blackwell/AP)

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Mike Bianchi: Did Georgia's Kirby Smart convince Jaden Rashada to sue UF's Billy Napier?

May 24, 2024 at 11:12 p.m.

Why in the world would Kirby Smart want to get Billy Napier fired when Smart’s Bulldogs are pulverizing Napier’s Gators without even breaking a sweat?

Jaden Rashada, a standout high school quarterback in Pittsburg, Calif., is now at Georgia, his fourth school in two years. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)

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Mike Bianchi: Jaden Rashada sues Gators for backing out on NIL deal after he backed out on 'Canes

May 21, 2024 at 7:40 p.m.

It's hard to feel sorry for Jaden Rashada, who is suing Billy Napier and UF boosters because they backed out on a $13.85 million deal. He reneged on a $9.5...

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