The city of Lauderhill Pre-season League opening games were played last Saturday at the Lauderhill Sports Park, in Lauderhill as the 2008 Netball campaign got underway.

Seven Strikers won the season’s opener by beating the Lauderhill Angels 29-13. The Lauderhill Angels, led by Vanessa Malcolm and Shannah Livingston, battled gallantly and showed a big improvement in their skills in the game of netball. However Seven Strikers showed their experience in the game while keeping their younger sisters in check as they romped to victory.

The second game was won by Allroundaz over last year’s finalist Caricom 20-10. Both teams have additional players and are in pre-season mode and everyone is looking forward to seeing both these teams play as the season continues.

Next league games are scheduled for February 23rd 6:30pm and 8:00 pm and feature Challengers against Lauderhill Angels and Saints versus Mystic Allstars.

Jamaican jockey Shaun Bridgmohan is targeting an unprecedented Caribbean win in the Kentucky Derby and his prospective mount Pyro is an early favourite for the rich “Run for the Roses” in May.

As figures closed Sunday for the Kentucky Derby Future Wager, Pyro and the undefeated War Pass were the top two individual betting interests.

Pyro, an impressive winner of last weekend’s Risen Star Stakes, was the slight favourite at 5-to-1 while War Pass was next at 6-1.

“I’m expecting a lot of good things to come from Pyro,” Bridgmohan said. Bridgmohan rode in his first Kentucky Derby in 2006 and his mount Private Vow finished a disappointing 15th. He also rode Zanjero to 12th place in last year’s Kentucky Derby and Pyro is poised to give him his best finish yet this year.

The US$2 million Kentucky Derby is set for May 3 at Churchill Downs

Miami Dolphins, in their reorganization under Bill Parcells, are trimming their roster of what they consider expendable fat by slashing several players with their latest victim being high profile Pro Bowl linebacker Zach Thomas, who was slated to make $5.6 million in base salary this coming season.

On Monday, it was notables like Trent Green, wide receiver Marty Booker and several others who were cut, that would free up somewhere in the neighborhood of $10 million in 2008 base salary.

Thomas, like the rest of the Dolphins, suffered through a miserable 2007 season in which the Dolphins went 1-15. He suffered a concussion on the field and injuries in a car accident that limited his play.

The 5-foot-11 Thomas was the 154th player chosen in the 1996 draft by the Dolphins, and was not only a rookie a sensation his first year but wounded up to be one of the best linebackers in Dolphins history.

South Florida Cricket Alliance Youth Team defeated last year’s champions Pakistan by four wickets in an exhibition opener of the 2008 Lauderhill International Cricket Cup, played at the Lauderhill Sports Complex last Saturday.

The contest which is played under lights and features 10 teams will compete for the Goldson Spine Rehabilitation Center trophy, as the company assumes the lead sponsorship role of the six-year competition.

Saturday’s action was highlighted by the opening ceremonies, which featured all ten teams in a uniform parade amongst spectators, sponsors, along with city and tournament officials.