Those who knew Walt Wesley would call him, a soft spoken, gentle giant.Wesley stood at 6 feet 11 inches tall and notably he used his height to dominate the basketball court. Wesley died recently, but while he lived, his life was a testament of service and giving back.

A Leon County circuit judge Tuesday refused to put on hold a lawsuit filed by Florida State University against the Atlantic Coast Conference, as a big-money battle between the university and its longtime conference continues to play out in two states.

Estero’s Gianna Clemente will be the center of attention Saturday during the final round of the Augusta National Women’s Amateur.Clemente, 16, is tied for second place, two strokes off the lead after two rounds. The golfers have a practice day Friday on the Augusta National course where the Masters will be played next week. They played the first two rounds at the Champions Retreat Course.

The accolades continue for Estero golfer Gianna Clemente.Clemente, who turned 16 in March, was one of 10 girls to be named to the first U.S. National Junior Team. Eight boys were named to the team.

The twelfth-seeded FGCU women's basketball gave fifth-seeded/No. 18 Oklahoma all it could handle Saturday in the First Round of the 2024 NCAA Tournament at Assembly Hall but fell a three-pointer short in a 73-70 loss.

An Evening at the Ballpark at JetBlue Park recently focused on youth, baseball and the future.The annual event, hosted by the Boys & Girls Clubs of Lee County at the Red Sox Spring Training site, included recognition of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Lee County’s 2024 Youth of the Year, Kaliyah Stephens, an eighth grader at Crestwell School.

The FGCU women's basketball team won the ASUN tournament on Saturday, beating Central Arkansas 76-47 on at Alico Arena. On Sunday, the Eagles watched the NCAA Tournament Selection Show and found they would be playing the Oklahoma Sooners in Bloomington, Indiana.The Eagles square off against the Sooners at 4 p.m. March 23 on ESPNews.

Florida Gulf Coast University announced Monday that Colin Hargis, currently at N.C. State University, has accepted the university's offer to be FGCU’s next Director of Intercollegiate Athletics. "I am thrilled to announce Colin Hargis has accepted our offer to become FGCU’s next Director of Intercollegiate Athletics," FGCU President Aysegul Timur said in an email to faculty and staff Monday afternoon.

Baseball spring training is back, and drivers in Lee and Charlotte counties are reminded to be prepared for increased traffic near ballparks in both counties at game times.

For more than a quarter-century, Phillies fans considered dollar hot dog night among the best ballpark promotions — but the team has now decided it was the wurst.Those dog days of April — when Philly weather is cold and the wieners are a steal — are going, going, gone.