By Peter B. Gallagher TAMPA — Justin Motlow recently finished his high school football career as one of the nation’s top gridiron athletes and now awaits a phone call that will map out the next chapter of his life. “Yes, we are waiting for the phone to ring. It’s very exciting. We’ve

ORLANDO — Andre Jumper admits he was surprised at the Citrus Bowl Dec. 13. “I knew we were going to win. We worked really hard to get to this game,” said the American Heritage School defensive end, after he and his teammates pulverized shell-shocked Clay High School, 66-8, in the 5A

HOLLYWOOD — More than 200 Native American athletes representing about 30 Tribes from 12 states made their yearly trek to Hollywood for the 10th annual Randall Huggins Memorial Big Ballers basketball tournament, held Dec. 5-7. One of the largest Native American tournaments in the country, it is known for its hospitality

HOLLYWOOD — Lacrosse has come to the Hollywood Reservation, with classes every Monday at 4:30 p.m. Because many Tribal kids are familiar with stickball, they are taking to lacrosse naturally. The ancient Native American game of stickball – once played by warriors for training, recreation and religious reasons – evolved over

By Amanda Murphy TALLAHASSEE — In a series of college basketball games throughout Native American Heritage Month, Florida State University honored Native Americans by swapping their traditional school colors for turquoise Nike N7 uniforms during their game against University of Tennessee at Martin Nov. 17. Nike’s Native clothing line, N7, partnered with

BIG CYPRESS — It was no secret from the boss when Paul Scott played hooky from work to go fishing on a recent Saturday. “It’s a great day to be with my kids,” said Scott, who owns a maintenance business in Hollywood. “Luckily, work will wait for me. My boys won’t.” Scott

By Emma Johns BRIGHTON — Drayton Billie, a freshman at Okeechobee High School, has high aspirations for his future as an athlete with plans to play football at the collegiate level. Billie, of Brighton, recently completed his first season of high school football as both a running back and a cornerback. “Football is

LAS VEGAS — Forget the desert sea of high rolling crowds and a billion neon lights. For nearly 25,000 visitors at the Indian National Finals Rodeo (INFR) Nov. 5-9, Las Vegas was all about home sweet home. “It’s custom for Native people to ride. It’s a natural ability we’ve developed over

PLANTATION — More than six decades have passed since first cousins Max Osceola Jr. and Moses Jumper Jr. were best friends playing pickup football games in a Hollywood palmetto field to prove who was bigger, stronger and better. Recently, while sitting in bleachers at a high school football game in Fort

BIG CYPRESS — The scent of new paint and wood floors was still thick Oct. 18 when Ahfachkee School’s  Lady Warriors middle school volleyball team christened Big Cypress Reservation’s newly renovated Herman L. Osceola Gymnasium with the last game of the season. Gone from the 27-year-old facility was its old worn