Strikers coach says he was fired by getting kicked out of hotel room

By: Andy Slater (@AndySlater)

The Fort Lauderdale Strikers soccer team didn't want their coach back next season. Instead of speaking with him, the team allegedly informed the hotel to kick him out of his room.

Gunter Kronsteiner is booked on a flight next Monday to leave South Florida since the season concluded. He was staying at the Sawgrass Grand hotel in Sunrise, FL. while coaching the Strikers. Friday, three days before his scheduled flight, he says hotel staff knocked on his door telling him he has to leave the room as soon as possible. Kronsteiner said Saturday at 6:30 a.m. hotel staff knocked on the door again.

"No one from the team told me my contract was not being renewed," Kronsteiner said when reached by phone. "I officially found out when someone from the hotel told me I had to leave because the Strikers ordered me out of the room they were paying for." 

Kronsteiner said he heard from a few people that work for the Strikers that the team may not renew his contract, but those were just rumblings.

"I tried numerous times after the season to reach someone in management, but no one ever got back to me," Kronsteiner said. 

Briefed on the story, a Strikers spokesman said "Gunter met with the CEO on Thursday about awards, but I am not sure what else may have been discussed." 

Kronsteiner said around 10:00am Saturday morning, the manager of the Sawgrass Grand got involved and informed him he'd be welcome to stay in his room until he needs to catch his flight on Monday --- even though the order came from the Strikers to kick him out. Kronsteiner even posted the news on his Facebook page. 

The Strikers are taking credit for it, though. Their spokesman said they "certainly never gave a directive to the hotel to kick him out. We learned of the possible miscommunication and rectified it."

The manager of the Sawgrass Grand did not return a phone call asking for comment. 

Kronsteiner was named Strikers head coach in June after his contract was previously not renewed following the 2014 season, in which he guided the team to their league's title match.

The Strikers play in the North American Soccer League. The team's season ended on Nov. 7 as they lost in a semi-final match to the New York Cosmos. 

(Photo Credit: YouTube. Facebook)

Miami police do not believe Gerald Green threw a punch

By: Andy Slater (@AndySlater)

Gerald Green was accused of throwing a punch in the lobby of his Miami condominium, a punch that may never have been thrown -- I learned on Wednesday evening. 

In a police report first obtained by the Miami Herald, a "victim" told the responding officer that Green had punched him in the right eye.

Even though the report states a punch was thrown, police major Delrish Moss exclusively told me Wednesday that "there was no evidence to support a punch." Moss added, "if we believed a punch was thrown, we would have investigated it further."

There were no charges pressed and Miami police consider this case closed.  

(Photo Credit: Getty Images) 

Roscoe Parrish jailed over jewelry

By: Andy Slater (@AndySlater)

Former Miami Hurricanes and Buffalo Bills wide receiver Roscoe Parrish is behind bars after a warrant for his arrest was issued in Miami-Dade County.

Parrish did not show up for a court hearing over failure to fully pay for more than $40,000 in jewelry he received from a store in Miami while he was playing for the Buffalo Bills in 2009.

The court order said police were authorized to use "whatever force it deems necessary" to enter Parrish's residence in Miami.

According to a store invoice, Parrish still owed $29,525. He is being held on $20,000 bond.

Parrish played for the Miami Hurricanes from 2002-2004 before being drafted by the Bills in the second round of the 2005 NFL draft. He finished his playing career in 2012 for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

(Photo Credit: Getty Images, Miami-Dade Corrections, Miami-Dade Circuit Court)

Mike Shula not interested in Hurricanes job as search continues

By: Andy Slater (@AndySlater)

Mike Shula is currently not interested in the Miami Hurricanes head coaching job, I've learned from multiple sources.

Within the last few days, a conversation took place between Shula and someone with University of Miami ties --- where Shula said he was not interested. Due to the sensitive information, the name of the person who spoke with Shula was not given to me. 

Shula is the offensive coordinator for the Carolina Panthers. The fact the Panthers are one of the NFL's best teams so far in 2015 may have something to do with Shula's current lack of interest. 

On Saturday, a spokesman for the Panthers told me he had "heard nothing" about a conversation. The University of Miami on Sunday said they had no comment. 

The Miami Herald's Barry Jackson last month named Shula as a potential candidate. 

While former Hurricanes players have taken steps to have a say in who the next head coach will be, as I previously reported, multiple sources tell me Board of Trustees member Paul DiMare is one of the main people that makes decisions with Miami's athletic director Blake James.

DiMare and his wife Swanee have been big supporters of the University of Miami. The couple has given millions of dollars to various programs and initiatives, including a recent $12.5 million pledge to a school campaign. Their son, Gino, is set to take over for Hurricanes baseball coach Jim Morris when he retires after the 2018 season. 

Paul DiMare was asked to comment about his involvement with athletic decisions, but has yet to respond to the request.

(Photo Credit: Panthers.com) 

Duke Johnson was kicked out of Sun Life Stadium before backpack issue

By: Andy Slater (@AndySlater)

Duke Johnson was kicked out of Sun Life Stadium on Saturday afternoon and then wasn't let back in later because he was wearing a backpack. 

Johnson was on the Miami Hurricanes sideline as the team warmed up for their game Saturday against Virginia. In fact, Johnson came out through the tunnel pre-game with the Canes. 

While Johnson was on the sideline during warmups, I'm told stadium security approached Johnson and asked him who he was and what he was doing there. Johnson then informed the event staff personnel of his name. Johnson wanted security to speak with one of the coaches on the field, since they would obviously know him. Instead, I'm told the event staff personnel decided to ask a girl standing nearby if she knew Johnson. The girl, believed to be a University of Miami employee, didn't know and Johnson was then informed he would have to leave or be arrested for trespassing. 

Johnson left the field area telling security he has credentials somewhere in the stadium that were left for him. After proceeding to two gates outside of the actual stadium, Johnson picked up his credential and went to re-enter the facility, I'm told. At that time, event staff personnel let Johnson know he could not enter with a backpack. He explained to security he was already inside with it. Johnson instead of returning his backpack to his vehicle decided to call it a day and leave the area.

On Twitter, Johnson took the high road and said he thinks it was a "misunderstanding of the stadium staff."

Johnson is in Miami after his NFL team, the Cleveland Browns, played on Thursday night. He plans on sitting courtside for the Miami Heat game on Sunday at AmericanAirlines Arena.