14 Foot Burmese Python Caught in Florida

By Alicia Cruz
Senior writer
Theblackurbantimes

Bradenton, Florida - A 14-foot, 107-pound Burmese Python snake was caught in a drainage ditch in Manatee County, Florida by professional trapper, Jonathan Matthews.
Matthews arrived after being alerted by neighbors who had spotted the snake over several months. " I hated to do it, said Matthews, "but I had to hit him upside his head a few times because he lunged at me twice and [he] was hissing the whole time."
Police and wildlife officials have begun searching Florida hoping to catch and kill as many of the snakes as they can. One official stated that there are "Tens of thousands" of these non-native snakes slithering through Florida.
Wildlife officials stepped up their efforts after the death of a two-year-old child who was strangled by a Burmese Python that was being kept as a pet, illegally, in the home she lived in.
Matthews stated that many of these snakes were once someone's pet. "Like some dog owners, these snake owners let their animals loose trying to do the right thing," said Matthews. But in the opinion of officals and residents, they're creating a public threat.
Matthwes added that the Burmese Python is in "direct competition with the American Alligator for the spot of 'top predator'."
The capture of this 14-foot snake is believed to be the largest ever caught in Florida.

Michael Jordan's son Marcus chooses ... Central Florida?

By Eamonn Brennan
A certain amount of pressure comes with being an athlete's child. You're supposed to be just as good as pops (or mom) was, or even better, and if you're not, people wonder what went wrong. It's a tough life.

Then again, if you're a former pro athlete's child, you're probably mind-blowingly wealthy, so the pity only goes so far.

Such is the case for Michael Jordan's sons, Jeffrey and Marcus. It is utterly impossible that they'll be as good as their father. Their father was the best basketball player of all time.

They aren't. Instead, they're merely good: good enough to play in college, but not good enough to do much more than that. It is with that context that the announcement of Marcus Jordan's collegiate choice -- the University of Central Florida -- came Monday. Many might see Jordan's name and wonder why he's not going to a premier school. Strategically, it's actually a pretty smart move.

He was being recruited by a host of good programs, but nowhere truly "elite". A strong year at UCF could set him up for a Seth Curry-esque transfer to one of the big boys that might not have considered him straight out of high school.

There are options here.Anyway, such is the nature of being Michael Jordan's son. Marcus may never be as good as his father, but how many kids get college scholarships to play basketball? Not too shabby, when you really think about it