Greg Cote’s Hot Button Top 10: Miracle Canes, Fins-Pats, Inter Miami, Cats put a ring on it & more

GREG COTE’S HOT BUTTON TOP 10 (OCTOBER 6): WHAT IN SPORTS HAS GRABBED US THIS WEEK: Our Sunday Hot Button Top 10 notes column brings you what’s on our minds, locally and nationally, but from a Miami perspective and accentuating stuff that’s big, weird, damnable, funny or otherwise worth needling as the sports week just past pivots to the week ahead. Welcome to the 76th edition of your Sunday sports-potpourri notes column, the HB10:

1. HURRICANES: Don’t sleep on the Canes! Miami’s 39-38 win at Cal one for the ages: A comeback from 25 points behind and 20 down in the fourth quarter made for an epic redeye win for the No. 8 unbeaten Hurricanes Saturday night-into-Sunday morning. Read all about it: Don’t sleep on Canes! Miami’s epic 39-38 comeback at Cal a redeye win for the ages

2. DOLPHINS: In NE, Miami & Huntley can rescue a season-in-distress today: The NFL regular season will be almost 30 percent done for Miami after today’s game at New England, and to be to that point at 1-4 would be a hope-killer. I try to not use “must-win” when not applied literally, but this feels like that for the Fins. Near pick-’em game has swung from Pats by 1 to Dolphins by 1 with reason. Visitors have clearly the better roster. Now show it. A wobbling season is at stake.

3. INTER MIAMI: Herons win again, can set season points mark in finale: The MLS Supporters Shield for best regular-season record already in hand, Miami won 1-nil in Toronto Saturday night to improve to 21-4-8 and reach 71 points -- and that’s significant. The season MLS points record of 73 set by New England in 2021 is now in view. And who does IM finish against? New England, at home, on Oct. 19, with a win setting a new record. Team Messi opens the playoffs Oct. 25.

4. MLB: It better damned be a Dodgers-Yankees World Series!: Baseball is down to its last eight teams with the AL and NL Division Series underway and Game 2s Sunday and Monday. But, with respect to the Other Six, anything but a Los Angeles Dodgers-New York Yankees World Series will be a huge letdown. Did I says Dodgers vs. Yanks? I meant Shohei Ohtani vs. Aaron Judge. Geotagged data from social media via betonline.ag suggests most Americans are rooting for Cleveland (11 states) or Detroit (10), but fans mindful of baseball history may think otherwise. Yanks and Brooklyn Dodgers met seven times in WS; Yanks won six. NYY and L.A. Dodgers have met four times with each winning twice -- but not since 1981. It’s time. Announcers for Fox, the World Series network, should be cheering in the booth.

5. PANTHERS: Cats put a ring on it, open defense of crown Tuesday: The Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers open defense of their crown Tesday at home vs. rival Boston. Cats’ preseason ended at 5-3 with Saturday’s win over the L.A. Kings in Quebec. Monday comes the ring ceremony, sorry, Champions Ring Ceremony, at the big arena at 6:30 p.m.

6. WNBA: Liberty, Lynx can reach Finals today; Caitlin honored: New York Liberty lead reigning champ Las Vegas Aces and Minnesota Lynx lead Connecticiut Sun both 2-1 and can clinch the best-of-5 semifinals with wins today/Sunday. Meantime WNBA and Indiana Fever superhero Caitlin Clark as expected won Rookie of the Year honors in a near-unanimous vote, with 66 votes to a single one for the Chicago Sky’s Angel Reese. Clark averaged 19.2 points and a league-high 8.4 assists and sparked record TV ratings and interest across the league.

7. HEAT: Miami relegated to also-ran odds as preseason begins: Heat opens its five-game exhibition schedule Tuesday in Charlotte and Thursday at home vs. Atlanta, with the regular season commencing October 23 vs. Orlando. And things do not look good for a big season. Rather, Miami is relegated to mid-pack status in betting odds, with its championship chances tied for 15th best in the league and tied for seventh best n the East. That’s borderline playoff territory. Play-in territory. Maybe Jimmy Butler will surprise. But, after a stagnant offseason, not many are betting on it.

8. HALLS OF FAME: 4 former Fins, 2 ex-Canes among 60 ‘Senior’ finalists: Pro Football Hall pared Senior finalists from 182 to 60, and those making the cut included former Miami Dolphins Dick Anderson, Mark Clayton, Bob Kuechenberg and Bill Stanfill, and ex-Hurricanes Ottis Anderson and Chuck Foreman. Only three of the 60 will make the 2025 final ballot. No Miami guys among the 16 non-Senior finalists for ‘25. Betting favorites for Canton are Eli Manning, Terrell Suggs and Luke Kuechly.

9. SOCCER/LGBTQ: Transgender men’s team certified in Spain: A soccer team comprised entirely of transgender men has debuted in a regional league in Spain, after overcoming administrative challenges and general prejudice to be the first all-trans team to earn federation status in Europe. Named Fenix FC after the mythical bird symbolizing rebirth, the team competes in the fifth tier in the northwest region of Catalonia. Do you applaud this news or shake your head? Your reaction will say much about you and your believe in individual rights and “live and let live.”

10. NFL: Miami’s Hard Rock just misses top-10 on best-stadiums list: USA Today football writers ranked the NFL stadiums on overall experience, with the Seahawks stadium No. 1 and the Commanders home dead-last. Dolphins’ hard Rock was ranked No. 11, a tad disappointing but much better than the AFC East rival Patriots (19th), Bills (26th) and Jets (29th). Wrote the fabulous Safid Dean of the Fins’ home: “It may not boast the historic charm some NFL venues offer, but it’s a slice of an eclectic city where sports and entertainment converge.” Fair.

NEW HB10 FEATURE: ‘The List’, which debuted last week, brings you something unexpected every Sunday.

THE LIST: MIAMI TEAMS THAT LED LEAGUE IN BEST REGULAR SEASON RECORD: South Florida’s big five pro teams -- Miami Dolphins, Heat, Marlins, Florida Panthers and Inter Miami -- have combined to win eight championships but have only had the best regular-season record in their sport a total of five times. Those rare occasions:

Season Team League-best record

1972 NFL Miami Dolphins 14-0, 1.000

1973 NFL Miami Dolphins 12-2, .857*

2012-13 NBA Miami Heat 66-16, .805

2021-22 NHL Florida Panthers 58-18-6, 122 points

2024 MLS Inter Miami 21-4-8, 71 points**

Notes: *-tied for best in NFL. **-with one match left.

Other most recent stuff from me: Don’t sleep on Canes! Miami’s epic 39-38 comeback at Cal a redeye win for the ages // NFL Week 5 picks // Pete Rose wasn’t perfect, but MLB’s endless lack of mercy followed him to grave // Herald NFL Week 4 QB Rankings // Dolphins, Huntley hit new low, scoring woes deepen in 31-12 home loss to Titans // Previous HB10 // Poll Dance: Who you want in World Series? // No. 7 Hurricanes get lucky & get wakeup call in 38-34 win over Virginia Tech // Dolphins have talent to win even with QB mess -- but must plan for life after Tua // Are No. 7 Miami Hurricanes really as good as they’ve looked? The proving starts now // Dolphins’ Tyreek Hill victim of police abuse of power, MDPD needs to apologize /./ Miami Dolphins own city’s heart, now it’s time to reward starved Dolfans with new glory days // Le Batard Show reveals major new partnership, 20th anniversary plans // Cristobal’s Hurricanes stake best-in-ACC claim with 41-17 opening rout at Florida // Mario Cristobal’s rebuild of Miami Hurricanes has been ‘massive.’ Now it’s time to win big // Messi at 37 has missed more than half of Inter Miami games. Cherish him while you can // Book it! Miami Hurricanes will vie for ACC title, make playoff in huge return to power // Jazz trade continues Miami Marlins’ losing cycle of talent-for-prospects cost cutting // And my latest podcast: