Click the banner above to listen to the show live, Mon-Fri 6AM-9AM

 

Jeff De Forrest
 

Jeff De Forrest, a ’73 graduate of Syracuse University, began his journalism career in California as Sports Editor of a suburban L.A. daily newspaper. But after he branched into radio, he was hooked – as were his loyal fans! 
 

“Defo” rose to the top of the Miami ratings when he first hosted a nightly talk show on WIOD back in 1981.  As Miami expanded from a one pro franchise Dolphins town, to the Heat, Panthers, Marlins, and major college powerhouse University of Miami, Jeff and sports media grew with the city.

Jeff was ultimately tapped to host morning drive on Miami’s first all-sports radio station- 560 WQAM.  By 2002, it was time to branch out. “Defo” came to News-Talk 850 WFTL and not only covered the Miami/Fort Lauderdale radio market, but got a big base of fans in West Palm Beach/Boca Raton.  He left in 2005 to work for Miami’s second all-sports station, 790 The Ticket (WAXY).
 

His career came full circle in October 2007 as “Defo” came back to his News Talk roots, joining the News-Talk 850 WFTL Morning News Team and helping to sign on Miami’s 3rd all sports station, WFTL 640 Fox Sports.  Jeff does double duty every morning.

 
 

Ethan Skolnick is the quintessential insider with all the information and he brings that expertise to The First Team.  He covers all sports for the Sun-Sentinel where he is an enterprise writer and a semi-regular columnist.
 

Born in Queens, NY, Skolnick grew up on Long Island, where his claim to fame was saying four sentences in a Juicy Juice commercial. He spent his high school years at Pine Crest in Fort Lauderdale, where his claim to fame was the bloop single to right.
 

Skolnick received his Bachelor's degree from The Johns Hopkins University and his Master's degree from the Columbia University School of Journalism. He interned at the Village Voice, News of Boca Raton and The Los Angeles Times, and then worked the agate shift at the Baltimore Sun, getting Chinese food for Buster Olney and Ken Rosenthal before starting at the Palm Beach Post in 1995.
 

After five years at the Post, he worked more than two years at the Miami Herald, and joined the Sun-Sentinel in November of 2002. He has covered virtually every major team and event in South Florida, including five combined seasons as a beat writer on the Dolphins and Heat.
 

See Ethan's columns in the Sun Sentinel sports section HERE
See Ethan's blog HERE

 

Lesley Visser
 

Lesley Visser brings 30 plus years of experience to The First Team.  She has covered nearly every sporting event and interviewed the biggest names in sports. 
 

Visser added another first to her long and prestigious trailblazing career as the first woman to be recognized by the Pro Football Hall of Fame as the 2006 recipient of the Pete Rozelle Radio-Television Award which recognizes long-time exceptional contributions to radio and television in professional football.
 

Visser became the first woman sportscaster to carry the Olympic Torch when the International Olympic Committee honored her in 2004 as a "pioneer and standard-bearer." She is the only sportscaster in history who has worked on the network broadcasts of the Final Four, Super Bowl, World Series, NBA Finals, Triple Crown, Olympics, U.S. Open and World Figure Skating Championship.
 

Visser served as lead reporter for CBS’s coverage of the NFL, working with CBS Sports' No. 1 announce team of Jim Nantz and Phil Simms in 2004. This year she again is a part of THE NFL TODAY team. Visser worked her 28th NCAA Men's Basketball Championship last March, an event she also covered in the past for the Boston Globe, ESPN and CBS. This past season marked her 34th year covering the NFL.
 

Visser was a reporter for THE SUPER BOWL TODAY, CBS Sports' Super Bowls XXXV and XXXVIII pre-game broadcasts. She also contributes reports for CBS News and serves as a reporter for HBO Sports' "Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel." She spent nearly seven years with ABC Sports and was a sideline reporter for "Monday Night Football," becoming the first woman assigned to the series and the first woman ever to report from the sidelines during a Super Bowl.
 

Visser was born Sept. 11 in Quincy, MA and is married to FOX/Turner sportscaster Dick Stockton. They reside in Boca Raton.  You can hear her every Friday morning on WFTL 640 Fox Sports. 
 

Check her personal website HERE or her CBS Sport bio HERE

 
 

Watch this space for Harvey's bio.
 

 

Troy Stradford brings on-field experience to the First Team because of his playing days in the National Football League. 

Troy's journey to becoming a Miami Dolphin included a high profile career with Boston College.  He still holds the B.C. career rushing attempts record (658) and ranks #2 in career yards rushing (3,504).  Troy’s standout performance in the 1985 Cotton Bowl won him MVP honors as well as all-time #2 ranking in rushing in Cotton Bowl history.
 

Troy’s rookie year with The Miami Dolphins was so impressive, he was voted the 1987 Offensive Rookie of the Year.  His rushing performance against the N.Y. Jets is a Dolphins record to this day with 30 attempts. 

Troy finished 1987 with over 1,000 yards total.   His 1987-1990 4-year performance for Miami has endeared him to Dolphin fans to this day.  See all of his pro stats HERE.
 

Troy is the WFTL 640 Fox Sports football expert.  He also hosts Gameday Insiders, heard every football weekend on News-Talk 850 WFTL.

 
 

Adam Barron is the Executive Producer of The First Team.  He was born and raised in Hollywood, FL, where he grew up living and dying with all the local sports teams.
 

The University of Florida graduate started on the airwaves of WRUF-AM, broadcasting Gators Softball, hosting a sports talk show and anchoring sports updates.  He also graced the sports anchor chair at WUFT-TV in Gainesville where he was the Sports Director. 
 

Following college he went to NBC Sports in New York City before becoming the play-by-play voice of the Bradenton Juice Baseball club, an independent professional team in Bradenton, FL.  Then it was on to the home of golf at The Golf Channel in Orlando where his favorite moment was getting to cover the 2008 Masters Tournament in Augusta, GA.

Adam lists the 1997 and 2003 Florida Marlins as his favorite teams…and he thinks 2008 could be a magical year for the improbable Marlins.

 

Every weekday morning, Erik Lengyel takes his place at the controls of The First Team.  He is the technical ringmaster for the 3 hour circus that takes place from 6a-9a on WFTL 640 FOX Sports.

Born in the swamps of New Orleans, Erik is a rabid Saints fan as well as a veteran of many a Mardi Gras.  At the age of 6, the Lengyel family moved to Hollywood, Florida.  As young Erik grew up, the South Florida lifestyle suited him well; sunshine, beaches, bikini clad girls everywhere. This was home!

While attending Hollywood Hills High, Erik lettered in football, spring break and wrestling.  It was here that Erik discovered the importance of the gym and pumping iron; on the field against your opponents or on Fort Lauderdale beach chillin with the ladies.

Erik was Defo's technical director in 2002 during his first stay at WFTL where they developed an on air chemistry.  That's also where the nickname Erik "The Red", based on the pillaging viking, was born.