* Despite a job relocation to Anaheim, Joe Maddon is no less committed to his Tampa ties, including “Thanksmas,” his Tampa restaurant Ava, and his Bayshore Boulevard home and Gasparilla Party. He’s also no less optimistic that baseball can ultimately succeed here with a modern Rays stadium on the Tampa side of Tampa Bay. “The Trop is not a major-league facility; it has nice air-conditioning,” says Maddon. “You’ve got to put the ballpark on the Tampa side, close to the population. … The right ballpark in the right location with real baseball fans, which I think exist here, you’ll find the folks to show up.”
* At the mid-season point, there is only one undefeated team in the NFL–and it’s not the New England Patriots, the defending Super Bowl champions. Surprisingly, it’s the San Francisco 49ers, who were 4-12 last year and haven’t had a winning season since 2013. A key factor is general manager John Lynch. Yes, THAT John Lynch, the popular, former Buccaneer All-Pro and Hall of Fame candidate, who’s now half way through his 6-year contract.