Category: Sports

* Blue Devil bottom line: Duke basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski is making $9.7 million this year. Duke President Richard Brodhead makes $1.1 million. But Brodhead has yet to win a national championship; Krzyzewski just won his fifth on Monday. And, BTW, the Duke basketball program grossed $12.8 million in profit on revenues of $27 million this year.

* It’s reminiscent of an old Mickey Rooney-Judy Garland movie where there’s that “Let’s-put-on-a-show” moment of inspiration. The parallel in St. Petersburg is city council’s response to a Rays stadium solution: “Let’s hold a workshop.”

*Both the Rays and the Cubs lost their home openers. For what it’s worth, it was far worse for the Cubs where Wrigley Field’s “friendly confines” were anything but. Because of reduced bathroom availability due to ongoing renovation work and a plumbing problem, there were thousands of Cub fans more interested in a mini rebellion than Joe Maddon’s debut. By the seventh inning stretch, the signs were manifest. Apparently those were not cups of flat beer dotted around Wrigley.

* When the Lightning put single-game playoff tickets on sale today (Friday), the team was trying its best to make it as hard as possible for opposing fans (likely Detroit or Boston) to buy any. Those buying tickets online need to have a Florida address for their credit card or they will be denied. Go, Bolts.

* Good to see Brittany Lincicome, now 29, win another major LPGA championship. The Seminole native, one of the nicest athletes from Tampa Bay to make it big on the international sports stage, won in a playoff at Rancho Mirage, Calif. She is now projected to jump to sixth in the world ranking.

* Too bad that something so important as the location for a new major league baseball stadium for the Rays has had to involve the minor-league city council of St. Petersburg.

* Imagine, it’s now been 20 years since Tampa Bay was awarded a Major League Baseball franchise. To commemorate the occasion, the Rays have selected original owner Vince Naimoli to throw out the first pitch before Monday’s season opener.

Too bad that first pitch isn’t being thrown out by Frank Morsani, who led the early (Tampa Bay Baseball Group) effort to land the expansion franchise for Tampa. Recall that it was Morsani who bought 42 percent of the Minnesota Twins in 1984 and then sold it back at cost–at MLB’s request–to help keep the franchise there. MLB would then renege on its gentleman’s agreement that Morsani would later be rewarded with a Tampa expansion team. We know the rest of the St. Petersburg story.

* Red Sox slugger David Ortiz is notably outspoken. He doesn’t nuance or equivocate or qualify. Except, curiously, this one time: “I never knowingly took any steroids.”

* Last week Tampa Bay and Nashville played one of the biggest games of the year. Who would have guessed not too many years ago that the sport would have been hockey?

* I’ve seen more than a few analogies of late that compare the University of Kentucky basketball team and the New York Yankees. As in teams many of us like to hate because they’re too good, year after year. Wrong. The hate part is correct, but it’s because they get to play by, what amounts to, different or abused rules. In a sport without a salary cap, the Yankees get to outspend everyone. In a sport with too much lip service to “student-athlete,” UK gets super 13th- grade mercenaries to pose as student-athletes until March Madness of their freshman year.

* It doesn’t make my short list of sports I care about, but IndyCar racing–as in the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg–arguably does more for this region’s image than any other sporting event. Those establishing and cutaway shots of beaches, palm trees, a world-class waterfront and chamber of commerce weather show off an environment and lifestyle that is priceless PR.

*The USF women’s basketball team made history this season by hosting an NCAA tournament game–and then embellished it with a win over LSU behind a raucous Sun Belt home crowd. Alas, the  Bulls came up short of more history–a Sweet 16 berth–Monday night by losing a close one to Louisville.

Regardless, it was a great season for Jose Fernandez’s nationally-ranked Bulls. And with virtually the entire team returning next season, more history could loom.

*Tough year for men’s college basketball in the Sunshine State. The only school to make the NCAA tournament was the University of North Florida.

* Louisville coach Rick Pitino took a less-than-subtle swipe at Kentucky coach John “One and Done” Calipari. Pitino said he favors high school prospects going directly to the NBA or an NBA development league if they choose–if college, per se, was not for them. “The six-, seven-month education, online classes second semester. I don’t know what that does for a young person,” noted Pitino.

But this is also true. If the bluest of those “one-and-done” blue-chippers were to come to Louisville–not Lexington–to pose as “student-athletes” for a semester and a half, he would take them in a heartbeat.

* Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim’s reaction to major NCAA penalties raining down on his program surprised no one. He did what he always does when things don’t go his way. He whines.

* What’s with all the “everybody-loves-to-hate-Christian Laettner” ballyhoo? Here’s one theory of the legacy of the former Duke All-American and 13-year, NBA player. He was the perfect, politically correct, safe target. He played for an elite school that won big without cannibalizing standards–and wasn’t averse to reminding everyone about it. He was very good, very high profile, very demonstrative, very preppy looking and very white.

* Former NFL quarterback and veteran ESPN football analyst Ron Jaworski had a sobering take on Jameis Winston, the likely overall No. 1 pick of the Bucs in April’s NFL draft. And it has nothing to do with Winston’s questionable character. “I’ve studied a lot of him … there are some real flaws to his game,” said Jaworski. “Quite honestly, I would not take him at that No. 1 pick.”

* Imagine, next season the New York Giants could very well field a defensive line where BOTH starting ends are USF alums: Jason Pierre-Paul and George Selvie.

* We’re used to Steinbrenner Field around here. The mini-Yankee Stadium is cool for spring training and minor league games. But a recent New York Times piece noted that lighting–in a 20-year-old facility–was now a bit of an issue. The Yankees play more (seven) spring-training games at night than most MLB teams (the Rays play none) to better accommodate vacationing fans who can hit the beach and also see a game. Thus they’re more impacted by relatively “weak” lighting that is quite typical of minor league facilities.

Perhaps it wouldn’t have come to light had Alex Rodriguez not started 0 for 10 with three strikeouts at night at Steinbrenner but 7 for 16 with two home runs and a double in day games.

* Everybody knows the Rays finished last–30th–in MLB attendance last year. Average attendance was 17,857–or 52.4 percent of Tropicana Field capacity. We’re all familiar with the downside of the Trop and the location of that obsolete facility on the fringe of the market. And that this Tampa Bay area is not some traditional MLB market with a long history and local identity. Etc.

Interestingly enough, check out the franchises that finished 28th and 29th in attendance: the well-established, tradition-steeped Chicago White Sox and Cleveland Indians, respectively. The Sox averaged 20,896–or 51.5 percent capacity, while the Indians averaged 18,428–or 42.2 percent capacity.

* It’s as much a rite of spring as the opening of MLB training camps. Sure enough, there are players not reporting because of visa issues. And, sure enough, no country is more prominent in this regard than the Dominican Republic. This still confounds. If baseball is your biggest export, why wouldn’t you streamline this process so it didn’t happen–every year. This year it’s Alex Colome, the team’s likely fifth starter until Matt Moore returns.

* Cuba could soon have another reminder of the pre-Castro1950s–besides those vintage American cars. According to Tony Clark, president of MLB’s Players Association, major league teams are seriously considering returning to Cuba to play spring exhibition games.

* “Get a life” is an all-too-familiar cliché.  It certainly applies, however, to those hanging around Steinbrenner Field these days hoping for an Alex Rodriguez autograph.

Speaking of, A-Roid has three years remaining on his contract and is still owed obscene millions. He hasn’t played in a year and a half, has had surgery on both hips and will turn 40 in a few months. This gives charade a bad name. But this is what the Yankees got when they threw too much money for too long a period of time at someone too well known for character flaws.

Too damn bad.

* Let’s give credit to the Big Ten for formally considering the issue of whether freshmen athletes should be ineligible to compete while they adjust to college life. The conference said it has reached out to members to see if there’s interest “in beginning a national discussion regarding a year of readiness for student-athletes.” It would apply solely to football and men’s basketball.

Alas, you can’t rebottle that genie. Just ask the University of Kentucky’s basketball barker, John “One and done” Calipari.

Coaches such as Calipari, and those that must try to compete with his mercenaries, are not out there recruiting “student-athletes.” That’s for soccer, cross country, tennis, soft ball, swimming, lacrosse and the rest of the non-revenue sports.

Should the Big Ten adopt freshman (football/basketball) ineligibility in the name of student-athlete “readiness,” it would be a competitive disadvantage. It won’t, of course, happen, but nice try.

*For more than a decade, ESPN has been televising the July 4th Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating World Championship from Coney Island. For some unfathomable reason, 40,000 spectators watched and 2.8 million viewers tuned in last year to watch Joey Chestnut devour the competition and 69 hotdogs in 10 minutes.

Now the Tampa Bay region is playing a part with the recent hosting of a regional eating competition at the Strawberry Festival in Plant City. Winners qualified for Coney Island.

Final Fours. Stanley Cup Final. GOP Convention. Bollywood Oscars. Tampa Bay is a major player. Now add glutton for glory with the Nathan’s nexus. Belch.

* It’s thought that the Bucs are preparing their fan base for the selection of Jameis Winston with the top draft pick that would make him the de facto face of the franchise. It’s also thought this won’t be an easy sell. Frankly, I think any fan wariness will disappear with positive signs coming out of pre-season practices and exhibition games. This is still a win-at-virtually-any-cost league, and Winston is thought to be NFL, if not society at large, ready. That’s the bottom line–not that there’s a renegade running the offense. Remember how popular the unlikeable Warren Sapp was?

* Brandon High just won another Hillsborough County wrestling championship. It’s what the Eagles do. And with such regularity that locals take it for granted. But consider the magnitude of the Brandon accomplishment: It has been county champion for 42 consecutive years. Richard Nixon was president when it began.

* We can all agree that it was unfortunate what happened to the Little Leaguers from Chicago–the feel-good, all-black, Jackie Robinson West team. It was stripped of its national title after it was revealed that team officials cheated by falsifying boundaries to add ineligible players.

A couple of issues overlap. First, cheating has happened before. Where boundaries, birth certificates and fame are involved, there’s always a temptation. When a violation is discovered, action must be taken. It’s called doing the right, however emotionally blindsiding, thing.

Even a bunch of good kids who deserve better can’t be sent the message that cheating can be countenanced. Wins and honors–but not memories–have been withdrawn. They are no less talented kids, but without adding ineligibles, they probably wouldn’t have made it to Williamsport in the first place. Adults don’t cheat to bring in marginal players.

Second, Little League has become too big. National and international television, network sponsors and ratings, interviews, autographs, up-close and -personal backgrounders–and all the accompanying pressure. Sandlots on steroids. Last year, a losing pitcher was shown on live network TV emotionally melting down. You had to avert your eyes, it was that cringe-worthy.

This is what the Little League World Series has become. Lights, cameras, action in front of sold-out crowds and millions watching at home. Any wonder some will cheat at a kids’ game to get there?

* We can all agree that it was unfortunate what happened to the Little Leaguers from Chicago–the feel-good, all-black, Jackie Robinson West team. It was stripped of its national title after it was revealed that team officials cheated by falsifying boundaries to add ineligible players.

A couple of issues overlap. First, cheating has happened before. Where boundaries and birth certificates are involved, there’s always a temptation. When a violation is discovered, action must be taken. It’s called doing the right, however emotionally blindsiding, thing.

Even a bunch of good kids who deserve better can’t be sent the message that cheating can be countenanced. Wins and honors–but not memories–have been withdrawn. They are no less talented, but without adding ineligibles, they probably wouldn’t have made it to Williamsport in the first place. Adults don’t cheat to bring in marginal players.

Second, Little League has become too big. National and international television, network sponsors and ratings, interviews, autographs, up-close and -personal backgrounders–and all the accompanying pressure. Sandlots on steroids. Last year, a losing pitcher was shown on live network TV emotionally melting down. You had to avert your eyes, it was that cringe-worthy.

This is what the Little League World Series has become. Lights, cameras, action in front of sold-out crowds and millions watching at home. Any wonder some will cheat at a kids’ game to get there?

* Cool idea that the NHL–and just last week the Lightning–have periodic father-and-son road trips: players and their dads. Actually, in the Bolts’ case, head coach Jon Cooper brought along his father too. Somehow, I don’t see some of the other professional sports leagues doing this.

* No, it’s not just Ava, the trendy SoHo restaurant, that is a non-baseball reminder of the Maddon presence in Tampa. Joe Maddon’s wife, Jaye, has now opened her Epic Boxing & Fitness Studio on Kennedy Boulevard across from the University of Tampa.

Observers say it’s a savvy move on Jaye Maddon’s part to bring in Esther Solano as boxing instructor. Solano has a following.

The native Puerto Rican has become a fixture in South Tampa with “Best of the Bay” accolades as a personal trainer and the former owner of “Knockout Fitness & Training.” Her credibility as a weight-loss guru is underscored by her personal story: In a previous incarnation, she weighed 150 pounds more than she does today.

Maddon and Solano: Could be the entrepreneurial counterpart of Maddon and (Dave) Martinez.

* Congrats to the USF women’s basketball team. For the first time in its 43-year history, the Bulls made the Associated Press rankings, coming in at No. 25.

Ever go to a Lightninggame when the opposition is from a major Northern city? You know where I’m going.

The Lightning beat the Detroit Red Wings a couple of weeks ago at Amalie Arena in front of a big, raucous crowd that was evenly divided in its allegiance. It goes with being a city of relocatees. It goes with being a winter sport in Florida. And with a franchise that sells about 11,000 season-ticket packages in a 19,204-capacity venue, there are always tickets for the motivated.

For the record, Lightning officials are sensitive on this one. A packed house is still a packed, even if divided, house. Stuff happens here that doesn’t happen there. We get it.

But, still, it’s really, really annoying when you’re sitting next to in-your-face, loud mouths in their out-of-town-team jerseys. It reminds you of why a lot of us moved here–to get away from them.

* Former Buccaneer Warren Sapp is in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, but John Lynch and Tony Dungy, two high achievers who are even better people, are still waiting. I know ability and on-field impact is the criteria, but it’s a shame that character, or lack of, can’t at least be a tie-breaker. Keep making us proud, Warren. Hookers are everywhere.

* The Bucs have the overall number-one pick in the upcoming NFL draft. If they don’t pull off a trade, they will almost assuredly choose between FSU’s problematic Jameis Winston and Oregon’s classy Marcus Mariota. Winston has excelled in a pro-set system, while Mariota, this year’s Heisman Trophy winner, is the superior athlete.

But sometimes teams can be lured into over-analysis. Let’s not forget that Tom Brady, possibly the best pro quarterback of all time, was only a 6th round draft choice coming out of Michigan.