St. Louis

Tampa Bay is falling in love with Casali already

July 29, 2015 general

Wednesday, 6 a.m. The bond with the crowd comes quickly. It can hit like a thunderbolt, and it can attach a fan with a player for an eternity. It can be because of effort, the way it was with Mike Alstott. It can be because of grit, the way it once was with Marty St. […]

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Will Tampa Bay ever embrace St. Louis again?

July 3, 2015 general

Friday, 6 a.m. We need a hero. We need someone who has provided enough memories, enough charisma, enough victories to last for an eternity. We need someone who is a solid citizen, someone who who has spent most of his time in town, someone who has a lot of the fans wearing his jersey already. […]

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Random Thoughts: Jennings figures out baseball

May 31, 2015 general

Sunday, 6 a.m. Hello, I’m Dan Jennings. And did everyone know that teams played a left-fielder, too? — Prince of a guy, that Prince Shembo, who beat a 7-pound Yorkie to death. Self-protection.  I don’t know what punishment fits, but how about 20 years…in Michael Vick’s old dog cage? — You can blame the source. […]

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Is it time for Lightning fans to doubt Bishop?

May 23, 2015 general

Saturday, 12;34 a.m. Tampa The questions came in hard and low. Every now and then, there was a deflection. Still, Ben Bishop did not blink. He stood in the firing line, trying to sound calm, trying to sound confident. Mostly, he made it. Outside, he knew heads were shaking and eyes were rolling. All of […]

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Ex-teammate Moore trips up Lightning

May 16, 2015 general

Saturday, 7:06 p.m. He was just another ex-teammate. Just a guy who came, and a guy who went. A nice enough guy. A hard-working plugger. But when Dominic Moore left, it is safe to say there were few tears shed, and few fans who felt betrayed. He was one of those guys you like a […]

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Lightning prepares to play a familiar face in playoffs

May 15, 2015 general

Friday, 9:15 a.m. There was a time it was Ruth’s town. A little later, it was DiMaggio’s. And Mantle’s. And Namath’s. And Messier’s. And Reed’s. And Jackson’s. It was Taylor’s. And Steinbrenner’s. And Jeter’s. The greats have passed it down like a torch, every one of them taking a bite from the Big Apple. These […]

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Lightning has made memories in Game Six

May 12, 2015 general

Tuesday, 7:00 a.m. Moments are made at times such this. Men, too. Game six. Win or go home. Yes, you can talk about Game Seven all you wish, and how it is the ultimate walk across the tightrope. You can talk about how Tampa Bay once beat Calgary in a Game Seven win the Stanley […]

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To All Fields: Which ex-player do Bucs miss most?

January 31, 2015 College Sports in Florida

Saturday, 6 a.m. In Tampa… As former employees go, they have landed on their feet. As a trio, they are happy. They are needed. They fit into football’s most glorious puzzles. They are away from Tampa Bay, and for three guys with work to do on Sunday, they seem fairly fulfilled. Certainly life has gone […]

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It wasn’t Marty’s show; it was Callahan’s

November 27, 2014 general

TAMPA On the last night he mattered to Tampa Bay, there were fans who cheered the name of Martin St. Louis. And that was good. To those fans, the years mattered more than the end, and the way he played was more important than the way he left. And so, they showed St. Louis a […]

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Someday, they’ll love Marty again. Just not yet

November 25, 2014 general

For all time, his face would be frozen in triumph. His mouth would be open, caught in mid-celebration. His eyes would be on fire. His arms would be raised, the way they were so often. For accuracy’s sake, there would be a trickle of blood running down his forehead. This is what the statue of […]

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