general

This Koetter-Smith combo is better than the old one

January 16, 2016 general

Saturday, 6 a.m. For now, his vision is clear, his ideas seem brilliant and his path is paved in gold. At the moment, he is undefeated. These are the best days for Dirk Koetter, the new coach of the Bucs. He has yet to lose to Carolina. He has yet to call a play that […]

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Lightning’s Namestnikov has a Hat Trick in win

January 16, 2016 general

Saturday, 12:03 a.m. The first goal was a finger-snap. It came about the time you heard the puck hit the ice. Less than two minutes into the game, and Vladimir Namestikov was on the boards. It was his seventh goal of the season, which means it wasn’t totally unexpected, but it was like found money […]

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If Koetter is to succeed, he’ll need help

January 15, 2016 general

Friday, 6:10 a.m. It doesn’t matter where a coach comes from. It matters what sort of help he gets once he’s here. That’s the part that has always been difficult for the Tampa Bay Bucs to fathom. They have hired former pro coaches, four of them. They have hired former college coaches, three of them. […]

Tagged as: Buc;s, Glazers., Koetter, Licht

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To Tampa Bay, Rays’ vote means a fresh chance

January 15, 2016 general

Friday, 6 a.m. After all of the politics, after all of the posturing, after both sides acting as if they were the ones driving the vehicle, the Rays’ ability to look across Tampa Bay for a new stadium means this: A new chance. Perhaps a last chance. This was the reason for the large exhale […]

Tagged as: baseball, Rays, Stadium, Tampa

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Baseball trumps football in competitive balance

January 15, 2016 Baseball

Friday, 6:00 a.m. When I was a young boy growing up in the 50’s (the 1950’s, not the 1850’s), there were 16 MLB teams and 12 NFL teams. It was reasonable for all of us young fans to assume that our favorite teams in each sport would win it all, or at least get to […]

Tagged as: Balance, baseball, Championship, Football

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Ask the expert: Jerry Angelo

January 14, 2016 general

Thursday, 6 a.m. Jerry Angelo is a former personnel director for the Bucs and former general manager of the Bears. Each week, Angelo answers your questions regarding the NFL. Send your questions to GarySheltonsports@gmail.com with “ask the expert” in the subject line. The most interesting question will be selected. You’ve read the list of candidates. […]

Tagged as: Angelo, Expert, Koetter, Lewis, Walsh

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The questions Koetter must answer are defensive

January 14, 2016 general

Thursday, 6 a.m. The coach is offensive. The questions are defensive. It is doubtful that Jason Licht asked Dirk Koetter a lot about his offense this week. Does he want to know what he thinks about Jameis Winston? About Doug Martin? Look at the tapes. Want to know what he would do in a goal-to-go […]

Tagged as: Buc;s, Coach, defense, Koetter

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Saban to Bucs? Sounds like dreaming to me

January 13, 2016 general

Wednesday, 6 a.m. If you are going to dream, dream big. If you are going to imagine, imagine wild. If you are going to try to make up a rumor, well, make one up that will get some buzz, right? All of which explains the brand new Nick-Saban-to-the-Bucs reports that seem to be making the […]

Tagged as: Alabama, Buc;s, Coach, Saban

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Alabama adds one more title to its dynasty

January 12, 2016 Florida State University

Monday, 6 a.m. Start with the coach. In college football, you always start with the coach. This one is a small, aging man who is constantly in a bad mood. In fact, it has become a bit of a punch line what a grump Nick Saban is and how seldom he seems to get a […]

Tagged as: Alabama, Clemson, National title, Saban

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Alabama keeps adding titles to its legacy

January 11, 2016 College Sports in Florida

Monday, 6 a.m. The University of Alabama invented the idea of fourth-and-one. Also, it invented the idea of going for it. And so it goes. There are stories and myths, fables and lore. There are invented championships and reworked history. There are great moments and great fabrications. This is a football program that seems like […]

Tagged as: Alabama, Bear, Clemson, Lore, Saban

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