Fitzpatrick ready to fill in as an understudy

September 7, 2018 general

Friday, 4 a.m. His job description, to put it indelicately, is Miss Congeniality. If the pageant winner pulls a hamstring, then he might get to walk down the runway. On a football team, he is the vice president. In a Broadway play, he would be the understudy. He’s the second-best mechanic at the auto shop, […]

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Remembering Burt, and that wonderful interview

September 7, 2018 College Sports in Florida

Friday, 3 a.m. When the interview was over, when his tears had stopped and his laughter, I came to this conclusion about Burt Reynolds. The thing that made him a star, I thought, was that he didn’t act like one. He was Burt. He was the old FSU running back. He was the guy who […]

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Blue Jays clobber Glasnow, end Rays dominance

September 6, 2018 general

Thursday, 4 a.m. The higher a team climbs, the further it has to fall. Also, the more it hurts when it lands. Ask the Tampa Bay Rays, who came into Wednesday night’s game red hot with four straight wins and a record that had climbed to 12 over .500. In particular, the Rays had pushed […]

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Bucs must keep Brees under control in opener

September 6, 2018 general

Thursday, 3 a.m. The conversation is all about the offense. That is natural. Everyone wants to know about the points, and about the backup quarterback, and about the sputtering rookie running back, and about the inconsistent offensive line, and about the depth at receiver and tight end. Everyone wants to know who’s calling the plays. […]

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When is it safe to talk about a Rays’ post-season?

September 5, 2018 general

Wednesday, 4 a.m. These days, they carry themselves as if they’re winning was ordained. They hit like winners. They field like winners. They run the bases like winners. And man, oh man, do they pitch like winners. The Tampa Bay Rays, a team so hot they will burn your fingers if you dare to touch […]

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Looking back at the weekend’s college football

September 5, 2018 College Sports in Florida

5 Observations 1. Give Florida the weekend victory. They weren’t as ambitious in their scheduling as Miami or FSU, but they did everything they were supposed to do in their victory over Charleston Southern. They should have won big, and they won big. We still don’t know how it will transfer to the big boys, […]

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Rays follow their script to another victory

September 4, 2018 general

Tuesday, 4 a.m. By now, they know the steps. The formula is familiar. The results are, too. The Tampa Bay Rays continue to win, following a familiar blueprint to get past another opponent. Tampa Bay rose to 11 games above .500 — the first time since 2013 — with a 7-1 win over the Toronto […]

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Thoughts about the upcoming NFL season

September 4, 2018 general

Tuesday, 3 a.m. Thoughts as the NFL season prepares to begin: If Jon Gruden was going to trade away his best player, Mike Evans and you are both probably happy he didn’t come back to the Bucs. — Drew Brees is the bomb and a side of fries. We all know that. But has anyone […]

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Rookies lead Rays to series win over Indians

September 3, 2018 general

Monday, 4 a.m.< Oh, those relentless rookies of the Tampa Bay Rays.  Aren’t they holding your attention down the stretch drive? Once again, the first-year players of the Rays led the way for the team in a 6-4 victory over the Cleveland Indians. It was a win that lifted Tampa Bay to 10 games over […]

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Bucs don’t rank high in position comparisons

September 3, 2018 general

Monday, 3 a.m. Remember this. Write it down. Take a picture of the power ratings. That way, if the Bucs do indeed have a turnaround season, you can remember the meager expectations they brought into the season with them. Last place, okay? Chaos, right? Dysfunction, agreed? Mass firings and a franchise reset, yes? Riots and […]

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