25 steps to playoff elimination for Bucs

December 28, 2016 general

Wednesday, 4 a.m. Where did it go? It was right there in their hands, like a set of car keys. It was under lock and key. It was put away safely. And then, in the blink of an eye – maybe two blinks – and it was gone. Other teams were talking about the playoffs. […]

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Why go back to Martin at this point?

December 26, 2016 general

Tuesday, 4 a.m. And now comes the last big decision of the season. With one game to go, does Dirk Koetter look again to Doug Martin? Or does he decide that all the reasons that he looked instead to Jacquizz Rodgers are still in place? Does he point Martin to the bench once again? Not […]

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Where do Bucs need to look first to improve?

December 26, 2016 general

Monday, 4 a.m. So where do they go from here? Besides home, that is? The playoff hopes of the Tampa Bay Bucs have been reduced to miracle status. In the end, they turned the ball over too much, they didn’t rush the passer well enough and they didn’t have enough offensive weapons. In their last […]

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Bucs move the wrong direction: Away from playoffs

December 25, 2016 general

Monday, 4 a.m. Well, bah. And furthermore, humbug. If this was indeed the biggest game in years for the Tampa Bay Bucs, well, it ended as the biggest disappointment. So much for the division title. So much for the favorite’s shot at the playoffs. After a 31-24 loss to the New Orleans Saints, it felt […]

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Ask Gary: Spreading a few Christmas wishes

December 24, 2016 general

(Each week, the readers take over GarySheltonsports.com and play Ask Gary. They send in a question, or a couple, on Thursday night or Friday morning and we all talk about the world of sports.  Think of it as a radio show where you don’t have to be on hold. Join us and ask a question, make a comment […]

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Sitting one out for the old Alma Mater

December 23, 2016 College Sports in Florida

Thursday, 4 a.m. So much for boolah-boolah. So much for the old college try.. Leonard Fournette is skipping the Citrus Bowl, evidently, because of Orlando traffic and the crowds at the Hillbilly Jamboree. And because he’s been hurt, and he wants to play in the NFL. He wants to practice for the NFL in ways, […]

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Bolts come from behind to capture victory over Blues

December 23, 2016 general

Friday, 3 a.m. Now, that’s more like it. The Tampa Bay Lighting still cannot be certain that its struggles are over, especially not as beaten up as they are. But for a night, the Lightning was a special team again Thursday night. The goaltending (Andri Vasilevskiy) was good, particularly since the Bolts learned that Ben Bishop […]

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Look closely to see how much better Evans has been

December 22, 2016 general

Thursday, 4 a.m. To separate the good year from the bad one, you have to keep this in mind: The truth is not always in the numbers. Even for a wide receiver. There are things that matter beyond catches, things that matter more than yardage. There is impact. There are plays. There are moments. And […]

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Do you trust the good in Lightning’s victory?

December 21, 2016 general

Wednesday, 4 a.m. When things are going badly, do you trust success to last? Are you sure the bad times have disappeared? Do you think the nightmare is over? Are you convinced that the misery is over? If you are a fan of the Tampa Bay Lightning, these are the thoughts that consume you today. […]

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Bucs have to win their fights to the finish

December 20, 2016 general

Tuesday, 4 a.m. The best movies come down to the final reel. The finest novels are especially great in the final chapter. The best competitions feature a fight to the finish. That’s just drama. You don’t capture Hannibal Lector with 15 minutes to go in the movie. James Bond doesn’t defuse the bomb with 20 […]

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