Like it or not, Longo is still the leader

February 25, 2016 Baseball

Thursday, 6 a.m. If the mantle of leadership has become too heavy for Evan Longoria to bear, I say he put it down. By all means. Someone else can call the clubhouse meetings. Someone else can talk to the rookie who isn’t going all out. Someone else can run the Kangaroo Court. If Longoria, the […]

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Improved defense gives Lightning hope

February 24, 2016 general

Wednesday, 6 a.m. Think of Victor Hedman as a linebacker, rangy and strong. Think of Anton Stralman as a strong safety, tough and mean. Think of Braydon Coburn as a cornerback and of Andrej Sustr as a defensive end. Together, they will try to carry the Tampa Bay Lightning into the playoffs. As of late, […]

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USF falls behind quickly, loses to FGCU

February 24, 2016 Baseball

Wednesday, 6 a.m. The USF Bulls dropped a 13-6 game to Florida Gulf Coast Tuesday. USF fell behind 8-0. “We needed to be better in all areas tonight, not just pitching” said USF head baseball coach Mark Kingston. “Our defense made two errors and I thought we should have scored a lot more than six […]

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Where is Losersville? It’s not around here

February 23, 2016 general

Tuesday, 6 a.m. In the tiny nation of Losersville, we can assume that children wear their T-shirts inside out. Here, kids keep training wheels on their bikes until they are 17, and they drink New Coke, and they still watch Mr. McGoo reruns. Adults still drive AMC Pacers, and eight-track tape players are still big, […]

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For the Lightning, the playoffs must start now

February 22, 2016 general

Monday, 6 a.m. Cue the music. Start growing the beards. Turn on the bright lights. The NHL playoffs have begun. Oh, not officially, of course. There is still a little more weeding out to do. There is still momentum to be gained. But, if a team wants to play then, it had better play now. […]

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Random thoughts: For UM, recruiting is child’s play

February 21, 2016 Baseball

Sunday, 6 a.m. Hi. I’m Sam Bruce, the eighth-grader who was offered a scholarship by the University of Miami. I’m flattered, of course, and I can see this happening provided I can get into that class on Spongebob Squarepants. – USA Today put together a fairly impressive 22-man lineup for less money than Roger Goodell’s […]

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USF celebrates Antigua’s birthday with victory

February 20, 2016 College Sports in Florida

Saturday, 4:07 p.m. Now, that’s the way to spend your birthday. USF coach Orlando Antigua spent his 43rd birthday Saturday watching his USF Bulls win one of their most impressive games of the season, beating Memphis 80-71 at the Sun Dome. It was only the seventh win of the season for USF against 21 defeats. […]

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Ask Gary: Do you believe in the Rays?

February 20, 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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As the Rays start, can they last to finish?

February 19, 2016 general

Friday, 6 a.m. The untrodden green lay behind them, a baseball field waiting to be played upon. The season lay in front, a promise of results to come. It always seems this way on the first day of Spring, bright and promising. A pitcher has yet to give up a three-run homer. A batter has […]

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Somehow, Lightning takes a win over Winnipeg

February 19, 2016 general

Friday, 11:58 p.m. So much to remember. The shootout goal by Steven Stamkos. The three goals in 241 seconds in the first period. The tying goal by Nikita Kucherov. The play of Andrej Vasilevskiy in overtime. So much to forget. The 41 shots. The sloppy play by the special teams. Four goals in the third […]

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