Alabama’s Saban has surprised even Bear Bryant

January 1, 2016 College football

Friday, 6 a.m. If Bear Bryant were coaching today, this is how he would have spent his Saturday night. He would have lit a cigarette and drawn from it. He would have sipped deeply from his bourbon. He would have sighed heavily. Then he would have said this about Alabama. “Damn, but those boys are […]

Tagged as: Alabama, Bryant, playoffs, Saban

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Who do you like in the national title game?

January 1, 2016 general

Sunday, 6 a.m. I watched Alabama, and I liked the Crimson Tide. Why, they may have never had a better defense. If they played until next Thursday, Washington wasn’t going to get into the end zone again. Nick Saban has fashioned the closest thing to a dynasty we have seen in college football. Makers of […]

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Ask the expert: Jerry Angelo

January 1, 2016 general

Thursday, 12:24 p.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. Do you think Chip Kelly’s failing […]

Tagged as: Angelo, Buc;s, Expert, Kelly

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Remembering Lovie’s top 10 hits, misses

December 31, 2015 general

Tuesday, 6 a.m. There have been good choices. Jameis Winston, for instance. There have been wise selections. Dirk Koetter comes to mind. There have been building blocks on the way to a better day. Ali Marpet. Kwon Alexander. On some days, Donovan Smith. But have  they been enough? Have they come fast enough? Ah, as […]

Tagged as: Buc;s, Collins, Lovie, Mistakes

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Playing at home isn’t a big advantage for Bolts

December 31, 2015 general

Thursday, 12:15 a.m. Once, it was the biggest strength of the Tampa Bay Lightning. It was passionate, and it was friendly, and it felt like home. It was Amalie Arena, and teams hated to visit here. If it were any more cushy, teams would take towels home as souvenirs. These days? Amalie is a funhouse, […]

Tagged as: Amalie, Cooper, Lightning, Rangers

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Kelly’s firing brings up an old lesson in the NFL

December 30, 2015 general

Wednesday, 6 a.m. Not all actors are meant to be producers. Not all singers are meant to lead an orchestra. Not all drill sergeants are destined to be generals. And so the Peter Principle has cost another coach another job with another team. In the end, Philadelphia coach Chip Kelly wasn’t a good enough coach to […]

Tagged as: Buc;s, Control, Gruden, Kelly

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Lightning loses lead in third, falls in shootout

December 28, 2015 general

Monday, 11:43 p.m. For 32 seconds, the Tampa Bay Lightning had things going their way. They had just scored the tying goal, and only 21 seconds later, they scored the go-ahead goal against the Montreal Canadiens. Things were going according to plan. Then, 32 seconds later, Montreal tied things up on a goal by Dale […]

Tagged as: Canadiens, Condon, Kucherov, Lightning

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Should a bad game for Martin be a firable offense?

December 28, 2015 general

Monday, 6 a.m. Shoot him. That’s what I say. Blindfold him, line him against the wall and fire. Doug Martin fumbled. Then, recidivist that he is, he fumbled again. So let’s blow him up and throw him away. Let’s forget about the yards. Let’s forget about the touchdowns. Martin has sinned against the empire, and […]

Tagged as: Buc;s, Fumbles, Leading rusher, Martin

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Were the Bucs really a better team in 2015?

December 27, 2015 general

Sunday, 6:45 p.m. It was all a dream, right? At one point, I imagined the Bucs were 6-6. I imagined they had clobbered the Eagles. I imagined they had swept the Atlanta Falcons. I saw improvement all around. I blame my medication. Was any of it real? Or was it a mirage, a freak of […]

Tagged as: Bears, Buc;s, Martin, Smith, Winston

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Next year isn’t promised to Bucs, either

December 27, 2015 general

Thursday, 6 a.m. The team has its quarterback. The victories have tripled. The system is in place. From here, what can go wrong? Around Tampa Bay, you’ve heard it a thousand times. Next year. Next year will be better. Next year, James Winston will have a year under his belt, and Dirk Koetter will be […]

Tagged as: 2016, Buc;s, Lovie, playoffs

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