Author Archive
A Clean Slate: Tampa Bay Lightning Fires Coach and GM
Posted: 12th April 2010 by JC De La Torre in NHL
It's a raw deal for former Tampa Bay Lightning head coach Rick Tocchet. Tampa Bay's new owner, Jeffery Vinik decided his franchise needed a clean slate, firing both Tocchet and general manager Brian Lawton in a sweep that basically resets the franchise and purges it of any remenants of the Koules-Barrie era (or more accurately, error).
Tocchet dealt with an insecure GM who sabotaged his hockey team because he wouldn't become ...
2010 NFL Draft: Top 10 Worst Picks in Tampa Bay Buccaneers History
Posted: 12th April 2010 by JC De La Torre in NFL
Few franchises have the rich draft history of busts as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have mastered in the 34 year history of the franchise.
Tampa Bay has perfected the art of botching picks from the very beginning and it continues to this day.
Finding the ten worst proved to be a challenge as there's so many worthy candidates.
Still, let's endeavor to push through and find the most wretched of the bad.Begin Slideshow
First Week Of the Season Has Been a Mixed Bag for Tampa Bay Rays
Posted: 11th April 2010 by JC De La Torre in MLB
Week one of the 2010 baseball season was a bit of everything for the Tampa Bay Rays. Dramatic come-from-behind wins over the Orioles, a blow out of the Yankees in game one, then finishing the home stand with two ugly defeats at the hands of the Evil Empire definitely leaves a foul taste in the Rays' mouths as they head out for a 10 game road trip.
Starting the season ...
Steven Stamkos Gets a Piece of the Rocket Richard Award
Posted: 11th April 2010 by JC De La Torre in NHL
A year ago, some wondered if he was ready for the NHL. One of his former owners was so convinced he was a bust that he had a handshake deal to trade him away. Now, he sits on top of the NHL, tied with Pittsburgh Penguins superstar Sidney Crosby for the most goals in the 2009-10 season at 51.
He is Steven Stamkos and now he is the winner of the ...
Tampa Bay Lightning: Embarrassing Play Down Stretch an Indictment of Head Coach
Posted: 7th April 2010 by JC De La Torre in NHL
My target for the Tampa Bay Lightning's post-Olympic collapse has always been general manager Brian Lawton. During the break, Lawton shook up the Lightning chemistry by firing a well-liked assistant coach, then abandoning his hockey team at the deadline by not making any moves to strengthen a young, struggling defense.
While Lawton definitely remains in the cross hairs of my angst, he's now got some company.
Until now, I always viewed Lightning ...
For the Tampa Bay Rays, there is no tomorrow. The Rays head into the 2010 season having put together a terrific spring, winning a club record 20 grapefruit league games. Their winning percentage was best in the majors at .750 and they won seven of eight to enter the season with some momentum.
All that Spring success doesn't mean a hill of beans now, though, because in a few days, the ...
Money for Nothing: Glazers Claim To Have Cash, Not the Desire To Spend It
Posted: 28th March 2010 by JC De La Torre in NFL
Believe it if you want, Buccaneer fans. One of your owners, Joel Glazer, has told you straight up: They have the money to spend, they just don't want to spend it right now.
They believe in building by the NFL draft, building a foundation, and then adding to that base down the line.
"Money will never be an issue when it comes to building this team the way we think it should ...
Tampa Bay Lightning’s Steven Stamkos Rubs Shoulders with Greatness
Posted: 25th March 2010 by JC De La Torre in NHL
While his hockey team may have fallen out of the Eastern Conference playoff race, 20-year-old Lightning center Steven Stamkos has pushed to the top of the line to stand with two of the NHL's best players, Sid "the Kid" Crosby and Alexander "the Great" Ovechkin, tied for the league lead in goals scored at 45.
Stamkos added two more to his tally in Tampa Bay's 5-3 victory over the Boston Bruins, ...
Tampa Bay Lightning’s Post Season Hopes Doomed By Post Olympic Break Swoon
Posted: 22nd March 2010 by JC De La Torre in NHL
The white flag has been raised and the end is nigh. For the Tampa Bay Lightning, the season came to a close at the Olympic Break, when changes in coaching staff and inactivity at the deadline ruined team chemistry and sent the hockey club into a tailspin they could not recover.
With a 5-2 shellacking at the hands of their rivals, the Florida Panthers, the Lightning lost their fifth ...
Stop the Press: Bucs Nab Sean Jones, Rumored To Be After Brandon Marshall Too
Posted: 16th March 2010 by JC De La Torre in NFL
Just when you thought it was safe to focus on your March Madness bracket, Tim Tebow's Pro Day and look over your NFL draft guides, the Buccaneers make some headlines.
The Bucs signed former Eagles strong safety Sean Jones as an unrestricted free agent, making him the first starting caliber acquisition of the 2010 offseason.
Jones spent one season with the Eagles playing in 15 games (nine starts), notching 61 tackles (44 ...