Author Archive

Buccaneers-Eagles Preview: Because We Have To

Posted: 10th October 2009 by JC De La Torre in NFL
The title of this article may seem a little strange. It's because we honestly do not have a choice when it comes to giving a preview of the Week 5 showdown between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Philadelphia Eagles. We've made that commitment to you, our beloved reader, that we will give you a preview of the Bucs' next opponent, even if it proves to be a game so lopsided ...

Lightning-Devils: Bedeviled Buzzer-Beater Burns Bolts

Posted: 8th October 2009 by JC De La Torre in NHL
The Tampa Bay Lightning deserved better, but learned a tough lesson against the veteran-laden New Jersey Devils on Thursday night. A buzzer-beating score enabled the Devils to tie the game and eventually win it in the Lightning's albatrossùthe shootout, spoiling Tampa Bay's home opener. It was a game of missed chances for the Bolts as they created the symphony that was not music to their offense, clanking several shots of the ...

Tampa Bay Lightning-Carolina Hurricanes: Do Not Adjust Your Television

Posted: 6th October 2009 by JC De La Torre in NHL
I'd like to give you my analysis of the Tampa Bay Lightning-Carolina Hurricanes showdown tonight, but I can't. I can tell you that the Lightning lost to the Hurricanes in a shootout by the score of 2-1 (2-0 shootout) . I can tell you that Ryan Malone scored for the Lightning. I can tell you that Mike Smith made 27 saves in this game. Other than that, I cannot tell you much. Inexplicably, a ...

Tampa Bay Buccaneers First Quarter Report: Indecision 2009

Posted: 6th October 2009 by JC De La Torre in NFL
We're at the quarter pole of the 2009 NFL Season and for the fans of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers it couldn't be more of a trying season. As bandwagon fans have fallen off by the droves, those fans standing by the team are left with questions regarding the direction of the football team under the current regime. There's been a changing of the guard, strange hirings and even weirder firings.áThere's been indecision, ...

Rays Put 2009 To Bed With Some Lasting Magical Moments

Posted: 5th October 2009 by JC De La Torre in MLB
Of all the people to get the first cycle in Tampa Bay Rays history, I considered BJ Upton to be an unlikely candidate.á Certainly, BJ has the athletic ability to make it happen, and he most certainly didáFriday night, but I never thought he had the hustle to make it happen. When the bloop single dropped in to complete the cycle (a single, double, triple, and a home run in one ...

Buccaneers-Redskins: Tampa Bay Snags Defeat From The Jaws Of Victory

Posted: 4th October 2009 by JC De La Torre in NFL
The defense was stuffing the run, sacking the quarterback, and causing turnovers. The offense was running the ball well and a young quarterback was playing well. It felt like old times for one half of play...but then reality came crashing down on the winless Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Bucs lost their eighth consecutive game, fourth this season and fell short in their upset bid of the equally inept Washington Redskins, 16-13, ...

Tampa Bay Bucs: Is Ownership Putting Resources Into The Club?

Posted: 4th October 2009 by JC De La Torre in NFL
ESPN.com's Pat Yasinskas put together an interesting article (Cheapskates? No, Bucs actually have a plan) on the Bucs' owners, the Glazers, and how the view around the league that the Buccaneers have gone cheap is unwarranted. It's an fascinating tale, detailing the Bucs new frugal approach after a period in salary cap hell, and how the Bucs actually have been doling out big contracts to Kellen Winslow, Michael Clayton, Derrick ...

Tampa Bay Lightning-Atlanta Thrashers: Bolts Open to Bad Bounces

Posted: 3rd October 2009 by JC De La Torre in NHL
After a promising pre-season and a renewed confidence, the Tampa Bay Lightning opened the season with a disappointing 6-3 loss to Southeast Division rival Atlanta. While Mike Smith's goaltending did seem a bit suspect, the game wasn't as ugly as the score indicated. It seemed the hockey gods wanted to make the Lightning wait at least one more game before their turnaround can begin. Bounces, penalties, and dumb luck seemed to turn into ...

Bucs-Redskins Preview: Just Win One, Baby

Posted: 3rd October 2009 by JC De La Torre in NFL
There's been ugly teams and sometimes those teams face off in the NFL. However, in the long storied history of the NFL there may have never been a meeting of teams coming off such embarrassing defeats as the 0-3 Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the 1-2 Washington Redskins are last Sunday. Tampa Bay may have set back offensive football 20 years with their pitiful 86 yards performance against the New York ...

Tampa Bay Rays Wrap Up Winning Year

Posted: 2nd October 2009 by JC De La Torre in MLB
It wasn't the season everyone had hoped for. Management hoped for more fans at the gate; fans hoped for higher numbers in the win column. Joe Maddon hoped for better performance from Pat Burrell, B.J. Upton, the Gabe-and-Gabe show, and his pitching staff. There were many a letdown this year. Still, after taking three of four against the Baltimore Orioles, the Tampa Bay Rays completed back-to-back winning seasons for the first time ...