Joe Girvan's Blogs

Joe the Sportscaster: Nov. 6
Hope you like the title. It's my little homage to Election Day. While we're on the subject, no matter which side of the aisle you're on, or if you're not even in the building, I hope we can all join forces in support of President-elect Obama.

He should certainly have our respect as sports fans. While most politicians pander to the majority, Obama wasn't afraid to speak from the heart about his favorite baseball team.

The Chicago native told ESPN back in August, "You go to Wrigley Field, you have a beer, beautiful people up there. People aren't watching the game. It's not serious. White Sox, that's baseball. South Side."

More recently, on the eve of the election, in fact, Obama said this on Monday Night Football: "I think it is about time that we had playoffs in (Division I) college football. I'm fed up with these computer rankings. Get eight teams - the top eight teams right at the end. Decide on a national champion." Now, I don't care if you're a Democrat, or a Republican, that's a cause we can all support!

Speaking of college football, wow, that Texas/Texas Tech game was one of the best in recent memory. Non-stop drama right up until, literally, the last second of the game. Graham Harrell has moved past Colt McCoy on my Heisman ballot, at least for the moment.

The Red Raiders' schedule is brutal the rest of the way though, so we'll see if he's able to maintain that spot. The only disappointment from that unforgettable night in Lubbock, was the lack of crowd control. Yes, I know it was the biggest win in program history, and I love a good party as much as the next guy, but we're talking about safety here. The safety of players, coaches, media members and the fans themselves. Fans do not belong on the playing field. Period. There are no exceptions, in any sport.

One last thing - with the NBA season just underway, and the Celtics having received their championship rings, I just wanted to say one more time -- mea culpa, Danny Ainge, mea culpa. I don't know how you did it, but you did it. Send comments to Joe.Girvan@bhsn.com

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year! Oct. 16
Thanks to everyone who's reached out and said they enjoyed my blogs from Europe. It was fun to be able to recount many of my experiences through that medium. The end of the trip was tough - a 22-hour day starting with a bus to the rink, another loss to the Rangers, a bus to the airport, and a ten-plus hour flight that included a stop in Newfoundland, and the most turbulent plane ride I've ever experienced.

Fortunately, we made it back safely. It was so nice to see something even as simple as a street sign in English. I do love to travel, but whenever I go somewhere, especially a foreign country, I'm always happy to come home, and more appreciative of everything we have here in the United States. God Bless America! (Sorry, too much?)

With life returning to normal, it's time to get back into the things I enjoy the most this time of year, namely the baseball playoffs and mid-season football. Without further adieu then, here are some random musings...

The story of the 2008 Rays just gets better and better. At this moment, the Local 9 stands one win from the World Series. How great is that?! With the exception of game one, Tampa Bay has completely dismantled the defending World Champs to this point in the ALCS. Boston may have come back from similar deficits in 2004 and 2007, but this is a different team, and it's not happening this time. Furthermore, I don't care who wins the NLCS...I'll take the Rays to beat either the Phillies or the Dodgers.

Don't be fooled by the final score against Florida...LSU is still one of the best teams in the country. The Tigers have recruited as well as anyone in recent years, and will bounce back. As for the Gators, they're right back where they belong...in the thick of the national championship race.

Now that I've had the chance to watch the Ole Miss/Florida game on my Bright House DVR, it's hard to imagine the Orange & Blue playing any worse. Tim Tebow was as bad as I've ever seen him, and he's just the headliner. A number of Gators dropped the ball, some quite literally. The bottom line is this - Florida played its worst, Mississippi played its best, and the score was 31-30. If they played ten more times, I don't think we'd see the Rebels win a single one. The Gators now control their own destiny in the SEC East. If Florida wins out, makes it to Atlanta and wins the conference title, it'll be tough to keep the Gators out of the BCS Title Game. Send comments to Joe.Girvan@bhsn.com

Saturday: Almost Home
Like yesterday, today's entry begins with baseball. How 'bout them Rays?! Efrem and I were once again able to watch the game from our hotel room. I even stayed up for game two of the Red Sox/Angels series (3:30am local time!), but crashed by the third inning. I'm glad Tampa Bay and Boston have both jumped out to commanding leads...I wouldn't have the ALCS any other way. From the end of one sport's season to the beginning of another.

After staying up so late, I sleep in, which is a nice luxury on gameday. I see Vinny Lecavalier, Gary Roberts and Jussi Jokininen at breakfast (ok, lunch), and wish them well. We arrive at the rink nearly two hours before the game, and it's a good thing. We need all of that time, and much of the first period, to troubleshoot problems with the wireless internet. Fortunately, we're up and running now.

The Lightning is the "home" team today, with the Rangers getting that honor tomorrow. Tampa Bay's David Koci is a healthy scratch, which is a shame, since he's from Prague. The opening stanza of the season is evenly played. Both sides have good chances, but Mike Smith and Henrik Lundqvist are equal to the task. We're scoreless after one.

The 2nd period starts much like the first. Good end-to-end action, neither team able to do anything with a man advantage. The power play is one area where the Bolts will have to make major strides. They were just 3-33 during the preseason. Yikes! Another disturbing trend also continues- a major disparity in shots on goal. In two exhibition games, the Rangers outshot Tampa Bay 87-43. It's 29-11 New York right now. Markus Nasland just narrowly misses what might have been the best chance of the game. He hits the post on the power play. Back to even strength, and Naslund doesn't miss this time. He sneaks behind the Lightning defense, takes a pass from Scott Gomez, and beats Smith. 1-0 Blueshirts with less than two minutes to go, and that's how the period ends.

Scary moment early in the 3rd period. Smith makes a save, but the puck catches him in a bad place (the family jewels, perhaps) and time is stopped so head trainer Tom Mulligan can take a look at him. He's ok, and will stay in the game. A few minutes later, Marty St. Louis skates in, makes a move, and goes top shelf with a backhand to beat Lundqvist. Beautiful goal, and we're tied at 1. Nearly midway through period now, and Lundqvist has just made a save with his head. A reporter from New York tells me he does that on purpose, part of his background in soccer. I think he's nuts. This time, Lundqvist makes a more conventional save on a great chance by Steven Stamkos. Later, with Gary Roberts in the penalty box, the Rangers take advantage. Brandon Dunbinsky skates in on Smith and beats him with a wrist shot. 2-1 New York. When I talked to Dave Mishkin the other day, he mentioned the thin line between winning and losing for the Lightning. That is the case today.
Send comments to Joe.Girvan@bhsn.com

Friday October 3rd- Prague, Czech Republic
Let's start this entry off with a little baseball. Hats off to the Rays! Efrem and I watched the game last night in our hotel room. His wife and son were in the stands, and after spending so much time covering the team this season, I feel like I should've been there too. Needless to say, we're both very jealous of all of you in Tampa Bay who were able to enjoy it. Onto hockey...

We bus to the rink this morning for the final pre-season practice. As the team takes the ice, I interview radio play-by-play man Dave Mishkin about the upcoming year. Look for that on an upcoming edition of Lightning Strikes on Bright House Sports Network. After practice, I catch up with Scott Burnside from ESPN.com, who's tabbed Tampa Bay his "Team Can Dream," a squad which could come out of nowhere to make some noise this season. No offense to Dave or Scott, but more importantly, I track down Thunderbug! My Lightning Strikes producer, Stephanie Stockmeister, and I have been pursuing this interview since the end of last season. As you might imagine, Thunderbug is in high demand...so his time is really at a premium. We have a good chat, though it seems a little one-sided since he doesn't talk. Look for that on a future edition of our hockey show too. Should be very entertaining.

Once back at the hotel, Efrem and I set off in search of some local flavor for our friends at Bay News 9. We stop in the Old Town Square, the hub of Prague, to do a report. We then make our way to the Powder Tower, a clock tower that was built in 1475. We're in luck! The tower is open today, so we can climb all the way to the top. It's a daunting journey- the tiny spiral staircase is barely big enough for one person, let alone traffic in both directions- but we make it to the summit. Once there, our breath is taken away yet again. The views are incredible! We see some areas we recognize, and some locations we hadn't even laid eyes on yet. As we make our way around the top of the tower, we see the twin spires of Our Lady of Tyn Church in the Old Town Square, and the Prague Castle in the distance behind it. Spectactular, and I can't believe I don't have my camera with me! We do have the magic of video though, and we tape another report for Bay News 9. When we get back to ground level, Efrem informs me the battery light is blinking...and he left the charger back in St. Pete. I suggest we go back to the top of the tower so I can push him out. Just kidding, of course. Mr. Sanchez is now on his way to a local electronics store to buy another battery or a charger. One way or another, we will get this video back so you can see the magnificent views for yourself on Bay News 9.

Hard to believe our trip is almost over. Those first few days were grueling-long days and lots of work- it felt as though we had been away from home for weeks. Towards the middle of the journey, when we were able to catch our breath and do some sight-seeing, time really seemed to speed up. This final weekend will fly by. The Bolts will battle the Rangers tomorrow, again on Sunday, and then it will be time to fly home. Until then, make sure you check out our exclusive coverage on Toyota Sports Connection at 11pm. So long for now, I need a nap before the next Rays game...which starts at midnight local time.

Thursday October 2nd- Prague, Czech Republic
There is a different feel about things today. The Rangers have arrived, along with more fans and media members. It's good to catch up with radio play-by-play man Dave Mishkin, as well as TV guys Rick Peckham and Bobby "The Chief" Taylor. I see NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman too, and will try to interview him at some point about the Premier Series, as well as the possibility of a European division in the NHL down the road. Barry Melrose mentions that idea during his press conference. I get to my seat in the upper level of the rink, and notice the ice has been repainted. If you read my blog from earlier in the trip, there were about 50 advertisements on the ice, far more than anything we see in the States. Fans are treated to a game of "sledge" hockey. This is a sport that allows those with a physical disability to play hockey. The players are very skilled, and it's very entertaining.

After practice, the Bolts have a meet and greet with the fans who have traveled to Prague from Tampa Bay to see them. We bus back to the hotel, so the players can get ready for tonight's dinner with the Prime Minister. Efrem and I are invited but, unfortunately, we have to edit and feed our stories for the day. There it is again- work getting in the way of having fun. We'll probably end up having a late dinner as we did last night. Oh, about that...we met a very entertaining cab driver who took us a great steakhouse called The Argentine. Earlier in the trip, I asked Czech native David Koci to tell me the one local dish I needed to try before I left Prague. I was a little scared when he said "beef tartar," but I now summon the courage to order it. Yep, I'm about to eat raw beef. It's served with ketchup, mustard and a few other condiments, along with bread to spread it on. It's probably not something I would order again, but I'm glad I tried it. This trip has definitely been about new experiences.

Wednesday, October 1st- Prague, Czech Republic
As expected, practice is cancelled and the boys are able to enjoy a day off in Prague. Efrem and I grab a late breakfast, and say hello to owner/operators Oren Koules and Len Barrie. Barrie joined us in Slovakia, and Koules has just arrived. Barry Melrose asks me about the start of the Red Sox/Angels ALDS, and I tell him it's going to be tough to stay up to 4am local time to see it. Later on in the afternoon, we're fortunate enough to meet up with Mark Recchi and Gary Roberts at a nearby cafe. Of all the moves Koules, Barrie and Executive VP of Hockey Operations Brian Lawton made this off-season, those are two of my favorites. If you don't believe me, just ask the Rays. If Recchi and Roberts are to the Bolts what Cliff Floyd and Troy Percival have been to the Local 9, Hockey Bay, USA could be a fun place to be next spring. Look for my coversation with the two grizzled veterans tonight on Toyota Sports Connection at 11pm.

With an afternoon off, we meet up with a few members of the Lightning staff for a walking tour of the city. We stop in the Old Town Square on the way to Charles Bridge, where David Koci took us the other day. This time we make it all the way across to Prague Castle, stopping to take pictures along the way. Eventually, we come upon a daunting set of stairs. The end definitely justifies the means. When we get to the upper level, we're blown away by the views. You can see for miles- houses, churches, bridges, the river, fall foliage, it's awe-inspiring. Don't mean to get all deep and philosophical on you here, but it's a good reminder how insignificant we all are in this vast universe.

Efrem and I stop to tape a couple reports for Bay News 9. Look for those, and I hope the magic of video, computer and Internet technology will give you some sense of what we're lucky enough to witness first-hand. In the meantime, here's a still picture. Outside the castle, two Buckingham Palace-style guards keep a close eye on us and other tourists. Once inside, we're quickly blown away by a cathedral. For about 30 minutes straight, it seems as though I can't stop taking pictures. We talk of bygone days, some more recent than we'd care to admit, and defending this fortress. Darkness is quickly falling, so it's time to head for home. After a little souvenir shopping along the way, we get back to the hotel to edit and feed our reports.

It's now closing in on midnight, so I'm not sure if food is in our future or not. The Internet over here is a fickle mistress. Sometimes it looks as though we'll be able to send everything in a matter of minutes, but then our connection disappears and it's back to square one. Fortunately, the Bolts have decided to work out at the hotel tomorrow morning, and not go to the rink until tomorrow afternoon, so we'll be able to sleep in. When we do catch up with them after practice, I'll be anxious to gauge their sense of urgency. I'm guessing there will be a feeling of "It's go time." The season starts in less than three days.

Tuesday Sept. 30th, Bratislava, Slovakia (4pm)
Though I missed a good time, that full night's rest was just what the doctor ordererd. I wake up this morning ready to do some sight-seeing. Check out this picture of the city from high above at Bratislava Castle. It's a beautiful setting, right on the Danube River. The Castle, by the way, dates back to 907. I'm not very good at math, but that's a long time ago. I also make my way through a couple of the town squares, which feature the beautiful, centuries-old architecture seen throughout Europe. It's time to get back to the hotel, and get ready for tonight's game against HC Slovan.

We bus to Samsung Arena, and wait for the game. A near-sellout crowd of about 8,000 fans is expected. I learn HC Slovan's owner, the aforementioned Mr. Assimakopoulous, has promised each of his players 10,000 Euro (nearly $15,000...a huge chunk of change to players who make about $50,000 a season), if they beat the Lightning. I won't have a seat in the press box or internet access, so I'll check back after the game.

Prague, Czech Republic (4am)
Great game, though not what most of us expected. The Lightning are sloppy, sluggish and short-handed for much of the game. It goes to a shoot-out before Vinny Lecavalier scores the go-ahead goal, and Mike Smith makes the game-winning save. The fans were great, though the atmosphere did not compare to Berlin. What can I say? I really liked the inflatable polar bear. Back on the bus. As Marty St. Louis said a couple days ago, it's like Planes, Trains and Automobiles. We'll fly back to Prague tonight, and stay there for the remainder of our trip. That is welcomed news. Speaking of welcomed news, the Bolts are happy to learn they'll have tomorrow off. It's now 4:30am local time, and time to go to sleep. Goodnight!

Hold on, three random thoughts before I sign off...

As you probably know by now, Nick Tarnasky was traded last night. He got a nice going away present from his friends at the Casino Olympic in Bratislava though, winning about $10,000 playing blackjack.

I forgot to mention I saw a chunk of the Berlin Wall outside O2 World Arena. Truth be told, I had no idea it was the Berlin Wall until one of our fellow travelers pointed it out. I wasn't looking for the Great Wall of China or anything, but it wasn't very impressive. Rather small, and covered with graffiti. Oh well, now at least I can say I've seen it.

Remember me telling you about having to put my hotel room key into the wall to keep the lights on? I'm obviously still getting used to the process, because I left it in there three different times, not even thinking about it until I got back to my room. The good people at the Carlton Hotel now know me by name, and they're running out of keys.

Monday Sept. 29th, Bratislava, Slovakia
This has been a good day to catch our breath. It's often been said that airplanes are like flying petri dishes, and I woke up this morning fearing I had come down with something. Fortunately a late-morning nap leaves me feeling much better. We bus to Samsung Arena, a relic of the Soviet era. To say it's a far cry from the brand-spankin' new O2 World Arena in Berlin, where we were yesterday, would be the understatement of the day.

The Lightning is scheduled to hold a closed practice before opening the gates to fans, but many children file in long before they are scheduled to. Funny thing is, the gates open, but they close behind you. The only way to get from one level of the arena to the next is to leave the building and come back in somewhere else, but one NHL official, among others, finds security won't always let you out. Can you imagine being told you can't leave a stadium? It happened here today.

Practice is no different today than usual, but the monotony is broken by the characters around us. Former Stanley Cup-winning goaltender Mike Vernon, who now holds the title of Special Assistant to the Executive Vice-President of Hockey Operations, Brian Lawton, holds court in the stands. HC Slovak owner, and real estate developer, Eric Assimakopoulos, is a fascinating human being. Among other things, he owns the Carlton Hotel where we are staying. He dreams of someday owning the New York Rangers and improving/consolidating European hockey until it's on par with the NHL. Based on his past and present success, I don't doubt both are within his means. Conversations with Damian Cristodero of the St. Pete Times, Scott Burnside from ESPN.com and Megan Bradley of Lightning TV also help pass the time. These moments are especially important, as we wait nearly an hour after practice for the bus to take us back to the hotel.

Assimakopoulous throws a dinner party tonight at the Carlton, complete with an airline theme. Thankfully, the food is much better than anything served on commercial planes, and we weren't charged per peanut...which I'm sure is only a matter of time. I'm stuffed, and ready for a good night's sleep. I'm going to resist the temptation to join the players at an after-party, and hit the sack. Tomorrow the Bolts will face three-time defending Slovak League champion HC Slovak, and then we will fly back to Prague. If the atmosphere is anything like it was in Berlin, we're in for a treat. Until then, goodnight.

Sunday Sept. 28th, Marriott Prague
The morning skate was optional, so most of the guys slept in and got breakfast before boarding the buses to the Airport. We get a police escort from the hotel, which is fantastic. More later...

12:30pm
Our flight has been delayed, which means the game in Berlin will be delayed as well. Did I mention we took Mark Cuban's 757 from New York to Prague? It's built for his Dallas Mavericks (including the team logo on the wing), so it was a very comfortable way to fly. Today's accomodations are not quite the same. There's very little room between rows, as I find out when one of the equipment guys sits down in front of me and crushes my knee. I'm only 5'10", so I can only imagine what it's like for 6'6" David Koci or 6'7" Vladimir Mihalik. Fortunately it's a short flight, only about 45 minutes. These early mornings and late nights are taking a bit of a toll on me, so I quickly fall asleep. That is until one of the stewardesses drops half of her lunch cart right next to me. My photographer, Efrem, actually had his camera out and caught the whole thing on tape...so I can't wait to see the look on my face. Must have been priceless.

Berlin, Germany
We take a bus to the rink, the brand-new O2 World Arena. I'm told today's game will be just the third played in this state-of-the-art facility. It's beautiful inside and out. All of the German people I've run into have been very friendly, and most speak English, which is a nice bonus. As much as I love to travel, the language barrier can be a real pain. I've tried to at least learn how to say a few common phrases to get by. Oh, look at this...they're bringing the giant inflatable bear (mascot of the Berlin Eisbarens) out onto the ice. Must be time to play hockey.

Eisbarens Introduction Good to hear a warm reception for Olaf Kolzig, who led the Eisbarens to a championship in 2005, during the NHL lockout. Most of his family lives here now, and he admits this is a big day for him. The arena is mostly full, and the fans are into it. The Eisbarens' theme song is giving me chills. Check out the picture I took of the pre-game introductions. Barry Melrose said this was Eisbarens' Stanley Cup, and the pregame fanfare is definitely more of a playoff atmosphere than what you'd expect from an exhibition game. One more note before I watch the game, Melrose actually played against Berlin's coach, Don Jackson, during the 1980s.

The north end of arena is doing one cheer after another, giant Cleveland Indians-style drum included. It's awesome. Vinny Lecavalier doesn't appear the least bit tentative, as he gets his first game action since shoulder surgery (incidentally, try saying those last three words five times fast). The Eisbarens are holding their own, repeatedly testing Kolzig on the power play. And there it is, just as I'm typing -- they beat him. Former New Jersey Devils 1st-round pick Denis Pederson scores the game's first goal. 1-0 Berlin after one.

Just two minutes into the second period, we see the play-making ability of young Steven Stamkos. A beautiful pass to Gary Roberts leads to an easy goal, and a tie game. At 10:26, Tampa Bay takes its first lead. Vladimir Mihalik hits the back of the net thanks to assists from Chris Gratton and Gary Roberts. 2-1 Bolts going into the 3rd period.

As the game wears on, the Lightning's edge in skill and conditioning becomes apparent. Jason Ward scores to make it 3-1 Bolts. Time to pack up and head downstairs for postgame interviews. Look for my story tonight at 11:00pm EST on the Toyota Sports Connection.

Saturday Sept. 27th: O2 Arena in Prague,Czech Republic
Ice Rink After about 75 minutes of film work, the Bolts are on the ice for practice. Check out the picture I took of the 02 rink. It is littered with ads. I'm told that ice will be replaced before the regular season opener against the Rangers. Tampa Bay's forwards are wearing different jersey colors today, which correspond to their lines, and Barry Melrose has moved a couple guys around. Here goes:

Blue: The top line of Vinny Lecavalier, Marty St. Louis and Vinny Prospal is in tact.
Green: Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes on the 2nd line. Radim Vrbata is out, and Evgeny Artyukhin is in, joining Steven Stamkos and Ryan Malone.
Red: Vrbata teams up with Jussi Jokinen and Mark Recchi
White: Chris Gratton and Gary Roberts are paired up with Adam Hall
Yellow: A team source called these guys "extras," and said they're "on the outside looking in" to make the roster. They are Ryan Craig, Jason Ward, Michel Ouellet and David Koci.

5:00pm, Marriott Prague
I sure hope Koci is able to make the squad. The Czech native has been kind enough to take me, my photographer, Efrem, and Megan Bradley from Lightning TV, on a tour of some of the nearby sights. Koci is an intimidating 6'6", 238 lbs., with the kind of facial scars you might expect from an NHL enforcer, but he couldn't be any nicer. The former Chicago Blackhawk grew up about ten minutes from our hotel. He takes us to the Old Town Square, which dates back to at least the 12th century. It features the Church of Our Lady before Týn, the Church of St. Nicholas, the Old Town Hall and the astronomical clock.

If you've never been to Europe, it's hard to describe the beauty of these ancient buildings. From there, we head to Charles Bridge, which is filled with tourists, vendors and musicians. It also offers a spectacular view of Prague Castle, the largest ancient castle in the world, with roots in the 9th century. Koci speaks very good English, and entertains us with stories of Prague and the NHL alike. He walks us most of the way back to our hotel, before spotting some teammates at an outdoor restaurant. We thank him, and send him on his way for the primary benefit of this trip -- at least as far as the Lightning is concerned -- the chance to bond with teammates.

Tomorrow is going to be a loooong day. We'll start the day in Prague, fly to Berlin, Germany for an exhibition game, and then fly to Bratislava, Slovakia, where the Bolts will finish up preseason play on Tuesday. Better get some rest. Thanks for reading, and being part of the adventure.

Wait a minute! I've just received an e-mail from Brian Gottfried, a good friend and the nephew of ESPN analyst Mike Gottfried. He's informed me, using the Ole Miss cheer "Hotty Toddy" no less, that my Gators lost to the Rebels at the Swamp today. Unbelievable. Well, I guess USC isn't the only national championship contender licking its wounds right now.

Friday Sept. 26th- 9:20am EST: Prague, Czech Republic
We have arrived. Soon after leaving the airport, we see a McDonald's and a KFC. Ahhh, it feels like home. Ok, not really. When we get to the hotel, a number of fans are waiting to get pictures and autographs of the Lightning players. They love their hockey here in Prague.

9:40am
We're given ten minutes to get our luggage up to our rooms, and get back down to the lobby to get back on the bus. So now it's beat-the-clock, and I need to use the restroom. Where is the light switch?! After two minutes of searching high and low, Efrem and I figure out you need to put your room key in a slot on the wall. I do, and the lights come on, so I take the room key out and go about my business in the bathroom. About 30 seconds later, I'm in the dark...not sure whether to laugh or cry. The moral of the story is, the Marriott Prague has figured out you can't leave the lights on unless you leave your key in the room. Pretty smart, actually.

12:00pm
We drive to O2, the arena where the Bolts will open their season next weekend. It's a very nice facility, but being used by other hockey teams tonight, so the Lightning isn't able to practice here. Instead, the operations staff unpacks equipment, while the players get changed into their uniforms for practice. Back on the bus, this time heading for Letnany Ice Arena. This is a much smaller building, but there is a much larger group of people waiting outside. As the Bolts gets off the bus, fans flock to Vinny Lecavalier...and you can see they know Steven Stamkos as well. Mark Recchi and Czech native Vaclav Prospal are also popular. It's no surprise to hear the two regular season games in Prague are nearly sold out.

Oh, one more thing -- I know this trip is all about hockey, but how 'bout USC losing last night?! That is a huge upset, and music to the ears of national championship contenders like Oklahoma, Florida and Georgia. Thanks to the magic of Slingbox, I was able to watch much of the game on my computer and phone, and I still can't believe the Trojans lost. They looked like men playing boys in the Ohio St. game, but couldn't take care of business in Corvallis.

Thursday Sept. 25th- 12:50pm, Tampa International Airport
The adventure begins. Let me start by saying what a wonderful airport we have in Tampa. TPA is second to none, as far as I'm concerned. It's so easily accessible, so easy to get in and out of, so quick and easy to pick up your luggage from baggage claim, I just love it. My photographer (Efrem Sanchez) and I are flying JetBlue to New York to meet up with the Lightning. I had never flown JetBlue before this week, and now I've taken two flights in four days. It's officially my new favorite airline. 35 channels of DirecTV at your seat? 'Nuf said.

My boss, BHSN Sports Director Chris Elias, has often threatened to buy me a one-way ticket, as he sends me spanning the globe to bring you the constant variety of sport. This time, as I travel some 5,000 miles from Tampa Bay to eastern Europe, he's actually done it. Let's hope the Bolts let me sneak onto the team charter for the ride back from Prague!

7:00pm- Madison Square Garden
It may be the World's Most Famous Arena, and I have nothing but respect for all the historic events which have taken place in this building, but I wouldn't trade the St. Pete Times Forum for MSG unless I was getting a date with Jessica Biel out of the deal too.

It was a busy first period between the Lightning and Rangers, with two goals and two fights. These teams meet four times in 13 days, which should be a case study in the theory that "familiarity breeds contempt." No surprise Zenon Konopka was involved in one of the skirmishes. He may not make the team, but the 6'0", 215 lb. forward has made it his job to pick fights with anyone who will even consider dropping the gloves. It started just a couple minutes into Tampa Bay's first scrimmage when Konopka took on 6'4", 254 lb. Evgeny Artyukhin, and it continues tonight. Konopka has certainly caught the eye of head coach Barry Melrose but, again, we'll see if that's enough to earn him a spot on the roster.

Karri Ramo was just beaten by fellow Fin Lauri Korpikoski. 2-1 Rangers. We saw enough from Ramo last season to know he can play in this league, but I do think the Lightning are better off this year with veteran Olaf Kolzig backing up Mike Smith. Ramo's time will come, but in the meantime, he'll be better served playing everyday at Norfolk. Just like the other night, New York is outshooting TB by a wide margin. It's 36-14 after two periods.

Time to pack up and head for the bus. I understand we're going to clear customs here at the rink, which should make things smooth and easy when we get to the airport. As time and Internet connections allow, I'll continue to blog about our adventure, so make sure to check back often. We'll be filing reports for the Toyota Sports Connection starting tomorrow too, so keep an eye out for that.

College Football, Sept. 18
Congratulations to Derek Jeter on passing Lou Gehrig for the most hits in Yankee Stadium. His accomplishment calls to mind this random fact: would you believe in the long, storied history of the Bronx Bombers, no Yankee has ever reached the 3,000 hit mark? Amazing. In the words of the legendary Mel Allen, "How about that?"

Florida Gators How's this for the pot calling the kettle black? Warren Sapp says Urban Meyer is a "classless dirtbag." Sapp is one of the most unpleasant people I've had the displeasure of meeting, and has no business calling anyone a dirtbag, least of all Meyer. The former Buc's comments came after Florida waxed Sapp's alma mater, Miami, 26-3. He's upset because the Gators scored their last three points with just :25 to play. If Florida wanted to run up the score though, wouldn't Meyer have gone for it on 4th down, and tried to get a touchdown? Maybe -- and I'm really going out on a limb here -- he just wanted to have his kicker attempt a field goal for the first time in his career!

Florida starts conference play against Tennessee this week, and I don't think it's unreasonable to want to see your inexperienced kicker hit a field goal before lining up for a potentially game-saving kick in Knoxville. More importantly, as Brent Musberger said during the live broadcast, "Part of college football is a beauty contest...that's the system that we have that you live with." The Florida/Miami rivalry has a history of bad blood. Perhaps Sapp has forgotten that Howard Schnellenberger tacked on a late field goal in 1980, or the despicable lack of sportsmanship displayed by the Gators in the infamous "Florida Flop" game of 1971. In 2008, however, what we saw in Gainesville is NCAA football. We don't have a playoff, so running up the score has, unfortunately, become part of competing for championships. If you don't like it, better play some defense. In the meantime, Sapp, shaddup!

Tampa Bay Bucs- Sept. 5
It's time to close the book on Chris Simms' career with the Bucs. If you've read my previous entry on the former Longhorn, you know I don't think Tampa Bay should have drafted him in the first place, or that Simms should have whined about his standing with the team, but now it's time to chastise the Bucs. If you believe local writer Roy Cummings, the Pewter Pirates had three different opportunities to trade Simms on draft day, and passed each time. Cummings says Tampa Bay was offered a second-day draft pick in each case. If that's true, Bruce Allen blew it. He knew full well Simms was not going to be part of the Bucs' future at quarterback, and yet rather than get something for him, he just let the lefty walk away. That was a mistake.

The Rays have been the feel-good story of this baseball season (along with former Ray Josh Hamilton), but there continues to be a dark cloud hanging over Tropicana Field. In fact, that dark cloud is about the only excuse I haven't heard as to why fans aren't filling the building on a nightly basis during this magical run. I understand these are difficult economic times, but most of the other reasons given for the lackluster attendance are garbage. The one that bothers me most is "it's too far away, I don't want to cross the bridge." Growing up in central Massachusetts, the drive to Fenway Park, the Boston Garden or Foxboro was a minimum of 45 minutes, and usually closer to double that. And you know what? We loved it. The chance to go see our favorite teams made any traffic jam worthwhile. (By the way, those drives were nowhere near as scenic as what we have here in beautiful Tampa Bay, either).

The difference between Boston (or New York, or Chicago, or St. Louis, etc.) and Tampa Bay, of course, is history. Those cities have baseball tradition. The only tradition in St. Petersburg, unfortunately, has been one of losing. Stu Sternberg, Andrew Friedman and company have now changed that, and set this franchise up to be successful for years to come. Hopefully more fans in our area will take note, and come enjoy the fun. Otherwise, I fear ownership (and MLB Commissioner Bud Selig) will look to move the team somewhere else. That would be a disaster. Tampa Bay would be forever labeled a minor league town, and major league baseball would never come back.

So, it's up to you. Either come enjoy some of the most reasonably priced, entertaining professional baseball out there, or don't be surprised when the team leaves, and Tampa Bay is the laughing stock of the sports world.