* The latest subplot in negotiations between the Buccaneers and the Tampa Sports Authority is over allowing the Bucs to play an additional home game in another city. Nobody outside One Buc Place thinks this is a good idea. Not even close. Hillsborough County Commissioner Ken Hagan, who also sits on the TSA board, summed it up succinctly. “I love the Bucs, but it’s night and day negotiating with them as opposed to dealing with the Lightning.”
* Amid all the Rays’ stadium scenarios and accompanying politics, there is a stark reality that a minor league city council can’t find enough agreement–hell, unanimity–on. Any search in this hybrid, asymmetrical, mess-transit market must begin with the premise that the Tropicana Field site can not be in the running.
It’s geographically challenged–too far from the region’s business hub–with only 600,000 people living within a 30-minute drive. That’s the fewest among all MLB franchises. Moreover, those 85 acres at Tropicana Field should be marketed as a stadium-free, multi-use, commercial-residential development that will serve as a key anchor in downtown redevelopment. And time is no ally.
* No matter how focused he is on the season at hand, Steven Stamkos’ elephant-in-the-locker-room status as would-be free agent will become a distraction. Inevitably. The face of the franchise matters too much for that not to happen. For Stamkos, who is as classy as he is talented, to not re-up already with a team and market that he loves, is not a good sign.
And one more scenario to ponder. The Lightning, if unable to resign him because of salary-cap implications for the team, would at least want to get something in return. Recall the Lightning got the better of the deal when Marty St. Louis orchestrated his trade to the New York Rangers. The Bolts picked up Ryan Callahan and a number one draft pick. St. Louis is now retired.
The Lightning doesn’t want Stamkos to leave, let alone after the season when they would get nothing in return except payroll flexibility.
* One of the benefits of being an alum of more than one university is having multiple teams to root for on football Saturdays. In my case, one of them is still undefeated. Alas, it’s the one, Temple University, that would not be might first two choices: Penn State and USF. But go, Owls–except when you come in to play the Bulls next month.
* So USF, desperate for wins during the Willie Taggart spiral, knocks off Syracuse 45-24. What a morale-boosting relief after three straight losses. Two days later the big, possibly season-saving, Homecoming win is overshadowed by headlines chronicling the arrest of the USF player who fired a Glock .45 at the USF dormitory where he lived. Nobody was injured–but what a buzz kill.