* The USF basketball team has been a compelling story the last few weeks. It completed its best-ever season in the Big East and put itself in a position to qualify for the NCAA tournament for the first time in 20 years. In fact, the Bulls’ upset win at Louisville last week was arguably the biggest game in its history. And the pre-game hype certainly underscored its post-season importance.
What a surprise, then, to see the account of the game the following morning in both the Tampa Tribune and the Tampa Bay Times. Neither assigned a staffer to cover the game–historic win for the ages notwithstanding. While both accorded it prominent page-one coverage, the Trib ran an AP account, and the Times used a stringer from the Louisville Courier-Journal.
That would have been unheard of years ago. But that was then–and this, to be sure, is not. Not for newspapers.
* Plaudits to the National Hockey League for its league-wide campaign, You Can Play, that is intended to make it easier for gay athletes to compete in sports. You Can Play’s advisory panel has reps from the NFL, the NBA, Major League Soccer and women’s sports.
Professional athletes, deserving or not, are role models. When the ultimate machos among us take the time to put down homophobic slurs and slang and make the case for anti-bullying campaigns, it can have significant impact among the impressionable.
But while the NHL underscores its commitment to addressing a serious societal issue, the NFL finds itself addressing an image disaster. The league has accused one of its own, the New Orleans Saints, of using a “bounty” system–or paying players bonuses to injure, not just outplay, the opposition. As in extra payouts for “knockouts” and “cart-offs.” Call it the You Can’t Play Anymore incentive plan. Also call it thuggery.
* The Rays’ Way: All 162 games started last season were by pitchers drafted and developed by the Rays. That’s virtually unheard of anymore.
* Great name. The Lightning’s minor league affiliate in the 20-team East Coast Hockey League: the Estero-based Florida Everblades.