* The Bucs have lost both of their games in the last seconds. Cut-to-the-chase headline in Monday’s Tampa Bay Times: “Deja Ewww.”
* Speaking of, Tampa resident and ex-Buc John Lynch, who’s now with Fox Sports, was part of the broadcast team for the Bucs’ literal last-second loss to the New Orleans Saints last Sunday. Lynch is good at what he does, and while he didn’t pile on with criticism, he didn’t exactly pull his punches when analyzing the Bucs’ inconsistent play. To wit:
>”Another foolish penalty for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers,” observed Lynch after another exercise in blatantly undisciplined play.
>”A lot of dumb plays. … They’re swimming upstream.”
>”He’s (head coach Greg Schiano) got to get this team to make an adjustment, and he’s got to do it in a hurry. … It’s fundamental football.”
* The Bucs are good enough to be undefeated and undisciplined enough to be what they are: winless. But they’re not in the same class as the woeful Jacksonville Jaguars, the least of the three in-state NFL franchises. The network affiliate in Orlando (Jacksonville’s designated secondary market) even apologized to viewers. Here’s what the CBS affiliate said in a crawl during the Jaguars’ televised loss to the Oakland Raiders: “In accordance with NFL policy, WKMG must carry all Jacksonville Jaguar away games. We apologize for any inconvenience.” Ouch.
* The Tampa Bay Rays, as we well know, continue to have attendance problems. They rank 30th out of 30 Major League Baseball franchises with an average home-game attendance of 18,750. MLB commissioner Bud Selig has been less than subtle in his critical comments–and it’s known that he also speaks for some owners who contribute to a profit-sharing formula that helps subsidize underperforming markets.
Here’s a microcosmic look at two games last Wednesday. The Rays, very much in the post-season hunt for an American League wild-card berth, defeated the Boston Red Sox, 7-3 at the Trop. Attendance: 19,215. That same night the Cleveland Indians, no less in the AL playoff hunt, lost at home to the Kansas City Royals, 6-2. Attendance: 12,085.
While the Rays, as noted, rank last in MLB attendance, the Indians are 28th with an average of 19,400. And they have history, mass transit and a first-class, fan-friendly facility in Progressive Field. Arguably the Indians are a more problematic franchise than the Rays who play in a poorly-located, inferior facility in an asymmetrical market with no mass transit and negligible tradition. But some of those factors will definitely be eliminated if the Rays remain in the Tampa Bay market.
* The Tampa Bay Lightning considers goalies Ben Bishop and Anders Lindback co-starters for now. That means one of two things:
>The Bolts have excellent depth this year at this critical position. A major upgrade in store.
>Neither is good enough to earn an uncontested starter’s role. Another struggling year in goal looms.