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Storm's New Majority Owner Sees 'Tremendous Opportunity'

Jim Reed/Tribune photo

Former majority owner Woody Kern, left, presents a Storm jersey to new majority owner Bob Nucci.

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By ADAM ADKINS | The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 14, 2007

TAMPA Everything came together like the perfect storm.

That's how Dr. Bob Nucci described the path that led him to Thursday. It was a fitting choice of words, considering the local orthopedic surgeon's scenario - he was describing his path to purchasing the Tampa Bay Storm, the area's Arena Football League franchise.

Nucci, 46, was officially introduced Thursday as the Tampa Bay Storm's principal owner during an afternoon news conference at the St. Pete Times Forum. Flanked by Woody
Kern, who sold a majority stake in the team to Nucci, Storm coach and general manager Tim Marcum, and AFL commissioner David Baker, Nucci described it as "an incredibly exciting moment for me" and "a tremendous opportunity."

The opportunity came at the price of $18.9 million, the amount Nucci, who owns and operates the Nucci Spine Institute in Tampa, agreed to pay Kern for majority ownership. Kern, the principal owner the past 13 years, in which time the Storm won three league titles, will remain involved with the team as a minority owner.

The deal includes a renewed sales and marketing agreement with Palace Sports and Entertainment, which will keep the team playing at the Forum in Tampa. The deal has been approved by the league's Board of Directors.

Marcum, who will remain coach and general manager, described the change of ownership from Kern to Nucci as "bittersweet," but added he was looking forward to working with Nucci.

"We had the best relationship anybody could have; he was the best owner anybody could have. He gave me the opportunity to do it, and do it the way I wanted to do it," Marcum said of Kern. "I just think Dr. Nucci's got some enthusiasm. I think this guy has got some fire, some fire in his belly, and I think he's going to bring that fire to the table."

That much seemed evident the first time Nucci stepped to the podium Thursday, when he offered a little message to the league.

"I plan to win the Arena Bowl," Nucci told the crowd at the news conference. "I have to say to my other owners, 'Beware. We're here and we're coming at you in a big way.'"

Nucci said he first attended a Storm game two years ago, but it didn't take long for his interest in the sport to peak.

"It grows on you. It's great on television, but it's fantastic in person. It's hockey and football combined. It's great. Once you see it and you feel it and you're there, you're hooked," Nucci said.

Nucci added he attended several Storm games last season and it was during that time the opportunity to purchase the team presented itself. He said while entertaining the idea, he met with Kern, Marcum and some of the Storm players, and that the personalities involved with the team and his feeling a local person could help the organization's fan support grow were the ultimate factors in going through with the purchase.

The new owner plans to be very hands-on, and that shouldn't be a problem, considering he resides with his two sons - Alexander, 8, and Gregory, 4 - in the Channelside district, just a few AFL fields away from the Storm's home base.

"With him living 200 yards away, I'm pretty sure he'll be pretty hands-on," Storm veteran Lawrence Samuels said. "It's good. You want that type of relationship between the owner, the players and the coaches. You want a tight-knit group where we all work together."

Reporter Adam Adkins can be reached at (813) 657-4533 or aadkins@tampatrib.com.

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