Last week, in the midst of unrelenting Super Bowl hype, there was a great moment in Tampa sports history. In the waning seconds of the Lightning's hard-fought victory over the then-division-leading Florida Panthers, a play was made that epitomized loyalty and team play.
Steven Stamkos, a 22-year old All-Star center who leads the NHL in goal scoring and was the league's goal-scoring champion in only his second year, passed the puck to his line mate, Martin St. Louis, rather than fire it into an empty goal. Consequently, St. Louis scored a "hat trick" for his third goal of the night in his 900th career game in front of his family, including three young sons, and 19,000 fans.
No, it wasn't the last-minute, game-winning drive of the Super Bowl, but it was a display of class and respect that seems to be nonexistent in the world of multi-millionaire pro athletes of today.
A spectacular play it wasn't; it was just a moment that you'd like for your son or daughter to witness and understand what playing like a team really means.
Thanks, Steven Stamkos. Your class goes far beyond your years.
Steve Hemingway
Tampa
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