An early morning bus ride across Alligator Alley from Port Charlotte went to waste for the Tampa Bay Rays today. A series of rainstorms late in the morning, with more forecast for the afternoon, led to the cancellation of the Rays' spring training game against the Baltimore Orioles. And with that, it was back on the bus for Manager Joe Maddon and his players. "We're just going to stop and get a movie for the ride back, stop at Blockbuster or someplace else and make sure we get a good flick," Maddon said. "We'll probably watch all three episodes of 'The Godfather' by the time we get back." The game, which will not be made up, was to feature the Grapefruit League debut of outfielder Matt Joyce. The Armwood High graduate, acquired in a December trade with the Detroit Tigers, has been hampered by tendinitis in his right leg throughout the spring. A more pressing concern for the Rays' coaching staff will be finding the requisite innings for Andy Sonnanstine and David Price, who were scheduled to pitch today. Maddon and pitching coach Jim Hickey were discussing options as the bus prepared to pull out, with the Rays likely to get both pitchers work in either a minor-league game or a simulated game Sunday in Port Charlotte. About the only person who seemed pleased by the development was Rays catcher Shawn Riggans, a Fort Lauderdale native who will now have a few more hours to spend with family and friends. ...more

March 21, 2009

LAND O' LAKES - Pasco County School Board members voted unanimously Monday to fire Hudson High School teacher Deane DeLoach after deciding he falsely accused a junior varsity football player of assaulting him on a school bus after a game. ...more

March 18, 2009

Hudson High School teacher gets canned for falsely accusing a JV football player of pushing him on a school bus after a game. ...more

March 16, 2009

Sporting a dragon tattoo on his forearm and skulls on both biceps, Cliff Cornell looks tough. But he dissolves into tears as he reflects on his return to the Army four years after he fled to Canada to avoid the war in Iraq. ...more

February 10, 2009

Kevin and Jackie Transue began their latest trip to Mexico on Thursday by driving from their Spring Hill home to Tampa International Airport, where a mariachi band provided entertainment for JetBlue Airways' inaugural Tampa-Cancun flight. ...more

December 19, 2008

TAMPA -- Kevin and Jackie Transue began their latest trip to Mexico this morning by driving from their Spring Hill home to Tampa International Airport, where a mariachi band provided entertainment for JetBlue Airways' inaugural Tampa-Cancun flight. JetBlue and TIA celebrated the restoration of Tampa-Cancun service, which four other airlines have planned or tried since the 1980s before choosing other routes for reasons ranging from hurricane damage in Mexico to low ridership. ...more

December 18, 2008

Seniors Albert Moses and Virgil Cooper couldn't wipe the smiles off their faces as the seconds ticked off the clock and teammate Rashad Young intercepted a Hail Mary pass to seal Avon Park's 40-0 victory over LaBelle at Cowboy Stadium on Friday night. ...more

October 19, 2008

The resolve of the Avon Park football team has been tested this season. ...more

October 17, 2008

After five weeks of not traveling outside of their comfort zone, the Durant High Cougars venture as far away as it gets for the team on Friday. ...more

October 8, 2008

Tampa Bay Lightning forward Vinny Prospal will share a daily diary while the team is in Europe, including his native Czech Republic. The team will play a season-opening series in Prague against the New York Rangers on Oct. 4 and 5. ...more

September 27, 2008