It was said that nature abhors a vacuum and sports fans abhor a tie. Yet with the sole exception of baseball, where extra innings can continue ad infinitum, sports contests in the United States used to tolerate ending in a tie. Now, with the heavy influence of statisticians, odds makers and gamblers, sporting events such as football, basketball, hockey and soccer have all added provisions to the rules to eliminate the possibility of a contest ending in a tie; overtime periods some for fixed periods, some with "sudden death" conclusions, still others with "shootouts" as methods for providing a final resolution and no ties. ...more

November 7, 2009

The Lightning, once one of the NHL's better shootout teams, lost 10 of 13 last year and sit 0-3 this year. ...more

October 27, 2009

In previous seasons, late-season, in-state rivalry games between Tampa Bay and Florida offered a chance for the Lightning's neighbors to the south to play the role of spoiler. ...more

March 15, 2009

If you grew up in the 1970s, you probably have a fond movie-going memory of "Escape to Witch Mountain." ...more

March 13, 2009

Luis Leon quotes a maxim from Proverbs to describe the purpose behind the first 1-Man Rally slated for this weekend. ...more

March 6, 2009

The U.S. State Department and universities around the country are warning college students headed for Mexico for some spring-break partying of a surge in drug-related murder and mayhem south of the border. ...more

March 1, 2009

The U.S. State Department and universities around the country are warning college students headed for Mexico for some spring-break partying of a surge in drug-related murder and mayhem south of the border. ...more

February 26, 2009

With all the bizarre situations, odd moments and fuzzy thoughts throughout this Lightning season, one thing was crystal clear heading into Saturday - Tampa Bay had to win. ...more

January 18, 2009

The shootout again shot down Tampa Bay's chance at victory as Montreal took a 2-1 decision. ...more

December 31, 2008

The crime only took a minute. The man walked into the Mid-Florida Federal Credit Union in Lakeland on Nov. 20 and handed the teller a note demanding money. The teller complied, and the robber walked out. He hasn't been caught. ...more

December 31, 2008