New Year's Eve in Tampa means two things: fireworks in Channel District and the Outback Bowl Parade. Sports fans got ready for some football Thursday with the traditional parade before today's Outback Bowl matchup between the Northwestern Wildcats and Auburn Tigers. The parade featured krewe floats and nearly 20 marching bands, representation from both schools and even a pep rally. The route along Seventh Avenue in Ybor City from 20th to 14th streets was lined with fans donning Wildcat purple or Auburn orange. Although the rivalry might be fierce on the field today, for the most part the opposing fans kept the New Year's Eve pregame partying on a friendly basis. ...more

January 1, 2010

Walking into a courtroom Tuesday to face the man who posted naked videos of her online left Erin Andrews momentarily shaken, the ESPN sideline reporter admitted later. But by the time she started to tell a federal judge about the devastation and humiliation that Illinois insurance executive Michael David Barrett caused her, the veteran sideline reporter was determined and composed. ...more

December 16, 2009

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

Mention Kamran Joyer and many local sports fans would know the name. The Wesley Chapel senior was a three-star Rivals.com guard in football who signed with the University of South Florida. ...more

March 25, 2009

Some transitions are more difficult than others, and one of the most difficult is for young people making the move from middle school to high school. That's why the Highlands County School District's Freshman Foundation is such a good idea. We believe that ultimately it will succeed in helping students be more successful. ...more

February 4, 2009

Respect The Anthem When I was growing up we were taught that when the national anthem was being played, it was proper to wait until the song was finished before applauding. What has happened since then? I have yet to hear the sports crowds let the song finish before they start hooting and hollering. ...more

February 1, 2009

Deion Sanders wasn't thinking about the Vince Lombardi Trophy as the final minutes ticked down at Miami's Joe Robbie Stadium 14 years ago. ...more

January 30, 2009

Highlands County School Board members, as well as school Superintendent Wally Cox and his staff, have worked hard to find cuts in the district's budget. Diminished revenue puts the squeeze on everyone. A comment tossed out during a recent meeting, however, caught a lot of attention. It was mentioned that perhaps junior varsity sports should be cut. ...more

January 25, 2009

The Tampa Tribune recently ran several stories about the owners of the Tampa Bay Rowdies seeking a rezoning from Hillsborough County to build a 5,000-seat soccer stadium in Town 'N Country and its subsequent denial by the county commission. ...more

January 21, 2009

The highlights this time accompany what's known as "The Greatest Game Ever Played" - the 1958 NFL championship between the Colts and the Giants. ...more

December 29, 2008