Over your glass of chilled Florida orange juice, two eggs straight-up and broken over yellow grits, three slices of bacon, two slices of buttered toast with apple jelly, these breakfast additives:

Tom: “Thanks. Our dad (Ike Icardi) was a passionate football fan. He had been a Pittsburgh Panther mascot and he and John Unitas went to the same grade school, St. Justin’s in Pittsburgh.  As the son of Italian immigrants, he had no cultural predisposition to football but he took to it as a duck to water. Dad was also active in sports in his adopted home of Orlando, including the original Citrus Golf Classic and the Tangerine Bowl. He always spoke of Carroll Rosenbloom as a man of integrity. Working with Pete Rozelle was thrilling for him. It was a golden age and seemingly then later stage of those golden times.” – Mary Alice (Icardi) Jackson.
Neat. Thank you. Ike was the first man to suggest a meeting to discuss Tampa with him and that resulted in the Baltimore Colts to move three pre-season games in 1973 to Tampa Stadium as part of the Tampa area effort to demonstrate real interest in an NFL franchise. We did. Unitas was the QB. Incidentally, Ray Perkins was a player on that team.  Mr. Rosenbloom supported our successful franchise effort 100 percent. He genuinely helped, as did Ike Icardi in that little drama.

“I came across the article and seeing the 2007 date I thought my dad was resurrected. He passed away in 1988. Thank you for remembering him. It was a thrill to see his name in print again — John Icardi, Raleigh N.C.
I can tell you without him we would not have gotten it all done as quickly and importantly as we did. Nice, quiet, effective man.

“Can the Bucs-and-Dungy connection proliferate anymore than they have already in coaching in the NFL? Is this the fastest this has been done? Has there been anything about Monte Kiffin being offered the 49er head job? Think about the rivalry that would have caused across San Francisco Bay? — Larry Goodman, Tampa.
Yes, we did mention it and yes, Monte was offered that 49er job. I have thought about it. Thanks.

Enjoyed the piece on Rick Casares, the ex-Bear All-Pro. He was also a greater punter and extra point and field goal man. He passed for some scores at Florida, too. I shall never forget a 0-0 tie between the Gators and Georgia Tech in 1963. I was a soaking wet freshman and impressed so with the big guy from Tampa. - Ron Pride. Clermont.
Yes. I covered it. He was a fearless moose. Remember when somebody gave him a cheap shot at Mississippi State, he stood in the center of the court and offered to take everybody on. Remember he was for a time a professional fighter. Underage, of course. Could have made boxing a pro career, had he chosen.