Tampa sports have colorful past, bright future

Posted Aug 26, 2010 by Tom McEwen

Updated Aug 26, 2010 at 06:15 PM

Veteran WFLA, News Channel 8, anchor Gayle Sierens and I were discussing then and now in Tampa sports the other day and how all has changed and so dramatically, in events, in facilities.

We are truly big-time now. We did not used to be, as Gayle and I were revisiting a major event of other days, which was a major wrestling promotion at Fort Homer Hesterly produced by the late E.P. (Cowboy) Luttrall on a card that included Dusty Rhodes, Eddie Graham, the Brisco Brothers and the Great Malenko. We remembered how we went behind the curtains so she could meet the wrestlers early, though they put on their masks for the introduction. Malenko, who was the master of the unbroken forward fall on his face without breaking that fall, showed her how he did that and she was pleased to meet Rhodes, Graham and Cowboy. Cowboy said this was his final card unless he could make it financially. He had all his money in the box office, where he sold the tickets himself, but he made it and never stopped promoting wrestling in the world.

Wrestlers are among the most engaging of athletes, out of the ring. They were that night charming, Sierens said, with their good manners and grace, then, their transformation into the good guys and bad guys in the ring. Today, Gayle and I compared the major events of those days and now and how we now have Raymond James Stadium, George Steinbrenner Field, Tropicana Field, the St. Pete Times Forum, the Outback Bowl, Outback golf tournament and comparable major events of today.  By comparison, to then and now, the change in facilities and events are so dramatic, totally big league with more to come, such as an enclosed downtown Tampa baseball field, perhaps just north of the Times arena. That is already in the works and is sure to come. There is truly nothing to stop the forward progress of sports and sports venues here.

Believe me, there is nothing to stop this steamroller for sports in Tampa, unless some short-sighted leaders are, well, short-sighted. An important developing factor has been the spirit of cooperation ever-growing in the overall Tampa Bay area, including the infusion of new ownership of the Tampa Bay Lightning by Jeff Vinik, who appears to have growth and residency on his mind in the place he has chosen to call home, by purchasing homes near Palma Ceia Golf and Country Club. The elections now under way in our place seem to be on the progressive side and with the future in mind.

Sierens and I were discussing the future in comparison to the past.  Judgment here is that we are past the point of no return. The Tampa area is truly on its way forward, despite the present reports of a downturn in the economy. Surely if any area in America is going to keep on with its progress and growth, Tampa is included. These days, we have so much more onto which to pin our hopes. Look around. Everything seems to be prospering in force, if of course, the Buccaneers can straighten out their current lack of stars and put more people in their wonderful facility the public has provided them. The Buccaneer-owning family, the Glazers, has assured its season-ticket holders and its patrons they are going nowhere but Tampa and up. They have demonstrated that with their continued involvement in the properties they have purchased near the stadium and the improvement of them. Through General Manager Mark Dominik, the Glazers have confirmed they will do all they can to put a winner on their field, that money is no object. Good. Then Gayle Sierens and I seem to have been correct in our conclusion that sports continues to lead the way in the Tampa Bay area. It does, it has, it should.