Topps will be giving away more gold

Posted Jan 31, 2012 by Bob D'Angelo

Updated Jan 31, 2012 at 06:11 PM

The official release for the 2012 Topps Series 1 is Feb. 1, although I’ve already seen blaster boxes, rack packs and regular packs at my hometown Walmart. I haven’t checked out Target yet, but I am sure there are retail boxes there, too.

Nevertheless, Topps released its final marketing blitz for Series 1, and now that I think about it, it should not come as a surprise.

Collectors will be able to find a Golden Giveaway code card in every sixth pack of Series 1, and that card will have a code on the pack that collectors can use to get digital golden coins, special gold chrome die-cut cards, or cards that contain actual embedded pieces of gold.

Here is the breakdown:

There will be 100 different Golden Moments chrome die-cut cards, and collectors also will have a shot at a gold parallel numbered to 99.

An even rarer subset will be 1/1 cards, called Truly Golden Moments. There will be 100 die-cut chrome cards embedded with a real piece of gold.

In a similar vein, the base set will have 1/1 parallels, also embedded with a piece of gold.

Some collectors who enter codes and win gold coins could win prizes that will include autographed gold coin cards autographed by Willie Mays and Ken Griffey Jr., to name a few.

The site is not operational yet, but Topps said it will go live in late February. The site is www.topps.com/golden.

This is pretty much a carbon copy of the Topps Million promotion last year, and a collector certainly can acquire a nice virtual collection. Loved their retro rings like Boston Braves, Brooklyn Dodgers and Philadelphia A’s, for example.

It’s the same formula this year. The only difference is that instead of unlocking rings and cards, collectors have a shot at something that appears (to me, anyway) to be a more appealing collectible.

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Wesley Chapel football brings nine players to signing Wednesday

Posted Jan 31, 2012 by Mike Camunas

Updated Jan 31, 2012 at 05:34 PM

Wesley Chapel football coach Ben Alford said in an e-mail Tuesday that up to eight players, possibly a ninth, will sign letters of intent at 1 p.m. on Wednesday’s National Signing Day.

ATH Keegan Tanner, an offensive cog for the Wildcats, is signing with Stetson University. Signing with Missouri Valley College is LB Luke Fisher, FB/LB Angel Ramos and ATH Xavier Leatherbury, signing with Rockridge Community College is OL/DL Robert Gonzales and OL/DL Damian Garvey, while DE Angel Locicero will sign with Eri Community College and RB Devin Piper with Citrus College. Alford added that WR Robert Jota has yet decided where he will sign.

These nine players were part of the of the 5-5 Wildcats team that had its best season since 2007, but finished fifth in the Class 5A, District 6 standings. Tanner had eight total touchdowns, Piper four touchdowns before an ankle injury cut his season short, while Fisher led the team with 77 tackles and Ramos with eight sacks.

Correspondent Mike Camunas can be reached at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or follow him on Twitter @MikeCamunasTrib.

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Abnormally warm winter is confusing to some fish

Posted Jan 31, 2012 by Tribune Sports

Updated Jan 31, 2012 at 02:17 PM

BY RAY MARKHAM

This winter has produced some record warm temperatures. Water temperatures on the flats in Terra Ceia this week reached 72.2 degrees some afternoons. This is more typical of the water temperature in March or April.

Sheepshead should be preparing to spawn over the next month. The next full moon should find these fish getting very fat and many will spawn on this full moon or the next. But for the most part, I’m seeing fewer fish than normal. What I am seeing more of are flounder, Spanish mackerel and bluefish.

Trout are scattered on the flats, because water temperatures are not so cold. North winds this week have blown much of the water off the flats and forced fish into the holes. During cold weather, you’ll find trout in deep holes and, on occasion, if those holes are on the edges of a shallow dark mud bottom flat, trout will move up shallow to feed.

Trout favor shrimp during winter. A couple of months ago, they were eating scaled sardines and pinfish. Most baitfish leave the bay during winter. Because of this, the DOA Shrimp has produced more trout than most other lures I use now. Jerk baits are effective for trout. The MirrOlure Lil’ John, CAL Jerk Bait, and the Exude D.A.R.T. are all very productive for trout, but they will also take flounder, redfish and even sheepshead and black drum.

Redfish are still working the shallows on mud flats in the upper 60-degree water, something they would do even in 50-degree water. Reds seem to be acting as if it’s winter, even on warm days. These warm and cool days move fish and make them indecisive, leading to tough days of fishing, but for the fish, I’m sure they are wondering what season it is.

Ray Markham runs the Flat Back II out of Terra Ceia and can be reached for charter at (941) 228-3474.

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INF Canzler traded to Indians for cash

Posted Jan 31, 2012 by Roger Mooney

Updated Jan 31, 2012 at 12:01 PM

ROGER MOONEY

The Rays traded infielder Russ Canzler to the Indians today for cash considerations.

Canzler, 25, was the 2011 Most Valuable Player of the International League and received a September call-up to the Rays. He appeared in three games as a pinch-hitter and designated hitter and had one hit.

Canzler was designated for assignment Friday to clear room on the 40-man roster for veteran utility infielder Jeff Keppinger.

He was drafted in the 30th round by the Chicago Cubs in 2004 and signed as a minor league free agent by Tampa Bay in November 2010.

Playing above Double A for the first time in his career, Canzler hit .314 with 18 home runs and 83 RBIs last season for the Triple A Durham Bulls. Canzler led the IL in doubles (40) and slugging percentage (.530), finished second in runs (78) and third in hits (149). He appeared in 41 games in right field, 33 in left, 40 at third base and 17 at first.

A native of manager Joe Maddon’s hometown of Hazleton, PA., Canzler was the fifth Bull to win the IL MVP award, following Steve Cox (1999), Toby Hall (2001), Kevin Witt (2006) and Dan Johnson (2010).

His lone big league hit came in his first at-bat, a single of Aaron Laffey at Yankee Stadium. He drove in his lone RBI later that night with a sacrifice fly.

The right-handed hitting Canzler will have a better chance of making the Indians Opening Day roster than he would the Rays. Keppinger, who can also play third base, gives the Rays a right-handed bat off the bench. Luke Scott will serve as backup to first baseman Carlos Peña.

 

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Armwood’s Bailey lands two more SEC offers: South Carolina, Arkansas

Posted Jan 31, 2012 by Bill Ward

Updated Jan 31, 2012 at 01:58 PM

Do-everything Armwood junior Alvin Bailey, who accounted for more than 2,000 yards of total offense and 18 touchdowns last season, has landed two more scholarship offers from Southeastern Conference schools, Hawks offensive coordinator Evan Davis said Tuesday.

The two latest SEC teams to make Bailey a pitch are South Carolina and, just Tuesday afternoon, Arkansas. Last fall, he was offered by Vanderbilt, where former Hawks quarterback Josh Grady is attending and the school current Armwood offensive lineman Kevin McCoy will sign a letter of intent with Wednesday. South Carolina will sign Hawks offensive lineman Cody Waldrop on National Signing Day.

Bailey also has an offer from the University of South Florida, where Armwood defensive back Jarvis McColl is headed.

The 6-foot-1, 170-pound Bailey was arguably the Hawks’ most valuable player on offense during last fall’s run to the Class 6A state title. He played quarterback, receiver and running back and, as one of Armwood’s top sprinters on the track team, was a breakaway threat whenever he got the ball. He had an 85-yard TD running the ball and a 67-yard score as a receiver.

Photo: Armwood junior Alvin Bailey sticks the nose of the ball over the goal line for a third-quarter touchdown against Miami Central in last season’s Class 6A state championship game in the Citrus Bowl. Staff photo by Bill Ward/The Tampa Tribune.

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Plant receiver Aikens commits to Western Kentucky

Posted Jan 31, 2012 by Bill Ward

Updated Jan 31, 2012 at 11:32 AM

Plant senior wide receiver Austin Aikens, a first team all-Hillsborough County selection by the Tampa Tribune last season, has made a verbal commitment to Western Kentucky University, his father, Teryl Aikens told the Tribune on Tuesday.

The 6-foot, 180-pound Aikens hauled in 37 passes for 704 yards and 11 touchdowns last season as the Class 8A state champion Panthers’ top receiver. Teryl Aikens said the major attraction of Western Kentucky is the fact that coach Willie Taggart was pursuing Aikens as the Hilltoppers’ top recruit.

Teryl is also hoping that his younger son, Aaron, a junior receiver at Plant, could one day join his older brother in college.

Austin was also considering offers from Iowa, Bowling Green, Florida Internatoinal, Florida Atlantic and Toledo. He also had interest from several other Division I schools, including UCLA and Connecticut. But after their visit to Western Kentucky last weekend and meeting with Taggart—as well as WKU president Gary A. Ransdell—the Aikens were sold.

“They rolled out the red carpet,” Teryl Aikens said. “They let Austin know right away that he wasn’t their No. 1 recruit at wide receiver, but that he was their No. 1 recruit period.

“It was just a great experience and we got a good feeling about the people there and the school. They have his interests not only in football, but also his academics.”

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Anclote RB Alonzo Pettiford commits to Fort Hays State

Posted Jan 31, 2012 by Andy Villamarzo

Updated Jan 31, 2012 at 10:11 AM

Anclote running back Alonzo Pettiford has committed to Fort Hays State, a Division II, Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association university in Kansas, according to Sharks coach Matt Wicks via text message early Tuesday morning.

This past season, Pettiford played all over the field offensively, evident by his stats: 602 rushing yards on 68 carries for seven touchdowns, 14 catches for 268 yards and two scores. As a returner, Pettiford returned 12 punts for 221 yards and 14 kickoffs for 464 yards, including one for 94 yards.

Pettiford will sign with Fort Hays State on Wednesday’s National Signing Day, according to Wicks.

In 2011, the Fort Hays State Tigers were just 4-7.

Correspondent Andy Villamarzo can be reached at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or follow him on Twitter at @andyvillamarzo.

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Robinson’s Pringle commits to Youngstown State

Posted Jan 31, 2012 by Bill Ward

Updated Jan 31, 2012 at 09:25 AM

Robinson kick returner/athlete Byron Pringle has made a verbal commitment to Youngstown State and will sign with the school Wednesday, Knights coach Mike DePue announced Tuesday.

The 6-foot-2, 190-pound Pringle’s only other offer was to Bethune-Cookman University but DePue says Pringle will be “the steal of the century” for NCAA Division I-AA Youngstown.

“It will be bigger than (former Robinson star and current Kansas City Chiefs player) Javier Arenas going to Alabama,” DePue said.

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TC’s Fasani landing multiple offers

Posted Jan 31, 2012 by Bill Ward

Updated Jan 31, 2012 at 09:10 AM

In the run-up to National Signing Day on Wednesday, Tampa Catholic defensive back Daniel Fasani has been landing several college offers, both for his football skills and track speed.

To date, the 5-foot-10, 165-pound Fasani has offers from Benedictine University (Chicago) for football and track, Catholic University of America (Washington, D.C.) for the two sports and, for football, Benedictine College (Kansas) and Stetson University in DeLand.

The Crusaders will have several players signing letters of intent Wednesday. Defensive back Tyree Holder is headed to Ball State, center Mike Scheerhorn is signing with Valparaiso (Ind.) University and wide receiver Calvin Armatas has accepted an offer from Stetson. Meanwhile, Zach Dyer, who played safety, kicker, running back and receiver, has a preferred walk-on offer from six-time FCS national champion Georgia Southern.

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River Ridge GK Lisa Jadick will sign with Southeastern on Wednesday

Posted Jan 31, 2012 by Mike Camunas

Updated Jan 31, 2012 at 07:17 AM

No matter what happens at River Ridge’s region final game tonight, goalkeeper Lisa Jadick still wins.

Royal Knights coach Skip Glover told the Tampa Tribune on Tuesday morning that Jadick, a four-year starter, will sign with Southeastern, a private, Christian, Division I college in Lakeland that competes in the Sun Conference. Jadick will sign her letter of intent on Wednesday’s National Signing Day at 8:30 a.m. at River Ridge.

Jadick has always been considered one of the top girls goalkeepers in Pasco County, ever since logging 30 saves, six shutouts and giving up just seven goals in 825 minutes as a freshman in the 2008-09 season. For her career, Jadick, in 5,141 playing minutes, has 318 saves, 37 shutouts and giving up just 52 goals. 

Tonight, Jadick and the Royal Knights (18-4-1) will play in the program’s first region final at Eustis at 7 p.m. River Ridge had a streak of five-straight district titles that ended in the 2010-11 season, however, the Royal Knights won the 3A-7 district championship over Mitchell 2-1 (2-0 PKs), plus beat Wesley Chapel 3-0 and then Mitchell again 2-1 in overtime in the regional quarterfinals and semifinals, respectively.

In addition, the Southeastern women’s soccer team is coming off a down year, going just 6-10 and losing in the first round of the Sun Conference Tournament. Starting goalkeeper, sophomore Karleigh Smoak, had 92 saves and gave up 37 goals, a 2.3 goals against average.

Correspondent Mike Camunas can be reached at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or follow him on Twitter @MikeCamunasTrib.

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