Video: Tampa Bay Lightning center Steven Stamkos after a 3-1 loss to Los Angeles

Posted Feb 7, 2012 by Erik Erlendsson

Updated Feb 7, 2012 at 11:48 PM

Birthday boy Steven Stamkos is in anything but a celebratory mood despite scoring his league leading 35th goal of the season after Tuesday’s 3-1 loss to the Los Angeles Kings. Just see for yourself below:

 

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Gators’ Jeff Demps named Men’s Runner of the Week

Posted Feb 7, 2012 by Aaron Oberlin

Updated Feb 7, 2012 at 08:49 PM

The Southeastern Conference named junior sprinter Jeff Demps its Men’s Runner of the Week earlier today. It’s his third time this season.

The accolade comes after winning the men’s 60 meters title at the Virginia Tech Elite Meet this past weekend. Clocking 6.59 seconds, Demps ran the third fastest 60 meter time in the NCAA this year.

Demps is a two-time defending national champion in the men’s 60 meters.

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Memphis: Good move for Big East

Posted Feb 7, 2012 by Joey Johnston

Updated Feb 7, 2012 at 06:31 PM

The University of Memphis will become an all-sports member of the Big East Conference beginning in 2013, according to CBSSports.com, and the move is expected to be announced Wednesday.

Memphis is a familiar foe for the University of South Florida Bulls. USF was a member of Conference USA, along with Memphis, from 1995-2005. The addition of Memphis makes plenty of sense because of geography and the built-in rivalries. The Tigers (national runners-up in 1973 and 2008) bring great value in men’s basketball. USF was 3-17 against Memphis during the C-USA era, losing 12 of the last 13 meetings.

The Memphis football program has not been great for some time, but it will be forced to keep up in the Big East. The Tigers have gone 5-31 since their last bowl appearance, a 41-14 defeat against USF in the inaugural St. Petersburg Bowl in 2008.

When the West Virginia-to-the-Big 12 issue is sorted out—and Pittsburgh and Syracuse depart for the ACC in 2014 (if not sooner)—here’s how the revamped Big East lineup will look (with the expectation of winding up with 12 football-playing schools and holding a Big East Championship Game):

The Big East football league

* Boise State (football only in 2013)
* Central Florida (all sports in 2013)
* Cincinnati
* Connecticut
* Houston (all sports in 2013)
* Louisville
* Memphis (all sports in 2013)
* Navy (football only in 2015)
* Rutgers
* San Diego State (football only in 2013)
* SMU (all sports in 2013)
* USF

The Big East basketball holdovers

* DePaul
* Georgetown
* Marquette
* Notre Dame
* Providence
* St. John’s
* Seton Hall
* Villanova

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A peek at Panini Preferred reveals bold autographs

Posted Feb 7, 2012 by Bob D'Angelo

Updated Feb 7, 2012 at 06:06 PM

High-end basketball card collectors can start drooling. Panini America released some more images of its upcoming Panini Preferred set. Images and information were released just before Christmas and those facts were duly noted here back then, but it’s worth showing a few more as the March 21 release date draws closer.

To recap: there will be four cards to a box, which will cost somewhere in the $200 range. Three of those cards will be autographs, with the fourth to either be a six- or eight-swatch memorabilia card.

The set will include designs from three sets: Donruss Signatures, Crown Royale Silhouettes and Panini’s Choice (which will mirror the triangular die-cut configuration of the old Pacific Cramer’s Choice inserts).

  I like the bold autograph shown on the Kevin Durant card I’ve included, and how the photo is feathered toward the bottom, so your eyes are directed from the action shot at the top to the autograph at the bottom with no distractions. Very smooth.

The Crown Royale Silhouettes also include patches and bold autographs. The player’s silhouette is almost an afterthought as it does not dominate the card. It’s like an equal third to a three-component card — player, autograph and patch. The autographs are on-card, which is an excellent choice. To me, stickers are convenient, but to me, on card means the player actually signed the card. That’s much more desirable in my mind.

The Panini’s Choice seems like the more garish of the three designs. I’m not a fan of the silver foil bottom, as it tends to make reading the name on the card difficult — but as the Bill Walton card demonstrates, a bold autograph can cover plenty of misgivings. Walton’s autograph is clear, sharp and large. Love it.

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Fivay’s Johnson headed to Seminole State

Posted Feb 7, 2012 by Rick Harmon

Updated Feb 8, 2012 at 04:13 PM

HUDSON—Fivay softball player Ashlynn Johnson signed her letter-of-intent with Seminole State College in Sanford.

Johnson, who played first base, outfield and pitcher for the coach Greg Bollinger’s Falcons in their inaugural season, led the team in batting average (.348), RBI (13), hits (23) and tied for the lead in doubles (6).

On the mound, Johnson was 4-6 with a 3.56 ERA and recorded 61 strikeouts in 61 innings pitched.

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McCaffrey, Pasco coach Moore earn girls basketball awards

Posted Feb 7, 2012 by TBO.com

Updated Feb 7, 2012 at 05:07 PM

The Florida Athletic Coaches Association (FACA) girls basketball District 10 held its annual meeting Monday.

The following were recognized for their accomplishments this season.
District 10 3A Player of the Year:  Andrea Niggebrugge, Senior, Bishop McLaughlin
District 10 5A Player of the Year: Kayla Kivinski, Sophomore, Gulf
District 10 6A Player of the Year: Vasiliki Kostogiannes, Senior, River Ridge
District 10 7A Player of the Year: Kelly McCaffrey, Senior, Wiregrass Ranch
Overall District 10 Player of the Year:  Kelly McCaffrey, Senior Wiregrass Ranch

District 10 3A Coach of the Year:  Joe Jasinski, Bishop Mclaughlin
District 10 5A Coach of the Year: Troy Moore, Pasco
District 10 6A Coach of the Year:  Jacob Tavo, Mitchell
District 10 7A Coach of the Year:  John Gant, Wiregrass Ranch
Overall District 10 Coach of the Year: Troy Moore, Pasco

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Florida Gators golfer named player of the week

Posted Feb 7, 2012 by Aaron Oberlin

Updated Feb 7, 2012 at 03:55 PM

“Golfweek” named University of Florida junior T.J. Vogel its Player of the Week on Monday.

Vogel won his first career title last week at the Sea Best Invitational. He shot a three-round total of 216 (E), helping lead the Gators to their second team title of the season.

Vogel is now ranked No. 7 in the GolfWeek/Sagarin college rankings.

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Florida Gators golfer named Player of the Week

Posted Feb 7, 2012 by Aaron Oberlin

Updated Feb 7, 2012 at 03:58 PM

“Golfweek” named University of Florida junior T.J. Vogel its Player of the Week on Monday.

Vogel won his first career title last week at the Sea Best Invitational. He shot a three-round total of 216 (E), helping lead the Gators to their second team title of the season.

Vogel is now ranked No. 7 in the GolfWeek/Sagarin college rankings.

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Bloomingdale’s Jasczak commits to Nova Southeastern

Posted Feb 7, 2012 by Jarrett Guthrie

Updated Feb 7, 2012 at 04:36 PM

Bloomingdale senior Melissa Jasczak started setting goals early, or perhaps better stated started stopping goals early. At 10 years old, the Bulls keeper started working with trainer, USF assistant and former Cambridge Christian coach John Mendoza.

Mendoza said he was proud last Friday to watch Jasczak take the next step in her career signing her national letter of intent to Nova Southeastern in front of friends and family at O’Brien’s in Brandon. 

“For me it’s very satisfying to see Melissa grow into such a great keeper and a great person in the past eight years,” Mendoza said. “Watching her set goals as a 10-year-old and begin able to achieve them with an academic-athletic scholarship to Nova just shows how hard she has worked in the classroom and on the field.”

Jasczak was the starting keeper for Bloomingdale earning First Team All Western Conference honors this season as the Bulls were region qualifiers and the district runner-up.

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April weather for February fishing

Posted Feb 7, 2012 by Tribune Sports

Updated Feb 7, 2012 at 02:17 PM

BY RAY MARKHAM

I know the calendar says we’re pushing mid-February, but I’m wearing shorts and a T-shirt. Water temperatures have been into the 70s, and that’s usually not something I see until late March or early April. Bait schools are scattered on the flats on high water, but hang in deep water much of the rest of the time. Schools of bait are also on beaches. This abnormal weather pattern is making fish set up housekeeping in places that they aren’t normally residing this time of year.

We’re catching fair numbers of speckled trout ranging from 15-18 inches. Lower Tampa Bay spring trout range from 18-30 inches and usually show up from March through May in the lower Tampa Bay area. Top-water lures are productive for these big fish, but a top-water bite is still pretty tough to get going on a regular basis. Subsurface lures that work the bottom of the water column, like CAL Jigs with Shad tails, MirrOlure soft plastic Lil’ John jerk baits and DOA Shrimp are still top producers in soft baits.

The approaching full moon is pushing water up higher on high tides and draining the flats on the low tides. Low negative tides have pushed fish off flats and into channels and in holes on the flats. Outside sand bars are occasionally holding pompano that will readily take a Doc’s Goofy Jig, DOA TerrorEyz, or a CAL Shad. Dragging a jig on the bottom will put a few flounder in the boat.
Redfish continue to find shallow mud flats or sand bottoms to hang on during the mid-day sun. An Eppinger Rex spoon cast well beyond the resting fish and allowed to settle before a retrieve will catch these fish when the lure is worked slowly.

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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