tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13360798034324811242012-02-16T11:28:15.625-05:00From the pages of La Gaceta -- The Nation's Only Tri-Lingual Newspaper -- comes the only weekly column of its kind devoted to the history of sports in the Tampa Bay area. Since November 2007, "Once Upon A Time" has covered the events, athletes and stories that encompass the rich sports tradition of this community. Copyright 2011 by Travis Puterbaugh. All Rights Reserved.Travis Puterbaughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00133930275459952526noreply@blogger.comBlogger1651100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1336079803432481124.post-64926869787008867932011-02-28T15:49:00.000-05:002011-03-08T15:54:09.615-05:00

Last week marked the 25th anniversary of the first-ever meeting between the University of Tampa and University of South Florida’s men’s basketball teams. Although their campuses are just a little over 10 miles apart, athletically the gap is much larger.As members of the Big East Conference, the USF Bulls typically play other large NCAA Division I schools in every sport. The UT Spartans, as

Travis Puterbaughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00133930275459952526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1336079803432481124.post-51588453032887512822011-01-24T14:21:00.002-05:002011-01-24T14:25:51.972-05:00

Larry Hirsch, whose voice is familiar to anyone who followed the Lightning in the 1990s, handled radio broadcast duties for the team from 1993-1999. His signature "Yes, sir!" calls for goals captured the imagination of Lightning fans during the team's playoff run during the 1995-96 season. Hirsch recently took some time to reflect on his years with the club and set the record straight on the

Travis Puterbaughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00133930275459952526noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1336079803432481124.post-59517705871483878672011-01-03T11:50:00.002-05:002011-01-22T15:07:44.221-05:00

Mark Champion, the current radio play-by-play announcer for the Detroit Pistons, is fondly-remembered locally as the radio voice of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 1979-1988. Since leaving Tampa in 1989, Champion has served in the same capacity for the Detroit Lions from 1989-2004, the Detroit Pistons from 1992-1996, then rejoined the Pistons in 2001. He recently took some time prior to a

Travis Puterbaughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00133930275459952526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1336079803432481124.post-10367569148927091972010-12-28T14:42:00.001-05:002010-12-28T14:44:54.211-05:00

In 1985, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers seemed condemned to failure right from the very beginning. Few teams ever rebound from a 0-9 start, and the Bucs proved to be no exception.Even their first victory – a 16-0 triumph at home over the St. Louis Cardinals, and only the second-ever shutout in team history – could not be enjoyed for more than a few days. The next week on the road in the Meadowlands,

Travis Puterbaughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00133930275459952526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1336079803432481124.post-18571969807578961382010-12-20T08:27:00.001-05:002010-12-20T08:29:52.154-05:00

On November 2, 1980, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers sported a record of 4-4-1 with seven games remaining. A season which had seen the Bucs sandwich a five-game winless streak between two separate two-game winning streaks could still be salvaged with a strong finish. At the same point the previous season, the Buccaneers were 7-2 and on their way to winning the NFC Central Division. Although that team

Travis Puterbaughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00133930275459952526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1336079803432481124.post-80682100437242475402010-12-13T09:13:00.001-05:002010-12-20T08:30:25.483-05:00

Last week, the University of South Florida marked the 40th anniversary of the first intercollegiate men’s basketball game in school history. When the basketball program began in 1970, however, it had yet to find a suitable place to call home. At the time, the only venue on campus to watch basketball was a 1,500-seat gym more suitable for pick-up games and intramural competitions than spectator

Travis Puterbaughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00133930275459952526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1336079803432481124.post-86597414372740079582010-12-06T09:35:00.001-05:002011-07-22T16:06:32.934-04:00

On June 12, 1969, the University of South Florida announced that the school would begin playing intercollegiate men's basketball beginning with the 1970-71 season. This week, the university celebrates the 40th anniversary of the first game in school history. Although today the school is a proud member of the Big East conference, USF did not jump into the deep end of college basketball right away.

Travis Puterbaughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00133930275459952526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1336079803432481124.post-53297768503172733652010-11-29T09:32:00.003-05:002010-11-29T09:36:04.285-05:00

Leading up to their November 26, 1970, showdown against the Houston Cougars at Tampa Stadium, the Florida State Seminoles found themselves in the running for a berth in the Peach Bowl. In the days before 70 teams went to bowl games, the 7-3 Seminoles were on the outside looking in for a berth in either the Liberty Bowl or Peach Bowl, the only two bowls that remained unfilled. To get to Atlanta,

Travis Puterbaughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00133930275459952526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1336079803432481124.post-45580270478996617832010-11-22T09:02:00.003-05:002010-11-22T09:05:30.826-05:00

Earlier this year, the Tampa Bay History Center received a large gift of original drawings, prints, and materials from the family of the late Tampa Tribune artist Lamar Sparkman. Among the countless wonderful artifacts in the collection are a few hundred photographs that Sparkman took of his subjects prior to drawing them for the newspaper.Some gems recently uncovered include a series of

Travis Puterbaughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00133930275459952526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1336079803432481124.post-91047116595047946312010-11-15T09:18:00.001-05:002011-07-22T16:08:38.579-04:00

In 1969, Tampa Stadium hosted a doubleheader featuring the University of Florida against Tulane, followed by the University of Tampa against Tulsa. A total of 55,553 fans turned out for the "Super Saturday" games, and the event proved to be so successful that organizers tried the concept again on November 14, 1970.This time, the 6-3 Florida Gators would square off against the 2-7 Kentucky

Travis Puterbaughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00133930275459952526noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1336079803432481124.post-43313259908993758322010-11-08T09:17:00.001-05:002010-11-08T09:20:03.784-05:00

Organizers of the Florida Federal Tennis Open knew they were going to have a challenge marketing the event in 1985.Some of the biggest names in women’s tennis had all politely declined to enter the tournament. Martina Navratilova – winner of the 1983 Florida Federal – skipped the 1984 event and had no intention of returning in 1985. Other top-ranked women skipping the tournament were Pam Shriver,

Travis Puterbaughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00133930275459952526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1336079803432481124.post-55493127129371694792010-11-01T10:33:00.001-04:002010-11-01T10:35:03.250-04:00

By late October 1975, fans of Tampa Bay's new professional football team had to be wondering when their first head coach would be hired. With the first exhibition game just nine months out, the Buccaneers still had no players and only a hint of who would be leading the team into battle.Speculation had been running rampant since July when Tampa Tribune columnist Tom McEwen confirmed that

Travis Puterbaughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00133930275459952526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1336079803432481124.post-16478837697405040652010-10-25T09:45:00.001-04:002010-10-25T09:47:09.093-04:00

Radio personality Nanci Donnellan, better known to her legions of fans as “The Fabulous Sports Babe,” began her career here in the Tampa Bay area in 1982. After moves that took her to Seattle, Bristol, Conn., and New York City, the Babe took several years off from broadcasting earlier in the decade, but she is once again a fixture on the local airwaves. Always opinionated and willing to tell it

Travis Puterbaughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00133930275459952526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1336079803432481124.post-2209887924219752672010-10-18T10:34:00.001-04:002010-10-18T10:36:18.640-04:00

On October 9, 1985, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers parted ways with linebacker Hugh Green, who was the team's first overall selection in the 1981 draft. The disgruntled Green -- a two-time Pro Bowler for the Buccaneers -- had recently made his unhappiness known around One Buc Place, skipping a practice and criticizing the team's defensive scheme.Green and his agent essentially demanded that owner Hugh

Travis Puterbaughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00133930275459952526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1336079803432481124.post-31623334816932939252010-10-11T09:13:00.001-04:002010-11-10T11:05:15.508-05:00

On September 21, 2010, the Tampa sports community lost a giant when Sam Bailey, the former University of Tampa football coach and athletic director, died at the age of 86. It seems sadly appropriate that his death would fall so close to the 25th anniversary of the passing of his colleague and fellow Tampa sports icon, Marcelino "Chelo" Huerta, Jr.On the evening of October 8, 1985, Huerta attended

Travis Puterbaughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00133930275459952526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1336079803432481124.post-68341459222233708212010-10-04T09:54:00.002-04:002010-12-15T16:54:21.857-05:00

Mark Carrier, a third round draft pick of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 1987, is Tampa Bay's most prolific receiver of all-time. He still owns the most 100-yard receiving games in team history (15), and the single-game receiving yardage record (212). A Buccaneer from 1987-1992, Carrier played 12 seasons in the NFL and finished his career with 8,763 yards and 48 touchdowns. Carrier can now be heard

Travis Puterbaughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00133930275459952526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1336079803432481124.post-84355745275459750452010-09-27T11:21:00.002-04:002011-05-19T12:26:36.446-04:00

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers opened their season two weeks ago with a victory at home over the Cleveland Browns. After going winless against the Browns between 1976 and 1995, the Buccaneers have now won three straight against Cleveland.The second all-time meeting between these two teams occurred 30 years ago, when the Browns came to Tampa for a late-September contest at Tampa Stadium.Coming off the

Travis Puterbaughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00133930275459952526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1336079803432481124.post-47097429685896789502010-09-20T10:22:00.006-04:002010-12-15T16:56:52.461-05:00

Mike Connell, an original member of the Tampa Bay Rowdies, played with the team from 1975-1984 and became one of the most popular players in franchise history. Joining the squad as an 18-year-old from South Africa in 1975, Connell earned the nickname “Iron Mike” for participating in over 25,000 minutes of play over the course of a career spent entirely in Tampa. Connell saw it all as a member of

Travis Puterbaughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00133930275459952526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1336079803432481124.post-52490025436943000232010-09-13T10:17:00.001-04:002010-09-13T10:19:27.298-04:00

For “Gator Nation,” the last two decades have been like something out of a dream. The homecoming of Steve Spurrier in 1990, eight Southeastern Conference Titles, three National Championships, and iconic players such as Heisman Trophy winners Danny Wuerffel and Tim Tebow.None of the current players who will suit up this weekend against the University of South Florida Bulls, however, are old enough

Travis Puterbaughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00133930275459952526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1336079803432481124.post-64982321915121007472010-09-06T09:33:00.001-04:002010-09-08T11:28:55.726-04:00

Recently there has been much debate about the merit of adding two additional games to the NFL’s 16-game regular season schedule. Proponents of this idea say this could be done by reducing the preseason by two games. The preseason, they say, is already too long with four and sometimes five games scheduled, and the risk of injury too great for an essentially meaningless game.It was not that long

Travis Puterbaughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00133930275459952526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1336079803432481124.post-71107155530765876312010-08-30T14:06:00.001-04:002010-08-30T14:19:10.357-04:00

In the 1973 Little League World Series, a team of 11 and 12-year-olds representing Belmont Heights in East Tampa ran up against a baseball-destroying machine from Taiwan. The final score of their semi-final contest – 27-0 in favor of the team from the Far East – put a damper on what had been a spectacular summertime run.The Belmont Heights bunch took third place overall in the series, but this

Travis Puterbaughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00133930275459952526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1336079803432481124.post-30357922445830824422010-08-23T13:55:00.002-04:002011-07-22T16:05:16.734-04:00

In August 1975, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were still one year away from playing their first down of professional football. In the interim during their first year on the scene, the Tampa Bay Rowdies did not just hold the attention of local sports fans with the new and exciting sport of soccer. In fact, they were able to win their hearts and minds as well.Shrewd marketing and player

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In mid-August 1970, the Tampa Bay area prepared to host the first of two National Football League exhibition games held at Tampa Stadium that summer. Beginning in August 1968, the stadium had played host to three NFL exhibition games – two in 1969 – and a regular-season American Football League game between the Miami Dolphins and Boston Patriots in November 1969. All were well-attended affairs –

Travis Puterbaughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00133930275459952526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1336079803432481124.post-29942211801924247832010-08-09T11:25:00.001-04:002010-08-09T11:27:49.404-04:00

“I’ve wined and dined with king and queens, and I’ve slept in alleys eating pork and beans.” – Dusty Rhodes Billed throughout his career as a common man and a working-class hero, “The American Dream” Dusty Rhodes is one of the most dynamic personalities in the history of professional wrestling. From his charisma inside the ring to his ability to cut memorable promos outside of it, Rhodes was one

Travis Puterbaughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00133930275459952526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1336079803432481124.post-73062257840116608102010-08-02T16:37:00.002-04:002010-08-02T16:39:57.144-04:00

This photograph, taken on August 7, 1971, shows a then-record crowd of 51,214 at Tampa Stadium for a National Football League exhibition game between the New York Jets and Detroit Lions.Detroit ended up defeating New York 28-24, but the game is best remembered for an injury to New York’s Joe Namath. Following a fumble by New York’s Lee White, Namath attempted to tackle the Detroit linebacker –

Travis Puterbaughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00133930275459952526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1336079803432481124.post-78566997068237369622010-07-26T10:44:00.003-04:002010-07-26T10:49:20.062-04:00

In 1865, the deadliest war in U.S. history -- the Civil War -- came to an end, the 13th Amendment to the Constitution officially abolished slavery, and John Wilkes Booth assassinated President Abraham Lincoln at Ford's Theatre in Washington, D.C. At the same time in England, a group of young men formed a football club that would become known as the Nottingham Forest Reds. They would play their

Travis Puterbaughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00133930275459952526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1336079803432481124.post-69280451761959184952010-07-19T11:41:00.002-04:002010-07-19T11:43:38.613-04:00

Tom Foley, the third base coach for the Tampa Bay Rays since 2002, is one of the longest-tenured members of the organization. He came aboard in 1996 and served as a field coordinator for the first mini-camp in team history. His roots in Tampa go even deeper, however, having spent a season as a member of the Class-A Tampa Tarpons in 1979. A shortstop by trade, though adept throughout the infield,

Travis Puterbaughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00133930275459952526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1336079803432481124.post-45083796951207201612010-07-12T09:27:00.003-04:002011-07-22T15:59:58.602-04:00

Perry Van Der Beck made history with the Tampa Bay Rowdies in 1978 as the first high school soccer player ever drafted by a North American Soccer League team. The talented midfielder stood out as an amateur by winning two high school state championships and representing the United States in international competition at almost every level, including the Olympic team. Van Der Beck enjoyed a 19-year

Travis Puterbaughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00133930275459952526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1336079803432481124.post-42801258054909388562010-07-05T08:36:00.003-04:002011-07-22T15:59:18.607-04:00

Perry Van Der Beck made history with the Tampa Bay Rowdies in 1978 as the first high school soccer player ever drafted by a North American Soccer League team. The talented midfielder stood out as an amateur by winning two high school state championships and representing the United States in international competition at every level, including the Olympic team. Van Der Beck enjoyed a 19-year

Travis Puterbaughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00133930275459952526noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1336079803432481124.post-5697901544906971622010-06-28T08:58:00.005-04:002010-07-01T23:02:46.397-04:00

“Words come easy,” said Tampa Bay Rowdies head coach Gordon Jago, “but it is action that counts.”Heading into a June 25, 1980, showdown at Tampa Stadium against the San Diego Sockers, the Rowdies were most certainly a team ready for action. A treacherous month of play on the road left the team in desperate need of some home cooking. A rash of injuries and an inability to win on the road resulted

Travis Puterbaughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00133930275459952526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1336079803432481124.post-81346924580947166502010-06-21T09:17:00.002-04:002010-06-21T09:20:32.840-04:00

In April 1974, the National Football League announced that a new franchise would be placed in Tampa beginning in 1976. A name-the-team contest sponsored by WFLA radio took place nine months later in which the name Buccaneers was selected over other choices such as Sailors, Buzzards, and Coastal Tides.Buccaneers owner Hugh Culverhouse then commissioned renowned Tampa Tribune artist-cartoonist

Travis Puterbaughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00133930275459952526noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1336079803432481124.post-62708396909038614042010-06-14T11:24:00.001-04:002010-06-14T11:26:33.878-04:00

On March 6, 1983, football fans in the Tampa Bay area were officially introduced to a new product. The Tampa Bay Bandits of the USFL were brash, exciting, and advertised as “All the Fun the Law Allows.”In their first regular season game, the Bandits defeated the Boston Breakers 21-17 in front of a crowd of 42,437 at Tampa Stadium. The era of “Banditball” had begun. Just slightly over two years

Travis Puterbaughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00133930275459952526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1336079803432481124.post-39288596084923948032010-06-07T08:54:00.002-04:002010-06-07T08:57:15.190-04:00

From 1982-1986, Jim McVay served as the Director of Marketing for the Tampa Bay Bandits of the United States Football League. During that time, he devised the marketing strategies for the most innovative and fan-friendly product in the entire league. Today, McVay serves as the President/CEO of the Outback Bowl, one of the most popular and successful games of the college bowl season. McVay

Travis Puterbaughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00133930275459952526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1336079803432481124.post-46949598329744303932010-06-01T08:51:00.001-04:002010-06-01T08:53:57.848-04:00

Due to the brief history of the league, few rivalries were truly able to take hold in the USFL. Between expansion, relocation, and owners swapping franchises, the familiarity between teams that breeds contempt was hard to find.There were two teams, however, who were exceptions to the rule: the Tampa Bay Bandits and the New Jersey Generals.New Jersey running back Herschel Walker explained it as

Travis Puterbaughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00133930275459952526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1336079803432481124.post-81509525194977002472010-05-24T11:17:00.002-04:002010-05-24T11:25:36.232-04:00

On September 8, 1979, the Vancouver Whitecaps defeated the Tampa Bay Rowdies 2-1 in the Soccer Bowl '79 championship game. For the second straight season, the Rowdies fell just short of a North American Soccer League championship.They would not have to wait very long, however, for their first crack at avenging that defeat to Vancouver.In a nationally televised showdown on ABC -- with a special

Travis Puterbaughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00133930275459952526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1336079803432481124.post-66861693863430793322010-05-17T10:31:00.001-04:002010-05-17T10:32:52.744-04:00

Mark Robinson, a graduate of Penn State, played for seven seasons as a safety in the NFL. Originally a fourth round draft pick of the Kansas City Chiefs in 1984, Robinson came to Tampa Bay via trade in 1988. He spent three seasons as a Buccaneer, eventually becoming a leader in the secondary and a team captain. Today, Robinson can be seen analyzing football on Bright House Sports Network and

Travis Puterbaughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00133930275459952526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1336079803432481124.post-45467119146496049052010-05-10T09:58:00.001-04:002010-05-10T10:00:39.088-04:00

Although this sparse crowd might outnumber some weekday baseball games at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, this group of hearty fans appear to be taking in some summer afternoon baseball at Al Lopez Field.The minor league Tampa Tarpons began playing at Al Lopez Field in 1957 as members of the Florida State League and enjoyed an affiliation with the Cincinnati Reds from 1961-1987. Tampa captured

Travis Puterbaughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00133930275459952526noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1336079803432481124.post-36138617245573882422010-05-03T11:33:00.001-04:002010-05-03T11:35:21.037-04:00

In the recent ESPN documentary “Small Potatoes: Who Killed the USFL,” director Mike Tollin postulates that the demise of the league came about by the hands of Donald Trump. It was Trump, Tollin says, who led the effort to move the USFL to the fall and engage in head-to-head competition with the NFL, rather than remain a spring league. Trump, who viewed spring football as “small potatoes,”

Travis Puterbaughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00133930275459952526noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1336079803432481124.post-84277938442398746262010-04-26T09:52:00.002-04:002010-04-28T15:04:20.073-04:00

Last week, the most recent edition of the Tampa Bay Rowdies played their first regular season game, a 1-0 victory over Crystal Palace Baltimore. The newly formed entry into the United Soccer Federation Division-2 Pro League hopes to pick up where the original Rowdies left off, establishing a winning tradition on the field and a fan-friendly reputation off of it. It was 35 years ago this week that

Travis Puterbaughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00133930275459952526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1336079803432481124.post-34680268527030863232010-04-19T16:39:00.001-04:002010-04-19T16:41:30.122-04:00

Through seven weeks of the 1985 USFL campaign, the Tampa Bay Bandits were one of the league’s hottest teams with a 5-2 record. Since their 50-28 defeat to the Houston Gamblers in Week 2, the Tampa Bay Bandits had reeled off four wins in five games. In their only loss of that stretch -- a 4-point setback to the New Jersey Generals -- Tampa Bay quarterback John Reaves threw for over 400 yards, but

Travis Puterbaughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00133930275459952526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1336079803432481124.post-546718092605186732010-04-12T09:18:00.001-04:002010-04-12T09:19:47.687-04:00

A legend in local sports broadcasting, Dick Crippen has been part of the fabric of the Tampa Bay area for five decades. A familiar face to viewers of both Channel 10 and Channel 8, Crippen’s voice could be heard for 17 seasons as part of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers radio team and as the P.A. announcer for the Tampa Bay Rowdies during their heyday. Since 2000, Crippen has served as a senior advisor

Travis Puterbaughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00133930275459952526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1336079803432481124.post-38350195322195711502010-04-05T16:13:00.000-04:002010-04-05T11:26:50.308-04:00

This photograph features Olympic swimming champion Helen Wainwright trying out a different kind of sport on the newly constructed tennis courts on Davis Islands in March 1926. Wainwright earned renown as a two-time Summer Olympics medal winner. In the 1920 games in Antwerp, Belgium, she won a silver medal in the 3 metre springboard diving competition, and in the 1924 games in Paris she

Travis Puterbaughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00133930275459952526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1336079803432481124.post-32261263492609763952010-03-29T19:34:00.005-04:002010-03-30T09:11:03.096-04:00

In February 1964, golfer Arnold Palmer went head-to-head with Jack Nicklaus in an exhibition at the Palma Ceia Golf & Country Club.This marked the first round of golf in Tampa for both of the legends.Just over one year later on March 23, 1965, Palmer returned to the scene for another 18-hole exhibition, this time with rising star Juan Antonio "Chi-Chi" Rodriguez of Puerto Rico.The 30-year-old

Travis Puterbaughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00133930275459952526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1336079803432481124.post-82267174736954140732010-03-22T15:41:00.002-04:002011-07-22T15:57:59.621-04:00

Peter Anderson, a native of London, England, came to the Tampa Bay Rowdies in 1978 via a trade with the San Diego Shockers of the North American Soccer League. The midfielder played three seasons with the Rowdies and was a major contributor to the team's back-to-back appearances in the league's Soccer Bowl championship games in 1978 and 1979. In March 1980, Anderson scored the game-winning goal

Travis Puterbaughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00133930275459952526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1336079803432481124.post-47586867756230062162010-03-15T10:02:00.004-04:002010-03-15T10:05:16.890-04:00

The Pepsi Cola Giants were one of the many semi-professional baseball teams once located in the Tampa Bay area and showcased some of the best African American talent in the state. This image, taken in the late 1930s, came during a time when teams such as the Giants served as feeders for professional Negro League teams. The best of the best from local semi-pro teams were likely to be signed by

Travis Puterbaughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00133930275459952526noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1336079803432481124.post-30406522171185462962010-03-08T10:26:00.001-05:002010-03-08T10:27:56.424-05:00

By the spring of 1985, the Tampa Bay Bandits – then in the third season of their existence – had come to be known as one of the most innovative and entertaining teams in all of the USFL. Their style, which under the leadership of head coach Steve Spurrier featured the use of trick plays, unique formations and reliance on a vertical attack, became known as “Banditball.”On March 3, 1985, a

Travis Puterbaughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00133930275459952526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1336079803432481124.post-49069479464683227252010-03-01T14:04:00.002-05:002010-03-01T14:07:01.562-05:00

With the University of Tampa's football program on life support, a massive effort began to convince the school’s board of trustees not to eliminate the program. The “Save Our Spartans” campaign gained traction as community leaders and local football fans truly realized the urgency of the situation.With the board’s decision due Feb. 27, 1975, supporters of the football program had less than a week

Travis Puterbaughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00133930275459952526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1336079803432481124.post-33299940848927330122010-02-22T10:20:00.002-05:002010-02-22T10:23:35.239-05:00

With the recruiting period for the 1975 college football season nearly at an end, University of Tampa head coach Dennis Fryzel felt good about his young prospects. The National Letter of Intent day on February 19, 1975, would culminate what he hoped was his best incoming freshman class yet.On February 12, however, a letter written by the University of Tampa board of trustees finance committee

Travis Puterbaughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00133930275459952526noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1336079803432481124.post-90601231721566754052010-02-15T10:04:00.002-05:002010-02-15T10:08:40.510-05:00

John Cannon, a native of Long Branch, New Jersey, joined the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as the team's 4th overall draft pick in the 3rd round of the 1982 draft. The defensive end out of William & Mary recorded 22 sacks in 9 seasons with Tampa Bay. Cannon retired following the 1990 season, but has remained a fixture in the community. Currently a firefighter and paramedic for Tampa Fire Rescue in

Travis Puterbaughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00133930275459952526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1336079803432481124.post-9379673377232619762010-02-08T10:00:00.001-05:002010-02-08T10:02:37.274-05:00

John Cannon, a native of Long Branch, New Jersey, joined the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as the team's 4th overall draft pick in the 3rd round of the 1982 draft. The defensive end out of William & Mary recorded 22 sacks in 9 seasons with Tampa Bay. Cannon retired following the 1990 season, but has remained a fixture in the community. Currently a firefighter and paramedic for Tampa Fire Rescue in

Travis Puterbaughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00133930275459952526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1336079803432481124.post-70445774476196350162010-02-01T10:45:00.000-05:002010-05-03T16:17:27.918-04:00

John Cannon, a native of Long Branch, New Jersey, joined the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as the team's 4th overall draft pick in the 3rd round of the 1982 draft. The defensive end out of William & Mary recorded 22 sacks in 9 seasons with Tampa Bay. Cannon retired following the 1990 season, but has remained a fixture in the community. Currently a firefighter and paramedic for Tampa Fire Rescue in

Travis Puterbaughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00133930275459952526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1336079803432481124.post-90016674913678798382010-01-25T09:53:00.001-05:002011-07-22T15:55:38.270-04:00

With the departure of Head Coach John McKay following the 1984 season, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers spent the first few weeks of 1985 searching for his replacement.Owner Hugh Culverhouse had a deep pool of coaching talent available from which to select McKay's successor. Among the hot assistant coaches around the league rumored to be in line for a head gig were Buddy Ryan of the Chicago Bears, George

Travis Puterbaughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00133930275459952526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1336079803432481124.post-13446223973412624712010-01-15T13:39:00.001-05:002010-01-18T11:59:33.004-05:00

Due to the recent firing of head coach Jim Leavitt, the University of South Florida football program finds itself at a crossroads. This week 30 years ago, the basketball program was in a similar situation: looking to find a new head coach and right a sinking ship.On January 13, 1980, the Bulls traveled to Mobile, Alabama, to play in a regionally televised game against the defending Sun Belt

Travis Puterbaughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00133930275459952526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1336079803432481124.post-73397585510462007452010-01-11T09:56:00.002-05:002010-01-11T10:08:29.206-05:00

In the 7th annual Lions American Bowl on January 5, 1975, the South all-stars came into the game as a 14-point underdog against the best of the North. Winless in the series since 1970, few gave the South a chance. Even so, the South did have a chance because of a weapon on their roster known all-too-well to football fans in Tampa: quarterback Freddie Solomon.The star quarterback from the

Travis Puterbaughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00133930275459952526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1336079803432481124.post-54984865817251617122010-01-04T10:03:00.002-05:002010-05-18T11:50:54.581-04:00

As 1969 turned into 1970, the city of Tampa prepared to host the second annual Lions Club All-American Bowl at Tampa Stadium. Just hours into the new decade, however, an unanticipated controversy threatened to overshadow the event.Organizers of the game, as well as coaches, players, and fans, were stunned to find out that four of the five African-American players representing the South team had

Travis Puterbaughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00133930275459952526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1336079803432481124.post-22829652630547603412009-12-28T10:56:00.002-05:002011-07-22T15:54:13.043-04:00

As the Tampa Bay Buccaneers near the finish line of one of the worst seasons in franchise history, a fan’s thoughts may wander back to happier, simpler times.In 1979, Tampa Bay shocked the NFL by racing to a 5-0 start. Coming off a 5-11 record in 1978, the Buccaneers were at least seen as a team going in the right direction. Still, few could have anticipated such a staggering start. Amazingly,

Travis Puterbaughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00133930275459952526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1336079803432481124.post-33823393963479438042009-12-21T09:58:00.002-05:002009-12-21T21:01:23.789-05:00

Despite a disappointing 5-10 record, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers headed into their season finale twenty five years ago with something left to accomplish. With a playoff berth and a winning record long since out of reach, the Buccaneers could still end the season on a positive note: sending off coach John McKay with a win.On Nov. 5, the day after a last-second loss to the Minnesota Vikings, McKay

Travis Puterbaughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00133930275459952526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1336079803432481124.post-78704354867191260322009-12-14T16:30:00.002-05:002009-12-14T16:34:00.756-05:00

As the turbulent 1960s neared a conclusion, the city of Tampa – which had been mostly removed from the major upheaval faced by other large cities during the decade – had to contend with one last issue of cultural importance.Perhaps never before, and certainly never since, have sports and politics been so intertwined as in the career of boxer Muhammad Ali. One cannot speak of his boxing career

Travis Puterbaughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00133930275459952526noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1336079803432481124.post-66680962840287088662009-12-07T10:22:00.002-05:002009-12-07T10:25:00.229-05:00

On December 5, 1969, Tampa Stadium served as the site for a district battle between two unbeaten teams each seeking their first state title.Clearwater (10-0) hoped to return to the state Class AA finals for the first time since 1964. Brandon (8-0-2) sported the best record in its relatively short history and were on unfamiliar ground. At stake in this contest, a trip to the state semifinals.The

Travis Puterbaughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00133930275459952526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1336079803432481124.post-21357989594091009222009-11-30T09:55:00.002-05:002009-11-30T10:06:28.556-05:00

This season, the NFL has celebrated the 50th anniversary of its one-time rival, the American Football League, by allowing former AFL teams to wear their original uniforms. This year also marks the 40th anniversary of the league's final season before merging with the NFL in 1970.During that final season in 1969, Tampa played a small part in the league's final days. Having previously hosted three

Travis Puterbaughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00133930275459952526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1336079803432481124.post-67632940245373005702009-11-23T10:09:00.002-05:002009-11-23T14:18:36.128-05:00

Before defeating the Green Bay Packers two weekends ago, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers seemed destined to endure the indignity of another winless season.It would have been the second time the franchise failed to win a game during the course of a season, the first of course coming in 1976 -- the team's inaugural campaign -- when the Buccaneers went 0-14.That miserable season was not the first time,

Travis Puterbaughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00133930275459952526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1336079803432481124.post-32597905260464704232009-11-16T09:43:00.000-05:002009-11-16T09:44:50.613-05:00

The 1974 baseball season served as a coming out party for Tampa native Steve Garvey. Following his major league debut with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1969 as a 20-year-old, Garvey showed steady improvement each season until he finally emerged as an elite player in the majors.On Nov. 12, 1974, Garvey earned one of the game's highest honors, beating out Lou Brock by 37 points to earn National

Travis Puterbaughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00133930275459952526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1336079803432481124.post-25891177348765679992009-11-09T08:36:00.002-05:002009-11-09T08:53:33.349-05:00

A pair of undefeated teams battling it out for a Class 4-A district championship made for a dream matchup. The differences between the two teams made for a sportswriter's dream. The headline on the Nov. 7, 1979, front page of the Tampa Tribune sports section simply read: "The Game: It's the Country Boys vs. the City Slickers.""Out here in Plant City, we're kind of the country folk," says former

Travis Puterbaughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00133930275459952526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1336079803432481124.post-30916853165559060692009-11-02T16:20:00.002-05:002011-07-22T15:52:37.796-04:00

When he announced his retirement from the Tampa Bay Lightning in 1999, Brian Bradley ranked as the most prolific offensive player in team history. His 300 points in a Lightning sweater – 111 goals, 189 assists – highlighted a career that began in the 1985-86 season with the Calgary Flames. In 1992, the Lightning selected Bradley from the Toronto Maple Leafs in the NHL Expansion Draft. During the

Travis Puterbaughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00133930275459952526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1336079803432481124.post-85829821118075779612009-10-26T13:13:00.002-04:002011-07-22T15:51:50.933-04:00

When he announced his retirement from the Tampa Bay Lightning in 1999, Brian Bradley ranked as the most prolific offensive player in team history. His 300 points in a Lightning sweater – 111 goals, 189 assists – highlighted a career that began in the 1985-86 season with the Calgary Flames. In 1992, the Lightning selected Bradley from the Toronto Maple Leafs in the NHL Expansion Draft. During the

Travis Puterbaughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00133930275459952526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1336079803432481124.post-13473838393631364982009-10-19T10:25:00.001-04:002009-10-19T10:27:57.260-04:00

On the morning of October 14, 1984, Michelle Torres fought off the nerves one might feel going into a tournament final. Instead of being anxious, Torres felt relaxed and confident of her chances in the championship of the Florida Federal Tennis Open in Tarpon Springs. “There was no pressure,” she recalls. “I felt like I was out there having fun and trying to do my best.”At just 17 years old and

Travis Puterbaughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00133930275459952526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1336079803432481124.post-23161000090439284002009-10-12T12:56:00.001-04:002011-07-22T16:24:47.011-04:00

Ever since the University of South Florida began playing football in 1997, local fans have become accustomed to having the Bulls and Tampa Bay Buccaneers play home games on the same weekend. See the Bulls on Saturday, go see the Bucs on Sunday and have a nice football doubleheader.On a warm fall Saturday 40 years ago, football fans experienced something even better than two games in two days.

Travis Puterbaughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00133930275459952526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1336079803432481124.post-53424670347241388792009-10-05T10:53:00.001-04:002009-10-05T10:55:29.656-04:00

On Nov. 8, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will debut their Ring of Honor during halftime against the Green Bay Packers. Lee Roy Selmon, the team's only player in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, will be the first inductee.The Ring of Honor -- not to be confused with the previous Tampa Stadium Krewe of Honor featuring Selmon, Ricky Bell, Doug Williams and John McKay -- will feature just one inductee per

Travis Puterbaughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00133930275459952526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1336079803432481124.post-65007814986205248142009-09-28T10:09:00.002-04:002009-09-28T10:15:58.671-04:00

Heading into a September 28, 1974, showdown against the Miami Hurricanes, University of Tampa quarterback Freddie Solomon had every reason to exude confidence.In a 28-25 loss to San Diego State the previous weekend, the senior rushed for 185 yards on 22 carries, including an 81-yard touchdown run. Veteran San Diego sports scribe Jack Murphy called him “an outstanding back,” while Aztecs head

Travis Puterbaughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00133930275459952526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1336079803432481124.post-62051249135260257962009-09-21T14:27:00.004-04:002009-09-21T14:34:39.974-04:00

While detractors of the University of Florida like to claim the Gators never play non-conference teams on the road, nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, 35 years ago the Gators packed their bags to play a road game against the University of Maryland ... in Tampa.Yes, on Sept. 21, 1974, the Terrapins and Gators squared off at Tampa Stadium in a contest that served as a University of

Travis Puterbaughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00133930275459952526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1336079803432481124.post-48165029390085414772009-09-14T09:30:00.001-04:002011-07-22T15:50:32.732-04:00

Try and imagine an alternate world in which former Buccaneers LB Derrick Brooks -- rather than being released by the team following the 2008 season -- instead decided to retire. The Buccaneers, in a show of respect and gratitude for his 13 years of service, then would announce they would host a game at Raymond James Stadium in his honor.The Green Bay Packers, a team tormented by Brooks over the

Travis Puterbaughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00133930275459952526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1336079803432481124.post-11874122356584781432009-09-07T11:10:00.001-04:002009-09-08T11:12:17.130-04:00

The Florida Gators and Miami Hurricanes once enjoyed a rich tradition of gridiron competition against each other. Until 1988, the schools met every year beginning in 1938, with the lone exception of 1943, when Florida did not field a team. While the Gators had a history of playing games in Tampa dating back to 1912, their meeting on Sept. 1, 1984, would be the only time these two teams would

Travis Puterbaughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00133930275459952526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1336079803432481124.post-51410097325896060012009-08-31T08:49:00.002-04:002009-08-31T08:51:24.000-04:00

Farrukh Quraishi, an original member of the Tampa Bay Rowdies, is one of Tampa’s best ambassadors for the sport of soccer. Quraishi played for the Rowdies from 1974-1980, served as the first president and general manager of the Tampa Bay Mutiny from 1995-96, and was the Venue Executive Director for World Cup USA ’94 in Orlando. He made news earlier this month for his efforts in trying to land

Travis Puterbaughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00133930275459952526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1336079803432481124.post-67230470531717862912009-08-24T11:41:00.002-04:002009-08-24T11:45:32.154-04:00

The summer of 1969 continues to loom large in the public imagination. The summer singer Bryan Adams proclaimed were “the best days” of his life featured events of global and regional importance. The Moon landing and Chappaquiddick stand out to some, but ask anyone from West Tampa what they remember about that summer and one thing comes to mind: baseball.The West Tampa Little League All-Stars, led

Travis Puterbaughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00133930275459952526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1336079803432481124.post-38463889496703687192009-08-17T17:03:00.003-04:002009-08-17T17:07:28.488-04:00

On August 9, 1974, President Richard Nixon left the White House in disgrace, resigning from his office rather than facing certain impeachment by Congress. Vice President Gerald R. Ford took the oath of office at noon and declared shortly thereafter that “our long national nightmare is over.”Some 900 miles to the south, Bill Marcum found himself in a nightmare from which neither Ford or anyone

Travis Puterbaughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00133930275459952526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1336079803432481124.post-59485615682856817202009-08-10T10:45:00.002-04:002009-09-09T21:09:00.230-04:00

On August 2, 1979, the baseball world mourned the loss of New York Yankee catcher Thurman Munson, who died in a plane crash outside Canton, Ohio. Overshadowed by the baseball tragedy was the ascension of a son of West Tampa to the pinnacle of his profession in the same sport.Tony La Russa, who got his start at Cuscaden Park and made a name for himself at Jefferson High School, became manager of

Travis Puterbaughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00133930275459952526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1336079803432481124.post-75412509402774521132009-08-03T10:31:00.004-04:002009-09-09T21:09:16.260-04:00

On July 30, 1979, the face of the Tampa Bay Rowdies decided it was time to walk away. Rodney Marsh – to this day one of the most memorable personalities this area has ever seen -- announced his retirement effective at the end of the season.The 34-year-old had just come off a two-goal performance on July 28, a 5-2 victory over Detroit at Tampa Stadium. He chose the team’s weekly Monday afternoon

Travis Puterbaughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00133930275459952526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1336079803432481124.post-72372022994847520602009-07-27T09:59:00.001-04:002009-07-28T10:01:32.820-04:00

This image, taken by local photographer Sandy Gandy, captures A.J. Goodyear’s grand-prize-winning tarpon in the 16th Annual Tampa Tarpon and Salt Water Gamefish Tournament. Goodyear, not seen in this photograph, is accompanied on the boat Dixie Ann by guides Billy Powell, boat captain Ken Carruthers, and friend George Bayette. Goodyear also won the grand prize two years earlier in 1961.The

Travis Puterbaughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00133930275459952526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1336079803432481124.post-36783655878530245842009-07-20T08:50:00.001-04:002009-07-20T08:52:28.489-04:00

On January 22, 1984, Tampa Stadium hosted Super Bowl XVIII and, for one evening, became the center of the sporting universe. Less than six months later on July 15, 1984, the stadium would play host to another league’s championship game on a significantly smaller stage.The United States Football League, nearing the end of its second season, chose to play their championship game in Tampa over other

Travis Puterbaughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00133930275459952526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1336079803432481124.post-32507562221909805442009-07-13T10:03:00.003-04:002009-07-15T10:05:57.830-04:00

Carlos Tosca, currently a bench coach with the Florida Marlins, epitomizes the American dream. A native of Cuba, Tosca graduated from Brandon High and played baseball for both Florida College and the University of South Florida. He served as a pitching coach at King High in Tampa before starting a career that would include over 900 wins as a minor league manager and two-plus seasons as manager of

Travis Puterbaughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00133930275459952526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1336079803432481124.post-25681960255955547252009-07-06T17:10:00.000-04:002009-07-09T17:12:57.639-04:00

Carlos Tosca, currently a bench coach with the Florida Marlins, epitomizes the American dream. A native of Cuba, Tosca graduated from Brandon High and played baseball for both Florida College and the University of South Florida. He served as a pitching coach at King High in Tampa before starting a career that would include over 900 wins as a minor league manager and two-plus seasons as manager of

Travis Puterbaughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00133930275459952526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1336079803432481124.post-69710502016846934382009-06-29T10:22:00.003-04:002009-06-29T10:25:45.802-04:00

Near the midway point of the 1979 season, the Tampa Bay Rowdies had every reason to become complacent. The Rowdies, winners of four straight and nine in a row at home, sat atop the NASL's American Conference with 109 points and a league-best 13-4 record.Yet despite the presence of a British film crew in town to document a portion of their season, the Rowdies made a move unprecedented in their

Travis Puterbaughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00133930275459952526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1336079803432481124.post-52776967062872598702009-06-22T08:31:00.001-04:002009-06-22T08:33:33.319-04:00

In April 1974, the Tampa Bay area rejoiced over the news that its first professional sports franchise -- a National Football League team -- would start play in time for the 1976 season. Just two months later, however, the news broke that another professional sport would actually arrive before football. On June 19, 1974, the National American Soccer League (NASL) announced that it would expand to

Travis Puterbaughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00133930275459952526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1336079803432481124.post-18992219477339713592009-06-15T09:04:00.001-04:002009-06-16T09:06:13.799-04:00

On June 12, 1969, the University of South Florida took an important step towards becoming a major athletic power. University President John S. Allen announced that the school would play intercollegiate men's basketball in time for the 1970-71 season, pending approval by the State Board of Regents.The USF athletic committee had submitted their request for Allen's approval on March 11. After

Travis Puterbaughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00133930275459952526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1336079803432481124.post-90540875026782054602009-06-08T09:01:00.000-04:002009-06-16T09:03:07.509-04:00

As the calendar turned from May to June in 1984, the song "Let's Hear It for the Boy" from the Footloose soundtrack reigned at the top of the charts for the second week in a row.Tampa Bay Buccaneer fans, disheartened by a 2-14 season in 1983, were finally given reason to say "let's hear it for the Bucs" on June 5. That afternoon in the National Football League's supplemental draft, Tampa Bay

Travis Puterbaughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00133930275459952526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1336079803432481124.post-30900252021167910552009-06-01T08:55:00.000-04:002009-06-16T08:59:32.180-04:00

Steve Henderson, a veteran of 12 major league seasons with the New York Mets, Chicago Cubs, Seattle Mariners, Oakland A's and Houston Astros, is one of the longest-tenured members of the Tampa Bay Rays organization. Currently in his fourth consecutive season as the Rays hitting coach (a position he also held in 1998), Henderson served as the team's minor league hitting coordinator from 1999-2005.

Travis Puterbaughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00133930275459952526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1336079803432481124.post-77556350950688374822009-05-25T15:56:00.000-04:002009-05-25T15:57:09.314-04:00

On May 23, 1969, Muhammed Ali announced that he would retire from boxing forever because the sport ran counter to his religious convictions. The previous evening in Tampa, one phase of another boxer's life concluded for real: the amateur career of boxer George Foreman. After a three month absence, boxing returned to the Fort Homer Hesterly Armory with the Olympic heavyweight champion highlighting

Travis Puterbaughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00133930275459952526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1336079803432481124.post-82525550395737497462009-05-18T15:53:00.001-04:002009-05-25T15:55:19.518-04:00

On May 14, 1984, former Buccaneer quarterback Doug Williams returned to Tampa Stadium as a member of the USFL's Oklahoma Outlaws. The game against the Tampa Bandits should have been an occasion for local football fans to offer one last salute to the man who led the Buccaneers to three playoff berths in four seasons. If only life were that simple.Instead of a hero's welcome, Williams returned to

Travis Puterbaughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00133930275459952526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1336079803432481124.post-64012301698310859732009-05-11T15:59:00.001-04:002009-05-25T16:01:23.544-04:00

Joe Benito, left, and Charlie Cuellar, right, were two integral players for the Tampa Smokers baseball team in the 1940s and 1950s. Benito, an Ybor City native and a veteran of the Inter-Social League in Tampa, had numerous stints with the Smokers. A fan-favorite and the ultimate utility player, Benito was usually signed when a player of any position suffered an injury. He also put in time with

Travis Puterbaughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00133930275459952526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1336079803432481124.post-71831323277960670542009-05-04T15:48:00.000-04:002010-05-03T16:42:18.695-04:00

On paper, the April 28, 1984, showdown between the Tampa Bay Bandits and Washington Federals seemed like a sure mismatch. The Federals, one of the worst teams in the USFL at 1-8, came to town for a Saturday night ESPN tilt against the surging Bandits, winners of three straight. While the 6-3 Bandits were jockeying for playoff position in the competitive Southern Division, the Federals merely

Travis Puterbaughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00133930275459952526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1336079803432481124.post-80825245168300236912009-04-27T15:44:00.001-04:002011-07-22T15:48:55.658-04:00

April 24, 1974, is remembered by some as the day William “Bud” Abbott – he of the Abbott and Costello comedy duo – died at the age of 78. Here in Tampa, however, it is known as one of the red-letter dates in local history. On that date 35 years ago, this officially became a big-time sports market when the National Football League awarded its 27th franchise to the Tampa Bay area.The Drake Hotel in

Travis Puterbaughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00133930275459952526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1336079803432481124.post-78081024263988447782009-04-20T16:43:00.001-04:002010-05-03T16:45:44.631-04:00

Just a few weeks into the 1979 season, the Tampa Bay Rowdies faced a major challenge that had nothing to do with an on-field opponent. The North American Soccer League Players Association (NASLPA), only formed the previous summer, proposed a strike to commence on Friday April 13. The NASPL contended that a strike would be an appropriate response to the North American Soccer League's refusal to

Travis Puterbaughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00133930275459952526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1336079803432481124.post-1038187833677318302009-04-13T16:05:00.000-04:002010-05-03T16:12:30.201-04:00

When the University of South Florida debuted its basketball program in 1970, it had yet to find a suitable place to call home. At the time, the only venue on campus to watch basketball was a 1,500-seat gym more suitable for pick-up games and intramural competitions than spectator sports.In the beginning, the Golden Brahmans -- as the Bulls were known in those days -- played against community

Travis Puterbaughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00133930275459952526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1336079803432481124.post-35146750342568396282009-04-06T13:12:00.003-04:002011-07-22T15:47:01.117-04:00

Joseph Richard Jay, born in 1935 in Middletown, Connecticut, should be a familiar name to anyone who followed National League baseball in the 1950s and 1960s. Better known as Joey Jay, he broke into the big leagues as a 17-year-old and pitched as a member of the Milwaukee Braves from 1953-1960. A trade sent him to the Cincinnati Reds, where he enjoyed his success from 1961-1966. A 21-game

Travis Puterbaughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00133930275459952526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1336079803432481124.post-90480219630398787602009-03-30T17:24:00.003-04:002011-07-22T15:46:10.521-04:00

Joseph Richard Jay, born in 1935 in Middletown, Connecticut, should be a familiar name to anyone who followed National League baseball in the 1950s and 1960s. Better known as Joey Jay, he broke into the big leagues as a 17-year-old and pitched as a member of the Milwaukee Braves from 1953-1960. A trade sent him to the Cincinnati Reds, where he enjoyed success from 1961-1966. A 21-game winner in

Travis Puterbaughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00133930275459952526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1336079803432481124.post-55371201458605090182009-03-23T14:33:00.003-04:002009-03-24T14:35:43.936-04:00

On March 26, 1979, the front lawn of the White House provided the setting as Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin signed a historic peace treaty brokered by President Jimmy Carter. Who could have imagined, however, that the presence of Florida’s governor, Bob Graham, would spark such controversy here in the Tampa Bay area?Still, that is what happened when

Travis Puterbaughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00133930275459952526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1336079803432481124.post-12859614135373310242009-03-16T17:31:00.001-04:002009-03-16T17:32:56.238-04:00

On March 7, 1969, a local version of "March Madness" captured the attention of local sports fans. Hillsborough High School, in search of its first state title since 1959, prepared for the state Class AA Region 3 basketball tournament after completing a 21-1 regular-season mark. The Terriers, no strangers to high-stakes basketball, had swept through districts and were poised to begin an exciting

Travis Puterbaughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00133930275459952526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1336079803432481124.post-59109683128997375712009-03-09T09:00:00.000-04:002009-03-10T09:03:09.792-04:00

In their second season of existence in 1984, the Tampa Bay Bandits of the United States Football League got off to a running start. After barely missing the playoffs in 1983, the Bandits opened the next campaign with a pair of victories against the Houston Gamblers and Arizona Wranglers.The Jacksonville Bulls -- owners of a 1-1 mark -- came to Tampa Stadium on March 10, 1984, for a Saturday night

Travis Puterbaughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00133930275459952526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1336079803432481124.post-71822680878478458412009-03-02T14:40:00.001-05:002009-03-03T14:42:27.587-05:00

When tennis star Roy Emerson arrived in Tampa 45 years ago this week to compete in the Dixie International Tennis Tournament, officials in his native country of Australia were not pleased. The world’s top-ranked man, Emerson came to Tampa in defiance of the Lawn Tennis Association of Australia. The LTAA, upset about Australia’s loss to the United States in Davis Cup competition, ordered players

Travis Puterbaughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00133930275459952526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1336079803432481124.post-8628650553986402992009-02-23T11:59:00.004-05:002009-02-23T18:47:37.204-05:00

On February 21, 1964, two of the biggest stars in all of sports, Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus, came to Tampa to play 18 rounds of golf in a charity exhibition. The match, which took place at Palma Ceia Golf & Country Club, would be the first round of golf in Tampa for both players.Nicklaus, 24, arrived in Tampa coming off a 1963 season in which he won the Masters and the PGA Championship.

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