Good Bye Big Game James

Its not very often that this blog touches the world of sports, other than to comment on the Rays to Downtown Tampa talk, but tonight/this am that has changed.  The Rays have traded a true Ray, James Shields aka Big Game James, to the KC Royals.  This is about a close as the Bucs trading A-Train (Mike Alscott) but this one hurts a bit more.  James was a Rays from the start, we drafted him, he grew in our farm system and he was our team's rock when we needed it.  Sure, David Price got pub but Big James was the man was always there eating innings saving our teams bully.

I'm sure the folks we got in return will be good players for the Rays but none will be Big James.

Thank you James Shields, this Rays fan will miss seeing you in a Rays Uni

Charlie's a Democrat Now & Other Points

Wow, who would have guessed that Charlie, our former Gov. and man who lost to the Cuban master- Marco, would become a democrat?   Just about every person in Florida that who has half a brain.  I guess a hug from President Obama can change a man, what's next- Changing Gay people straight?  Water into Wine?  The Obama Hug has power, how else can you explain his re-election in 2012?  Now Charlie is free to take on a very bad Republican Gov. in Rick Scott, sorry Alex it would seem that Charlie is coming for your prize and I don't think you can stop him.  Charlie is Florida and he should know by now his chances outside this great state are slim, unless Dog Catcher is a Federal Position or maybe he could pull off a "talking head" gig at MSNBC....Good Luck Charlie, welcome to the world of the Democrat's- it's a party that has more sharp edges than a chain saw.

The USF Football team signed a new coach-from WKU, Willie Taggart, a former standout highschool QB from Manatee.  He's a darn fine recruiter, a look at his roster at WKU shows that, and he believes he can change USF direction.  Heck, I could as well as the bum begging for change could but Willie has the goods to do it.  He did it at WKU.   Good Luck Willie

The Bucs are on TV this weekend, a Thank you to Philly Fans and to Fox.  Fox held up the Bucs, make sure the games on TV or you don't get John Lynch.  Bucs fans if you are not at the team make sure you have a TV tuned to Fox13 Tampa, let's repay the good ol folks at Fox back with some high ratings!!

Tampa The city that sleeps

The City of Tampa is a busy place, Office workers moving to and fro.  Homeless people in the parks, they bring color to the hustle & bustle of the Tampa's core.  The Restaurants are busy, lunch time is the best.  Cabs & Buses jamming the traffic on Ashley & Kennedy, folks on bikes, hipsters really trying to be Green only add to the mess.  But as the sun begins to set the city starts to change, the Office workers head to the parking garage or open air parking lots, and make their way home. The Buses & Cabs move on the airport of S. Howard Ave for their fares.  The few bars in the City's core begin to fill up for the all important Happy Hour 4-7pm where the attorneys and movers/shakers talk about world they control. Hattricks seems to be the one place they all hang out, darn fine place at anytime but when the night comes this fine establishment become a ghost town.  Of course Hockey Games, Concerts and other Events bring some life to the Downtown area but by & large those are few and far between.
As for the Weekend, the city could be used a movie lot, no one is out, nothing is open and hardly a car can be seen.

The Mayor is on the right track by addressing the needed infrastructure to bring the city to life.  Who wants to live in a city that rolls up after 5pm each weekday and is a parking lot on the weekends. The new condos in the City's core are a start.  The Encore is a great move.  The Riverwalk is long over due.

Keep it up Mayor Bob.  One day we may get the City this area richly deserves.

The Rays/The Bucs & the Lightning

Everyone wants to be in Tampa but yet no one seems to show up when they get here.  The Bucs can't sell out a game, at least the pass few years, the Lightning had to go "all in" on a marketing blitz to somewhat fill their house...and the Rays are the Rays.  It would seem that the City of Tampa has streets paved with Gold Bricks, to the owners of Professional Sports Teams anyways, with a city & county leadership that is willing to drop its pants for stadium funding.  Hey, we did this to ourselves, afte the Bucs got wind of the Baltimore deal they held it over our collective heads and got a great deal.  A deal that is now a major issue between the County & the Team.  Before we run into the waiting arms of the Rays, think for a moment, is it worth blowing up our plans for Downtown Tampa?  How does the Lightning fit into all of this?  (For the moment leave the NHL Lockout BS out of the Convo)  Hockey has had its good moments in Tampa but overall fan interest had been less than stellar, let's be honest.  Yes, we all enjoy professional sports, it makes us proud when our team wins the big game.  But at some point you have to ask yourself is it truly worth it?

Invision Tampa

Well, now we have a plan.  Sure most of it we have all talked about for years but now its in writting.  My mother always told me once its in writting you know its true.  Or was it dont believe everything you read... either way the City of Tampa now has a plan.  Some of it may not ever come true, some of it will change with the times and efforts of the cities leaders but we have a plan that all can seek for direction. Congrat's to Mayor Buckhorn.
The Riverwalk is finally coming to be what its planners saw many years ago and if the Mayor stays the course Downtown Tampa will be what, I at least, many have hoped it could be...a Major city.  No offense to the folks in Miami but I perfer Tampa.  Now the hard park begins, getting the County and the State on board.  We aren't just talking about changing a law to let Cities decide their own taxes/taxing areas or if they are allowed to vote on possible City only taxes.  Now we need those folks to help make this vision come to life.  We need the State give us the OK to change some On-Ramps to 275.  We need to County extend a hand helping cut the red tape.
We need to believe in Tampa.

Now a good start would to have the County & City Leaders work together on the LighRail Project, thus expanding the TECO Streetcar.

Sure, this will all go out the Window if the Rays come to Downtown Tampa....But its a plan....

Tampa Parks

Bravo to Mayor Buckhorn and the late Ken Good, the New Tampa Nature Park is now open.  After all the focus on the Riverwalk, rightly so, these pass few years it is good to see a plan that started in 1986 finally become what was planned.  So far the City has "mostly" stayed the course that Mayor Pam started, make Tampa a world class city, City Parks is a great to reach that goal.  Sure there is more to do and many funding issues that could go off the tracks if that baseball team that can not be mentioned wants a Downtown Tampa Ballpark...but untill then Mayor Buckhorn has my support.

That brings up a good question, where is the county on the Gandy Bridge?  I hope that the County can find a way to reopen the park.

One question to Mayor Buckhorn, "Where are we on the "reclaimed" water project?  Sir, we supported your bid to keep that water under city control, so could you please give us a update??

Tampa

Isn't about time that the city of Tampa becomes a major hub of business? A major hub of urban life? Too many times our city leaders do a good job of putting a smiling face on that possible goal, only to turn away from it later on. Mayor Buckhorn seems to be sticking to the plan. We all know & knew that Streetcar was in bad shape once the CSX insurance bill was put on the table. The tourist train can not live with that $400,000 bill every year. Now is the time to push the transit idea, now is the time to give Tampa what it truly needs- Mass Transit!