WTVT_Emily's Blog

It's already started.

This morning, as I'm perusing the various sports websites for more details about how my Bulls got their hearts broken last night at Rutgers, I'm reading headlines (and stories for that matter) that would make you think their world had ended. '2nd to None'. 'Bull-ied out of Jersey'. 'USF won't get second chance like the big boys'.

Did these folks miss the REST of our season?

The Bulls are 6-1. So are SEVEN OTHER top ten teams. Have they all lost to an unranked opponent? Oklahoma and Cal have. Yet somehow, some say the Bulls 6-1 run was a fluke, and they never belonged to begin with.

Yeah, that makes sense. It's only a coincidence that in 11 years, USF has gone from having no team to a nationally-ranked team with a stellar coach and a standout quarterback. It's just pure luck that George Selvie is the leading sacker in the country. When the Bulls beat two ranked opponents in Auburn and West Virginia, it was all just a matter of luck.

If you ask me, it's nice to have 'those fans' off the bandwagon.

I think if you ask true, die-hard Bulls fans, you'll find out that there's still plenty to be proud of. A three-point loss to Rutgers, in the bigger picture, isn't the end of the world. It's not a ticket back to CUSA, it's not even a ticket out of the top 25. Depending on who else falls this week (and surely someone will), USF will drop to somewhere between number 10 and number 15. They've got plenty of season left to change that, and they've got a Big East title to play for. That's nothing to be ashamed of.

Here's the point: the Bulls lost by three after missing two field goals, and dealing with a couple of questionable, crucial, arguably momentum-changing calls. No, I'm not blaming the refs... the Bulls' defense looked hot early, but they didn't bring their A-game. Grothe was pressured constantly in the second half, and he couldn't have done any more than what he did with the ball. Three points, folks. Not 30.

So, despite what you might hear and read, the Bulls are still for real, and they've got the rest of the season to prove it.

The season hasn't started yet, but Bucs fans are getting some sad news already: fan favorite Mike Alstott -- better known as the A-Train-- is being placed on the injured reserve. It seems he has re-injured his neck, which kept him off the field for much of the 2003 season.

Alstott has spent 11 years as a Buccaneer, and he has broken record after record. But the veteran fullback said Thursday that he won't be on the field this year as a player.

What do you think? Are you surprised, upset, or disappointed that Alstott's season-- and possibly his career-- is over, or do you think it's the right time for him to hang up the helmet? Tell us your thoughts, and send Mike your wishes here on our blog.

It's not a full house out there for today's morning session at Camp Disney: one notable face we haven't spotted yet is first-round draft pick Gaines Adams.  There are a few others missing as well... but some veterans got a break yesterday --- like Ronde Barber and Michael Pittman-- are back out on the field today. 

As for Chris Simms, he's out there, and he's getting some snaps.  We'll see how long that lasts. 

Check out some of the pics I've posted from the early part of this morning's session... the afternoon practice today has been cancelled.  More later...

It was a cloudy morning here at Bucs training camp on Tuesday, but the biggest cloud of all might have been the one hanging over QB Chris Simms' head on the field.  For yet another day, his reps were limited in the morning session, and that did plenty to fuel the rumors already flying about his health. 

On Monday, reports surfaced that Simms had a condition that caused him to have problems knowing the position of his arms and legs in relation to the rest of his body.  The report said this was causing Simms to have trouble throwing-- a report the Bucs have emphatically denied. 

After Tuesday's morning practice, both Simms and Gruden addressed the concerns, saying the problem is nothing more than a sore elbow.  Read more about it by clicking here, and find out the inside scoop by reading sports director Chip Carter's blog. 

It was supposed to be a day filled with practice, but the afternoon session was washed out here at Disney's Wide World of Sports when strong showers pushed through the area around 2:00.  So, the team moved things inside at the Omni at Champions' Gate for the rest of the day.   They'll hit the field bright and early tomorrow at Camp Disney at 8:30. 

There's a brand new member of the FOX 13 family to tell you about!  Weekend sports anchor and reporter Chris Field welcomed her first baby girl on Friday, June 29.  Hazel Derya was born at 3:31 a.m.  She weighed an even 8 pounds, and she's 21 inches long.  Mom and baby are doing wonderfully, despite more than 18 hours of labor.  Way to go, Chris!  

Chris and her husband already have two boys, and they're excited to have a brand new baby sister.  I've posted some pictures of the new baby here!  Congratulations, Chris!

NASCAR fans who were lucky enough to have a ticket to the Daytona 500 got what they paid for this time around.  What a finish!  Just when those Mark Martin fans were starting to celebrate, the young Kevin Harvick comes up and steals his victory.  My driver?  Carl Edwards... and he didn't do so well. 

I don't think there's any simple way of summing up the entire Daytona experience in a few short words, but I'd say was clear right from the start that the fans who go to those races are dedicated.  They don't mind the traffic, they don't mind the hundreds of thousands of other fans who are joining them at the track-- in fact, they love it.  It's part of the experience of NASCAR, and as it turns out, NASCAR loves them right back.  They make it possible for the fans to get right up close and personal, all the time.  I mean, an hour before the race, there were people laying down on the track.  That, I believe, says it all. 

All in all, the race (and the entire weekend, for that matter) are an experience I'd recommend to sports fans.  Even if you don't like, or don't know a lot about NASCAR, it's still worth it for the experience.  That said, if you're going, get a seat, because if  you expect to actually see the race from the infield, you'll be very disappointed.  TV does wonders for the sport, because it shows you things you'll never see from the stands.  But one thing you can't get on TV is the excitement that comes when those cars roar past  you at nearly 200 mph.   It's a feeling like no other!

As I said a couple of entries ago, this is my first 500 trip, and I'm totally amazed at all that goes on here.  Really, this event is more for the fans than anything I've ever seen. 

I just returned from a few hours of wandering through the infield.  I was amazed to find out that fans with a special infield pass (ironically, like the one they give members of the media) can roam around ON THE TRACK before the race.  As you'll see from the pictures I've sent back today, many of them are lounging out there as we speak.  Some of them are sitting in the infield grass just taking it all in, and others are actually waiting for their turn to sign the start/finish line with a Sharpie marker.  Again, I guess there are things you don't know until you get here. 

We're about an hour and a half away from race time, and the drivers are getting set to be introduced.  I'm expecting that will be VERY exciting.  Right now, Chip and the sports crew are out roaming around in the pits, getting interviews just before the green flag falls.  Anticipation is certainly high, and from what I saw this morning, most of these drivers can't wait to get out on that track and get another season of racing underway. 

In a few minutes, Kelly Clarkson will play for fans on the infield grass in a pre-race concert called 'Tribute to America'.  Then, country group Big & Rich will sing the national anthem.  I went to a press conference this morning with those two, and for those who aren't familiar with the group, they are quite a pair.  You'll read more about them on MyFoxTampaBay later today, but I will say they shared a very entertaining story of their first trip to Daytona a few years ago.  It was before they made it big, and they were here for a tribute concert for the late Dale Earnhardt.  They told the story of how their night ended with a trip around the track in their rented Cadillac, and at the end of their lap they were greeted by police.  Fortunately, one of the officers mistook Big Kenny for the lead singer of the Goo Goo Dolls, and they got off the hook. 

Driver introductions are underway, so enjoy the race-- on FOX 13 of course!  And remember to check back on MyFoxTampaBay in the next few days for more on the Daytona fan experience! 

The hundreds of thousands of fans that are lining I-4 and I-95 as I write this are undoubtedly busting with excitement for today's race.  Now that race day has finally arrived, the challenge they face is getting to their seat.  I speak from experience.  Horrendous doesn't begin to describe the traffic out there today, and after sitting still for two hours in Daytona after last night's Busch race, the delays will undoubtedly get to the fans eventually.

That said, it probably won't happen until the 2007 Daytona 500 champ has been crowned later on today.  Until then, it's all about a good time for the fans, who started partying bright and early this morning-- and they won't stop until well after the sun goes down.

Celebs are among those making their way to the track for today's race, too.  Actor Nicholas Cage is this year's grand marshal, and American Idol winner Kelly Clarkson will perform in the pre-race festivities.  Also, country sensations Big & Rich will sing today's national anthem, and MLB hall of famer Cal Ripkin, Jr. will drive the pace car.  Wow... that's some kind of list! 

I'll keep you posted on all today's happenings... and until then, buckle up-- it's bound to be a crazy ride on race day!

Well, the week leading up the the 500 is over, and all that's left is for the green flag to fall to officially start the NEXTEL Cup season for 2007.  As a first-time racegoer, I will say I got much more than I bargained for today at the Busch Race, and we haven't even hit the big time yet.  I'm confident Sunday will prove much crazier and more crowded than Saturday, which I didn't think was possible. 

There's so much to say about my first-ever Daytona adventure, and I will do just that in the coming days (so stay tuned), but for now, a couple of things jump out at me.  One: the amount of money spent at this event.  It's insane.  Everything costs something, and I don't mean that in a negative way.  Fans more than get what they pay for when they come to a race like this, because NASCAR does their fan experience the right way.  They put them right up close and personal with the drivers and the cars, and you can tell in a minute that when they say they value their fans, they mean it. 

But still, one of the first things I saw when I arrived at the track on Saturday morning was a load of parking signs.  Some of the lots charged $20, and some charged $50.  Yes-- $50.  For a day.  One day, not the weekend.  And there were lines to get in those lots. 

Once inside, fans had plenty of opportunities to shell out cash: merchandise, food, commemorative pictures.  You name it, and NASCAR sells it. 

Alas, there's that old saying 'you get what you pay for', and these fans really do get.  They get to see their drivers, not just in a car a half a mile down the front stretch.  They get to look inside the garages through huge glass windows while the crews put together the cars.  The only thing separating them from the pits is a chainlink fence, and for those who want a view from the air, they've created a FanDeck, where fans can climb up for a birds-eye view.  All of these things are what the fans want, and NASCAR is giving it to them. 

There's so much to see at Daytona, it can't possibly be done in one day.  And that's why its good that I still have one more day of exploring to do!  Check back on Sunday for many, many more updates from both Chip and myself, and of course don't forget to tune in to the race right here on FOX! 

P.S.  I've posted some of the many photos from today's events.  Take a look at them here in my blog!

It may not be the NEXTEL Cup series, but it's the next best thing.  The Busch Series Race is just getting underway here at Daytona, and walking around the track for the last couple of hours, all I've heard people talking about is who their favorite driver is.  There's no overwhelming favorite, but I have seen plenty of Tony Stewart and Dale Earnhardt, Jr. fans today.  Jimmie Johnson too. 

We even asked Kellie Pickler, the former American Idol contestant who just sang the national anthem before today's Busch race, who her favorite driver is.  Her answer?  She says that question is way too political for her.  So, she told us she always says her driver is Ricky Bobby.  Yep, Ricky Bobby.  Go figure. 

Another Idol, Kelly Clarkson, told us earlier in her press conference that she loves NASCAR, and her driver is Kasey Kahne.  That said, she took a ride around the track earlier today with 2006 NEXTEL Cup Champ Jimmie Johnson, and she's now a fan of the #48 team as well. 

So who's your favorite driver? 

Well, the big weekend is finally here:  we are just a little more than 24 hours away from the 2007 Daytona 500!  I'm lucky enough to be here in Daytona covering the race for our site, and I'll be bringing you all I can from behind the scenes.  I've only been here a couple of hours, and I can tell you already, there's a ton to see. 

It's my first trip to Daytona for an actual race, and those of you who've been here before know what I mean when I say this place is crazy.  CRAZY.  In fact, that doesn't begin to describe it.  Fans are everywhere, and they have been all week.  There's so much going on that I'm pretty sure there's no way to see everything in a day.  NASCAR does a fantastic job of creating an environment especially for the fans.  They have access to things I've not seen in another sport-- and as a sports producer in the past, I've been to lots of different events.  These fans are able to watch what goes on in the garages through huge glass windows in the NEXTEL Cup FanZone (more on that later), which was created just for the fan experience.  It's unbelievable. 

Anyway, so far today, the action on the track has been with the NEXTEL Cup drivers as they are out there right now for their final practice before tomorrow's race.  All the fans are gathered out around the track and up on the viewing deck watching practice.  The Busch race gets underway around 1:15. 

A little earlier, I was in the media room and Kelly Clarkson, the American Idol winner, was talking to reporters about her participation in tomorrow's pre-race festivities.  She'll be performing before the race.  She's a huge NASCAR fan, and she told us she's thrilled to be here. 

During her press conference a newspaper reporter from Daytona Beach asked her if she'd heard about Britney Spears shaving her head (which by the way, I hadn't, until that moment).  She hadn't, and actually she didn't believe the reporter-- until she pulled up a picture on her laptop to show her.  After she checked it out, a clearly shocked Clarkson said, "Well, she's still hot!"  Another reporter asked if she'd shave her head as well, and Clarkson told us all she likes her hair a little too much for that, but if that's what Britney wanted, good for her.  I'd say you can look for that little bit on 'Entertainment Tonight' later this weekend!

Right now I'm heading back out amongst  the fans to see if I can hook up with any Tampa fans.  I'll have more from DIS later, but don't forget to tune in to FOX 13 tonight at 6:30 for Chip Carter's Road to Daytona!  Chip's here, and he'll bring you the latest news leading up to tomorrow's 500. 

I'm excited to be making my first trip to the Daytona 500 this coming weekend, and I won't be alone.  Good Day's Russell Rhodes will be there on Thursday and Friday, and sports director Chip Carter will be there through Sunday for the big race.  

 We want to know if you're going!  Blog us, and tell us your plans, and you never know.... we might show up to see how you're enjoying the first race of the 2007 NEXTEL Cup season.  Be sure and tell us what days you'll be there, and where.  We'd love to find some Bay Area fans to catch up with at the track. 

 Have fun!