Just kidding.

Just thought that might generate some reaction.

But, you know, NASCAR does need a good villain....

Come on Dale Earnhardt Junior fans, tell me why Kyle Busch deserves to eat dirt !!!

Big Brown wins the Kentucky Derby and Eight Belles finishes second.  The lone filly in the field breaks both front ankles.  Eight Belles must be euthanized on the track.  Track veterinarians say the injuries she sustained were too severe to even attempt to move her.  They couldn't splint one leg and have her put her front weight on another.  Sadly, this is a real risk every horse race. 

How to cover this was a tough call live for the broadcasters and with the follow-up stories in sportscasts.  If this had been the winner that  broke down, there would be no question - that's the only story that matters.  But,  Big Brown won the Run for the Roses and  Eight Belles was put down.  You have to try to cover both.  We tried to no avail to find someone - an owner, trainer, jockey - associated with one of the Derby teams who's comment could put this into some perspective.  Maybe in the coming days we'll see  this conversation, but on the day of the derby perhaps there was simply too much confusion.

As sad as this is for the Eight Belles family,  winning the Kentucky Derby is one of the greatest moments ever for the Big Brown group.  A day of triumph and tragedy in the span of minutes at Churchill Downs.             

No, its not hockey this week. How about baseball! Specifically the Rays. Last nights loss in Baltimore bumped Tampa Bay out of first place in he A.L. east. Nothing long to blog on their early season because we have to remember there are still five months left in the regular season. But I did want to say how fun it is having this group of young talented players who give us an eye to the future. Hang on tight because I think the next few years are going to bring some exciting moments.

GO RAYS!!

The Bucs do draft a cornerback, he's just not the player everyone expected.  Word had it that if USF's MIke Jenkins was available at 20, the Bucs would draft him.  Instead they draft Kansas junior Aqib Talib.  Jon Gruden admits he falls in love with, imagines coaching just about every talented player he meets.  He went so far as to say "my guts are ripped out of my body right now".  Coach Gruden might have gone with offense, with a wide receiver if he was the lone decision-maker.  He says that's why he trusts general manager Bruce Allen to make this final call.  Monte Kiffin's thrilled with Talib.  The Bucs defensive guru calls this a passing league, says you can't coach speed.  Monte thinks Talib's a playmaker who has the skills, the ability and the attitude to compete for a starting job immediately.  One big question surrounds Aqib Talib's past:  3 positive tests for marijuna use at Kansas.  The Bucs must be confident the drug use really is in his past, a factor that did make him drop down most draft boards.

The Bucs follow with pick number 58 (trading down from 52 with Jacksonville).  They pick a familiar name:  Dexter Jackson.  This version's a kick returner from Appalachian State.  He made a name for himself scoring 2 touchdowns in that upset win over Michigan then landing on the cover of Sports Illustrated.        

What do you think of the Bucs draft decisions? 

WHAT A GAME!!!  After 11 innings...Rays 5 - Red Sox 4

THE RAYS ARE LEGIT!!!  Get used to it, Boston and NY fans!  It won't be long before you no longer dominate the crowd with your obnoxious cheering for the visiting team.  Pretty soon, you'll see the umpires actually making good calls in favor of the Rays...no more blown calls because they are not expecting our boys to be as good as they really are (ie. the horrible call at third when BJ Upton clearly beat the tag.  The game would've never gone into extra innings, had that knucklehead made the right call).

GO RAYS!!!  Love seeing those "World Series" type celebrations at home plate after a victory!

Ok, the Bucs have been on the clock, since Miami signed Jake Long -- the Rams really have been on the clock, since they pick behind the Fins, but the move by Miami, the early move, means teams can narrow down who is going where in the first rounds of the draft -- not that it makes it any easier for the Bucs sitting way down in the 20th slot.  But here is how I see the players falling for Jon Gruden and Bruce Allen.

First round:  (20th pick overall) Mike Jenkins CB, USF    This is a solid move by the Bucs, Ronde Barber is getting older, USF plays the same version of the Bucs defense, but Jenkins is a corner who can play one one one if needed and still work in a zone.  Plus, what Monte Kiffin likes about his is his ability to hit, make plays, he loves the physical game.  Outside shot of, (get ready to take a breath) Brian Brohm from Louisville, I know the Bucs are standing hip deep in quarterbacks, but Bruce Gradkowski is done in Tampa, Chris Simms will be shipped out, leaving two aging veterans, Jeff Garcia and Brian Griese and I am not yet convinced that Luke McCown can carry the load.(

Second Round (52nd overall)  Andre Caldwell WR, UF   I would love to see Devin Thomas in his slot, but he is long gone by now, Thomas out of Michigan State is considered the best receiver in the draft.  Jon Gruden wants speed at the receiver position,  Caldwell blistered the 40 at the combine running a 4.35...which is just smoking fast......he wants size at that positon and Caldwell brings that at 6 feet.   DeSean Jackson, just as quick, but not as big....plus, what Gruden would love to get out of the position is a return man as well and Caldwell can handle that slot.  If the Bucs don't get Caldwell here, then they grab Early Douce, he is quick, runs a pro style route, and can get good yardage after the catch.....plus, I know Doucet would be a good fit in Jon Gruden's West Coast Offense

Ok, the first day only has two rounds, because the draft starts at 3pm, when you chart it out, the Bucs will make their pick at 6:15 or 6:20pm which fits us perfectly because our news on Saturday starts at 7pm, so we will bring you Gruden's reaction and all the inside information from the war room on Saturday.....

Sunday Round 3 (82nd overall pick) Ok, here is the question, if Kevin Smith from UCF is still sitting here in the 3rd round, which is a possible outside shot, then the Bucs should take him.  If not look for them to take Chris Harrington, the DE out of Texas or Mike McGlynn, the offensive tackle from Pittsburgh

Round Four (120 overall) Geno Hayes, Outside Linebacker, Florida State, Hayes has some character issues, but the Bucs will count on Derrick Brooks to straighten Hayes out and get him ready for the pro game.

Round Five (153rd over all) Bucs stay on the defensive side and take Carlton Powell, out of Virginia Tech.

You could see it on Tiger Woods face at last weekend's Masters.  It turns out he wasn't  just looking that way because he was losing. Now we learn that Tiger was playing with the same bumb knee which has been operated on on two previous occations. Now Tiger has surgery number three on the knee. And to think,. his agent says Tiger has been  feeling pain in the knee since the middle of last year.

Now we won't see Tiger on the course for about a month. I love watching this guy play but injury is about the only thing that is going to keep Tiger from becoming the best of all time.

  The Bucs will talk to Andre Caldwell on Thursday.  The former Gator wide receiver had one of the fastest times in the drat and the early word is that Jon Gruden wants to draft a wide receiver in the first round.   Caldwell had nearly 60 catches for 761 yards and 7 touchdowns.   Gruden has been talking to receivers with speed, he has had a conversation with Desean Jackson (the wide receiver out of California) had the fastest forty time at the combine and the Bucs have also talked to Houston's Donnie Avery.  (all of these guys can fly)   Remember the Bucs only have 5 picks in the draft and on the first day there are only 2 rounds.

  Starting next week on Monday April 21st, I will start charting my mock drafts, so make sure you check back in.  Until then, check this website daily because as we get the news on pre-draft moves,  I put them here first.

The Ugly Monkey Is Off The Detroit Tigers Back!

The things that the people are doing to stop the torch relay is just wrong. Sport and politics have nothing in commen so why do they do this.

Yes, it's that time of year,again, baseball is back.  The Rays had a promising spring training, and we will cheer them on in their efforts to a winning season.

I grew up in St. Pete and am very proud of our baseball history.  The Rays are still a developing team, and they have a very loyal fanbase, even though it is modest in number.  Still, we would like to have support of the local media.

On Thursday,April 3rd, the game was rained out, but there was no mention of this in the 10 o'clock sports report. My wife and I missed the televised game report on Rays TV. We are regular Fox 13 viewers, and would appreciate having a daily report on this, a truly American pasttime. I know that the sports segment is limited in time on-air, and that a wide variety of events are going on, but please keep us informed of our Tampa Bay Rays.

Thank You.......GO RAYS!!!!!!!!

I had one of the more fun assignments I've had in a long time today. Photograper Joe Peters and I covered the renaming of Legends Field. It is now known as George M. Steinbrenner Field in honor of the "Boss."

Over the years, George Steinbrenner has been one of the more colorful characters in sports. Surely, he is one of the most demanding. Then again, how do you argue with the Yankees' success on the field?

He seems "grandfatherly" now and has essentially turned the business over to his sons. The renaming of a ballpark in Tampa has as much to do with his contributions to this community as it does his ownership of the Yankees. His philanthropy is well documented and he's never been one to seek much attention for his generosity. I hope that's a tradition his sons carry on as well.

You could tell the "Boss" was moved by today's ceremony and the crowd giving him a standing ovation was as well.

I heard the grumbling and understood the complaint:  no top seed, no 2nd seed  - not good for the opening round of the NCAA tournament at the Forum...

Well, what do you think now?  We forgot about that 12-5 seed upset trend, forgot about what makes the opening days of this tournament the best days in all of sports. 

It's the college kids -  like Drake's Adam Emmenecker, he of the 4 majors - like Western Kentucky's D.J. Magley, the freshman from Bradenton Christian.... It's these kids playing with everything they've got - win or lose.   Their pure excitement's contagious. 

Then, when you throw in a buzzer-beater like WKU's overtime win over Drake - that's when you remember all the magic of March Madness.  And we went 4-for-4 with upsets at the Forum Friday.... unbelievable! 

I don't hear anyone complaining now.  

Well we gotta a big drag meet at bradenton motor sports park on march 28 thru the 30th i wonder if you guys are gonna peace on it after all drag racers are gonna be there from all over the US hope you do

                                              hope to see fox 13 there