I got sent a story last night from my friend here in Tampa. He’s a Red Sox fan and this was about a Yankees fan… So I wasn’t at all surprised when he told me “Why is this news?”

Yet this is news indeed:

Fred Slaven is convinced this makes him the victim of a hate crime. And after six years in Florida, he’s going back to New York.

Yankees – and their fans – are generally welcome there.

The opposite may be true on Blackstone Drive in Embassy Hills, where Slaven lives. About a month ago, someone stole the Yankees vanity plate from his Chevy Malibu.

Then, on Wednesday morning, he walked outside and saw his limited-edition Yankees flag, complete with the dates of all 26 world championships. It was still hanging from the pole attached to his garage. But someone had burned a black hole in its center.

Where do you draw the line on discontent towards opposing opinions, ideas, principles and in this case, teams? I’ve heard stories like this with political candidates or political ideas/principles. I’ve dealt with the teens in my neighborhood, while growing up, giving my family a hard time by stealing things from my yard and such… But getting on a guy for being a proud fan of the Yankees?

Getting on a guy in the Tampa Bay area for being a proud Yankees fan? Tampa Bay, the home to thousands (if not millions) of New York transplants and the Yankees second home?

Nothing wins over my sympathy easier than seeing someone — an opposing teams fan — getting a hard time from the local fans. I was apologizing profusely at Game Seven of the Stanley Cup in 2004 to Flames fans who were harassed by a drunken idiot sitting behind us (but those Flames fans were resolute — they hollered back “It’s just him, don’t sweat it!”). Hearing stories of car windshields smashed in outside Raymond James Stadium at Buc games always gets me — how much hate can you show an opposing team? And why, especially when your team turns out the victor?

My friend tried to justify whatever happened to Fred Slaven by saying he must have done something to piss off his neighbors… But honestly, there is nothing that can justify someone going to these lengths to harass a fan of an opposing team. Slaven likens what happened to him as a hate crime, and I’m of the same opinion. There is a line and that was crossed here. The battle is on the field, not with the fans personally.

Still a little loopy and out of it post-op. Everyone’s seen me around of course covering the uniform situation and the like the last few days, so yes I am operating back on normal parameters… Just not physically firing on all cylinders offline.

Anyway, I have to voice a concern about something that’s gone missing in the Lightning Blogosphere (or Boltosphere to paraphrase a term Tapeleg threw out last night about the Canuck fans online).

Where the hell has Lightning Hockey Central gone?!?

My focus, as a blogger, was off for most of 2006 as I concentrated more on a volunteer gig than on covering the Lightning and what not. I didn’t get back in gear until last winter and Lightning Hockey Central was one of the sites that filled the Boltosphere void in my absence. I’ll be frank that I felt a little threatened when I first learned of the place because I was used to being the pseudo-lone Bolts blogger out there (I was aware of Bolt Prospects and the LiveJournal community which isn’t so open bloggish, I wasn’t aware of Bolts Blog or Erin’s Tampa Bay Lightning blog). But then I woke up – you gotta embrace your co-patriots and varied opinions concerning your team, not feel threatened by them. It’s like Ski and Scott with Best Bucs Blog and BucStats respectively – they may not always agree but they’ve got one central thing that matters most — the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and their love for that damned franchise.

I lament for the (temporary?) loss of Lightning Hockey Central. The site hadn’t been updated since March even when it was operating but it mattered as a varying (even a more informed) voice than my own.

I also request here — through comments — that others point out other Lightning fan sites and blogs. Some I’ve been tipped off about in the past but never added to my “fan sites” blogroll due to quality issues. Others (Thunderdome News specifically) are listed where appropriate (though TDN was just moved from Message Boards to the Boltosphere as it’s taken a decidedly un-message board turn).

try Vancouver’s new duds… with Calgary unveiling this weekend:

(hat tip to Keith)

UPDATE (8-30-07): Tiny laid out this gem before me regarding the Canucks new duds:

…and what’s with that high waist stripe??? I just want to cinch it and put a big buckle on it and sell it at the Gap.

If you thought the GRAPHIC (posted originally on Canucks.com’s message forums) was biting and humorous, Tiny’s retort takes the taco!

You know, there is a sentiment of negativity around John Tortorella through the NHL… Last season, there were rumors of his imminent demise in Hockeybay for employing the same type of public-attack antics against his players as some of the gruff and tumble coaches of yore have employed.

Fast forward to IceFest yesterday and John unloaded on outgoing team CEO Tom Wilson. Only available in the St. Pete Times print edition, Tortorella blamed Wilson for putting a number of hurdles in the teams way. Torts didn’t unload on Bill Davidson but didn’t think highly of Palace Sports and Entertainment as owners. To use an adage (and this is not Tortorella’s words — I am saying this as a paraphrase), the Lightning were the red-headed step children of the Michigan entertainment empire.

You know, I haven’t read all the news concerning the Lightning sale (I had something else on my mind) but something’s tickled my curiosity the last few days… that being the Asheville Tourists. I can remember Ron Campbell talking about the Lightning franchise acquiring the minor league baseball team as an asset. That basically means the Tourists were/are owned by Palace Sports as well… But are they part of the sale of the Lightning to Absolute Hockey?

I’ve been struggling to figure out what is the name of the Typeface being employed by the Bolts in their new logo layout:

In all honesty, the closest typeface I can find to font being employed in the logo is the Star Jedi typeface — yeah, that’s the Star Wars font for all those who don’t want to click on the link. I’ve been searching a few font sites but I’m not even sure where to begin looking regarding this typeface. Some people complain how “Cartoony” the font is, some people complain how “comic book” the font is… Yet it looks like a variant of Ariel or some other standard typeface and not cartooni-ish or whimsical in the least bit (that’s coming from someone who has actually seen what font creators think “comic” or “cartoon” fonts look like).

Any leads to the appropriate typeface are appreciated.

I remarked yesterday during the buildup for the Lightning uniform unveiling that the Lightning web site did nothing to allude to the new uniform/logo unveiling. There was nothing to milk fans on (in comparison, the Washington Capitals pulled off the hype beautifully in June even if their new duds are disgusting to me). I’m assuming that’s a local mistake and not a league mistake — even though the league runs the web site now.

My gripe today is about further hype building and hype killing. $114 dollars worth of hype killing to be exact. Why is it the NFL, NBA and (arguably) MLB can offer affordable jerseys to their fans and the NHL overcharges to get their teams logos out to the masses? $114 dollars for the new Lightning dark (home) jersey? Do they believe in the product? Do they believe they will draw in new fans by offering the new product at a high price amount? Surely this is cheaper than the All-Star jerseys from Dallas last year, and this is cheaper than most CCM authentics that were on the market…

But it’s still grossly out of touch with consumers in general. Get the price down, get the product out where people can see it and you increase your brand recognition in traditional and non-traditional markets. Cater to the masses, not the die-hards…

Not exactly hockey news and a bit superficial but I can’t get past it….

Martin St. Louis and Kevin Connolly have got to be related somehow

With much thanks to Chris at NHL Tournament of Logos, I’ve been made aware of a video of the logo unveiling on YouTube:

Chris also left some comments in the other thread regarding how he feels on the new jersey:

I think the new uniforms look amazing! After 15 years in the league’s most boring sweaters, we finally have something sharp to wear on our backs! The extra splash of blue has me sold. I’m filling out the pre-order form as I write this.

My own thoughts are just left with shock and awe. I have to admit I like the white jerseys more than the black which has usually been the other way around the last few years. I’ve commented that I prefer the logo on black instead of white and yet from the video — it looks better the other way around. The crest with the text is terrible though and hard for me to swallow but other elements are brought along nicely. Some people hate the new number-on-the-front trend but I don’t mind it.

Seeing a player in full gear wearing this thing may change my perception or clarify it. But right now I’m a bit lost. **shrug** Not sold but not pushed away by it.

Update I need to taper the positive and so-so comments with something negative. Lets give Tapeleg at Jerseys and Hockey Love some time on the soapbox:

After seeing the new Tampa Bay Lightning jerseys that were unveiled today, I had one thought…

“Please, don’t let the Avalanche screw up this bad.”

I just don’t get it. Do we need a modern era of hockey jerseys? When (most) any fan of the game from the 70s would tell you that it isn’t a jersey, it’s a sweater, you have to wonder if we need something that looks like a bad science fiction outfit.

I can’t say I disagree with his point. This is the truth of most of the RBK Edge designed jerseys and new logos that have been unveiled.

We’re about a half hour before the grand unveiling of the new logo and uniform for the Lightning. I’m not in attendance at Times Palace but will do what I can to keep everyone informed as things progress.

Meanwhile, giving more credence to the alleged new digs, Chris and his NHL Tournament of Logos has a New Era ballcap with two of the allegedly new Lightning crests.

Update: For the observant, the Lightning have failed to do much updating or allusion to the new logo on their web site. Of course, the Lightning’s web site has been consistent in horridness over the years, so it shouldn’t be too surprising… Still, this is a major buzzworthy event and the lack of trying to churn that buzz a little more makes one wonder how committed the Lightning are to marketing this thing (the jersey/logo).

Update #2: Erik over at the Tribune has a large large LARGE version of the new logo posted on his blog. (Hat tip to Chad who posted this on Sun Sports). You’ll need to scroll down an extral long way to get to the image.

UPDATE #3: And here we are with the dark jersey from TBL.com:

I’d like to add the Lightning finally updated their web site. The jersey above is posted as a splash screen when you venture to TBL.com

UPDATE #4: And now you can see both white and black sweaters. Images of the players in uniform will likely be posted later but I’m getting away from the PC. Here they are for your viewing pleasure:

Also note the poll here at Boltsmag has been updated for opinions on the new sweater:

[poll=14]

UPDATE #5: Let me let Chris at the Tournament of Logos be known to have been at Times Palace and his report on the new Uniforms.

Chris has also (in comments) given us a link to a YouTube video of the unveiling. I must say that seeing the jersey’s actually be worn seems more appealing than when they are simply shown in 2D.

The Dallas Stars report that Rob DiMaio has been added to their scouting staff.

Here’s wishing nothing but the best to Rob and hopes he makes further recovery from post concussion syndrome.

A Maple Leaf championship ring was found in the waters off Clearwater Beach.

There are several omen thoughts one can draw from this: Tampa Bay has LONG been Hockeybay USA and this is proof! That, or perhaps the Maple Leaf drought (40 seasons this year) may be coming to a close. Regardless, it’s an improbable tale that has come full circle.

We’ve got a poll up over on Sticks of Fire pertaining to the local football scene in Tampa Bay. Which team will be more formidable in their respective division: The NFL’s Buccaneers or the South Florida Bulls in the Big East? Join the discussion, cast your vote.

*

I’m not fresh up on things, and I’m not sure how much I will be blogging the next several day sbut I do want to announce I’m back around. I’ve been home since Monday afternoon (and I can tell you that it wasn’t too soon to be discharged too) but haven’t been “with it” enough to post or even bring myself to read up on things such as Marty receiving an A, Gary Shelton warning Doug Maclean, etc..

As I put it when I emailed with my friend Ski from Best Bucs Blog, I’ll “try to put my head back on straight” and see about getting back into things. Much thanks goes out to friends from online in general and the local and national blogosphere — I greatly appreciate the well wishes and they helped overall.

I’ll leave you guys with this side-note: I’ve been told Lightning officials have been trying to subtly drop the notion in the media that the alleged new logo that has made it’s rounds online isn’t real. We’re a week away from finding out if this is the truth of not.

Also known as “The Cat’s away so the Mice may play” discussion. What are your thoughts on new ownership? What are your fears? What is your impression of the Palace Sports and Entertainment years?

Hope to see you all soon.

[poll=13]

With Doug MacLean stepping in as team CEO in the new ownership group, one has to wonder how soon (if they haven’t already started) the Lecavalier/Richards/St. Louis/Boyle trade rumors start up again. Though Jay Feaster remains General Manager of the Lightning, you have to wonder if Lecavalier and the rest will be held in as high a regard as Palace Sports has held the four.

If the status quo remains, I fully expect Lecavalier re-signed before he becomes an Unrestricted Free Agent.. That mega-buck contract might lead to Dan Boyle’s departure from the team… But that’s if the status-quo holds.

If MacLean starts thinking extra-long term however, or has his mind in such a place and it leads to clashes between him and Feaster…. What happens? Does the group have the money to invest in Lecavalier and the rest? Or consistently handle the minimum threshold of the Salary cap?

(personal note — I get admitted to the hospital tomorrow)

Checking email this morning from a mobile device, I had received an anonymous heads up that the Lightning were to be sold and everything announced this morning. Naturally I was skeptical because this was a totally anonymous email of course…

Of course, Palace Sports and Entertainment has talked previously about bringing in another owner to soften the financial hurt but to outright sell the team along with the lease to the St. Pete Times Forum (which has been one of the top arenas in the world under Palace Sports management)? There hasn’t even been whispers of this…

Yet it’s all over the place now — The Tampa Bay Lightning have been sold:

The Tampa Bay Lightning will host a press conference today at 11:00 a.m. in the XO VIP Club on the arena level of the St. Pete Times Forum to announce the sale of the team, the leasehold rights to the St. Pete Times Forum and adjacent properties. Thomas S. Wilson, Chairman and Governor of the Lightning, will introduce a new ownership group, Absolute Hockey Enterprises, which includes Doug MacLean, Jeff Sherrin and Oren Koules. A purchase agreement has been signed by Absolute Hockey, but the ownership transfer is subject to approval by the National Hockey League’s Board of Governors.

Oren Koules is a film and TV producer who is behind the Saw franchise as well as having his name associated with TV’s Two and a Half Men while Jeff Sherrin is a Real Estate executive from Coral Springs. One has to wonder if property rights in the Channel district associated with the Lightning/St. Pete Times Forum lease aren’t one of the factors in this ownership group.

One also has to wonder why Palace Sports is getting out entirely — not holding onto a slither of the ownership of the team in an effort to keep control of the arena? Could it be a pre-emptive move to get out of a faltering financial market? Of course it could simply be the fact the majority of the Palace Sports empire is in Michigan while the Lightning are far away from the Palace Sports epicenter.

More to come as this unfolds…

EDIT 9:17 AM: You can find nothing on Sherrin through Google search. How bad is it? This post comes up near the top of “Jeff Sherrin, Coral Springs” searches. Yikes. His company, Venture Outlet Centers, doesn’t have a web site that turns up in search results either.

EDIT 9:30 AM: Per TSN:

Sources tell TSN MacLean will be the Chairman and CEO of the Lightning while Jay Feaster will stay on as GM and John Tortorella will remain as head coach.

EDIT 10:06 AM: About an hour to go before the press conference begins, a staff meeting has just concluded at the St. Pete Times Forum with Tom Wilson explaining things to staff. It’s believed he discussed the timeline of events about being approached to sell the Lightning, and while Palace Sports has ignored and written off offers in the past, they listened this time. The team is not relocating and Palace Sports would have received a larger amount of money if they were open to the idea of selling to a relocation-minded group.

Flashes of brilliance, deft work at times and takign the Fans for a ride on a train that would never reacht he station. That’s Dmitry Afanasenkov in Tampa Bay. And now? He’s part of Moscow Dynamo after signing a deal with the Russian Elite League team. Let’s let Damian finish the summarization of the disappointment that Affy proved to be for this fan:

I always liked Affy but the guy just never could harness that incredible talent into a coherent package. I mean, he could stick handle and skate, but he just wasn’t a finisher. And when he got the chance to play with Brad Richards, he tanked. Having said that, Affy’s 11 goals last season and 21 points with Tampa Bay and the Flyers were career highs.

His nickname in latter years was Can’t-get-a-shot-off. Don’t know if that unseats Alexander Selivanov’s “Son-in-law-ov” nickname but it comes close.

Here’s wishing Dmitry the best and hoping that, one day, he shocks and awes all of us by coming together.

Personal note for Boltsmag readers and the rest of my friends in the blogosphere who occasionally check in with the site to see what I am rambling about…

Well, one of the things I dread most when I post here is bringing up anything personal as long time followers may have gotten used to by now. I tend to revolve around the Lightning and the local sports world alone. In the past I’ve only alluded to personal downtime (hand surgery which limited my typing abilities). Another medical leave of absence is upon me and it’s much more serious than I like.

I am a sufferer of what is known as Neurofibromatosis Type 2 — a rare disease that effects somewhere around 1 in 50,000 and causes benign tumors in the spine and in the head. It’s a nasty little sucker that gets the spotlight on occasion as a possible diagnosis’ for a House MD patient. Besides that there’s little or no mention of the disease in the media.

At any rate, this upcoming week I am slated to have a tumor removed from my head. There is plenty of risk involved (as it is any time they want to operate somewhere on your noggin) so I don’t know how long I will be offline nor when I’ll be back — though if all goes well I’ll be home in a week and back online sometime soon after.

I wanted to make sure to keep everyone abreast on things… It may be the off season and still long before rookie camp or training camp begins, but me disappearing unannounced again just didn’t seem like the course to take this time.

Lightning Strikes has a post challenging graphic designer fans to re-design the Lightning logo themselves. It gives a chance for fans — both local and international I would think — who want to show off their abilities to show some creativity in re-doing the Lightning logo.

Submission criteria (an email address) is on the post in question (I’m not posting it here in order to keep the spam at bay for them)

New York radio fans might be pissed off to see that 660 WFAN’s flagship sports talk show, Mike and the Mad Dog, are starting to branch out when it comes to discussing teams. “Branch Out” meaning that CBS radio is simulcasting Mike and the Mad Dog in Tampa Bay on 1010 WQKY AM and Tampa Bay teams are getting mentioned and talked about now a bit.

For more on the situation and local sports talk discussion, check out Sticks of Fire and Tommy’s post on the subject.