Today’s been a good day… Some good business got done, some good things are happening in life…

…And the Gruden/Allen ineptitude complex at One Buccaneer Place is history.

Check out Buc’Em for the latest blogging and discussion about the news.

Greg White of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers is now Stylez White.

Teen Wolf anyone?

Got a post-mortem season poll for the Bucs up over at Sticks of Fire regarding the team’s direction. Please head on over there to vote, kvetch and all that jazz.

The site note I have to bring up is a change to the anti-spam plugin employed here at Boltsmag. I’ve just switched to the built in anti-spam Akismet plugin for Wordpress due to a conflict inspired by Spam Karma on my other blogs. The technical mumbo jumbo shouldn’t effect many (or any) on Boltsmag but if you suddenly find your comments locked-out, please get in touch with me over the problem.

Red Tide News has been a local source for football, snark and satire regarding the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the NFL. It’s undergone lots of changes over the years (along with quite a few missing-in-action periods where the site founder goes… well, MIA) but it’s still out there on them fancy fangled intertubes. Recently re-designed (and if you’d like to check out previous designs and previous stories, use the Way Back Machine) and relaunched, the local granddaddy of blogs and sports satire mainstay remains a standard for hilarity.

Since 1999, Red Tide News has been one of many, many destinations on the Internets. Once a powerful beacon of the Tampa Bay Buccaneer hooligan scene, RTN has over the years transformed into a somewhat less-powerful beacon for sports fans in Tampa Bay, bored cubicle-workers in Tampa Bay, and confused marine biologists looking for information about the algal bloom commonly referred to as red tide.

You can read more on the About page or perhaps you can just dive in and check things out yourself. There isn’t so much right now, but that’s due to the switch over.

…but this is more fun. Especially after that mockery disguised as a sporting event.

Overdue, in fact… But I will support his removal (along with Bruce Allen) cuz I roll like that. No wait, it’s more like “because he’s let the defense rot and can’t do crap with the offense, is too endeared to a non-performing coaching staff and elder players past their prime on the O as well.”

But that’s just me. Ah well…

I moderated a discussion between Ski of Best Bucs Blog and Scott of BucStats this week concerning the Buccaneers upcoming season… Though we rambled quite a bit with the discussion and not all of that is included, you can check out part one now at Sticks of Fire…

…Part Two has now been published.

The whole thing was a ton of fun and I really wish we could have gone on for a while. Of course, giving questions and witty retorts to replies is easier than what Scott and Ski had to do in giving answers. Hats off to them.

Tommy sent me a story this afternoon about the Buccaneers having what is termed as the largest non-US flag now flying at their complex near Raymond James stadium.

My only thought on this was thus: I had no clue that the Buccaneers are going into the car business! Why else do you need an 80 foot by 50 foot flag like this? It seems like used car dealerships are the only ones who need them (as an attempt to grab attention).

Scott and Ski will both argue how much of a clunker this Buccaneer team will be termed as. But let me just say I don’t believe the team is legal under the Lemon Law to begin with. They could prove me wrong but I’m not holding out hope.

(hat tip to Tommy)

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).

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.

My good buddy Tommy Duncan at Sticks of Fire took the time Monday to break the news to me that over the weekend the Philadelphia Phillies became the first American pro sports franchise to reach 10,000 losses.

“Lets put a new poll up on Sticks of Fire asking who’s gonna’ be the next sports team to lose 10,000 games,” Tommy suggested, and include all of Tampa Bay’s pro sports teams as answers.

“That poll doesn’t make sense,” I told Tommy. “Only one local team even has an outside shot at it and it’ll take about 100 years.”

“You’re too damned serious,” Tommy retorted.

“I’m not being serious,” I told him. “I’m being logical. The Rays play 162 games in a season. The Bucs play 16. The Lightning play 82. Who do you vote for with that knowledge? Do the math.”

Now, any long time local sports aficionado can tell you that it feels like Tampa Bay teams have lost over 10,000 games already. The Bucs had 14 straight double-digit losing seasons before 1996, the Lightning had back-to-back-to-back 50 loss seasons, and the Devil Rays… are the Devil Rays. In honesty, the Bucs are 193-304-1 (.388) in the team’s 30 year history, the Lightning are 415-553-113-38 (.384) in 14 seasons, and the Devil Rays are 615-932 (.398) in 9+ seasons. For those of you with no calculator, that equals 1,223 wins and 1,789 losses (including OTL), and 39 ties.

Grudgingly, Tommy conceded the point (but I swear, I could hear him mumble “party pooper” under his breath), but his poll concept gave me an idea of my own: What is the next major feat to be accomplished in Tampa Bay sports?

The poll is currently posted on Sticks of Fire, have a look will ya?

Mentioning the Bucs kickoff-return-for-a-touchdown drought was a no-brainer to begin. The Buccaneers are oh-fer the franchise (that means the team has scored a grand total of zero (0) times on kickoff returns), making it the most renowned non-accomplishment in Tampa Bay sports.

The Rays winning their division seemed like the next choice as the team has yet to win more than 70 games in a season, let alone challenge for anything more than 4th place in Major League Baseball’s AL East.

From there it got murky. The Lightning have won the Stanley Cup, they’ve had the league MVP, they’ve had the league scoring leader… They’ve even had the most gentlemanly player in the league! What the hell could their next challenge be? Well, seeing it took the New York Rangers 54 years between Stanley Cup championships and the current longest drought in the NHL is 40 years (held by those crazy kids in Toronto, East Canucklestan) having the Lightning win the Stanley Cup a second time seemed like a good choice.

Speaking of franchises, will Tampa Bay get an NBA team before any of the aforementioned goals are reached? What about a new Major League Soccer team? Heck, there are so many feats to add to the list that we’d love to hear your suggestions in the comments.

John asked for my thoughts on the draft this weekend in regards to the Buccaneers. I didn’t have the heart to tell him that I am simply sour on the local ball team ever since they won Super Bowl XXXVII. Here’s my roundabout way of expressing that:

John: Are you another Calvin Johnson acolyte or do you actually have some thoughts on things that we need instead of want?

Tommy: When Tony Dungy & Rich McKay were running things, i knew what they would do in the draft, and if i DINT know what they would do, I had complete confidence in their abilities to get the right piece of the puzzle.

Since then is another story. I can never tell what Gruden is thinking. And even afterward, i’m scratching my head on his picks. In addition, the end result is generally just average. They haven’t done a horrible job, but haven’t had any picks pan into a WOW, either.

So….

In summary, I’m just not gonna guess anymore, and will try not to be surprised at what they do.

It’s just not easy to get excited about the team with Bruce Allen and Jon Gruden running the show – I don’t understand the way they think. I’m wondering if the rest of the Tampa Bay is starting to feel like this?

My opinion and expectations of the Buccaneers are at their lowest level since 1994… I don’t say this because of simply the flip between winning and losing seasons but I do mean overall direction of the franchise and it’s decent into mediocrity.

That being said, I’m not going to go into talking draft stuff. No sir, there are two great Buccaneer blogs that will have the bases covered for you come Saturday when the Bucs screw up make their selection.

Make sure you check out Buc’Em which has ongoing draft coverage as well as a poll about who should be the Bucs #1 pick. And if you need more and want a little more razz, snark and color — make sure you drop in on ski and his Best Bucs Blog with in depth discussion of mock drafts, in depth mocking of past drafts, etc…

And of course if you want no seriousness whatsoever and like your Satire well done concerning the Buccaneers — get toxic with the Red Tide News. It may not be up to date or up to the minute but Toe and company keep you laughing and have so for years now.

And where would I be without making a plug for FanHome’s NFL Entry Draft thread and Rumors and Draft discussion forum?

Let me dust this off for Buc fans after the latest SNAFU of the Gruden error era:

Same Old Bucs

I’m trying to get back into the swing of things, blog wise, but no promises.

There’s an interesting blame-game poll up over at Sticks of Fire about the 2006 Bucs… Ultimately where does the blame lay with how horrid Tampa Bay has become?

The first 4 answer choices are serious while the last two are just joshin’-around a bit. The Ghost of Hugh Culverhouse nor Bucco Bruce are to blame for the Bucs ills. Neither is Chris Simms spleen, if you want to go there.

So who should Tampa Bay football fans blame for this season of wither that has wrapped it’s cold dead arms around the Pirates of the Pewter Pants and dragged them down to Davy Jones locker? The Players, where the effort is half hearted or lackluster at times? Jon Gruden? Bruce Allen? Or the owners — The Glazer family?

The Glazer option feels like a cop out as the owners are ultimately in charge of everything and can be blamed for everything, while the Player option seems too direct. Players are only as good as those leading them. It’s Gruden who holds this fans ire. The loyal fan will erupt at this accusation, talking about the 2002 championship season… But ultimately what has Jon Gruden produced for the Bucs since then?

During Gruden’s tenure, he has fought for total control of operations of the Buccaneers — running out General Manager Rich McKay (in a feud ultimately sparked by a drunken triad to reporters that Gruden had over the subject of former NFL great Emmit Smith). He’s had flare ups with players and his comrade-in-arms/sycophant GM Bruce Allen has all but appeased him with regards to personnel moves. Over priced, over-the-hill players were Gruden’s preference and they have hurt the Bucs under the cap. These choices came ahead of retaining the services of safety John Lynch and others on defense. While future hall-of-famer Derrick Brooks and Ronde Barber remain on the defensive side of the ball, what once was the cornerstone of the Buccaneers — the Tampa Two — is in shambles. It should only get worse after this season with likely retirements and other personnel moves from coaches to players.

The 2002 Buccaneers were a great thrill — and the championship overdue — but sometimes I think it was the greatest mistake in Buccaneer (if not NFL) history for the Bucs to severe ties with Tony Dungy. The whole deck of cards have fallen since and discipline has been replaced with contempt. Character replaced with the Oakland Raider adage “Just win, baby.” The choice to ditch Dungy came from lack of playoff wins. How does it feel now that there is a lack of wins, period?

How the mighty have fallen.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers QB Chris Simms was taken from Raymond James Stadium by Ambulance to the hospital following Tampa Bay’s loss to the Panthers today. The Charolette Observer is reporting he is currently in critical condition.

It’s unknown what Chris’ ailment is at the moment but I am assuming heat stroke. Jon Gruden suggested dehydration and rib problems resulting from hits taken by Simms from the Carolina defense. I’ll post more information as it becomes available.

EDIT: ESPN is reporting his spleen was removed in an emergency operation.

Ski over at the Best Bucs Blog gave me an open invite to post over there (you may recall Ski posted over here while I was down and out with hand surgery during last season season).

I took him up on the offer and posted a little rant about Buc fans flavor-of-the-month attitude towards Buccaneer QB’s and their fond affection for 3rd string quarterbacks. Enjoy it — if you can.

As you guys have seen by my lack of posting, I’ve been really out of it (actually working a bit) and my focus has been off. Apologies.

There’s one thing that gets me more than anything when it comes to the Buccaneers — it’s their need to be excessive with money and then jack up ticket prices to compensate.

Oh no, I’m not harping on the Glazer’s control of Manchester United right now (though I’m unaware of what the Glazers have been doing to the Manchester faithful besides contemplating how to destroy renovate Old Trafford…

I’m talking about the Glazer’s secrecy and extravagance in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers new practice facility. The Tampa Bay Business Journal has more:

Among the more significant changes were to the Bucs’ locker room, which was originally finished in black but was replaced with wood grain when someone remarked that it looked like it belonged to the Oakland Raiders.

Executive VP Ed Glazer’s private bathroom is being outfitted with enough marble that it will ultimately cost as much as most people’s cars.

…It’s always just those little things that hamper construction, isn’t it? I mean if it’s not a gold plated low-flow toilet, it has got to be contractors offering stone other than marble to finish your bathroom…

GM Bruce Allen and Head Coach Jon Gruden also will have second-story offices with a view of the practice fields and stadium, though the best corner office in the building is actually being reserved as a conference room for hosting NFL officials and other executives.

Gruden’s office, on the building’s other corner, is configured so that even his private shower has a view of the practice fields.

OK, that last one is just disturbing. But we all know Jon — football excessive to the very core. Understandable (for him) but just a little too much for the sane.

Of course, this new headquarters/training facility is just a bit of an upgrade from the Buccaneers current/soon-to-be-former facility. Nicknamed “the Woodshed”, One Buccaneer Place was outdated the day it opened in 1976 and has been derided by players and personel for the 3 decades the team has called it home. I’ll leave the stories about that alone for now… That could take up it’s own post (or entire blog — if only the facility was going to be around much longer).

No word yet how much the Bucs plan to raise ticket prices to underwrite the extra exuberance (or how they’ll justify it this time around).

If you’re like me, you’re a general sports fan. If you’re also like me — you’ve basically let the upcoming NFL draft fall to the wayside because you’ve been focused on playoff hockey coverage.

Here’s a hat-tip to my buddy Ski over at Best Bucs Blog. He’s been running updates on the NFL’s upcoming draft with plenty thoughts and ponderings in different posts. Check it out…

The Buccaneers will be playing Dallas in one of the annual Thanksgiving Day classic games (the other is in Detroit) for the first time in team history.

Who wants to lay odds if they’ll have a Kickoff Return for a touchdown by then?

From the St. Petersburg Times

Some people call Oakland Raiders wide receiver Randy Moss a bad boy for his on-field antics. But it was Moss’s agent who was arrested on Tuesday night on charges of having crack cocaine in his St. Petersburg hotel room, police said.

Louis Dante DiTrapano and wife Teri were both arrested.

As it gets closer to the two year anniversary of the death of Ex-NFL star Pat Tillman in the mountains of Afghanistan, it would appear the Defense Department is urging a criminal investigation into Tillman’s death-by-friendly-fire.

There are certainly a plethora of things that can be brought up about this — is this ill timed? Is this a stunt or a ploy in order to take focus off the mess in Iraq? Why has it taken 2 years to investigate in full?

Eric at Off Wing has covered Tillman’s passing closely since that faithful day in April 2004… I expect updates on his current thread on the subject matter.

This will come as no shock for those who are season ticket holders for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers:

Bucs: Bucs raise ticket prices

The Buccaneers announced ticket prices for the 2006 season, raising them $1 to $6 per ticket.

Typical day at the office for the Glazer family…

I’m going to point to the Ice Block with regards to the fallout of Super Bowl XB (Xtra Botched officiating)…

I’m also going to do something I never do on Boltsmag and point to Penny-Arcade (which is a gaming/tech cartoon strip that I’ve been reading since 1998) to pay homage to those caught in the crossfire of Seattle’s first Super Bowl Berth.

Congratulations go out to the Pittsburgh Steelers and their fans who have finally returned to glory days of years past.

Also congratulations to the leagues most tenured coach on finally getting to and winning the big game…

Today is an unofficial national holiday here in the United States…

It’s the last Sunday that a majority of the male populace in this country can be excused to slip into a cro-magnon state while watching a dual-sided offensive war — one to score and one to gain control — with a weird shaped ball. The Europeans call it gridiron, the Spanish speaking populace call it futbol norte Americano… Spouses tend to call it a pain in the ass and consider it the last throes of a disease that their husbands/boyfriends have suffered from since September (or August if said husbands can even get obsessive during pre-season games… and don’t even tip me off about training camp).

It’s Super Bowl Sunday…

Now covered in marketing (prospective future blockbuster movie previews! Chic marketing campaigns! Entertainment! Overdone pre and post game broadcasts! Odd competing events!) the Super Bowl has come a long way from it’s humble beginings as the NFL/AFL Title game. The league is expecting over 1 billion viewers worldwide, ABC is bracing for the FCC, and the fans? Well the fans are about to see only their second Super Bowl in the past five years not to feature the New England Patriots.

Don’t even think to order food via delievery for or during the game tomorrow – it’ll be hours late.

It’s a tradition! It’s a holiday! It’s god-damned overdone! It’s Super Bowl Sunday! The last major milestone between New Years and Spring Training! :-p