Ray Perkins cut long time favorite kicker Donald Igwebuike, for Steve Christie. Well wouldn't you know, Iggy gets picked up by the Vikings. So who would get the last laugh?? You might be surprised in this one! Watch the whole last minutes of the game!
OOPS- I put a TD clip at the end of the video instead of where it belongs. And I'm supposed to be showing Matt how to do videos. right. Sure!!
I was surprised to find that the waves had eroded a good chunk of the beach since we were there last week. There is now a drop off. Where I was sitting, the drop off was almost 2 feet!!!
I have officially signed the contract with SB Nation for Buc'em and as per their advice I have updated the Community Guidelines. I want Buc'em to be a community where people can feel free to post how they feel about the 1)Bucs, 2)NFL, 3) Football, 4) Sports in general, and have a community where they can do so without feeling like they will be attacked in any way for doing so. In order to encourage more FanPosts, Weekly I will be pulling a good FanPost to the front page, and encourage users to post their photos from the game or even movies from the game in FanShots.
Please take a moment a read the NEW updated community guidelines, and enjoy Buc'em as we try to make it through this trying season!!
The Bucs are horrible. I think that is one thing we can all agree on. Surely, this is one of the worst starts to a season in franchise history, right? Well instead of resorting to unfounded hyperbole, I thought I would take a look at some of the key statistics throughout our history for just the first 3 games. Using Pro-Football-Reference, I looked at the totals, from 1976 - 2009, of the Bucs and their opponents in the following categories; Points, 1st Downs, Total Yards, Pass Yards, Rush Yards, and finally Turnovers. Comparing the for and against for each category I was able to rank the Bucs seasons for each category. Finally, I totaled the rankings for each year to get this:
(Hit the jump to see the numbers)
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The lower the score, the better the start to the season. Many here would agree that 1999 might have been the best Bucs defense of the recent era with 2000 not far behind. You will also notice that 2009 is tied for second-worst among starts to a season. Now, I wasn't alive in 1976 or 1977, but I do remember 2006 vividly. Chris Simms led us to an incredibly ugly start and yet his Bucs team averaged roughly 6 ranks higher across all categories for that season.
You may have noticed, by now, that I like Google Docs so check out the workbook HERE. You can go through and look for certain nuggets, such as the season with the best scoring differential was 2000, but that was the same year with the worst turnover differential. Interesting. For those, to lazy to click the link here are the ranks for 2009:
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Umm, not good. Remember those ranks are out of a possible 34. Now this data is only for 3 games each year, without the opposition talent-level factored in, but anyone that thinks that this season is about playoffs or winning the division is delusional. This year is about throwing all our young guns into the pool and seeing which ones swim and which ones sink.
Much as with movies, television programs and video games of the era, popular toys from the '80s are providing today's T-shirt designers with fodder for the creative process. In particular, the Rubik's Cube has emerged as a go-to motif for numerous graphic artists of a geeky or compulsive bent. Below, I've compiled a list of 5 smart shirts that feature or riff on the venerable '80s icon in one fashion or another.
5. THE CLASSIC: This officially licensed shirt from Homage Clothing speaks to the difficult challenge that a mixed-up Rubik's Cube presents. I also really dig that throwback cursive.
A private memorial service for Patrick Swayze will take place on Sunday in Los Angeles at Sony Studios, Variety reports.
The '80s icon died Sept. 14 of pancreatic cancer. He was 57.
According to Us magazine, memorial organizers ask that donations be sent to the Patrick Swayze Pancreatic Cancer Research Fund or to the Stand Up to Cancer organization.
It's not known if a public memorial will be held for Swayze in L.A. A smaller public memorial was held shortly after his death in the city of Lake Lure, N.C., where much of the 1987 movie Dirty Dancing was filmed.
[AP photo: Terry Tincher stands near a picture memorial to the late actor Patrick Swayze following a memorial service in Lake Lure, N.C.]
“What’s on your ‘bucket list?’” my friend Jane Graves asked me on Twitter the other day.
Ah, the bucket list. Things you want…
Resemblance: I gotta give this one a solid A. Different uniform but check out that 'stache.
This is former Rays outfielder Jason Tyner and this bobblehead is semi-legendary. The short version of the story is the Rays were all set to honor Tyner with a giveaway of this bobblehead in 2002, but he was sent to the minors before the night rolled around so the promotion was postponed and never re-scheduled while Tyner was a member of the organization. He has since had some success with the Minnesota Twins but very few of his Rays bobbleheads ever got their moment of glory. I wish I could tell you how I got mine but I can't. Somebody almost got in trouble for it then and could get in trouble all over again now. So, sorry.
Resemblance: Well done. B+.
In 2003, they had artists do giant bobbleheads for each major league franchise and scattered them around the city of Chicago to promote the all star game. They also did miniature versions for collectors and this is one of those. I think this is what might have happened if the Rays had been around in 1967 and commissioned the Beatles to design their uniforms.
Resemblance: I take it back. It doesn't look like anything I've ever seen. F. But I still like it.
I have a soft spot for Josh Hamilton. So sue me. I pulled for him to make it to the big leagues with the Rays and I pull for him even more now, even though this bobblehead (and a handful of baseball cards) is as close as that ever came to happening. This was actually a giveaway item done by the Durham Bulls, the Rays AAA affiliate.
Resemblance: No tats, and the ears don't really stick out the right way, but the face is dead on. A-
Of course, this is Dwight Schrute of NBC's "The Office". This bobblehead (well, not this exact one) has been featured prominently on the show. You can get them from the NBC store, in person in New York or online. Mine was a gift from a good friend who enjoys the show as much as I do.
Resemblance: C-. It looks like him but doesn't look like him, but I think that's intentional. This looks more like Dwight as a cartoon. They now make bobbleheads of almost all the characters on the show and Dwight's looks the least like the character it's supposed to represent. Rainn Wilson could probably sue somebody but I'll bet he thinks it's funny.
This is former Tampa Tarpons general manager, minor league baseball czar and all-around legend that too few people have ever heard of, Mike Moore. If you remember how minor league baseball became huge in the 1990s (and if you don't, trust me, it did), then you should take note that Mike was the president of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues during that time. Oh yeah, he was also the best man at my wedding in 1988. And I have his bobblehead on my tv set. Yeah, you're right, that is a little weird.
Resemblance: That's pretty damn good. Especially the sneakers. A+
When I worked in sports, I worked on a few events with the Gramatica Family Foundation, including PA announcing at a couple of celebrity soccer outings. One day, Martin and his brothers were in my office and they noticed the bobbleheads on the shelf. Martin, who was the placekicker for the Buccaneers at the time said, "All those bobbleheads and you don't have any kickers?" I laughed and said, "They don't make bobbleheads for kickers." I think I actually sneered when I said "kickers". One day a few weeks later, I showed up for work and this autographed Martin Gramatica bobblehead was sitting on my desk.
Resemblance: Weak. D. Hair isn't dark or curly enough and the eyes are too beady and far apart. It's a kicker though, so nobody will notice...until the game is on the line.
This is former Tampa Tarpons manager Marc Bombard, or Bombie (bom-bee). We used to sling beer at the Florida State Fair together, a gig lined up by Mike Moore (see above). Bombie introduced me to my boyhood hero Pete Rose and to my beloved barber shop in West Tampa over 20 years ago.
Resemblance: Hmm, C+. I'd grade it higher if it's lower lip was packed with 'dip' and it was swearing.
Longtime Detroit Tigers announcer Ernie Harwell was at one of Mike Veeck's marketing seminars a few years ago and I was working it as an intern. That's where I got this one and Ernie signed it: 
Ernie is one of those announcers that has been associated with his team for so long that for fans, he's actually a major part of that team's identity. Think of Harry Carey, only without having to be drunk to be entertaining. Can't visualize that? Me neither.
I like this one of Manny Sanguillen because I like catchers and wearing the shinguards in the on-deck circle is a childhood memory. Plus, I dig the retro '70s era uniform. A friend of mine who works Pirates spring training in Bradenton got me this one.
Resemblance: Not bad, not bad at all. B+. A gap in the teeth would have pushed it to an A-.
I'm a student of Negro league baseball so I love this bobblehead of Josh Gibson. Those who saw him play say he was the best player in the history of the Negro Leagues. Those who saw him and babe Ruth play say he was better than Ruth. This is another one from buddy with the Pirates connection. 
Resemblance: I'm not sure the real Gibson was that...svelte. Sure the uniforms were baggier back then but every picture I've ever seen of Gibson makes him look like a really big, hulking dude. I'll give this a C+.
This is the crown jewel of my collection. Why? Well, for one thing, it's a double wobble bobble; the head bobbles and so does the torso! But the main reason is because it is the only one of it's kind on earth. This is actually a prototype for a giveaway the Devil Rays did...but the finished product had the cap on backwards. This is the only one in the whole wide world with the cap on frontwards. And somewhere out there in the whole wide world is a former mascot who would be seriously pissed off if he knew I had this. However, that same former mascot never reimbursed me for $40 worth of Gatorade I bought when I was his official bodyguard. So we're even.
Derrion Albert, a 16-year-old honors student, was hit with a board, kicked and beaten with fists after he tried to help a friend who was also being beaten by the gang members.
There is little blood or gore on the video, so outlets ranging from the local Fox affiliate to CNN have aired the footage, sometime blurring the image so viewers can't see the details of Albert's face or body.
I'll be on National Public Radio's Tell Me More show live at about 9:20 a.m. today to discuss some natural questions: should news outlets air this video? Is there a racial component -- were news outlets more interested in the video because it showed black teens acting violently?
I think TV news outlets are addicted to compelling footage, and they would have aired this video if the kids committing the crime were green. But it didn't hurt that the incident fueled emotional conversations about poverty, race, gangs and policing to fill the voracious maw of the 24-hour cable news networks.
Here's an example of how some news outlets used the video. What do you think?
MetroI4News.com columnist Alex Santiago participates in the USFP Read Out! program for Banned Books Week*
photo credit: Tom Hagerty for Lakeland Local
* – Lakeland Local also publishes MetroI4News.com and the USFP Librarian in charge of the Read Out! event is the wife of the publisher of Lakeland Local, Chuck Welch.
Area stories at Lakeland Local or Metro I4 News for regional articles.
Originally Published as Read Out!
THE TAMPA TRIBUNE OFFERS DAILY HOME DELIVERY TO PINELLAS COUNTY READERS
Tampa, FL - The Tampa Tribune is once again offering Pinellas County readers seven-day home delivery beginning Oct. 5, 2009.“Our return to Pinellas County with full seven-day home delivery circulation emphasizes our commitment to the readers and advertisers in this market and our determination to keep our organization growing,despite the economy,” said William Barker, Vice President of Operations for The Tampa Tribune and Florida Communications Group.
The return to seven-day home delivery builds on the Tribune’s existing Sunday home delivery and single copy sales in Pinellas County. Daily home delivery will be available throughout Pinellas County.
The Southgate Publix opened after the start of the space race. Sputnik 1 had launched only the month before the center’s opening. The Publix advertising copywriters reflected the new fascination with space. Below are two space themed full page ads that ran in the Lakeland Ledger in the days leading up to the launch of “Lakeland’s largest space station.” And for fun, another that used the well-known March Hare, to promote the shopping center.
Your newest shopping satellite, SOUTHGATE SHOPPING CENTER, is surrounded by Lakeland’s largest “space station”…a parking area for over 700 cars! Rotating in their orbit of convenience are 16 stores, all designated to bring you the most pleasurable shopping you’ve ever known. This star-studded center will hold its GRAND OPENING Tuesday, November 19th — starting at 9 a.m. sharp! Set a course to be with us during this gigantic celebration…there’ll be fun for all — don’t miss it!
Perhaps our crazy, mixed-up March Hare believes he is late for his date, but you’ll still have time to plan on attending the fabulous grand opening of another sparkling new PUBLIX. There’ll be special opening surprises, gifts, and marvelous bargains for you at PUBLIX – Southgate…that’s this coming Tuesday, 9 a.m.
We’ll be back to the present later today with a few more sneak peek photos of the rebuilt Publix. (The Ledger’s Michael Wilson also has a few online.)
Area stories at Lakeland Local or Metro I4 News for regional articles.
Originally Published as Launched in its own orbit of conveniencePowered by Twitter Tools.
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So, today is my BFF’s birthday!
I still remember the day I met her. It was at the local library. At story time. The summer before we were due to go middle school. I was there with my little sister. She was there on her own. Maybe pretending she had a little sister so she could walk in to story time without shame! We awkwardly exchanged a couple of words and realised we were both the same age and would be starting the same middle school in a couple of weeks.
Now, what I most remember about meeting her that day was that she was as tall as me. I couldn’t believe it! You see, in primary school I was the tallest girl and that’s the way it had always been . . . and I thought that was they way it would always be!
Two weeks later, I started middle school and was disappointed to find out that I wasn’t in the same class as any of friends from primary school. Gutted, I showed up to my new class to discover my new BFF was in the same class, smiling and waving away at me! See, she’s shameful!
We’ve been the best of friends ever since . . . well, besides the odd falling out here or there during those school years. And, she’s been there for me through the years as my biggest cheerleader! We’ve laughed together, shared crazy hairstyles together, danced together, cried together, worried together, gossiped together, babysat together, farted together, grown old together and so the list goes on!
Though there are now thousands of miles between us, we’ve always kept in touch — which is made easier these days thanks to modern technology.
So, here’s to you! My old chum! My old mate! My bezzie! Raise your glasses with me and wish her a happy, happy birthday!
Here’s to you
Here’s to me
Best friends we’ll always be.
But if we should disagree
To Hell with you
And cheers to me!
*clink*
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