SPORTS REPORT

Tampa Bay Lightning

Ugh! What a way to end the season. Losing to the Toronto Maple Leafs was terrible and I actually became a Florida Panther fan for two weeks! Yes, I was happy to see the boys down south defeat the Maple Leafs and at press time it looks like “The Cats” just might play for Lord Stanley’s Cup this month. In the west I like the Vegas Golden Knights and a Miami v LV series would be something I would watch. I gotta admit it’s hard to watch hockey without the Bolts participating. I’ve been spoiled by our recent success and I’m hoping the team will put in together next season and make another Cup run!

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS –

The 2023 schedule is out and the Bucs open on the road against the Minnesota Vikings. They then return to RayJay to face the Chicago Bears and the Philadelphia Eagles. Week 4 features a trip to New Orleans and they have an early bye in week #5. Other home games on the schedule feature: Detroit 10/15, Atlanta 10/22, Tennessee 11/12, Carolina 12/3, Jacksonville 12/24 (Xmas Eve) and New Orleans 12/31 (New Year’s Eve). The schedule is a little harder on the road as the Bucs play in Buffalo 10/26, in San Francisco 11/19 and in Green Bay 12/17.

We can only hope that new QB Baker Mayfield fits into the system and connects with Mike Evans & Chris Godwin down field.

Tampa Bay Rays

Tampa Bay Rays – Here we are in June and the Tampa Bay Rays are playing amazing baseball! This team surprises me every night because every game produces a different hero! Will it be Yandy Diaz, Wander Franco or Josh Lowe getting the big hit? Will “Randy Land” go crazy after Arozarena hits a home run or makes a great catch? Are Taylor Walls and Luke Raley really as good as they have been the rst two months of the season? Will the blue hair of Harold Ramirez catch on to other players?

They have had a few injury problems … especially within the pitching staff … with Springs and Rasmussen going down but hopefully the rookie Taj Bradley can step in and Tyler Glasnow can return from hi injury to be the pitcher he has been in the past for the Rays.

If you haven’t gone to a game at the Trop what are you waiting for? Attendance has been fantastic and the Rays have the best record in all of baseball! Let’s hope they can keep it going all the way to the World Series in October!

BY PAUL ALLEN - Want to see More sports editorials from Paul Allen? visit Paul Allen Sports on Facebook