By Jim Bleyer The continuing saga of the Tampa Bay Times’ lack of ethics inveigled its way into a St. Petersburg City Council race when the paper jettisoned its equal time rule to protect its unprincipled relationship with a local political operative. That operative, Barry Edwards, is a member …
By Jim Bleyer It may be the prohibitive favorite (again) to win professional hockey’s coveted Stanley Cup but the 2019-20 edition of the Tampa Bay Lightning are set up for more failure and heartbreak when its season kicks off Thursday. Thanks to former General Manager Steve Yzerman, …
By Jim Bleyer If you are a political candidate vowing to execute the agenda of the Tampa Bay Times, you can safely count on the support of the already discredited, nearly bankrupt daily. In fact, despite any shady dealings, arrests, and the spewing of inflammatory anti-minority rhetoric, your …
By Jim Bleyer Don’t be deceived by Bill Carlson’s calm demeanor. The rookie city councilman’s passion for Tampa runs wide, deep, and beyond his avid penchant for a good cigar. Along with enthusiasm for all things Tampeño, Carlson brings to City Hall a world view, willingness to explore and …
By Jim Bleyer Jeff Vinik selling the Tampa Bay Lightning would never enter the mind of most local hockey fans but the idea is not at all far-fetched. In fact, over the next 15 months it is rated a 50-50 proposition to those paying close attention to the machinations …
By Clocker Vandalay, Contributor I have a friend, who is a fellow professional and young, relative to me. She was drawn to horse racing a couple of years ago, her interest triggered by a move from Florida to Louisville, where horse racing is considered a legitimate and interesting sport, second …
By Jim Bleyer A class action lawsuit has been filed against Tampa Bay Sports and Entertainment that could conservatively could cost the Jeff Vinik-led company $300 million. The legal action alleges TBSE, owner of the National Hockey League’s Tampa Bay Lightning, violated the Telephone Consumer Protection Act. Litigation …
By Jim Bleyer A Hillsborough transit tax activist and noted conspiracy theorist has filed an ethics complaint against Hillsborough County Commissioner Stacy White in a transparent attempt to deflect public attention from just how misguided the special interest levy is and how it was sold to a misinformed public. …
By Jim Bleyer Jeff Vinik, through Tampa Bay Sports and Entertainment LLC, owns the major interest in the Tampa Bay Times, according to corporate records obtained by Tampa Bay Beat from Bloomberg, the world’s primary distributor of financial data. It accounts for the Times’ sheer, unfettered promotion …
By Jim Bleyer To paraphrase former President Gerald Ford: “My fellow Tampanians, our long municipal nightmare is over.” That is unless potential voters were comfortable with hypocrisy, empty promises, and losing political strategies that defy comprehension. The seven candidates embraced Mom, apple pie, and transit while introducing themselves to low-income …
