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November 21 2002
GATOR HUNTIN' IN TAMPA
By Matt Petersen
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TAMPA BAY -- Tampa’s started its season pretty swell
so far (seven game win streak), and it’s good for the
NHL because they were looking for a while like they
weren’t going to pan out. A perennial laughing stock.
But even if they go winless the rest of the way, the
Lightning boast the best building name -- the Ice
Palace.
We rather enjoyed our drive up through the Everglades.
We got out at one point and checked out the
alligators slithering around the swamps that run right
along the interstate; Alligator Alley as its known. We
got out at one point to check out a baby gator, and
Jeff in his sandals, scampered back into the van like
Speedey Gonzales after a garder snake slithered by his
feet in the grass. “A snake in the grass,” Joe bluntly
declared. Shortly after we sat in a standstill for
what seemed like an hour when a camper shell spilled
onto the onto the road. We were afraid for a minute
there that we’d miss the opening faceoff.
But we got to the joint just in time to work a couple
of pre-game interviews and take in some of the
entertainment outside of the place. We were pleasantly
surprised to find a festive gathering outside of the
building as bands were playing, there were goals to
shoot slap shots at, and it all felt like it was the
seventh game of the Stanley Cup. I queried a local
outside the arena selling programs and he said that
this behavior goes on every night. What a town!
Unfortunately, the only action for the home town fans
went on outside of the rink. The Islanders put on an
impressive showing and brought the Lightning back down
to earth. Ex-King Jason Blake had a hat trick, and
Jeff said that maybe his squad let go of the crafty
forward a little too soon.
The Ice Palace wasn’t too bad of a building, and we
had a good time even if our seats weren’t washed from
the spilled soda stains from the prior event. But
we’re not picky people here. Overall we liked our
brief moment in Tampa. It’s an amazing sports town,
and even if the home team didn’t come out with two
points, the bands were still playing outside. Next
stop Atlanta...
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as they embark on their quest to set a World Record
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