Area Youth Take the Field at Raymond James

NFL Europe Storms the Bay Area

Over the past month NFL Europe has held its training camp in the Tampa Bay area, concluding this past weekend with game condition scrimmages at the University of Tampa. More than 350 professional football players from all 32 NFL teams and more than a dozen countries are auditioning for roster spots, as this league is the ultimate platform for players to showcase their talents in hopes of one day suiting up in the NFL.

"We are extremely excited to be in Tampa," said Mike Chan, Director of NFL Europe, "The beautiful Tampa weather elevates the quality of play, which in turn allows the scouts a very good opportunity to evaluate." Teams have practiced on a daily basis at Bay area high school facilities, and have had four open-to-the-public scrimmage sessions, in which all six NFL Europe teams participated.

The NFL Europe staff has been terrific with the Tampa Bay area community, allowing Boys and Girls Clubs, along with similar organizations, opportunities to be involved with the scrimmages, and meet some of the players. Football has gained popularity in the Bay area over the past few years, and that point was compounded by the tremendous fan turnout at all four scrimmages.  

Tampa Bay Invitational Invades Tampa  

For the second consecutive year Williams College, located in Williamstown, Mass, has planned, coordinated, and carried out a phenomenal Division III baseball tournament at over half a dozen Bay area venues. Over 70 institutions, most hailing from north of the Mason-Dixon Line, took advantage of the beautiful early-spring Florida weather by participating in the Tampa Bay Invitational. Together, great weather and eager athletes made for an extremely competitive level of play. Tournament play lasted for over one month, and will culminate on April 2.

"We had an enormous interest in this year's tournament," remarked Dave Barnard, Williams head coach and tournament director, "…there was great weather, beautiful venues, and I see this tournament continuing to be a glowing success long into the future." Among the venues in play were Legends Field and the University of Tampa.

Bay Area Hosts BMX Nationals

On April 2-3, Tampa BMX proudly hosted the Gator National BMX Race, in cooperation with the National Bicycle League and the Union Cycliste Internationale. Both national and international competitors, ages 3-60, took part in the event, in levels beginner through elite. Elite racers competed for points, in an effort to improve their national and international rankings. 

In upwards of one thousand riders took to the track over the weekend, and were warmly received by the three to four thousand spectators that converged on Lake Park from all across the world. The tremendous turnout is testament to the fact that the sport of BMX (Bicycle Motocross) has steadily ascended in popularity over the past few years, and will debut as an Olympic event at the 2008 Games in Beijing, China.

 "This event had a remarkable entertainment value, as it was free," remarked Track Director Hap Hutto. "Anytime you can attract this many world-class athletes to compete at one place, its bound to turn heads. Plus, with the weather cooperating as it did, we had a picture-perfect weekend," added Hutto.