Hockey night in Tampa

Went to the Lightning-Panthers game tonight. Something about an all-Florida hockey rivalry strikes me as odd.

The Lightning had its way, basically. Martin St. Louis and Vinny LeCavalier padded their stats. No. 76, Evgeny Artukhin, was a 6-5, 254-pound meat cleaver on the ice. Showed some nice hands and skating to go along with that size. Hlas and I walked in just behind Jassen Cullimore, who won a Stanley Cup with the Lightning before going to the Chicago Blackhawks as a free agent and totally stinking. I can't write here what I used to call him on the Blackhawks messageboard.

It was college team night. A smattering of Hawkeyes and Gamecocks showed up. When it was announced during the second intermission that Iowa and South Carolina were in the house, there was a hint of booing. About what? Who knows. This is a pro sports town that really doesn't have time for college football teams that don't have "Florida" somewhere in their names.

Iowa defensive coordinator Norm Parker was one of the few of the Hawkeyes party who stuck it out for the 6-4 Lightning victory.

Kirk Ferentz and Steve Spurrier talk tomorrow. The Busch Gardens thing is tomorrow.

Iowa's seniors haven't won a bowl game. I'm sure they'll get a lot out of Busch Gardens.