Storm players to make charity appearance

Donatello Restaurant will celebrate its 24th anniversary in style. Storm owner Dr. Bob Nucci, Storm coach Tim Marcum and Storm player Emmanuel Akah will join Guido, Alessanda and Gino Tiozzo, and several other celebrities as the Tiozzo’s and Donatello Restaurant provide a free Thanksgiving dinner to at-risk, foster children and their families for the 22nd consecutive Thanksgiving.

This year, between 700-800 children, age 1 month to 18 years, will come from throughout the Tampa Bay area. Previous beneficiaries have come from the City of Tampa Department of Community Affairs, Florida Kinship Center, Hillsborough Kids, Church Without Walls, Building Aspiring Youth, Mac Dill Family Resource Center and other youth-related agencies.
 
In addition to a traditional sit-down meal, all children receive holiday gifts specially selected for them, considering their age and sex.  There is also holiday music, singers and Santa. Everyone volunteers their time, from the chefs to the waiters, singers and celebrities.

Great American Teach-In update ...

We mentioned recently that, as part of the Great American Teach-In, QB Brett Dietz and OL Tom Kaleita of the Storm visited Seminole Middle School. But we left out one player -- WR Tyrone Timmons. He visited McLane Middle School in Brandon.

“This is a great opportunity to reach out and not only teach kids about Arena Football, but to stress to them the importance of education,” Dietz said. “Many of the kids see sports as an opportunity in the future but you have to take care of your education to keep that opportunity available.”

Dietz and Kaleita spoke to approximately 500 students, showed highlight clips, dressed students up in shoulder pads and a helmet and talked about taking advantage of opportunities when they arrive.  Kaleita stressed to the students four keys to his success: education, dedication, relocation and having a Plan B.

Timmons covered many of the same themes.

“There are some great athletes at (McLane), but at this age they don’t comprehend the percentages of making it to the professional level,” Timmons said.  “I want to make sure they understand how important it is to not only get a degree, but to maintain their grades now so they can get into college.” 

The best overtime system? Might be the AFL's

Jim Robinson of the Storm's PR department just forwarded me an article that fans of the AFL might find interesting. It's about the use of overtime in football. In it, the writer, Tom Wilder, argues that the AFL has a much better overtime system than the ones used in the NFL or college football. (You can find the piece HERE).

He writes: "This purist-pleasing resolution is surprisingly found in one of the most modern, detached leagues of American football: the Arena Football League."

Agree? Disagree? Got a better system?

Personally, I give the edge to the format used by college football. To me, the reason is simple: It's fair. Both teams get the ball. Both have a chance to score. Both have a chance to keep the other team from scoring. And it's incredibly exciting.

Wilder does, however, make some valid points. Anyway, it's worth checking out ...

McGill and Akah to work at McDonalds for a day

To commemorate World Children’s Day in Tampa Bay, Storm linemen Tim McGill and Emmanuel Akah will appear Wednesday at the McDonald's located at 4818 S. Manhattan Ave. in Tampa. Not only will they sign autographs from 2-3 p.m., but they'll be working at the drive-thru window.

This month, participating McDonald’s across the country are celebrating World Children’s Day at McDonald’s -- an annual program since 2002 that raises funds and awareness for Ronald McDonald House Charities and other children’s causes.

Ronald McDonald House helps over 3.7 million children and families around the globe each year. “World Children’s Day is a chance for everyone to give back and help families in serious situations," Stu Brown, a McDonald’s Owner/Operator, said in a release.

Last year, McDonald’s of Tampa Bay raised over $84,000 for RMHC.

Players take part in Great American Teach-In

Storm players Brett Dietz and Tom Kaleita visited Seminole Middle School today to talk to students about their job and how they became professional football players as part of the Great American Teach-In. The Teach-In is an opportunity for students to have a new teacher from the community come to their class and talk about their respective fields. Participating individuals share with the classrooms their hobbies, professions, sports, travels, and other areas of interest.

Storm to fans: Have a ticket on us

The Storm wants to thank 2008 Storm season ticket holders. To do so, all of them are eligible to receive four complimentary Terrace Level tickets to tonight's Lightning game against the New York Islanders.

Additionally, each season ticket holder will have the opportunity to meet and greet Storm coach Tim Marcum and several Storm players prior to the game and during the first intermission at section 104. 

To receive your complimentary tickets, contact your Storm ticket representative.

Dance team auditions coming soon

If you or someone you know wants to dance for the Storm, here's your chance ...

The organization will hold preliminary auditions Oct. 26 at the St. Pete Times Forum. Registration starts at noon. The auditions will take place inside Icons restaurant on the fourth level. To get there, potential dancers must enter through the Chrysler/Jeep entrance located next to Shots on the main plaza. 

Final auditions are Oct. 30 at the Forum (7 p.m.). They are open to the public.

Interested dancers can pre-register online at www.tampabaystorm.com .

In addition to tryouts, there will be a pre-audition workshop Oct. 20 from 7-10 p.m. at the Forum. The cost of the class is $25. Applicants attending the workshop will learn dance routines and techniques, audition tips, including hair and make-up and team commitments from veteran Storm Dancers. 

Storm to host Madden ’09 Tournament

The Storm and Blockbuster (7699 49th St. N, #A, Pinellas Park) will host an EA Sports Madden ’09 Tournament on Aug. 11 prior to the midnight release of the game. Storm players and Storm Dancers will be on hand. Registration for the event starts at 5:30 p.m. and tournament play will begin at 7.

The tournament will be run on the PS3 game system. Televisions and game consoles are will be provided by Rent-A-Center. Free food and drinks are available for all participants.

For more information, contact Carrie Inman (813-301-6562) or Alison Namour (813-301-6683), or visit www.tampabaystorm.com.

A new logo for the Storm in '09? You never know

In the AFL, a team can't just change it's logo and/or colors on a whim.

There's a process.

For starters, it has to inform the league more than a year in advance it wants to switch things up. Storm owner Robert Nucci confirmed Tuesday the franchise has started the process. But, he added, that doesn't guarantee a change will be made. It only means a change is under consideration.

"There's no immediate decision to change the logos or jerseys, although we always look at logos and things," Nucci said. "Every team owner does that. We might (get a new logo). It's a good logo (now), but we may do something about it. It's one thing to look at, but it's certainly not the highest thing on the agenda."

You're the GM; what's your move?

Pretend for a moment your name is Tim Marcum and you're the coach/GM of the Storm. Your team just went 8-8 and failed to make the playoffs for only the second time in franchise history.

The goal?

To come back strong next season.

How would you make this happen? Would you keep most of the team intact? Would you tell a handful of guys to take a hike? Would you go out and find some veterans? Or would you be on the hunt for young talent?

These are the decisions Marcum faces. And they aren't easy ones.

The truth is, the Storm missed the playoffs by a whisker. Despite that, anyone who watched the team play knows it played only two or three complete games and seemed to be missing something for most of the season.

If you were Marcum, what kind of offseason moves would you make?

Storm custom bike to be unveiled

Storm owner Dr. Bob Nucci has partnered with Vinnie DeMartino and Cody Connelly of V-Force Customs to build a custom Storm chopper to help children with orthopedic needs. They will unveil the bike Saturday before the Storm's season finale at the St. Pete Times Forum against Los Angeles.

"The building of this bike is such a win-win opportunity for both the Tamps Bay Storm fans and the Shriners organization that team owner Dr.Nucci didn't hesitate to stamp his approval and have Nucci Spine institute fund the project," Storm President and COO Jim Borghesi said in a release. "Teaming up with the V-force customs Vinnie and Cody to build this one-of-a-kind bike also shows that we wanted this to be done first class all the way. Hopefully the end result is that our fans have something to be proud of and the money raised for the Shriners Hospitals."

This is the first themed bike built by DeMartino and Connelly, formerly of the TV show American Chopper. The bike, named Storm-ONE, and its tour, "Ride out the Storm," is the initial project of the Tampa Bay Storm Foundation. The foundation will tour Storm-ONE and raffle it off, with proceeds going to charity (the Shriners Hospitals for Children is the main beneficiary).

Beginning Saturday, fans can purchase raffle tickets for an opportunity to win the chopper. Tickets are $50. The Tampa Bay Storm Foundation has established a website, www.RideOutTheStorm.org, to allow fans to track the bike during its travels and to purchase raffle tickets. Information also can be found on online at www.borntoride.com.

The Tampa Bay Storm Foundation will begin the tour with an appearance immediately following the game at Andreychuk's Grille. The bike can be seen June 24 at Party Like a Rockstar, benefiting the DeBartolo Family Foundation, at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino. 

San Jose 73, Storm 70

This was one that got away.

As has been the case in practically every Storm defeat this season, turnovers were the difference Saturday night. During its 73-70 loss at San Jose, Tampa Bay had two interceptions and one fumble, and each was costly.

"We had our opportunities and didn't take advantage of them," Storm said Tim Marcum told the Times via cell phone moments after the game.

The most crucial miscue arguably was a second-quarter interception that was thrown by Storm quarterback Brett Dietz. With the Storm (7-8) leading 14-7, it recovered a fumbled San Jose kickoff return at the Sabercats 6. But with a chance to pull ahead by two scores late in the first quarter, a Dietz pass was picked off in the endzone.

"We had a chance, but gave it right back to them," Marcum said.

San Jose (10-5) scored a game-tying touchdown a few minutes later. Then things quickly got worse.

On Tampa Bay's next possession, Dietz was blindsided from behind and fumbled the ball. San Jose recovered it for a touchdown, and just like that it was 21-14 Sabercats.

From there, the Storm had to play catch-up the rest of the way. And couldn't.

Two things hurt Tampa Bay's comeback efforts.

The first: San Jose got the ball to start the second half. When it scored a touchdown on its first third-quarter possession, the Storm fell behind by 10.

The second: In the fourth, Dietz was intercepted on a play in which the Storm thought there was pass interference. Soon after the play occurred, San Jose took a 66-49 lead.

Dietz finished with a career-best 10 TD passes. Storm receiver Hank Edwards had five touchdown catches. On defense, cornerback Jeroid Johnson intercepted two San Jose passes.

"It's totally frustrating," Marcum said. "It has been an up-and-down nightmare season."

You can find the complete box HERE.

Storm to hit road early, come back late

To make sure jet lag isn't an issue when it plays at San Jose on Saturday night, the Storm will fly out of Tampa at 6:45 a.m. Friday and arrive out west at 10:57 a.m. local time. Not long after landing in San Jose, the team will have its usual meeting and walk-through practice, then pretty much call it a day. That will give the players a ton of free time before the game, which starts the next day at 7:30 on the west coast.

"It's a long time," Storm coach Tim Marcum said. "But I like the fact that you get there and you have time to get used to their time. The earlier we can get there the better."

Players kill time differently.

Quarterback Brett Dietz typically relaxes in his hotel room. Wide receiver Hank Edwards is on the other end of the spectrum. He usually gets a veteran player to show him around.

"I like to find someone who knows the area and do something local," Edwards said. "I'll walk a couple blocks to eat. Then I try to get out and about to see the city. I've never seen San Jose."

The game should end around 10:30 local time. The team will depart for home from San Francisco two hours later and arrive back in Tampa early Sunday.

Storm to host free football clinic

The Storm and MetroPCS will host a free football clinic June 21 from 9:30-11 a.m. at the St. Pete Times Forum, Tampa Bay coach Tim Marcum announced today. Boys and girls ages 7-15 are eligible to participate. The event will include various drills, instruction from members of the Storm, a question-and-answer segment and autograph session.

All attendees should wear comfortable clothing and athletic shoes.

Check-in begins 9 a.m. at the XO VIP Club entrance on the West Plaza. Sessions will begin at 9:30 on the field; the children will rotate between stations. Parents are welcome to stay and watch from the stands.  All participants will receive a MetroPCS gift bag, which includes tickets the final regular-season game that evening against Los Angeles.

Storm alters the Storm's schedule

A big-time storm that made its way through downtown Tampa on Monday afternoon has thrown a little bit of a wrench into Tampa Bay's practice schedule this week. The team's practice turf, which is located outside and just west of the St. Pete Times Forum, was soaked by the rain and can't be used at the moment. The Storm had to practice Tuesday at Progress Energy Park in St. Pete. Today, it will practice at Tropicana Field.

Storm dancer junior clinic June 21

The Storm dancers will host the 2008 Junior Dance Clinic on June 21 from noon to 4 p.m. on Bill Currie Ford Field at the St. Pete Times Forum. Junior Storm Dancers will learn different dance moves and techniques from the Storm dancers, then have the opportunity to perform during the pre-game show prior to the Storm-Los Angeles game.

The cost per participant is $55; each participant receives dance instruction, a t-shirt, autographed Storm dancer card and two tickets to the game. To register, go online to www.tampabaystorm.com and either fill out the registration form or download the registration form and mail it to: Hope C. Reep, 401 Channelside Drive, Tampa, FL 33602. Registration forms can be faxed to (813) 301-1487 or dropped off at the Premium Services Lounge at the St. Pete Times Forum.

Participants must be between the ages of 6-15. The deadline to register is June 16. After registration is received, parents will be contacted with further details. Make checks payable to Tampa Bay Arena.

For more information, contact Hope Reep at (813) 301-6877 or hreep@sptimesforum.com.

Storm presents Kid’s Night Out

The Storm, Children’s Miracle Network and SeenStamkos.com will host Kid’s Night Out on June 21 at the St. Pete Times Forum when Tampa Bay faces Los Angeles. Proceeds benefit All Children's Hospital, the Tampa Bay area’s Children’s Miracle Network hospital.

Kid’s Night Out is a special opportunity for local businesses to host children and special charities at a Storm game. There are five sponsorship levels, which range in price, that Bay Area companies can participate in to help children attend Kid’s Night Out. All five levels provide tickets to the game for underprivileged children, a Storm gift for the child and a donation to The Children’s Miracle Network. Sponsors receive Jumbotron recognition, Cannon Business Solutions Center Club tickets and/or lower level tickets to the game.

Last season, Kid’s Night Out brought in more than 4,000 Bay Area children. For more information on Kids Night Out, contact Kelvin Woodson at (813) 301-6832. Order must be received by the end of the business day June 13.

Want to be a Storm dancer?

If you've got some moves and like the idea of performing before thousands of fans, you might have what it takes to be a Storm dancer. Even though we're still in the middle of the 2008 season, the organization has started allowing those interested in dancing for the team next year to sign up for an audition mailing list. You can find that HERE. According to the Storm, auditions are typically held in the fall.

Military night out

The Storm and the Special Operations Warriors Foundation are teaming up to host Military Night Out when Tampa Bay faces Orlando on June 7 at the St. Pete Times Forum in “The War on I-4.” “The armed forces do a heck of a job of keeping us safe,” Storm coach Tim Marcum said in a release. “They put their lives on the line day in and day out. I think it is great that we can partner up with Special Operations Warrior Foundation to help give back to those who gave of themselves to keep us safe.”

Military Night Out is an opportunity for local businesses to sponsor military personnel to attend the game. There are five sponsorship levels one can participate in, ranging from $150 to $2,000. At each level, a minimum of 25 percent of the sponsorship will be donated to the Special Operations Warriors Foundation.

“The Special Operations Warrior Foundation is proud to team up with The Tampa Bay Storm,” John T. Carney, Jr., SOWF President said in a release. “Not only is Military Night Out a wonderful way to show our men and women serving in the military that the Tampa Bay community supports them and their families, but it also raises funds that will provide a college education for some very deserving children.”

--KEITH NIEBUHR