Tampa Bay Bucs Signee Fond of Clearwater Roots

Leonard Johnson, a Clearwater native, was recently signed by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and insists he hasn't forgotten his humble beginnings.

While the world was spinning for football star Leonard Johnson in May, it wasn't dizzying enough for him to lose sight of his North Greenwood roots. Johnson, who was Largo High School's starting quarterback for four years and later a star cornerback for Iowa State, was signed by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as a free agent in early May.  "I threw a football camp down in North Greenwood and I had about 300 kids come out. I will throw another one sometime in July," Johnson said to Bucs reporters. "There was a streak of violence in the community, some murders, and we wanted to reach out to the kids in the community, so I reached out to my college teammates and friends I grew up with (to organize the camp). "The message was mostly for the …

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Threshers Get Walk Off Win Over Dunedin

Edgar Duran's walk-off home run clinched the game for the Threshers who beat the Dunedin Blue Jays 8-7 Wednesday at Bright House Field.

Hulk Hogan Buys New Home on Clearwater Beach

The wrestling superstar recently purchased a home in the Mandalay subdivision on north Clearwater Beach for more than $3.3 million.

It seems wrestling superstar Hulk Hogan has found his way back to the beach. Hogan, whose real name is Terry Bollea, owned a home on Eldorado Avenue on north Clearwater Beach for more than 20 years before recently selling it.  He also sold his lavish Belleair mansion for $6.2 million April 13, according to county records. The home was initially on the market for $25 million and served as the backdrop for the VH1 reality show Hogan Knows Best. A week after selling the French chalet, Hogan purchased a house at 1040 Eldorado Avenue on north Clearwater Beach for $3.3 million, according to Pinellas property records. The 8,820-square-foot, two-story home was built in 2009 and has a market value of more than $1.9 million, according to property …

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Should Pinellas Trade the Rays for Tampa's Cruise Business?

A county commissioner has floated an idea that could benefit both Pinellas and Hillsborough counties, according to the Tampa Bay Times: Send the Rays across the bay in return for Tampa's cruise ship business.

Here's an interesting plot twist in the ongoing conversation about where the Tampa Bay Rays' next home should be. Hillsborough County commissioner Victor Crist threw out this idea, according to the Tampa Bay Times: Send the Rays to Hillsborough County in exchange for Tampa's cruise ship business. According to the Times, the newest cruise megaships are too large to squeeze under the Sunshine Skyway bridge. Hillsborough County is trying to figure out how to accommodate them, possibly with a new terminal outside Tampa. Meanwhile, the Rays have proposed to move out of Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, where they are currently contractually obligated to play through 2027. As reported in the Times, a coalition on the issue explored moving the …

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Group Wants to Add Lacrosse As a Varsity Sport

Lacrosse is not recognized by any school, public or private, as a varsity sport in Pinellas County, despite the FHSAA hosting a high school state tournament. A group of lacrosse advocates will meet tonight in a grassroots effort to change that.

In Florida, football is king and there is no sport that comes remotely close. However, that is not stopping lacrosse enthusiasts from trying to land a foothold in the Sunshine State, and specifically in Pinellas County. The sport, which is wildly popular on the amateur level in the Mid-Atlantic states, the northeast, the Carolinas and in pockets of the Midwest, is slowly gaining ground in Florida. Small clubs have popped up throughout the Tampa Bay area, and some municipalities offer the sport. Lacrosse is also gaining some, albeit limited, interest in high schools. Recently, lacrosse was elevated on a state level from a club sport to a varsity sport by the Florida High School Athletics Association. Club sports, such as hockey, are not …

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Vote to Make Clearwater the Ultimate Fishing Town

Clearwater is in the top ten in voting for the World Fishing Network contest which looks to crown the "Ultimate Fishing Town."

The Clearwater Municipal Marina is home to the largest fleet in Florida, including plenty of comercial fisherman and charter captains. Now make Clearwater the "Ultimate Fishing Town." The World Fishing Network contest pits cities across the country in a vote that lasts through May. Vote up to four times a day. In addition to being home to the largest fishing fleet on Florida's west coast, anglers can cast by boat, shore or one of many piers including Pier 60 which is always open and goes 1,000 feet into the Gulf. According to the page to vote for Clearwater on the World Fishing Network: The Pier boasts several record-breaking catches and species include Snook, Tarpon, Pompano, Spanish Mackerel, King Mackerel, Spotted Sea Trout and …

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Tornadoes Lacrosse Team Makes Playoffs

The Clearwater High School lacrosse team clinched a playoff spot for the first time in its three year history.

The Clearwater High School lacrosse team clinched a playoff spot for the first time in its three year history. The team plays Osceola at 6:30 p.m. at Jack F. Wilson Stadium at the school, 540 S Hercules Ave. The team practices five days a week at Joe DiMaggio Sports Complex and plays two or three days a week throughout the Tampa Bay area during the regular season. 

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Jared Leone

9:08 am on Friday, April 27, 2012

Thanks for letting us know! Congratulations!   more ›