Goodbye, Lou; hello, new ownership

By DAVE SCHEIBER
Published December 27, 2005

	[Times photo: James Borchuck]
	Stuart Sternberg assumed principal ownership of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in October and has promised to reconstruct the franchise. Go to 2005 photo gallery Year in Review section
	Gametime What do you think was the biggest local sports story in 2005? Bucs back to winning ways Here comes Cadillac Williams Lightning return to ice Lou Piniella leaves Rays Rays get a new owner USF earns first bowl bid Wade Boggs inducted in Hall of Fame

It would have been one of 2005's biggest stories if all the Tampa Bay Devil Rays had done was part ways with their marquee manager.

But when a team bids farewell to Lou Piniella and gets a new owner, president, head of baseball operations and manager in quick succession, it's a blockbuster.

The shakeup and new attitude of the Rays undoubtedly meant little in Chicago, where the White Sox ended their 88-year drought and won the World Series. Or in New England, where the Patriots captured their third Super Bowl title in four seasons.

But around here, it was the story of the year.

Of course, there was plenty more than the end of the tumultuous ownership reign of Vince Naimoli and dawn of the Stuart Sternberg era.

It was a year in which the Lightning couldn't defend its Stanley Cup when the NHL lost a season to a lockout. It was also a year in which hockey solved its labor problems and returned to the ice.

The Bucs ushered in '05 by closing the door on a dismal 5-11 season. Now the Cardiac Kids are closing out the year with a possible division championship.

The Gators, led by new coach Urban Meyer, got the best of rival Florida State, but also got beat by their Ol' Ball Coach, Steve Spurrier, now a South Carolina Gamecock.

It was a year of milestones: Wade Boggs was inducted into baseball's Hall of Fame; NFL greats Jerry Rice and Emmitt Smith retired, and quarterbacks Dan Marino and Steve Young were enshrined in Canton.

There was scandal. Jose Canseco's tell-all book enflamed the national debate on steroids in baseball, while Rafael Palmiero went from Hall of Fame lock to long shot, flunking a steroids test after swearing before Congress he never used the performance-enhancers.

There were some impressive numbers: Tiger Woods' fourth Masters victory, Roger Federer's third straight Wimbledon crown, Jeff Gordon's third Daytona 500 win, new St. Petersburg resident Dan Wheldon's first Indy 500 victory, the Colts' 13-0 start.

And there was shock and sadness - the apparent suicide last week of Colts coach Tony Dungy's son James.

A new sports year, with new images, looms. But before we move on, check out the old one.

[Last modified December 27, 2005, 11:41:57]