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Tampa Bay Rays (official thread)
- By ScriptOhio
- Professional Baseball
- 98 Replies
Rays reach $2.3 billion deal for new stadium in Tampa with eyes on opening for 2029 season
The new ballpark will replace Tropicana Field, which has been the Rays' home stadium since their 1998 debut
www.cbssports.com
Rays reach $2.3 billion deal for new stadium in Tampa with eyes on opening for 2029 season
The new ballpark will replace Tropicana Field, which has been the Rays' home stadium since their 1998 debut
The Tampa Bay Rays have a deal in place for a new $2.3 billion stadium and surrounding development to be built in Tampa, ideally in time for the 2029 season. The agreement means that the Rays, barring the unforeseen, will remain in the Tampa-St. Petersburg area for at least decades to come.
On Friday, Hillsborough County commissioners voted by a 5-2 count to approve a package of county funding. This comes the day after the Tampa City Council voted 4-3 to approve its share of funding for the project. In all, the city of Tampa is contributing roughly $80 million in public funding, and the county of Hillsborough will contribute almost $800 million. The remaining $1.4 billion or so and any cost overruns will be privately financed. The new complex will be located near Hillsborough College's Dale Mabry campus.
Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred released a statement through the league following the county commissioners' vote on Friday.
"This is a great day for Tampa Bay Rays fans, the entire Tampa Bay region and Major League Baseball. I want to thank the Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners, the Tampa City Council and everyone who worked tirelessly to develop a plan that reflects the interests and priorities of the community while securing a state-of-the-art ballpark and a strong, long-term future for the Rays in Tampa Bay.
"I also congratulate Patrick Zalupski and his partners for their tremendous efforts to make this new ballpark a reality, and I look forward to working with them as they build on the organization's success and deepen its connection with fans throughout the region.
"This agreement represents an important investment in the future of Tampa Bay and provides a tremendous foundation for the Rays and Major League Baseball to continue thriving in this community for generations to come."
Rays CEO Ken Babby also released a statement through the club:
"The Tampa Bay Rays enthusiastically thank and applaud the Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners for making history. By virtue of its approval of a county investment in partnership with the Rays and the City of Tampa, today our entire region can celebrate the coming of a privately financed and mixed-use neighborhood, a reinvented Hillsborough College campus, and a new ballpark that secures the long-term future of Major League Baseball here in Tampa Bay.
"With deep gratitude, we commend Hillsborough County Chair Ken Hagan and his fellow elected officials for their vision and support. We are also grateful to Dr. Ken Atwater, President of Hillsborough College, who has been an inspiration throughout this journey. We all have more work ahead, but there is no question our partnership will ensure a cohesive and successful process.
"Above all, we now look forward to celebrating before breaking ground with Hillsborough County an the City of Tampa on a future that has long been doubted, but will indeed happen. By making the Forever Home a reality, the Rays are now home forever in Tampa Bay."
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OL Mason Wilhelm (Official Thread)
- By ScriptOhio
- Buckeye Football
- 29 Replies
Better Know a Buckeye: Ohio State Legacy Mason Wilhelm Rounds Out Buckeyes’ 2026 Class on Interior Offensive Line
Better Know A Buckeye is our look at every member of Ohio State’s 2026 recruiting class and how they became Buckeyes as they prepare to begin their OSU careers this fall.
The son of Matt Wilhelm, a former Buckeye linebacker who won a national championship at Ohio State in 2002, Mason Wilhelm is the final installment of this series for the 2026 class.
Depth Chart Outlook
With four starting offensive linemen back from last season and plenty of depth behind them, Wilhelm is unlikely to see significant playing time as a freshman.Having practiced at both center and guard in his first offseason at Ohio State, Wilhelm could provide valuable depth on the interior offensive line next season, when Luke Montgomery, Carson Hinzman and Austin Siereveld could all be in the NFL. His best shot of earning a starting role will likely come as an upperclassman.
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Name a Major School Where......
- By ScriptOhio
- Buckeye Basketball
- 3 Replies
Name a Major School Where...... the women's basketball coach currently makes more money than the men's basketball football coach:
UConn women's basketball coach Geno Auriemma earns an annual salary of approximately $3.54 million under his five-year contract extension, which runs through April 2029 for a total value of $18.7 million
UConn head football coach Jason Candle makes $2.515 million per year under a six-year, $15 million contract that runs through December 2031. His annual compensation consists of a $400,000 base salary and $2.115 million in supplemental income.
www.cbssports.com
Since taking over in 1985, Auriemma has led UConn to 12 national titles. His methods for getting the most out of his players might be controversial, but the results speak for themselves. This three-part series shares more about his relationship with former stars and what it really takes to become a dynasty.
Clips of Bueckers and teammate Azzi Fudd confirming their romantic relationship in the documentary went viral earlier this week, but there is a lot more worth discussing. Here are some of the major takeaways:
"That was just everything that we had been through up until that point, just the emotions of it and just everything coming together," Bueckers said. "The times where we hated each other, where we loved each other. Everything that me and coach had been through to that point, it was just embodied in that hug."
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After Bueckers' historic freshman season, she faced one of her toughest mental challenges ever when she tore her ACL in 2022. She was having panic attacks at night and couldn't help but wonder, "What if I never come back the same?" Things did not get much easier once she got back on the court.
Auriemma wanted Bueckers to be a more assertive leader and pushed her especially hard during the 2024-25 season, her last year at UConn. This created a lot of tension between them and at one point they didn't talk to each other for weeks. Bueckers said she was "just showing up to practice and existing."
"She had said to me, 'I came back for my fifth year because I thought we're gonna have things figured out and it was going to be fun,'" Fudd said. "She basically said it's the exact opposite of that."
Auriemma said the need for stronger leadership showed up even more in a game against Tennessee. The players themselves knew something had to change as even then-sophomore KK Arnold said, "Everybody's head was everywhere, kind of like not knowing where to go." The Lady Vols had not beaten UConn since 2007, but their drought was over when they bested the Huskies on Feb. 6, 2025.
"That was the hardest loss, I think, in quite some time," Auriemma said. "Bottom line is, Paige needed to change.... So I took a risk and I said, 'She is either gonna quit or she's gonna change.' So I tried to hurt her like losing hurts."
The next film session, Auriemma was tougher on Bueckers than ever before and questioned why her teammates should follow her. She said it was tough to understand it at first, but when it finally clicked, she called a players-only meeting to let her teammates know she was going to be more assertive and start holding everyone accountable.
The turning point of the season happened later that month when the Huskies blew out South Carolina 87-58 and snapped the Gamecocks' 71-home game winning streak. UConn didn't lose a single game after that and eventually beat South Carolina again in the NCAA Tournament championship game. Bueckers was able to walk away as a national champion with a whole different outlook on life.
"Coach has a very unique way of getting the best out of his players," she said. "And at times it was difficult being able to handle that burden, but to be in that moment, it all paid off on the biggest stage. I think that just completely changed my life."
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Just sayin': Interesting article, apparently he has a very unique; but very effective coaching style.
UConn women's basketball coach Geno Auriemma earns an annual salary of approximately $3.54 million under his five-year contract extension, which runs through April 2029 for a total value of $18.7 million
UConn head football coach Jason Candle makes $2.515 million per year under a six-year, $15 million contract that runs through December 2031. His annual compensation consists of a $400,000 base salary and $2.115 million in supplemental income.
Why Paige Bueckers and Geno Auriemma didn't speak for two weeks during UConn's 2025 championship run
'I tried to hurt her like losing hurts,' the UConn coach said in a revealing new documentary about the dynasty
www.cbssports.com
Why Paige Bueckers and Geno Auriemma didn't speak for two weeks during UConn's 2025 championship run
'I tried to hurt her like losing hurts,' the UConn coach said in a revealing new documentary about the dynasty
From the early days of Geno Auriemma's attempts to put UConn on the map to how much a hug from Auriemma meant to Paige Bueckers after winning a national championship, the new Apple TV documentary "The Dynasty: UConn Huskies" shares insight on the most successful program in college basketball history.Since taking over in 1985, Auriemma has led UConn to 12 national titles. His methods for getting the most out of his players might be controversial, but the results speak for themselves. This three-part series shares more about his relationship with former stars and what it really takes to become a dynasty.
Clips of Bueckers and teammate Azzi Fudd confirming their romantic relationship in the documentary went viral earlier this week, but there is a lot more worth discussing. Here are some of the major takeaways:
Auriemma and Bueckers didn't speak for weeks
The emotional hug between Auriemma and Bueckers toward the end of the 2025 national championship game only lasted a few seconds, but it meant more than we could have imagined."That was just everything that we had been through up until that point, just the emotions of it and just everything coming together," Bueckers said. "The times where we hated each other, where we loved each other. Everything that me and coach had been through to that point, it was just embodied in that hug."
Login to view embedded media
After Bueckers' historic freshman season, she faced one of her toughest mental challenges ever when she tore her ACL in 2022. She was having panic attacks at night and couldn't help but wonder, "What if I never come back the same?" Things did not get much easier once she got back on the court.
Auriemma wanted Bueckers to be a more assertive leader and pushed her especially hard during the 2024-25 season, her last year at UConn. This created a lot of tension between them and at one point they didn't talk to each other for weeks. Bueckers said she was "just showing up to practice and existing."
"She had said to me, 'I came back for my fifth year because I thought we're gonna have things figured out and it was going to be fun,'" Fudd said. "She basically said it's the exact opposite of that."
Auriemma said the need for stronger leadership showed up even more in a game against Tennessee. The players themselves knew something had to change as even then-sophomore KK Arnold said, "Everybody's head was everywhere, kind of like not knowing where to go." The Lady Vols had not beaten UConn since 2007, but their drought was over when they bested the Huskies on Feb. 6, 2025.
"That was the hardest loss, I think, in quite some time," Auriemma said. "Bottom line is, Paige needed to change.... So I took a risk and I said, 'She is either gonna quit or she's gonna change.' So I tried to hurt her like losing hurts."
The next film session, Auriemma was tougher on Bueckers than ever before and questioned why her teammates should follow her. She said it was tough to understand it at first, but when it finally clicked, she called a players-only meeting to let her teammates know she was going to be more assertive and start holding everyone accountable.
The turning point of the season happened later that month when the Huskies blew out South Carolina 87-58 and snapped the Gamecocks' 71-home game winning streak. UConn didn't lose a single game after that and eventually beat South Carolina again in the NCAA Tournament championship game. Bueckers was able to walk away as a national champion with a whole different outlook on life.
"Coach has a very unique way of getting the best out of his players," she said. "And at times it was difficult being able to handle that burden, but to be in that moment, it all paid off on the biggest stage. I think that just completely changed my life."
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.
continued
Just sayin': Interesting article, apparently he has a very unique; but very effective coaching style.
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