This week in FlaSports - September 2-9

Welcome to This week in FlaSports.  This space on the Florida Sports Foundation web site will give a weekly smattering of information about what's going on in sports in the Sunshine State.

Whether it be professional, amateur or recreational sports, and it's happening in Florida, look for it at This week in FlaSports.

Information on this page will be updated on Monday of each week.  To have your organization's events or happenings on This week in FlaSports, send an email to ngandy@flasports.com. 

Volume 1, Issue 2
September 4, 2007

 ► Beach Volleyball State Championships on Fort Lauderdale Beach
 ► Paintball for Charity
 ► Lucky Bucs fans join Glazer's for Pre-Season Game
 ► Former Panthers Player Joins Broadcast Team
 ► This Week in FlaSports Calendar of Events

Fort Lauderdale Beach to host Florida Beach Volleyball Tour State Championships

Beach Volleyball is making its way to Fort Lauderdale Beach and record crowds are expected the weekend of September 8-9 to make things even more fun.

Rest up and prepare for the best volleyball in the state.  Registration is now open and there is guaranteed money in several divisions along with great prizes.

On Saturday plays consists of four men’s and three women’s divisions and some divisions will be playing for first place cash!  The men’s and women’s AA division purse is $150 for first place and the men’s and women’s A division champions win $100 for first place

Sunday features Mens  and Women's AAA, three coed divisions and Junior Boys and Girls play  (12, 15, 18 and under)

This week we will have all the essentials for the summer for sale on site.  We will have plenty of Vincere Sand Socks for the scorching summer sand, Spalding King of The Beach Balls and assorted Florida Beach Volleyball Tour gear. 

Registration fees for all men's, women's, and co-ed divisions is $60, Juniors divisions is $ 50.  Pre-registration ends Friday, September 7.   Pre-register at www.flbeachvolleyball.com.  For more info call (954) 316-6642 or email promovbl@bellsouth.net   

Jaguars player finds unique way to raise charity dollars

Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end Paul Spicer hosted his first-ever Charity Paintball Tournament at Paintball Adventures recently in Jacksonville to raise money for Tru Way Church of the Risen Christ, of which Spicer is a member.

The money will be used by the church to add a daycare center, nursery and community center, Spicer said.  Sixteen teams entered the field at a cost of $150 for pre-registration or $200 to register the day of the tournament.

Teams in the top five won prizes, some of which included Spicer’s 50-yard-line tickets to any Jaguar home game this season and paintball guns valued at $1,000 each. In addition, the top three teams got trophies, said Brian Held, owner of Paintball Adventures.

Spicer said that because most charity fundraisers in town are golf tournaments, he decided to do something different and something he enjoys. “I’ve played paintball for five years,” he said. “It’s good cardio and a good workout, and I get a chance to have fun at the same time.”

This tournament, however, was a spur of the moment decision. Spicer said he hopes to make it an annual event and move it to an earlier date next year, preferably one that isn’t so hot.

No matter when it happens, Spicer knows it’s for a good cause, and that’s what motivates him to do it.

Pastor Elwyn Jenkins, who has been the pastor of Spicer’s church for 22 years, said he was grateful for Spicer’s efforts.  “We’re very blessed to have Paul Spicer to volunteer and help the church in this way,” he said.

Jenkins said the church has purchased buildings over the past few years, and the money raised through the tournament will be used to buy building materials to refurbish them.

The buildings will also be used for before and after care programs for inner-city children and for both Boy and Girl Scouts organizations.  “This is going to help us to bring some positive things to this community,” Jenkins said.  “The key is reaching out in a positive way,” he said.

Surprise! Glazers Invite 32 Fans To Owner's Suite

Published: August 31, 2007, The Tampa Tribune

When Warren and Cheryl Rinard saw Bryan Glazer approach them in the upper deck at Raymond James Stadium, clutching a stack of tickets and brandishing a smile, the Brandon couple didn't know what to think.

'I recognized him right away, but I was totally surprised,' Warren said of the pregame visit by the Buccaneers executive vice president. 'Then he told us what was going on.'

Glazer and his brother, Joel, made good on their plan to invite 32 random Tampa Bay fans to their suite overlooking the 50-yard line for Thursday night's preseason finale against Houston.

'We thought it would be nice to spend some time with our fans,' Bryan said from his front-row seat. 'Some people thought it was a practical joke, but they seem to be having a great time.'

The Rinards were handed two tickets and given directions to the owner's suite from their perch in Section 315, high above the stadium.  'I'm just kind of overwhelmed how nice this is,' said Warren, who wore a No. 40 Mike Alstott jersey and helped himself to a chicken wrap, a hamburger and some fruit, washed down by a beer, all courtesy of the Buccaneers.

'This is just another symbol of their commitment to Buc fans,' General Manager Bruce Allen said of the gesture by the Glazers. 'For these fans, it's like winning the lottery.'

Joel Glazer didn't rule out another mass invitation to the suite during the regular season.  'There was some disbelief at the beginning, but once our fans got here, they believed,' Joel said.

Former player Bill Lindsay to join Florida Panthers radio team
 

Bill Lindsay, one of the memorable players from the Panthers' 1995-96 Stanley Cup Finals team, will be the team's new radio analyst.

Lindsay, who played six seasons with the Panthers (1993-99), will join former Panthers defenseman and teammate Randy Moller as the broadcast team on 790 the Ticket (WAXY-AM). An official announcement is expected as early as Wednesday.

"It's going to be great to be part of an organization again that I'm very fond of and have a lot of respect for," said Lindsay, who played in the 1995-96 team's reunion game at BankAtlantic Center last month. "The best part for me is that I get to stay in the game a little bit. It's a tough point as an athlete when you stop playing. You look at yourself and say, 'What now?' I'm grateful for the opportunity."

Lindsay, who lives in Fort Lauderdale and has helped coach a team of 18- and 19-year-olds in Lake Worth, said he has been interested in broadcasting since appearing on a few ESPN2 hockey broadcasts a few years ago. This past summer he said he attended broadcasting school.

Lindsay scored the series-clinching goal against the Boston Bruins in Game 5 of the 1996 Eastern Conference quarterfinals.

FlaSports Calendar of Events this week, September 2-9

Volume 1, Issue 1, August 27

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