John RomanoSports Columnist
Finding the right career can be hit-and-miss. In my case, it was swing-and-miss. When Major League Baseball scouts declined to watch me play, or even acknowledge my existence, journalism seemed like a plausible fallback plan. I started covering prep sports for St. Petersburg's Evening Independent as an 18 year old college freshman, and have worked for newspapers ever since. I have a daughter in college, a son in high school and a wife in charge. And I still can't hit the curveball.
/s3.amazonaws.com/arc-authors/tbt/6de083be-4c2d-44bd-9176-fb3e891c68a4.png "John Romano - Sports Columnist")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/LJXF5HY3BZARLI6BWWEXFL623Y.JPG "Ryan McDonagh, left, Ondrej Palat and Lightning fans had plenty to celebrate in recent years, but time and the salary cap has forced everyone to move on to new realities.")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/FUULICF42BAJNICLCT7NQQ7V3E.JPG "Was this the beginning of a turnaround for Brett Phillips in 2022? The Rays centerfielder made a spectacular diving catch to rob Trevor Story in the second inning on Monday night, then ended his own 0-for-28 slump later in Tampa Bay's 10-5 victory.")
:format(webP)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/7XBU5OCKVBBHTBZ65JNEXEJJ3M.JPG "Rays third baseman Yandy Diaz (2) high-fives pinch hitter Harold Ramirez after defeating the Red Sox 10-5 on Monday.")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/TDVOOWB7JBBEBJKPPLO3EFXGGQ.jpg "Más de 14 años después de que los Rays expresaran por primera vez su deseo de construir un nuevo estadio, aparentemente volvemos a ver el sitio del Tropicana Field como la ubicación más probable.")
:format(webP)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/FGKPCGSTLND3DBJRRFRLWSQ2WA.jpg "Ah, dome sweet dome. With Tampa dragging its feet on finding funding for a potential baseball stadium, the odds of the Rays rebuilding on the Tropicana Field site are growing.")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/OJ47NBPTEZBUTP6EQVBR67B73A.JPG "This cannot be the end for Pat Maroon (14) Steven Stamkos (91) and Ondrej Palat (18). They fell two victories shy in the Stanley Cup final against Colorado, but there's enough left in the tank for the Lightning to make another run in 2023.")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/ESVQADVHVVBBJN4QMJNE554RHU.jpg "Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman (77) and center Steven Stamkos (91) console each other after losing the Stanley Cup final to the Colorado Avalanche on Sunday.")
:format(webP)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/XVAZTSFXKRBILEBG5FJH7Q4O2Y.JPG "Staying on top of Colorado star forward Nathan MacKinnon, as defenseman Zach Bogosian tried to do in Game 5 Friday night, has been crucial to Tampa Bay's success in recent games in the Stanley Cup final.")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/ETKQRWWDWJA3XG6LB5RWLF5G54.JPG "Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy blocks a shot on goal as Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman (77) and Avalanche left wing Gabriel Landeskog (92) look on during the second period Friday night in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup final.")
:format(webP)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/DRWN53K3BZFVVEC6R5OSTMECBY.JPG "Lightning players celebrate a second-period goal by right wing Nikita Kucherov (86) in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup final Friday in Denver.")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/4MYVKCPZ55DPJFFUO4H7TTTXSQ.jpg "Colorado players celebrate the game-winning overtime goal by center Nazem Kadri (91) in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup final Wednesday night at Amalie Arena.")
:format(webP)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/57M4TDLKZJFILGMW4WIX7JQ6AU.jpg "Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy (88), center, along with defensemen Ryan McDonagh (27), right, and Mikhail Sergachev (98) react after Nazem Kadri's overtime goal gives the Avalanche a 3-2 victory in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup final.")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/DPHB5LGBIFBYNBYZ5WG25NJZG4.jpg "When Andrei Vasilevskiy is feeling good, things are usually looking up for the Lightning. The Tampa Bay goaltender played his best game of the Stanley Cup final in a 6-2 win against the Avalanche in Game 3 on Monday night.")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/Y3HLJ3XDJRDM3BA3VPJ7YQELWU.jpg "Left wing Pat Maroon reflects the Lightning mood for Game 3 as he celebrates his second-period goal. Tampa Bay played with heart, confidence and determination.")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/6FRQFRNAONFQTJSQWF4OVYEVTE.jpg "The long-awaited streaming app from Bally Sports will have a soft launch Thursday. The first Rays game to be broadcast will be Friday night against the Pirates.")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/SRCQY7SUKNB6PD42MIWJU7K6ME.jpg "Lightning players and owner Jeff Vinik, center, pose for a group photo while celebrating a 1-0 victory over the Canadiens to clinch the Stanley Cup last year.")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/IEEPJ7OL3BF67CZTOBVQOGYV6A.JPG "Mikko Rantanen (96) and Valeri Nichushkin (13) had a lot to celebrate in Colorado's 7-0 victory in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup final on Saturday night. Tampa Bay goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy and friends are going to have to get a heck of a lot better in a hurry if this series is going to last much longer.")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/J6QKMUKSLVCKPAH6ZJKKTGNAVU.JPG "Lightning players look at the scoreboard during the third period against the Avalanche in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup final Saturday in Denver.")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/CI4I3IYLFZGRVNYS5YWPNB64AQ.JPG "Lightning defenseman Erik Cernak, left, skates past Avalanche center Andrew Cogliano (11), defenseman Josh Manson (42), and center Alex Newhook (18) as they celebrate Manson’s first-period goal in Game 2 Saturday night.")
:format(webP)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/RPKXJXZC2ZBRJF2RKSZTHE3A3U.JPG "Since Jon Cooper's first full season in 2013-14, the Lightning have won more regular-season and postseason games than any team in the NHL. When it comes to the playoffs, it isn't even close. Tampa Bay had 82 postseason wins going into Saturday night's Game 2 against Colorado. Pittsburgh was second with 52.")
:format(webP)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/FFUXDPKW6BCE7ETSFP476LMJ5E.JPG "Getting this type of pressure, like Pat Maroon (14) and Steven Stamkos (91) did in Game 1, on Colorado goaltender Darcy Kuemper could be key for the Lightning moving ahead in the Stanley Cup final.")
:format(webP)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/EOOJ7QN6AFCMPJ325XOILANQI4.JPG "Alex Killorn (17) and Brandon Hagel (38) had their hands filled trying to slow down Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon (29) in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup final. MacKinnon only had one assist, but his line dominated play 5-on-5.")
:format(webP)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/O2SNIUL2W5BOVNMCX3WRVVXLJM.JPG "Alex Killorn (17) and Pierre-Edouard Bellemare watch the replay of Colorado's game-winning goal in overtime in Game 1 on Wednesday night while their teammates head to the locker room. The Lightning have been here before. This is the third time they've lost Game 1 this postseason. They are 11-3 in every other game this postseason.")
