Storm Losing the Wars
(July 2, 2001)

The last time we talked about the Tampa Bay Storm, it was in an article called "The Half Perfect Storm." The team went through the first half of the season a perfect 7-0, however, the last month has been far from flawless. The Storm has dropped three of the last four games, twice losing to the dreaded Orlando Predators. There have been injuries, the most significant to offensive specialist James Bowden, but the team desperately needs to turn the ship around for the home stretch.

The Storm has been drawing well and should have the highest average attendance in five seasons of play at the Ice Palace. My wife and I were among the Ice Palace record crowd of 17,634 at the Orlando game yesterday. It is wonderful to see the big crowds, especially since there was talk of moving the team a couple of years ago. What is not wonderful is how the Storm offense played.

Much to the disappointment of the throng, Orlando jumped to a 24-7 lead early in the second quarter. Even with inconsistent play, the home team managed to tie the game at 24-24 by the intermission. While fans scurried to the bathroom, had a bite to eat, or went out into the muggy night to have a cigarette, the stage was set for a typical "War on I-4." Before the bottom fell out, the Storm had reeled off twenty unanswered points and took a 27-24 lead shortly after the break.

It was always hard to get too excited. At one point, the Storm went 29 minutes and 39 seconds without scoring a touchdown. When Orlando went up 46-30 with four minutes on the clock, it was race for the exits. As fans in the cheap seats moved in for a closer look, the game got interesting. The Storm scored at the 1:13 mark and added the two-point conversion. While Orlando recovered the onside kick, they could not move the ball and a missed field goal gave the home fans hope. The Storm got down to the one, but a key penalty pushed them back. On the game's final play, John Kaleo hit Bernard Edwards near the goal line. In a play somewhat reminiscent of the Rams-Titans Super Bowl, the Storm came up short. They were about a half a yard from a chance at overtime and sending those in the parking lot running back to their seats.

The 46-38 defeat was Tampa Bay's third in four games. After starting 7-0, they have lost to Arizona in overtime and Orlando has topped them twice. The victory was at Florida. The Storm are still tied for the league's best record with Grand Rapids, Indiana and San Jose at 8-3. Nashville is 8-4, while Arizona and Orlando at close at 7-4. Playoff seedings will be determined over the next three weeks and victories are needed. With three teams one game apart, the race for the Southern Division crown should go down to the last weekend. The teams with the top four records will get a bye in the first round of the playoffs and the division winners are assured of a home game.

Home games remaining against Houston and New Jersey, who are a combined 4-19, should go into the win the column for the Storm. A trip to Nashville may not. The Storm still control their own destiny with the key being to get healthy and get wins. Both are needed quickly.