https://www.reddit.com/r/TampaBayRowdies/comments/c8vclm/judge_throws_out_fraud_case_against_st_petersburg/
Judge throws out fraud case against St. Petersburg entrepreneur Bill Edwards, blasts the VA
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.tampabay.com/business/judge-throws-out-fraud-case-against-st-petersburg-entrepreneur-bill-edwards-blasts-the-va-20190703/
Judge throws out fraud case against St. Petersburg entrepreneur Bill Edwards, blasts the VA
The whistle blowers' lawsuit against Edwards' Mortgage Investors Corp. dragged on for 13 years.
JAMES BORCHUCK | Times Bill Edwards works in the St. Petersburg office of his Mortgage Investors Corp. in 2011, then the largest refinancer of VA loans in the country.
A federal judge in Atlanta has dismissed a years-long...
(Follow link for full article.)
https://floridapolitics.com/archives/300444-dismissed-bill-edwards-dodges-13-year-long-legal-battle
TAMPA BAY
Dismissed: Bill Edwards dodges 13 year long legal battle
But there were reservations of the case that was “rife with disputed issues of fact.”
Former Tampa Bay Rowdies owner Bill Edwards is off the hook for what could have been a multi-million dollar lawsuit after a federal judge in north Georgia granted Edwards’ motion to dismiss the case this week.
Edwards and his company, Mortgage Investors Corp., has been battling a lawsuit claiming the company was defrauding veterans on home loans for nearly 13 years.
The St. Petersburg-based company refinanced home loans for veterans as a broker or lender in about 30 states, according to documents.
The lawsuit claimed defendants “have repeatedly violated the rules of the Interest Rate Reduction Refinancing Loan program” by overcharging veterans, charging unallowable fees and deliberately concealing those facts from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to obtain taxpayer-backed guarantees for the loans.
The lawsuit also alleged Edwards’ company falsely certified to the VA that they were not charging unallowable fees.
While U.S. District Judge Amy Totenberg dismissed the case, she did so with clear reservations noting the case was “rife with disputed issues of fact.
But Totenberg had to apply precedent from a 2016 U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Universal Health Services v. Escobar to her decision. That ruling upheld the ability to hold a contractor liable for fraudulent claims under the False Claims Act, but it also found standards were not rigorous enough and instead required stricter interpretation.
“This case, in light of the record presently before the Court, fails to survive the summary judgment not because no fact issues exist (they do) but rather, because the facts relevant to materiality … simply cannot surmount the ‘rigorous’ and ‘demanding’ materiality threshold required by Universal Health,” Totenberg’s ruling read.
Totenberg expressed strong concern over Mortgage Investors Corporation’s business dealings with veteran loans, but could not overlook “controlling law.” The Universal Health decision, she said, “chokes the life out” of the defendants’ case.
The lawsuit could have come with a hefty price tag for Edwards, who was personally named as a defendant. Considering the 450,000 loans Mortgage Investors Corp. handled, most of which were taxpayer-backed VA loans, damages could have reached $180 million.
There were initially eight defendants in the case. Six settled in 2012 for a total of $161 million. Wells Fargo later settled over the lawsuit for $108 million.
Edwards did not respond to a request for comment Wednesday, but his company issued a statement.
“After substantial discovery and litigation, the federal court confirmed what MIC and Mr. Edwards have adamantly stated all along: All of the claims in the lawsuit lack legal merit,” the statement read.
(Follow link for full article.)
http://www.tampabay.com/st-petersburg/did-the-rays-talks-with-montreal-violate-the-tropicana-field-lease-20190703/
Did the Rays’ talks with Montreal violate the Tropicana Field lease?
St. Petersburg has long insisted that the Rays are locked into playing at the Trop until 2027. So how can the team consider playing in Montreal before then without violating the lease?
Did Rays principal owner Stu Sternberg’s talks with Montreal violate the lease agreement that requires the team to play at Tropicana Field through the 2027 season? [Times files]
ST. PETERSBURG — The Tropicana Field lease is clear:...
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/man-utd/transfer-talk/news/sane-keen-to-talk-to-beckham-over-future_361655.html
Manchester City's Leroy Sane keen to talk to David Beckham over future?
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.wsn.com/news/mls-embraces-sports-betting
MLS Embraces Sports Betting by Legalizing Sponsorship Deals
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.prosoccerusa.com/mls/new-york-city-fc/the-influence-of-johan-cruyff-and-pep-guardiola-evident-at-new-york-city-fc/
NEW YORK CITY FC
The influence of Johan Cruyff and Pep Guardiola evident at New York City FC
After enduring a stretch of just four wins in 22 matches, the storm clouds have dissipated in the Bronx. New York City FC is unbeaten in 13 matches including the club’s first two triumphs in the U.S. Open Cup.
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.reddit.com/r/TampaBayRowdies/comments/c8u2c6/caleb_richards_has_been_voted_the_fans_choice/
Caleb Richards has been voted the Fans' Choice Midseason Young Player of the Year
(Follow link for full article.)
https://twitter.com/USLChampionship/status/1146486701046603777
USL Championship
Verified account
@USLChampionship
⭐ @TampaBayRowdies' @calebrichards_ has been voted the Fans' Choice Midseason Young Player of the Year!
#BeChampions
2:31 PM - 3 Jul 2019
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.reddit.com/r/TampaBayRowdies/comments/c8pkgy/article_tampa_bay_rays_and_rowdies_sign_supreme/
[Article] Tampa Bay Rays and Rowdies sign Supreme Court amicus brief supporting LGBTQ+ community
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.draysbay.com/2019/7/3/20679750/tampa-bay-rays-rowdies-sign-amicus-brief-supreme-court-lgbtq-community
Tampa Bay Rays and Rowdies sign Supreme Court amicus brief supporting LGBTQ+ community
The team has a long history of similar support.
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.reddit.com/r/TampaBayRowdies/comments/c8pv6t/new_upsl_club_to_form_in_tampa_bay/
New UPSL club to form in "Tampa Bay"
This will be the 4th UPSL team in the TB area, after the (champion) Tropics SC in Auburndale, Huracan FC in Oldsmar, & St Pete Aztecs who split time between Oldsmar & Puryear Park in StP.
My hope is they play at the new Tournament Sportsplex in East Tampa/Brandon. Undeserved area for non-youth sports and a really nice facility (that sells beer at 11:30 KO WPSL games, oh my god I could not have made it through the Tropics 7-2 loss without a couple Jai Alais).
But my gut tells me they're just going to settle up at Ed Radice.
This would seem to be the only team attempting (from the cryptic message) to be a commercial team other than the Tropics. If there is any infringing/impact/animosity on Rowdies territory I will do all that I can to destroy this team.
I totally support having more clubs in the bay area! The more the merrier!
But opening in a long established market with line about clubs turning on supporters is quite the load!
The Bay doesn't need its own version of boorish Detroit City. That sh*t got old fast.
I honestly took this like a NISA-like propaganda...that they were appealing to something we must not already have. I'm personally Rowdies 'til I Die...it's just my makeup. If the Rowdies were to go out of existence, I wouldn't be shopping around for a new team because I must have a local team. My emotional connection is to them, not to "Tampa Bay soccer in general".
I don’t wish failure on anyone (Ok, there may be a few exceptions to this.) However, I think anyone operating under the assumption that Tampa or even Tampa Bay is a market with a large segment of soccer fans looking for a crusader to do things the “pure” way may be mistaken. It’s a mainstream market. Right or wrong, sports fans think of the market as “major league,” meaning anything outside of the perceived top leagues is beneath them. This is a big reason why the Rowdies have plateaued in the past couple years, in my opinion. That said, I don’t really know what numbers you need to hit for sustainability in the UPSL. Maybe they can reach that, but I’d be surprised if they’d be able to expand on that to reach the heights of say Detroit City FC because of the nature of the market.
The more and more I thought about this, I think that's why I was quite triggered by it. The tone just seemed very much like a non-friendly crusader coming into our market to "set things right". So, if you're going to be my enemy, well...I guess you're my enemy and it's scorched Earth time.
I think if they led with, "Hey, we just want to give local kids a chance to play and we're cool", I'd probably still be watchful (in my nature), but I wouldn't have been so rage-y today.
Bingo! The only thing Rowdies need saving from is that self-righteous uppity horsesh*t.
It just didn’t feel friendly to me, it felt antagonistic.
You're right it sounds like they'll try to be commercial unlike Huracan & Aztecs. There's absolutely room for a UPSL team in Tampa proper if they do it right, but from what little I've seen they don't inspire confidence.
If they stay in their lane, maybe even reach out to the Rowdies/TBU rather than try to compete that'd be best. I've been thinking that a TBU Rowdies UPSL team would be a really good way for guys like Soronellas & Jack Casey to get some game minutes at a level more competitive than DA. Even keep them coming back once they're in college since a UPSL team is easier to run than a L2 or NPSL team like the Rowdies have done in the past.
Yeah, the Aztecs guys seem cool. They come to Rowdies games as a club...all good.
I just hate SoccerWarz and even more hate it in my backyard. I'll be honest, I was very "death to the Tropics", but warmed to them because (A) My son played for the youth program and (B) your posts (not necessarily in that order). Lakeland is definitely far enough and it's own city in it's own right. This one feels a little too close to home (but don't know what kind of operation they're really going to try to run here).
The Tropics have always had good relations with the Rowdies, thankfully. Their MASL coach Clay Roberts is the brother of Rowdies assistant Cheyne, Neill's brought his family to indoor games, there was a midsummer closed-door friendly last summer (likely where the Rowdies first saw Tejada), and another that was rained out a few weeks back, plus some college players training with both during the summer. Worst you could say for them is that they keep me from going to as many Rowdies games as I'd like lol.
They've stayed in their lane and worked to foster relations with youth clubs and the Rowdies in a way that benefits soccer in Central Florida as a whole. It's very possible for this new club to follow that lead and carve out a productive niche for themselves.
A little bit more info now, they've started responded to the Rowdies Twitter Frenzy.
"This is not a proposal or proposition, there is a team coming."
"we are planning to play in Tampa."
"We do have few original names that we've been playing around with. We want want people to have input in the name though."
They do not intend to try competing with the Rowdies
They are ready to lose to the Tropics.
The kits will more than likely be :fire:
I like to see this, the more I see from other countries and how soccer is developed from the ground up, I can really see this benefitting the Rowdies, as a place to enrich talent as well as increase the competition with other local teams, which makes everyone better. The Rowdies just sit on top of all that and can pick and choose the best products from the academies and teams below them.
I could get there at some point, but IMO soccer is very zero-sum at the moment and the consumer base is finite in our current stage. I absolutely believe that the Tropics have taken dollars that would have been spent on the Rowdies and that's a good distance away. Fortunately Lakeland is really it's own market and can create their own fanbase without cannibalizing ours (and they haven't taken an aggressive stance toward the Rowdies).
If this team were to find their way to a Tropics-like success in the stands, then I would believe that would mean it hurt the Rowdies (or the Rowdies potential) to a notable effect.
For me, at least, that would be against what I would hope for. I said this in another comment, but I'm emotionally invested in the Rowdies far more than the general concept of local Tampa Bay area soccer. And if I'm rooting for TB UPSL to do fine, but just not good enough to hurt us, that feels weird, too.
Now at the moment this definitely doesn't seem as well thought out as the Tropics are, but it causes far more anxiety for me than it does any level of excitement.
I think if there’s a market for soccer in Tampa that leads to this team finding success, it’s because the Rowdies haven’t really taken advantage of the market in Tampa, in my opinion.
Sure. That could be a possibility. But even if it were our own fault, it wouldn't be my desire to have a chance see that play out.
My prediction is that they fold within two years
(Follow link for full article.)
https://twitter.com/TampaBayUpsl/status/1146442871261794306
TampaBayUPSL
@TampaBayUpsl
📢🚨🚨🚨 New Club Alert #TampaBay #soccer
11:37 AM - 3 Jul 2019
(Follow link for full article.)
https://stpetecatalyst.com/why-tampa-bays-biggest-company-is-speaking-out-on-a-supreme-court-case/
Why Tampa Bay’s biggest company is speaking out on a Supreme Court case
Tech Data Corp. is one of 206 companies asking the U.S. Supreme Court to protect employment rights for LGBTQ workers.
The Tampa Bay Rays and the Tampa Bay Rowdies also signed a friend of the court legal brief that will be submitted to the high court today in advance of oral arguments in October on three cases concerning alleged discrimination against LGBTQ workers.
The brief has more corporate signers than any previous business brief in an LGBTQ non-discrimination case, according to the Human Rights Campaign, one of the organizations backing the initiative.
(Follow link for full article.)
https://insurancenewsnet.com/oarticle/freedom-for-all-americans-more-than-200-major-businesses-file-landmark-amicus-brief-in-support-of-lgbtq-workers#.XR0_DtDPwV0
Freedom for All Americans: More Than 200 Major Businesses File Landmark Amicus Brief in Support of LGBTQ Workers
Tampa Bay Rays
Rowdies Soccer LLC d/b/a Tampa Bay Rowdies
(Follow link for full article.)
https://cincinnatisoccertalk.com/2019/07/03/cincinnati-dutch-lions-defeat-bucks-in-front-of-record-crowd/
Cincinnati Dutch Lions defeat Bucks in front of record crowd
(Follow link for full article.)
http://bernews.com/2019/07/randy-horton-featured-cover/
Randy Horton Featured On Football Book Cover
“Pele and Eusebio couldn’t have done it by themselves; there were the other black pioneers, some of whom predated Pele, who played major roles in making the NASL a great league. Among them were Bermudian Randy Horton, who played for the New York Cosmos and led the team to its first NASL title.”
This is an extract from the recently published book Black Pioneers of the North American Soccer League [1968-84], which reports on the career of footballers including Bermudian Randy Horton. The book features him on the cover, with the book also mentioning his fellow Bermudian football legend Clyde Best.
Authored by Patrick Horne, the book’s description says, “They are the Forgotten Figures! They came from Africa, the Caribbean, the Americas, and the United Kingdom and showed America how to play soccer. They exhibited highly technical skills of the game, taught the youths in communities across the USA and Canada, and were their role models.
“They crusaded the game’s uniqueness and its beauty. They were the black pioneers of the [original] North American Soccer League [1968-'84]. Among them were the first MVPs of the league and the very first NASL Rookie of the Year; they were among the leading scorers and led their teams to NASL titles.
“In the process, they played a significant role in making the NASL a world-respected league, which led to the 1994 World Cup in the USA and now the successful MLS.
“Their efforts made soccer an American sport, and among them were Alberto, Archibald, Auguste, Best, Cannon, Charles, Coker, Cole, Cubillas, Cummings, David, De Leon, Eusebio, Evans, Fowles, Gamaldo, Grell, Horne, Horton, Ingram, Kapengwe, Knight, Lamptey, Largie, Lewis, Lichaba, Lindsay, Mathieu, Mfum, Mokgojoa, Motaung, Mwila, Ntsoelengoe, Odoi, Pearce, Phillips, Sanon, Scott, Sono, St. Lot, St. Vil, St. Vil, Steadman, Valentine, Welch, Welch, Whalen, and Pele. It all started with them; now they will be forgotten no more. This book is their tribute!”
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.frontrowsoccer.com/2019/07/03/the-playoff-preview-cosmos-take-on-italians-in-regular-season-penultimate-game/
PLAYOFF PREVIEW?: Cosmos take on Italians in regular-season penultimate game
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.thesportsman.com/articles/stars-and-strips-the-rise-and-fall-of-the-north-american-soccer-league
Stars And Strips: The Rise And Fall Of The North American Soccer League
(Follow link for full article.)
https://stpeterising.com/home/2019/7/2/the-pinball-arcade-museum-opens-in-downtown-st-pete-next-month
The Pinball Arcade Museum Opens in Downtown St. Pete Next Month
The Pinball Arcade Museum will be located at 2313 Central Avenue in The Grand Central District of Downtown St Petersburg
Get ready to relive your childhood at a new arcade coming soon to Downtown St. Pete. The Pinball Arcade Museum will be booting up at 2313 Central Avenue on August 1st.
The 2,000 square foot space will be filled with around 60 pinball and arcade machines from the ’80’s and ’90’s. Expect to see pinball classics like The Addams Family, Cyclone, Gilligan's Island and South Park and popular arcade games such as Donkey Kong, Space Invaders, Moon Patrol, and Smash TV.
You won’t need to carry around a pocket full of dirty quarters or tokens either — all machines will be set to Free Play. Instead, a $15 admission fee will give gamers an all-day pass to the arcade. A wristband will allow re-entry, so feel free to grab some food and come back.
If you’re looking for a little competition, The Pinball Arcade Museum will be hosting tournaments and leagues throughout the year. And if you want to throw your own party, the space will also be available to rent. Who will be the first to hold their wedding reception at the arcade? And can I have an invite?
The Pinball Arcade Museum has 60 pinball and arcade machines available to play
The owner, Andy Kline, has been in the arcade business for 40 years and has amassed a huge collection of games. The machines featured at the Pinball Arcade Museum only represent a small portion of his collection.
“I’m so excited to bring the Pinball Arcade Museum to St. Pete,” says Kline. “It’ll be Downtown St. Pete’s only classic arcade and the Grand Central District’s artsy culture is the perfect fit.”
“And none of this could have happened without the hard work and knowledge of our Managing Partner/General Manager Karen Ann Holland,” continues Kline. “She has been very instrumental from day one getting this Museum going and will continue to be involved in the daily operations.”
But wait! Didn’t your mother tell you that video games fry your brain? Well, at least you will be supporting a good cause. The Pinball Arcade Museum is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that will benefit local charities, such as Kline’s other nonprofit, The Odessa Wildlife Rescue and Sanctuary. The rescue center was founded in 1992 by Kline and his partner. Since then, it has grown to span 5 acres of land dedicated to the well being, security, love and daily hands-on care of over 350 animals.
Operating hours will be seven days a week from 11 am to 10 pm on weekdays and 11 am to midnight on Friday and Saturday. Be sure to follow them on Facebook to stay up-to-date on their Grand Opening.
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.visitstpeteclearwater.com/profile/replay-amusement-museum/6064
Replay Amusement Museum
Located in Historic Downtown Tarpon Springs, the Replay Amusement Museum is a trip down memory lane for adults and an learning experience for kids that is both fun and exciting! The Replay Museum is a place to remember and a must-see experience for anyone in the Tampa Bay area.
A "playable" arcade museum of over 100 pinball games, video games and other amusements from the past. Leave the coins at home, no quarters needed to play.
Details
Community: Tarpon Springs
Address
119 E. Tarpon Ave.
Tarpon Springs, FL 34689
Phone: 727-233-8490
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.replaymag.com/pinball-arcade-museum-opening/
Pinball Arcade Museum Opening
A 2,000-sq.-ft. space with 60 pinball machines and arcade games from the 1980s and ’90s will open August 1 in St. Petersburg, Fla.
Simply called The Pinball Arcade Museum, it will house classics like The Addams Family, Cyclone, Gilligan’s Island and South Park, according to St. Pete Rising. The machines will all be set to free play, and a $15 admission fee will cover a full day of game play. They plan on hosting tournaments and leagues throughout the year.
Owner Andy Kline has been in the arcade business for 40 years, and the 60 games at the facility will represent only a small portion of his collection. “It’ll be downtown St. Pete’s only classic arcade and the Grand Central District’s artsy culture is the perfect fit,” he said.
Follow them on Facebook or visit www.pinballarcademuseum.org for more information.
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.tampabay.com/things-to-do/visualarts/museums-preserve-pinball-for-the-ages/2282594
Museums preserve pinball for the ages
Caleb Hausman, of Tarpon Springs, left, and Bence Shockey, of Palm Harbor, play the coin-op Track and Field on Thursday (6/16/16) at Replay Amusement Museum, 119 Tarpon Ave. in Tarpon Springs.
Whether you are a pinball wizard or mere gaming...
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.wfla.com/news/pinellas-county/tarpon-springs-museum-lets-people-play-vintage-pinball-video-games/
Tarpon Springs museum lets people play vintage pinball, video games
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EymKp9hYOH4
BEST BARBECUE IN TAMPA❓| AL'S FINGER LICKIN' GOOD BAR-B-QUE
MarlonPTY
Published on Apr 5, 2017
••• SUBSCRIBE TO MY CHANNEL HERE: http://goo.gl/dnsWxG •••
Hello all!
Welcome to a new series on my channel, "WELCOME TO TAMPA" . I this series I'll be showcasing some of my favorite places in the city. Whether it be a restaurant, bar, park or beach I'll be visiting several places in Tampa and bringing them to you. Hope you guys like the idea.
My first episode is a short one, but it's on my favorite barbecue place in Tampa, "Al's Finger Licking Good Barbecue". Al's is located in Tampa's historic neighborhood of Ybor City.
This might be Tampa's best barbecue joint! This is my personal opinion, but if you know of some other places in Tampa that might be as good, comment down below and let me know what you guys think.
For more information on Al's Finger Licking Good Bar-B-Que, check out there website: http://www.alsybor.com/
THANKS FOR WATCHING!
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QPPOxMzNXEk
FOOD/GROUPS S2 • E5
Tampa Bay's Iconic Cuban Sandwich || Food/Groups
Thrillist
Published on Nov 13, 2017
When you think about Cubans in Florida, you probably don’t think of Tampa. But you should! Sure, today, Miami has the biggest concentration of Cuban-Americans in the state -- and the country, for that matter. But back before Miami was even a city, it was here, in Tampa, that the cigar industry boomed and the iconic Cuban sandwich was born.
You know: soft Cuban bread, shredded pork, glazed ham, Swiss cheese, pickles, mustard, and -- as is custom ONLY in Tampa -- Genoa salami. And while Miami basks in its well-deserved reputation as the epicenter of modern Cuban America, 400,000 Tampans patiently wait for their town to get its historic Cubano due. So we came to Cigar City to do just that.
Watch all of Food/Groups Season 1:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vGm6CEgBykY&list=PLH6iYAJIYyN-iaRz6XhaefsNiDNDHQbKt
Read our history of the Cuban sandwich here:
https://www.thrillist.com/eat/miami/history-of-the-cuban-sandwich
Guests
Andrea Gonzmart Williams
Eric Newman
Copeland More
Bryant Valdez
Felicia Lacalle
LOCATIONS
Columbia Restaurant: http://www.columbiarestaurant.com/
J.C. Newman Cigar Company: https://www.jcnewmanonline.com/
La Segunda Central Bakery: http://lasegundabakery.com/
Aguila Sandwich Shop: http://aguilasandwich.com/
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.thrillist.com/eat/miami/history-of-the-cuban-sandwich
How the Cuban Became History's Most Contentious Sandwich
BECAUSE OF THE INFLUX OF IMMIGRANTS WHO MAINLY WORKED IN FACTORIES, A QUICK, AFFORDABLE LUNCH WAS YEARNED FOR.
TO CALL MIAMI THE ORIGINATOR OF THE CUBAN SANDWICH IS THE BIGGEST LIE EVER.
No comments:
Post a Comment