When I decided to participate in the fried corn eating contest at this year’s Florida Strawberry Festival, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I’ve been fascinated with competitive eating since I was a preteen. I remember the first time I saw the famous Nathan’s Coney Island hotdog eating contest, and in 2001, witnessed Japan’s Takeru […]
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LIFE LESSONS FROM THE FIELD: There’s no place like home
In 1939, a film was released by MGM that became an American classic. It introduced the amazing world of Technicolor characters — yet the story of “The Wizard of Oz” is best summed up with these words, “There’s no place like home.” After 20-plus years of serving our nation in the U.S. Army, these words […]
Continue ReadingSHOW ME THE MAUNEY: Classic opens eyes to new sport
As I drove down Cowart Road Saturday to arrive at the DI Polo Complex, I still wasn’t sure what to expect. I’ve covered a wide variety of sports in my still young career, from lacrosse and rugby to Le Mans racing, but the game of polo was still foreign to me. Rows of exotic cars […]
Continue ReadingSHOW ME THE MAUNEY: The true meaning of ‘student athlete’
We’ve all heard the stereotypes. Some popular ones include the derogatory phrases “meatheads” and “dumb jocks.” Athletes across the globe defy these misconceptions every day, and Plant City area athletes certainly are doing their part of squashing these stereotypes. The more I cover local high school sports teams, the more I take note of the […]
Continue ReadingOBSERVED: Grandparents set shining example
Years ago, my wife, Jess, and I found one of those online surveys. It displayed several images and asked the question: Which of these best depicts love? One was a couple walking hand-in-hand on the beach. Another was of a husband and wife on their wedding day. Still another was of a romantic candlelit dinner […]
Continue ReadingSHOW ME THE MAUNEY: Signing Day hoopla a slippery slope
We’re more than a week removed from National Signing Day, but some story lines are still at the forefront of sports media. Signing Day is just the beginning of a continuous high school football recruiting process where players, including several local players, will ink with colleges in the coming weeks, mostly with smaller schools. While […]
Continue ReadingPAJAMA MAMA: Planting seeds of virtue in your children
Silence is golden — until you have children. Then, silence means trouble is lurking. As a stay-at-home mom, I always am looking for inexpensive activities to engage my children, and, of course, keep them from tearing the walls of our home down to the studs. A few weeks ago, I was scouring the aisles of […]
Continue ReadingLETTER TO THE EDITOR: Thonotosassa Road renamed after a hero?
Dear Editor: I am emailing you in reference to the renaming of a segment of Thonotosassa Road. My son, Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office Dep. David Anthony Abella, died in the line of duty April 21, 2004. He graduated from Plant City High School. He played football and was on the wrestling team. After graduating, he served in the […]
Continue ReadingLETTER TO THE EDITOR: Walden Lake East fence a city eyesore
Dear Editor: I have lived in Plant City since 1967, and I love and am proud of living here. I also was a teacher in one of our schools here. I was here during the creation of Walden Lake. There is one thing that embarrasses me as I travel Alexander Street: the old, rickety, ugly […]
Continue ReadingLETTER TO THE EDITOR: Story captures son’s service
Dear Editor: I just wanted to take a moment to say thank you for a beautifully written article about my son, Daniel Taylor. I appreciate the time and effort you put into the article. It was quite comprehensive, and I can tell you spent a lot of time doing your homework. The Plant City Observer […]
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