“Captain Joseph Frye One of the nicest parks in present day downtown Tampa, Florida, is the Cotanchobee Fort Brooke Park. The 5-acre park, which lies between the Tampa Bay Times Forum (Amalie Arena) and the mouth of the Hillsborough River at the Garrison Channel, is used for many weddings and special events such as the dragon boat races and the duck race. Few people give thought to the historic significance of the location, or to Captain Joseph Frye, considered Tampa’s first native son, who was born there on June 14, 1826. Going to sea was a tradition in the Frye family, starting with his paternal great-grandfather Samuel Frye from East Greenwich, Rhode Island, who was the master of the sloop Humbird. As a young man, Joseph attended the United States Naval Academy and graduated with the second class in 1847. Starting as an Ensign, he served as a commissioned officer in the U.S. Navy until the Civil War, at which time he resigned and took a commission as a Lieutenant in the Confederate Navy. The Ten Years’ War, also known as “the Great War,” which started in 1868 became the first of three wars of Cuban Independence. In October 1873, following the defeat of the Confederacy and five years into the Cuban revolution, Frye became Captain of a side-wheeler, the S/S Virginius. His mission was to take guns and ammunition, as well as approximately 300 Cuban rebels to Cuba, with the intent of fighting the Spanish army for Cuban Independence. Unfortunately, the mission failed when the ship was intercepted by the Spanish warship Tornado. Captain Frye and his crew were taken to Santiago de Cuba and given a hasty trial and before a British warship Commander, hearing of the incident, could intervene, they were sentenced to death. After thanking the members of his crew for their service, Captain Frye and fifty-three members of his crew were put to death by firing squad, and were then decapitated and trampled upon by the Spanish soldiers. However, the British Commander Sir Lambton Lorraine of HMS Niobe did manage to save the lives of a few of the remaining crewmembers and rebels.” American HistoryCaptain Hank BrackerCuban HistoryTampa Author:Captain Hank Bracker
“Many people evacuated from Tampa to avoid hurricane Ian, only to find themselves in the middle of one of the most historic storms the USA has ever seen!” MiddleFloridaHistoricHurricaneIanStormsAvoidThemselvesTampaEvacuated Author:Steven Magee
“Of course, anything as tasty as a Cuban sandwich, much the same as Italian Pizza or Chinese Chop Suey, soon spreads into the general population.” MiamiFood QuotesTampa Author:Captain Hank Bracker
“Glennis Perez is an educator and administrator who has devoted over 20 years to bringing academic excellence to students at every age level.” EducationTampaGlennisperez Author:Glennis Perez
“I told my team before we walked out on to the field in Tampa, I wanted them to stop and look each other in the eye - I mean really look each other in the eye because 10 minutes after we we're done beating the New York Giants, I knew that world would change; free agency, the business side of the business. I wanted them to appreciate this doesn't come very often. It may be the last time you have that opportunity.” WorldLooksMayMeanDoneEyeWantedLastsOpportunitySidesTeamMinutesNew YorkFieldsAppreciateNflGiantsAgencyLast TimeSuper BowlFree AgencyTampa Author:Brian Billick
“We're going to play our game and we're going to come back and we're going to play Montreal or Tampa.” PlayGamesMontrealTampa Author:Alexander Ovechkin
“While travelling near Tampa, Florida I passed the "Jehovah's Witness Assembly Hall" and was struck by the fact that that must be where they make them.” FactsChristianReligiousWitnessHallsFloridaAssemblyJehovahTampa Author:Gene Spafford
“Gays are the best, though - we just did Gay Pride in Long Beach and in Tampa. And they're the best audience. They're so enthusiastic. They come dressed up - it's really fun. They're crazy and I love them. They're sweet as can be. Even my macho husband, he has a great time, too. He's so cool, he doesn't care. He loves them.” LongCareFunAudienceCrazySweetPrideGayHusbandBeachEnthusiasticGreat TimesDressed UpMachoGay PrideHe Doesn't CareLong BeachTampa Author:Pat Benatar
“There are no days off in our division. Even a team like Tampa Bay can beat you up.” TeamBeatsDivisionDays OffTampa Author:Josh Beckett
“I was down in Tampa and it just wasn't a good setup for me, all things considered. But it also gave me the opportunity to get out of there and kind of start over. The Giants, fortunately for me, gave me the opportunity, another shot. I'm just trying to make the most of it.” TryingKindOpportunityShotsAll ThingsGiantsStarting OverSetupsTampa Author:Pat Burrell
“I wouldn't take anything away from Tampa Bay. We're in one of the toughest divisions there is.” DivisionTampa Author:Scott Kazmir
“I'm originally from Tampa and grew up on beach. I'm also naturally fair-skinned. The funny thing is, my parents are both pretty tan, but for some reason I didn't get those genes.” ReasonParentGrewGrew UpFairsBeachGenesFunny ThingsTampa Author:Brittany Snow
“I have never had a lap dance in Tampa or any other part of Florida. If I ever did have a lap dance, I don't think I would be discussing television ideas with the girl that was giving it to me.” IfsThinkingGivingIdeasWould BeGirlTelevisionFloridaLapDiscussingTampaLap Dances Author:Stan Lee
“After referees negated a line change that led to Tampa Bay"s winning goal in the Stanley Cup Playoffs: After all these years in the league, am I that stupid that I would put four forwards and one defenseman in a 3-3 tie, in the third period? I think everybody that knows me here knows I"m not that stupid. I might be halfway stupid, but not that stupid.” ThinkingKnowsYearsMightWinningGoalLinesFourStupidPeriodsThirdsCupsLeagueTiesHockeyKnow MeHalfwayStanleyPlayoffsRefereeStanley CupTampa Author:Pat Burns
“I will tell you that I had a mother last night come up to me here in Tampa, Florida, after the debate. She told me that her little daughter took that vaccine, that injection, and she suffered from mental retardation thereafter.” LittlesLastsMotherNightStupidRepublicanDaughterCome UpDebateFloridaLast NightVaccinesInjectionStupid RepublicanTampaMental Retardation Author:Michele Bachmann
“Tampa's crazy... The ladies in Tampa come in all flavors. I felt like I was at Dairy Queen.” FeltCrazyQueensFlavorDairyTampaDairy Queen Author:Luther Campbell
“Able Danger consisted of approximately 20 direct individuals working for Special Forces in Tampa, Florida. The total amount of people working for Able Danger was 20.” PeopleAbleIndividualForceSpecialDangerAmountDirectFloridaSpecial ForcesTampa Author:Curt Weldon
“I chewed up a lot of Florida highway when I was starting out. Used to come to Tampa two or three times a year for about 10 years straight.” YearsTwoUsedThreeStartingFloridaThree TimesHighwaysStarting OutTampa Author:Billy Gardell