Sunday morning homily XXIV

In less than a week, I get to enjoy yet another spring break here in Florida. With Colin off from school and an early vacation request approved at work, we're looking forward to some fun in the sun.

We're planning on getting in a little hounding, watching some hockey, going camping (in the backyard, though), exploring Florida's wildlife, practicing our skating and, basically, hanging out. And, we might even check out the St. Petersburg Grand Prix.

More than anything else, our vacation together will provide yet another opportunity to strengthen a bond between father and son. As Colin grows older, I know these instances may prove more difficult to arrange. Schedules, from work to school to play, will likely see to that.

That's why hockey will play a big part of our time off together. Not just in the weeks ahead, but hopefully through our shared lifetimes. Now that Colin asks pretty good questions about the game, wanting to know about penalties, arenas and certain players on other teams, I know the seed has taken sprout.

Now, it's time to watch it grow.

What do you think?

Now that the hockey world, or at least our little speck of it, knows the Tampa Bay Lightning won't be making the NHL playoffs, I'm wondering why the team isn't shutting down stars Vincent Lecavalier and Marty St. Louis for the season.

With a season as frustrating as this, and nagging bumps and bruises starting to chip away at productivity, I believe it makes more sense to start their summers early, giving them a chance to heal -- physically, mentally and emotionally.

I doubt it will happen, though. No one wants to be accused of tanking a season, even if it means a No. 1 overall pick.

5 Big Sigs

In what will be the final full week of hockey hounding for the 2007-08 season in Tampa Bay, I can begin to close out the campaign by adding these cherry-picked items to the collection:

~ Florida's Tomas Vokoun on Panthers cards;
~ Washington's Olaf Kolzig on new and old school Capitals pucks;
~ Washington's Sergei Fedorov on anything;
~ Carolina's Eric Staal on a 2008 NHL All-Star Game puck; and
~ Carolina's Tuomo Ruutu and Sergei Samsonov on Hurricanes pucks.