The surrogate
It begins with a woman who yearns for a baby and another who is willing and able to give her one. You can imagine the motives of the prospective parents. But what about the woman willing to carry a baby, give birth and then walk away?
Friday Night Rewind It doesn't matter which team you cheer for. We've got video previews of every high school football program in Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco and Hernando County.
Enforcer Andre Roy said the firing of coach John Tortorella makes re-signing with the Lightning his "No. 1 priority."
"If Torts would have remained, I think I was pretty much out," Roy said. "I wouldn't want to go through all that stuff again."
But with the new owners (OK Hockey) about to take over and a new coach (Barry Melrose) apparently waiting in the wings, Roy, a potential unrestricted free agent, wants a new beginning.
"I love Tampa and the team and the fans," he said. "I hope I get a chance to redeem myself."
Roy, one of the team's most popular players, was benched by Tortorella for the season's final 12 games after Roy's three-game league suspension for, among other things, a throat-slashing gesture toward the Flyers bench during a March 6 game.
He was benched for three games earlier in the season for arguing with Tortorella after a fight against the Panthers.
"I still think he's a great coach," Roy, 33, said. "I don't know if I was an easy target because of our past. I just didn't think I deserved that kind of treatment. We tough guys take our job with pride."
The agent for Vinny Prospal said Tortorella's dismissal has no bearing on whether his client, a potential unrestricted free agent traded to the Flyers at the deadline, would consider returning.
"Vinny speaks very fondly of him," Ritch Winter said of Tortorella. "He would have no trouble playing for him. That said, there were many times during their relationship that Vinny would have liked to kill him."
After scoring the winner on Feb. 12 in a 3-2 victory over the Canadiens, Prospal ripped Tortorella in an interview shown on the St. Pete Times Forum scoreboard.
"He spoke out when he thought Torts was being a fool, which Torts was being at times," Winter said. "But he has great affection for the work Torts did to push him to a certain level."
Damian Cristodero can be reached at cristodero@sptimes.com.
[Last modified: Jun 17, 2008 08:06 PM]
Comments on this article
by Coach Bill
Jun 17, 2008 8:06 PM
Zurc-The NHL is not the place to work on skills that are not there(yet?).Ajax hit it on the head when he said Roy is a sideshow. The kid has great heart but does not have NHL skills. As a goon, he loses all his fights. As a player,he isn't!
by T-Bone
Jun 16, 2008 2:09 PM
Roy is a necessity! Keep the chemistry! The big 3 trust him (Boyle, Vinnie, Marty) and when he gets his chance on their line he scores. When he is on the 3rd or 4th, he is the best. More importantly, the fans LOVE Whazzi! NOBODY respected Tort
by Bob
Jun 16, 2008 11:58 AM
Come on guys. It's time to move on. We need new younger players. Let's rebuild to team. Sorry I say no Roy No VinnyP.
by schoony
Jun 14, 2008 11:26 PM
absolutely no reason not to resign roy...no good ones anyway.
by Steve
Jun 14, 2008 11:26 PM
Jeez, what a surprise here. Torts was having problems communicating & motivating his players? Hmmmm, whoda thunk it? John, thanks for everything you did to obtain the Cup and good luck!
by GG
Jun 13, 2008 9:31 AM
We Want Roy! We Want Roy! We Want Roy! And Vinny 2....
by Tom
Jun 12, 2008 3:12 PM
I buy those expensive tickets Horatio was talking about and "We Want Roy!!!"
by Joey
Jun 12, 2008 3:04 PM
Sorry, but I would prefer they keep Torts and get rid of Roy. Too late now I guess.
by Zurc
Jun 12, 2008 3:00 PM
Roy needs to work on his fighting skills as much as he needs to work on his hockey skills. Lately he has been losing a lot of his bouts.
by Phil
Jun 12, 2008 2:59 PM
We will buy our season tix immediately if they'd re-sign Roy! He was not given a full chance to show his value to the Bolts due to Torts retorts.
Go Bolts!
by DIZ
Jun 12, 2008 2:58 PM
BRING BACK VINNY P. HE IS A CLASS ACT ALL THE WAY. REUNITE THE MVP LINE!!!
by Dave
Jun 12, 2008 1:35 PM
Vinny is a guy who seems most productive when his contract is about to expire. I'd offer him an incentive laden deal with a series of options but someone is going to pay him too much for too long. And he'll go to sleep on them again.
by Bobby
Jun 12, 2008 1:14 PM
Come back Vinny!!!!! Also, I was in Pittsburgh when Roy scored TWO goals in a game last season. He can score; it is possible. But, of course, we love him for his bada$$ nature.
by Casper
Jun 12, 2008 12:35 PM
Roy can stay if he can skate better than Chris Dingman did. Must work on hands of stone though, need some goals from this guy too, not a lot, but some. Anybody think to plant him in front of the other crease and see what happens?
by AL
Jun 12, 2008 12:34 PM
Would love to see Roy and Vinny Back. After vinny was traded I was hoping philly wouldn't sign him and he would return to the lightning. That would just be great!!!!
by chris
Jun 11, 2008 6:34 PM
Could you imagine Grats, caveman & Roy together with Tarnasky backing them up? Come back Prospal
by Horatio
Jun 11, 2008 5:36 PM
Repatriate the MVP line and keep Andre. The top Lightning line WAS one of the best in hockey. Come home Vaclav. Top cop Roy is not only a guy other teams do not wish to see angered, he is loved by the Bolt's fans (many of whom buy expensive tix).
Subscribe to the Times
Click here for daily delivery
of the St. Petersburg Times.
News
