Tampa, Florida					Monday, September 06, 2010

A Sure-Enough Field of Dreams
Thursday, October 27, 2005
TAMPA, FL—It was epic Americana in sports down here in Tampa on Florida’s West Coast the other night—epic, classic, so important. And it happened in a place that already is labeled a All-American, for pollsters on any subject declare results of their studies have told the world if it is said to work in Tampa Bay, it will work anywhere in the country, surely as hot a living destination for typical Americans now as any. The event that flattered residents in its presentation was the unveiling of a new Field of Dreams, a high school Field of Dreams, a football, not baseball of Dreams where there had been none ever, where, not completed, of course, but enough for the dedication to the neat little lighted facility of 2,000 capacity in new stands to which 5,000 were drawn this special night. It was built without public expenditure for this Tampa Catholic Roman Catholic. A private school through total fund-raising, in money, and in kind with a lead donation by New York Yankees principal George Steinbrenner whose $250,000 seed and get-off-your-backsides fans and friends was a jump start. No, GMS’s didn’t go there, but he’s an admirer of all matters education and can be a sap for a kid’s unpleasant plight. It is a high school of nearly 800—one that grew with the news the stadium was being built for sure and Coach Bob Henriquez—who is also a Florida state legislator, and a good one—was returning to the Crusader team to the winning times of yesterday. The campus is Hillsborough Riverside in the north part of Tampa and had never, ever, played a game at a home field, because it never, ever had a home field. Over forty years of “road games.’’ So, the TC Crusader teams and athletes were most successful in baseball (Tino Martinez, Richard Monteleone, Kenny Kelly, Kenny Suarez,) winning state championships, in its class. The Field of Dreams in football was always a dream, but never a reality for so many, including first coach Tom Murray, who “couldn’t believe’’ it was happening. Nor could the athletic director of athletics of 40 years, Nick DiMaggio. But, it was, new dream field sided by new steel bleachers, a big scoreboard that almost all worked, newly-sodded, more athletic space to the west down to the river, the gym to its east, and the street to the north on which still lived, but no longer unhappy neighbors who this time around allowed it to be built near their front yards. Yes, that was part of the problem all this futile years, the neighbors their objections., and of course raising the money. Came then into this promising school a courtly, but aggressive	principal named Pat Landry, who healed some wounds, organized staff and parents and friends to generate what it took to make possible the improvements, mostly big time money pools by organization, rah-rah promotion, a series of fund raisers, by faculty, students, parents and the public. Tampa leaders and celebrities within and outside the family asked, said yes, including those in sports and the clergy, politics and professionals of business and sports. A key was popular Monsignor Lawrence Higgins, a 34 year Tampa priest and leader who rolled up his go-get-em sleeves and got the rollercoaster rolling. And he is the head of the St. Lawrence Parish not far away, founder of his own schools, and supporter of the bigger and better funded Jesuit Church and High School next door to his personal operation. He solicited the money and drive from leaders and got both, like former head college and pro coach and play-by-play announcer Fran Curci. So there it was, the new facility that night, playing an old rival, Admiral Farragut from across the bay in St. Petersburg, on a post card evening of blue skies and rain nearby but not on TC’s first homecoming. Sure Monsignor Higgins was there to bless the field with the holy water and say the prayers over it, as was Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio, a TC area resident, and perhaps 100 Tampa Catholic alumni, a few of whom were even in shape. Most were not, but most said they soon would be, after polishing off the mounds of barbecue and beans fare on folding tables beneath the carnival tents outside the ropes. That was before the band played and the dancers danced, the cheerleaders did what they were able to do for the first time, sing their songs at their home field. Sure the public address system was tinny and off and on. Sure lights blinked. Sure the crowd spilled on to the field, but, By George, it was their field, at last. Tampa Tribune Prep Editor wrote of the joy of it all, of the four parachutist from the Coalition Forces at MacDill AFB Field jumped onto the logo at center field to deliver the game ball, and the National Anthem was sung, and the old Crusaders the modern day Crusaders ran through a welcoming line of greeters on the dreamy green field, and it was kickoff time ever at a home of their own. Best of all Tampa Catholic won this game this special night of nights for the Crusaders, then and now. “God is goooood,’’ said Monsignor Higgins, he still showing the Irish man in him that his chosen sport was football, soccer, over here. Close enough. ##
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