No other country puts as much emphasis on "freedom" as the United States. Patrick Henry demanded "liberty or death." The national anthem calls America "the land of the free." Great reformers from Abraham Lincoln to Martin Luther King have urged America to live up to its ideal of "freedom." When a group of French Americanophiles wanted to flatter the United States, they sent the Statue of Liberty. ...more

May 18, 2008

FORT MYERS –– As the national anthem played before the start of Saturday's Class 4A regional final between Sebring and Riverdale, the flag was flapping in a stiff breeze blowing out to center field. The combination of the windy conditions and two weary pitching staffs from Friday's first two games of the best-of-three series made for a slugfest, and Riverdale, down to its last six outs, rallied from a six-run deficit to score nine runs in the sixth inning and hang on for an 11-10 victory to earn a spot in the state semifinals. "Riverdale gave us some outs early and we gave them some outs toward the end of the game," said Sebring coach Hoppy Rewis. "Both of us were out of pitching and I'm sure that's happening all over the state. "I make no bones about it, I'm not an advocate of this new system of playing the best out of three series. It puts the kids in jeopardy of getting hurt because they're tired or a pitcher throwing too many pitches in a short period of time." ...more

May 11, 2008

Syesha Mercado, showing more personality than she's ever revealed on "American Idol," rolled into Tampa early today for what she calls "a most surreal" homecoming. ...more

May 9, 2008

Having survived numerous close calls in the voting this season, "American Idol" finalist Syesha Mercado is scheduled to make a triumphant hometown visit today. ...more

May 9, 2008

TAMPA - "American Idol" finalist Syesha Mercado, 21, is coming home to Sarasota on Friday for a free public concert, a visit to Tampa radio and TV stations and to sing the national anthem at a Tampa Bay Rays baseball game. ...more

May 8, 2008

Sen. Barack Obama's refusal to wear an American flag lapel pin along with a photo of him not putting his hand over his heart during the National Anthem led conservatives on the Internet and in the media to question his patriotism. ...more

February 24, 2008

SEBRING — The talented foursome of Don Spires, Jeff Spires, Danny Sassin and Smokey Smiling made some sweet music in Saturday's Sebring High School Band Booster golf tournament at Sebring Golf Club. The group combined to shoot an 18-hole net score of 41 to win the scramble format event, which was a fundraiser for the Sebring High band. Joe DeCerbo, Al Iorinelli, Tony Galka and Alvin Walters placed second in the First Flight with a 45.75, while Dick White, Karen White, Mark White and Tony Mordenga finished third with a 47. ...more

February 11, 2008

When the Gasparilla 15k wheelchair race started with the national anthem, perhaps they should have included "O, Canada" as well, because the top finishers for both the men and women hailed from the our neighbor to the north. ...more

February 10, 2008

Publishers open their hearts as Valentine's Day approaches, and that means a torrent of books about love hitting the shelves. ...more

February 10, 2008

The Super Bowl experience seemed to be greatly exaggerated for New York Giants defensive end Michael Strahan and receiver Amani Toomer during the 2000 season when they advanced to play against Baltimore in Super Bowl XXXV in Tampa. ...more

February 3, 2008