Seeking Dragon Boat Racers for Water Festival

Local teams are needed to compete in the dragon boat races at the 2013 Sarasota Bay Water Festival. The regional event is Nov. 2 at City Island's Ken Thompson Park.

Manatee All Stars Play in Cal Ripken District Tournament

Thirteen talented local athletes will play in the Cal Ripken District Tournament in June. The Manatee 8U All Stars are currently trying to raise funds to help the team with travel expenses to Ocala.

Manatee High's Tommie Frazier Makes College Football Hall of Fame

The Manatee County legend and former University of Nebraska star quarterback will be inducted Dec. 10, it was announced Tuesday.

A Manatee County football legend is now officially a college football legend. Tommie Frazier, who played at Manatee High before taking the college world by storm at the University of Nebraska in the early 1990s, has been inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame, it was announced Tuesday. The Palmetto native starred for coach Joe Kinnan's Hurricanes as an option quarterback and eventually took his talents to Lincoln, NE, where he led the Cornhuskers to national titles in the 1994 and '95 seasons, capturing MVP honors in both games. Frazier won All-America honors and a slew of national awards at Nebraska but finished runner-up to Ohio State's Eddie George in the 1995 Heisman Trophy voting. He holds numerous school records and was …

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Want to Try Alligator Hunting? Now's the Time to Apply

Florida Fish and Wildlife is offering permits and a promotion: "Experience alligator hunting."

Every wanted to hunt and trap Florida 'gators? Now's your chance to step forward. Florida sportsmen and women are invited to apply for an alligator hunting permit, with the 11-week gator season running from Aug. 15-Nov. 1. But hunters need to start applying now for a permit from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), which has more than 5,000 available. Each permit enables hunters to bag two gators. Hunting licenses for gators are awarded to adults; you must be 18 or older. Interested? Just head to the city's tax collector's office to fill out an application, or go online at http://License.MyFWC.com. Applications are free to fill out. (See below for the costs for an alligator hunting license.) Permits are issued at …

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Lakewood Ranch Youth Soccer Team Headed to National Title Game

A Lakewood Ranch youth soccer team's recent victory earned the team a trip to a national championship game in Arizona this July.

IMG Details Plans for Stadium and Complex

The $36 million dollar expansion includes a major sports stadium for public sports competitions.

IMG Academy is growing in Manatee County. The academy for elite athletes worldwide is undergoing a 100-acre expansion that will include a new multi-sport complex with a stadium that will open in August 2013, according to The Bradenton Herald. The expansion shows that IMG is evolving into a venue for major competition as well as the training ground for professional and young, talented athletes. The stadium will feature: A new, lighted stadium field for baseball is also planned. The second phase will open in December 2013 and feature a 40,000-square-foot fieldhouse with multiple locker rooms, meeting spaces, and offices. IMG also detailed a third phase with a research and development facility for sports performance companies, as well as the …

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Dollar Beer, Postgame Concert On Tap at McKechnie Field

Friday's Marauders matchup features a pre-game Happy Hour with $1 beers and sodas in the outfield Kona Bar. Saturday's game features Pitbull Toddler concert.

A weekend series between the Bradenton Maruaders and St. Lucie Mets will feature a battle on the field and a party in the stands. The Marauders host the St. Lucie Mets at McKechnie Field for a three-game series starting on Friday. The Mets eliminated the Marauders from the 2011 playoffs and posted the Florida State League’s best record in 2012. The series features the first of five concerts in the first-ever Marauders Concert Series—a postgame performance by Tampa rock group Pitbull Toddler.  Friday, April 12 is a Happy Hour Friday presented by Pier 22 Restaurant. Between 5:30 and 6:30 p.m., there will be 500 free hot dogs given away at the outfield concessions stand and $1 domestic drafts and $1 fountain sodas from Kayem and Cheney …

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Sarasota Open Returns To Longboat Key Club

Bradenton tennis coaching legend Nick Bollettieri to be honored at this year's USTA Pro Circuit tournament.

Professional tennis returns to the Suncoast starting Saturday with the stars of tomorrow at the Sarasota Open.  The Open runs Saturday, April 13 through Sunday, April 21 at the Longboat Key Club and Resort Tennis Gardens. Previous winners of the tournament include James Blake, Sam Querrey and Kei Nishikori.  The Sarasota Open is part of the USTA Pro Circuit, with a $100,000 pot up for grabs. Tickets are still available and cost $10, $20 and $100 in addition to VIP and a nine-day pass packages available. (See below for VIP information). Tickets can be purchased at Tix.com or call 941-809-8996. Bradenton resident and tennis coaching legend Nick Bollettieri will be honored at this year's event. Bollettieri, 81, has worked with tennis legends …

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'Lace Bite' Hockey Documentary Aims To Knock Out Cystic Fibrosis

"Lace Bite" documentary being shown at Sarasota Film Festival chronicles the longest hockey game ever played to raise funds to battle cystic fibrosis.

Hockey is a tough sport full of sacrifice, injuries and deep bonds within the sport's community. It's no wonder that 40 brave women ages 19 to 51 braved to play the longest hockey game ever—243 hours worth in 10 days—to raise awareness and money for cystic fibrosis.  It is all captured in the documentary feature Lace Bite, which will be screened at the Sarasota Film Festival at 3 p.m. Saturday and 3:45 p.m. Tuesday at the Regal Cinemas Hollywood 20. It is also a selection of the Through Women's Eyes Festival at SFF. Tickets are still available. Lace Bite is so much more than a hockey movie by telling the stories of these players who want to raise awareness and funds to battle such a cruel disease.  Cystic fibrosis is an incurable genetic …

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Will Manatee High Football Coach Be Charged?

According to media reports, Bradenton Police are asking for arrests in the case of Manatee High's assistant coach Rod Frazier.

Arrests may be forthcoming in the highly publicized investigation of Manatee High School assistant football coach Rod Frazier, accused of improper conduct with a female student. The Bradenton Herald reports Wednesday that Bradenton Police are requesting arrests in the case. Police Chief Mike Radzilowski would not disclose details, while acknowledging that recommendations were forwarded to the State Attorney's Office. The Sarasota Herald-Tribune is reporting that Frazier, along with four school district officials, may face criminal charges based on allegations that Frazier groped a female high school student. The article also names Bob Gagnon, assistant schools superintendent, and former Manatee district investigator Debra Horne. Citing …

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