By Justin George, Times Staff Writer
Monday, April 2, 2012
TAMPA — Linda Alfonso had never been to a Tampa Bay Lightning game. But last year, she caught playoff fever and went "all in" — as was the team's motto that adorned scores of signs posted all over the city.
She lived just down the street on Davis Islands from Lightning captain Vinny Lecavalier and his then-teammate Simon Gagne, and wanted to show her support. She went to a signmaker and created replica "All In" signs with the wording changed to "DI's In."
She had 30 made and asked her neighbors on the islands to put up the yard signs. She sold them at $8 apiece and soon had to order more. Not one neighbor balked. They were all in.
Because Tampa is, after all, a hockey town — one that will be hosting an estimated 18,000 fans for the ...