TAMPA — Joe Maddon, former Rays manager (you might recall), was in the parking lot at Ava, the Italian restaurant he co-owns on South Howard Avenue, not far from his home on Bayshore Boulevard. Maddon left the Rays, but never completely left Tampa Bay, though he now works summers in Chicago. He’ll co-own that place, too, if he wins a World Series.
“I want to show you this. This is cool,” Maddon said. He stood behind a pride and joy: his 1972 Chevelle, restored, painted candy apple blue. Maddon, who turns 62 next month, still has a sweet tooth for cars, and life.