Tom Kessler joined June 2008

Syndicated Writer
  • 12,480article reads
    Rank: 1,878
  • 13articles written
    Rank: 3,314
  • 95comments written
    Rank: 2,338
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Tom  Kessler

About Tom »

Tom Kessler believes that it's bad luck to be superstitious.

He is unapologetically apologetic.

Kessler prints all his black and white photos in color and will kill anyone who challenges his pacifism. He gets strange looks at traffic lights with NPR's "All Things Considered" thumping from his sound system.

Kessler has an unusually large "personal space" requirement…and if someone invades his space, he'll start talking like Richard Simmons very loudly.

Kessler lives in Central Florida, and is an alumnus of The University of Florida. He spent 15 years working for The Walt Disney World Resort including a four year stint in production at The ESPN Club. While there, Kessler had the opportunity to meet many high profile athletes. His conclusions? They all make too damn much money.

Kessler fondly remembers the day his father brought home his first street hockey stick, and can still feel the electricity of attending Philadelphia Flyers games at the venerable Spectrum in the family season tickets in Section X, Row 1, seats 3 and 4...where his heroes were Bernie Parent, Bobby Clarke, Reggie Leach, Rick MacLeish, Gary Dornhoefer and Dave Schultz of the Broad Street Bullies.

When Kessler moved from Delaware to Florida in 1982, he traded in his hockey sticks for surfboards. While a student at The University of Florida, Kessler had the opportunity to live in Kailua, Oahu for one summer, where he surfed every day. A rare late spring swell during Memorial Day weekend produced waves 6-8 feet (15 foot faces) enabling Tom to satisfy a lifelong dream of surfing big waves on The North Shore.

Kessler realized another dream as he learned to hang glide at The Wallaby Ranch in Central Florida. His best flight is four and a half hours during which he got up to 6,276 feet.

One of Kessler’s hang gliding buddies co-founded a team of highly skilled blackjack players, and Kessler played on large team trips in Vegas, and Mississippi.

Kessler is the consummate ‘idea man’ and feels that he missed the boat on the greatest product ever invented…invisible fences. Ever the creative one, Kessler is now fomenting plans to create the invisible door company.

Regardless of how well the invisible door company fares, Tom Kessler is very grateful to have an opportunity to contribute to the community at The Bleacher Report…and hopes that you’ll enjoy the writing that he produces.

The Shortlist »

  • Favorite Athletes

    Bobby Clarke, Tim Tebow, Emmit Smith,

  • Favorite Sports Teams

    Broad Street Bullies, Gators football & basketball

  • Favorite Coaches

    Urban Meyer,

  • All Time Sports Moment

    Gators National Champs in both football and basketball same year

  • Most Memorable Game Attended

    Florida State vs. Miami 1987

  • Most Unbreakable Sports Record

    Ripken's consecutive streak

  • Ruth or Mays?

    Mays

  • Unitas or Montana?

    Montana

  • Jordan or Russell?

    Jordan

  • Gretzky or Orr?

    Gretzky

  • Pele or Maradona?

    Pele

  • Federer or Sampras?

  • Tiger or Nicklaus?

    Tiger

  • Petty or Earnhardt?

  • Schumacher or Senna?

  • Pac 10, Big 12, Big 10, SEC, ACC, or Big East?

    SEC

to post this comment

Jeff D Gorman said...

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Thanks for signing up as a fan, Tom!

22 days ago

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John Shirey said...

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Hey, tell me what you think about my post, "The Top Ten Florida Gators of All Time" http://bleacherreport.com/articles/275262-the-top-ten-florida-gators-of-all-time

24 days ago

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Trey Jones said...

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Howdy, Tom!

A bit of Panhandle humor...

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/268962-florida-state-seminoles-the-balad-of-bobby-bowden

45 days ago

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Justin Goar said...

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hey i published mine, lemme know when yours is up so we can link. thanks!!

Justin

48 days ago

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Dan Scofield said...

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The Heisman Trophy isn't the same as it use to be. What are the faults and what can be done in order to get the bronze figurine back to where it once was?

Don't be shy!

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/264139-the-many-faults-of-college-footballs-most-prized-hardware

55 days ago

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James Williamson said...

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http://bleacherreport.com/articles/96893-bleacher-reports-sportsperson-of-the-year-award?just_published=1

Who do you think is the most important person to Bleacher Report?

334 days ago

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Christian Karcole said...

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Thanks for the edit, Tom! I changed the sentence you suggested I should.

339 days ago

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Shanan H. said...

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Thanks for the great edit!

340 days ago

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Mosang Miles said...

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Glad you like it Tom!

343 days ago

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Ray Bogusz said...

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I realized the BCS is better than a play-off, and decided it needed to be defended. I'd love your input.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/90374-bcs-football-in-the-wake-of-selection-sunday-we-defend-the-red-headed-stepchild

I'd appreciate it if you had the chance.

352 days ago

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Franklin Crittenden said...

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Tom, here is something you might enjoy... http://bleacherreport.com/articles/87418-alabama-no-chance-against-florida

358 days ago

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Tom 's Achievements & Awards (7) »

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    Received 1,000 Reads • November 03, 2009

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    The Audacity of Hope: Can Arkansas Beat…

    Received 25 comments • October 16, 2009

  • Great Debate [article title]

    Great Debate: Bronze Medal

    Tim Tebow's Concussion Gives Florida th…

    Received 25 comments • September 29, 2009

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