My Guilty Pleasure

Some girls have guilty pleasures like chocolate or shoe shopping – well, I somehow missed the chocolate gene (hate it!) and I openly admit my shoe addiction without remorse. So, pray tell, what is my guilty pleasure? The Bucs! Ohmigosh! I loooove the Tampa Bay Buccaneers! Why do I feel guilty? Well, being a Los Angeles native that comes from a pedigree of Raiders-Rams-Niners, I always feel I need to explain myself when I root for them. I get that feeling like I was caught listening to Michael Bolton or something (not that I would do that but you get my drift).

I was formally introduced to the team when I moved to the area to start college. I must admit, I started out like every other NFL fan – I hated ‘em! The Yucks were so much fun to root against. Fellow haters and I would make demeaning monikers for the players like Mike I’ll-stop for the future hall of famer. I clearly remember a Bucs loyalist telling me that Tampa has hosted more Super Bowl games than any other city. Whippee! Whatever helps you sleep at night, I guess. One day – all of that changed. I went to a pre-season game one year while a student at the University of Tampa. It was the last one before the start of the regular season – Bucs vs. New England Patriots. Being the smart-ass I normally am, I purchased a Bucs shirt and Pats hat from some parking lot vendors and proceeded to go into the game. I’ll never forget the look on the faces of many of the fans. It was a strange mix of delight and disgust. I can’t blame ‘em though. In my defense - I have always been a football fan. It has been hard for me to get totally behind one team since Georgia’s greed ruined the one I grew up with and the only one that won a Super Bowl in my city abandoned me. I don’t have the luxury of the team I was behind as a child being here today like many of you lucky folks.

Alright – but I am getting off track…

So I am at the game and I meet a bunch of new people. One cool dude I happened to meet was nice enough to help me through the mazes of parking to find my friends at the end of the game. Again, it was my first game at this venue and at night after several adult beverages I had lost my way. Long story short – we have been together ever since….awwwwww So yeah – I met my husband at Raymond James Stadium. Now every time I happen to navigate to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers website I always roll my mouse over the banner so I can hear Gene Dekerhoff exclaim “fire them cannons” or “touchdown Tampa Baaaaaaaaay”! We have DirectTV’s NFL Sunday Ticket just so we can see our Pewter Pirates every week. I only wish I could get the radio simulcast down to be able to hear Gene call the game as well. Now let me just clarify this: my guy is a real, live Tampa native that has followed them trough thick and thin over the years. (Side note: aren’t we a rare sight? An L.A. native and a Tampa native? We should be in a museum or something.) To further my connection to the team I even lived in the same complex as Michael Pittman when he first came to the team. And yeah – that guy’s arms look as big in person as they do on the screen. I have to say I acted like a total dork when I accidentally ran into him one morning taking out the trash. He was doing the same and when he turned around, I stopped in my tracks. I had to look like a complete idiot standing there, frozen with my mouth open.

That Super Bowl was awesome though! Even though they handed it to my Raiders it was still a great game. Although I miss that dominant defense with stars like Warren Sapp (remember his touchdown?!?) and Booger McFarland, I still scream at opposing QBs to “throw it to Rhonde”. Also, it has been exciting to see Jeff Garcia enjoy the spotlight again. I have always believed that he possesses the most heart in the NFL. That guy will get up and take a snap after being pummeled by giant defensive linemen over and over. It’s too bad he’s a bit under the weather, although Luke McCown is not bad at all and should grow into being quite good. As I hold my breath for the rest of the season, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are my only real chance of rooting for anyone in the post-season. My San Francisco 49ers are stinking up the place as are my Oakland Raiders. There is no hope from my San Diego Chargers either…huuuuhhhmmmmm

Go Bucs!