What are Tampa Bay fans saying about the Buccaneers? Can they repeat? What are their strengths? What are their weaknesses? I traversed in and about Tampa to find out.
My first conversation was to be found at the Starbucks in the Marriott Hotel on Westshore Dr. The barrister, Paul C and I conversed about sports. Paul is originally from Argentina, a major soccer country. But Paul is a major Tampa Bay Lightning fan. How does this happen? Only in America. In between talking about his first love, the Lightning, and his second love, the Rowdies. I asked Paul about his third love, the Buccaneers. Could they repeat? Paul emphatically answered, “They will repeat.”
My next stop was the Hattricks Sports bar for lunch. Anybody who was somebody, is somebody or wants to be somebody, goes to Hattricks. Even if you don’t find fame and fortune there, the worst thing that can happen is you’ll get a great meal and drinks at a great price.
I ran into a young man named Adrian S. pumping quarters in the parking meter machine outside. I asked him if he was a Buccaneers fan. Adrian, who was from New Jersey, but lives in Orlando and was visiting Tampa, said that he was. When I asked him if the Buccaneers were going to repeat as Super Bowl Champions Adrian was cautious. He didn’t want to count his chickens before they hatched. But he believed they would be in the hunt for the Lombardi trophy.
David M who works at Hattricks was confident that the Bucs can repeat. So were Brian and Paul of the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Department Marine division. Brian said that “As long as Brady is at the helm. Anything is possible”
I made my way over to Ybor City. At the Long Ash Cigar store, I met CJ outside enjoying a fine cigar. CJ’s story was unique. He was originally from the Atlanta area and had been a Falcons fan. CJ had watched the Falcons lose Super Bowl LI despite being up 28 to 3 in the 3rd quarter. The QB on the team that beat the Falcons was one Mr. Tom Brady. After that loss, CJ harbored some understandable animus toward Mr. Brady. He found him unlikable, to put it mildly. Two years ago CJ moved to Tampa. A year later, who but Brady follows him here. Destiny was not to be denied. Today CJ is a 100% Tampa Bay Buccaneer fan. He finds this new Tampa Bay Tom Brady, not only likable but admirable. Brady bucked (pun intended) the odds by going to a new team and winning. CJ pointed out that, thanks to Jason Licht, the Buccaneers are a team loaded with still hungry studs on offense and defense. That they are the fresher team in comparison to K.C. who have been deep in the playoffs for the last four years. That Tampa Bay may not only win it again this season but the year after that as well.
Seems like the pulse of the fans beats favorably!
