Reflections from Super Sunday

reflections from super sunday (1.26.03)

For nearly 25 years I have faithfully rooted for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers NFL football team. For nearly a handful of those years I did not have much to cheer for.

Over the years, people could not understand how a person living in the northwest could be a diehard fan for such a losing franchise located on the other-side of the country.

I remember how said I was after that first NFC Championship loss to the Rams. 9-0. and 20 years later to lose to the Rams again in the NFC Championship. My heart aches.

The joke always was...
The Bucs will win the Superbowl in the next 10 years..of course I have said that for the last 15.
Many thoughts passed my mind over the years. What would I do if they ever made it to the Superbowl? I knew for sure the only place I wanted to be was at the game or somewhere in the vicinity of the game. One thing for sure was...a party would be happening.

But...the Bucs kept losing.

My first Bucs game in person was in the old Kingdome in Seattle. It was the “20 years later” season that found the Bucs winning again. Unfortunately losing to the Rams again.

But the Kingdome was a fine place to break out the old ORANGE which had been replaced by the pewter. The Bucs won that game and under a rookie quarterback, marched all the way to the NFC championship.

O, so close to that party I have been planning for how many years.

In 2003, my day finally came. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have finally made it to the Superbowl. However, this was not a year for parties. My dad’s cancer had returned, this coupled with a stroke didn’t leave things looking so good.

For several days prior to the game, while I was out of town for work, my dad laid in bed. He had become immobile. But, I will be there for this game. My mind was no longer on all the things I dreamed about making this day into. My heart was there was no other place I would rather watch this game then to be at my dad’s side.

As I rushed home from out of town, my brother had got my dad out of bed and out to the living room. He was in his favorite chair. When I arrived, there he was. Not looking good, but in his favorite chair. I found my place next to him. I watched this game at his side sitting in his wheelchair.

Although I do not remember much of the game. I remember the look in his eyes after the Bucs won. He was so excited for me. That after all these years, my team won. After all these years, there was no place I would rather be.

The next day my dad was rushed to the hospital. It would be the last night he would spend in is home. A month in a half later. He was gone.

It would be the last football game I would watch with my dad. Ironically, my dad a 49ers fan and I watched a few weeks earlier as the Bucs knocked them out of the playoffs. I sensing this was my time. A father to son passing of the torch. I was always excited watching my dad’s joy as his team won. And now...one last time..yet for the first time...the joy was returned.

And now, another season will come and go, and yet...I...I will always have that ONE game.