Joel Glazer: “I Want One More.”
August 10th, 2021
“Eyes on the prize, Ed.”
BY IRA KAUFMAN
Wow, what a weekend.
(The Sage of Tampa Bay Sports, JoeBucsFan.com columnist Ira Kaufman, is back from the Pro Football Hall of Fame where he was part of the mighty Buccaneers contingent there to honor John Lynch getting inducted. Ira talked to everyone, of course, and this is the first installment of various things he’ll share. Enjoy! Ira is presented by Bill Currie Ford.)
My fourth trip to Canton proved to be the most memorable as John Lynch was finally inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. My wife had never been to the shrine and the festivities began Saturday night with a lavish party for Lynch at a downtown hotel.
It was fascinating to see the mix of guests on hand to honor a Buccaneer icon who couldn’t stop smiling. Over in one corner stood Joel and Bryan Glazer and their wives, chatting up former Tampa Bay executives Rich McKay, Tim Ruskell and John Idzik.
Let bygones be bygones.
As 49ers GM, Lynch now answers to franchise co-chairs Denise and John York, who mingled among the crowd. Ronde Barber, Brad Johnson. Mike Alstott, Joe Jurevicius, Shelton Quarles, Brian Kelly, Ryan Nece and Jermaine Phillips also worked the room while Lynch’s wife, Linda, embraced friends and looked regal.
Basking in the Super Bowl spotlight, Joel Glazer made it clear there’s plenty of room for another Vince Lombardi Trophy.
“One more,” he said. “I want one more.”
As you’ll read here later this week, some prominent NFL voices believe these 2021 Bucs are well on their way to another championship. To no one’s surprise, virtually all the members of the 2002 club I spoke to claimed their team would have beaten last year’s champs in a head-to-head matchup because of a historic defense.
Heck of a debate.
Setting The Stage
After a few hours, guests were ushered into the main ballroom. That’s when the real party started — all night long. Lionel Richie took the stage for an impassioned set, with the Lynch family taking it all in from right up front.
When dawn broke Sunday morning, a bleary-eyed Lynch still had time to tinker with his acceptance speech. Meanwhile, we drove down to the Hall, joining thousands of fans who gathered in tribute to the new enshrinees.
“Look, there’s Tony Dungy,” someone shouted as the former Tampa Bay coach made his way through the immense crowd. Once inside the Hall, there was a 75-minute wait to enter the bust gallery, where the images of Derrick Brooks and Warren Sapp are positioned right across from each other.
Soon, it was on to Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium.
There were different sections in the crowd designated for each new modern-era player inducted. In the front row of the Tampa Bay gallery were Lynch’s parents, his siblings, Linda and their four children.
Sapp and Brooks were on the stage while Bruce Arians sat alone across from me, positioned in the Colts section along with Tom Brady to honor Peyton Manning. Mike Shanahan, who coached Lynch in Denver during his final four NFL seasons, felt right at home in the Tampa Bay group.
It was an emotional day for Lynch’s co-presenter, Herm Edwards, who coached Tampa Bay defensive backs from 1996-2000 before landing the head coaching job with the Jets.
One of six coaches to pull off a Super Bowl repeat, Shanahan is all in on the 2021 Bucs.
“Can they do it again?” he said. “Yes they can, because they have the talent and they have the quarterback.”
The acceptance speeches were short — and they were memorable. Drew Pearson was passionate, Tom Flores was emotional and Manning was both funny and inspiring. Then it was Lynch’s turn at the podium after joining his son, Jake, in unveiling a bronze bust that captures his steely determination to get the job done.
Lynch ended his speech with a rousing plea for national unity. His shoutout to me as his Hall of Fame presenter was totally unexpected yet in character for a man who always exudes class.
The Bucs and the Hall still have unfinished business.
From Lynch on down, there’s a groundswell building for Barber’s candidacy. He advanced to the final 15 for the first time in January and he’ll likely be back in the room as a nominee for the Class of 2022.
Four Bucs with gold jackets off a defense that won only one Super Bowl?
Yes indeed.
Ira drives a 2020 Ford Escape, cherry red, from Bill Currie Ford. Remember their nationwide lifetime warranty on new AND used vehicles. BillCurrieFord.com.
August 10th, 2021 at 12:27 pm
Epic stuff man
August 10th, 2021 at 12:40 pm
Best Bucs decision ever was to drop Jameis for Brady.
August 10th, 2021 at 12:41 pm
Me, talking to my bottle of scotch every night
August 10th, 2021 at 12:51 pm
Powerful stuff Joe!
August 10th, 2021 at 1:08 pm
I was hoping Lynch would mention you Ira, since you have made so many impassioned speeches with the selection committee for him to get in. Well deserved Ira!
August 10th, 2021 at 1:23 pm
Huge mistake letting John Lynch go to Denver.
August 10th, 2021 at 1:30 pm
1 sparky. As I remember, John had a serious injury The concern was that he was one hit away from never being the same guy again. Agreed, in retrospect it was a poor decision. But John had a great career here and in Denver. So it all worked out well for him.
August 10th, 2021 at 1:38 pm
In the late 90s I was a police officer in Hawaii. I took time off to work security for the pro bowl practices. I met John Lynch and his wife Linda. I was very, very impressed at how cordial, polite and down to earth they both were. John signed a picture of himself that I got from my sister in law who worked for the AP. John liked the picture so much he asked if I could get him a few copies so he could have them on hand (to sign for others I assume) He gave me his home address in San Diego and I mailed him the pictures. I thought that was the end of it. A few weeks later I got a package in the mail, essentially a goodie bag for my son. Class act Mr. Lynch! I’m proud that you went into the HOF as a Buc.
August 10th, 2021 at 1:41 pm
“One more is too many and a thousand is not enough”
August 10th, 2021 at 1:43 pm
Just one more?
August 10th, 2021 at 1:43 pm
Awesome stuff Jaymiss!!! Totally awesome
August 10th, 2021 at 2:42 pm
great read Ira… !!
August 10th, 2021 at 2:49 pm
Great job as always Ira!
Jaymiss great sharing! Good for you and your son.
Go Bucs!!!
August 10th, 2021 at 2:57 pm
2002 club vs 2020 club. Now that’s a debate.
August 10th, 2021 at 3:30 pm
Would give anything to see the clip of Lynch knocking his brother in law out stone cold on the field against Chicago. How about a link JOE??
August 10th, 2021 at 4:00 pm
I won’t argue with the “old” Bucs champs about which teams was better, theirs or this year’s Brady bunch. I accept their point that their historic defense is what gives them the edge despite a mediocre offense that shouldn’t be on the same field with our current offense.
However having said that…I felt the current defense was improving dramatically all the way through the SB itself. They reached elite status in that game against Mahomes and the Chiefs. That D job was as good as any produced by the first SB Bucs.
But it’s a single game. The old guys did it over a period of time. If this year’s team wins another SB I can’t imagine they won’t be the best of the three SB Champs.
August 10th, 2021 at 5:57 pm
Not sorry to say that this Bucs team would’ve beat the 02 team. This offense is 5x better and the defense is almost as good as they were.
August 10th, 2021 at 6:53 pm
@TampaBayBuc..LOL! That’s the first thing I thought when I saw the headline. Hey, we were the first in our home stadium (my dream every damn season the SB was in Tampa) why not the first to Threepeat! Anyway, love the stories, Joe and Jaymiss. Great reads!
August 10th, 2021 at 8:41 pm
Last thing on this. Pat Yasinkas. He met and interviewed me in Hawaii at the Pro Bowl because he spotted my Trent Dilfer Jersey in Aloha Stadium and wrote an article in the Tampa Tribune. Pat greeted me by saying, ” What the hell are you wearing and why?” I think the article was ” Tampa Fans in Hawaii” or maybe “Bucs fans in Hawaii” We later became friends. Just reminiscing.
August 10th, 2021 at 11:25 pm
Just one more? I was thinking about 6-10 more before I die (approx. 40-50 years from now)…. but hey, low expectations and all
August 11th, 2021 at 12:59 am
mark2001 Says:
August 10th, 2021 at 1:30 pm
1 sparky. As I remember, John had a serious injury.
____<
Then you were thinking wrong.