Happy 12th Birthday, JoeBucsFan.com!
August 7th, 2020
Twelve years ago today, Joe was a young man who fired up this website and never turned back — a dozen freakin’ years obsessing 24/7 about all things Buccaneers on these pages.
It all started with a laptop and a dream.
A couple of years before JoeBucsFan.com was born in 2008, Joe became so incredibly bored by the stale, traditional media in the Tampa Bay area. But in some corners of the Internet, coverage of sports teams was fun, you know, like sports are supposed to be.
So Joe hatched a plan to cover the Buccaneers in a way that would entertain and interest Joe, something edgy, fresh and very different from the extraordinarily stale traditional media. A defunct NBA site called JoeNetsFan.com was the inspiration for the name and the spirit, but Joe decided to bring a different angle, the whole third-person “Joe” thing.
Joe pounded away for months on these pages writing passionately for almost nobody. Traffic grew slowly while Joe endured endless personal attacks, the result of rattling the cages of Bucs fans, the Bucs franchise, and Joe’s media brethren.
But Joe pressed on because this site was always rooted in a love for the Bucs. Plus, Joe was having fun and was confident fans were buying into Joe’s unique brand of journalism that continues to be like no other.
Thankfully, Bucs fans kept coming. JoeBucsFan.com traffic grows consistently, and it’s reached the point where Joe is now the only destination for legions of Bucs fans. In 2019 alone, more than 1 million unique visitors to the website delivered more than 7 million visits and 21 million pages viewed to JoeBucsFan.com. And then there are all the beloved podcast listeners on top of that.
The ride has been wild (Joe could write a book about the bizarre sh*t he’s experienced), and Joe appreciates all readers. While Joe has wacky daily commenters and devoted and engaged followers, the typical readers here never comment but they are always in Joe’s heart.
Joe also appreciates the great year-round sponsors who support JoeBucsFan.com. Unlike the Buccaneers organization and other local media outlets, Joe does not price gouge and views advertisers as true partners and friends.
As always, Joe’s lone birthday wish is for top quality football to return to Tampa.
Maybe this is the year. Maybe.
Joe sure hopes so. It’s been far too long. Joe desperately wants to play cheerleader instead of having to dissect the buffet of exotic turd sandwiches typically served up by the Bucs over the past dozen years.
A hearty thank you from JoeBucsFan.com world headquarters to all the Bucs fans out there who have allowed Joe to realize this dream over the years — even the legions of fan haters, bitter media types and ungrateful Bucs officials.
As a birthday treat, Joe will get back to work serving Bucs fans 24/7. It’s a privilege.
August 7th, 2020 at 7:16 am
Great work. I have really enjoyed the site. You guys provide the best coverage of the Bucs I can find. When possible I also always try to patronize the site’s advertisers, because I know that’s important since you don’t have a “pay wall” Happy Birthday and thanks. Give the Sage some BDay spankings.
August 7th, 2020 at 7:21 am
Let me be one of the first to congratulate JBF…..& urge everyone to support JBF advertisers!!!
August 7th, 2020 at 7:23 am
Congrats Joe, good stuff. You have seized hold of the opportunity that exists because of huge gap in decent local sports coverage by media outlets that we’d think would do their jobs better (Tamapa Bay Times anyone?). Your focus is truly on Bucs football (in the case of this blog) without a whole lot of needless “policing” or forcefeeding your political ideologies. You allow and even put out some diversions, but it’s not the key ingredient for your site. Which is darn nice to have any more. Good work! And thanks for being there. I hope you continue to prosper.
August 7th, 2020 at 7:27 am
Happy birthday and congratulations! I’ve said it a few times over the years but I’ve been reading your site since the 2009 season. It is my primary source for Bucs news and opinion. Your hard work and creativity are an inspiration.
August 7th, 2020 at 7:28 am
Congrats Joe! I’m glad I stumbled on your site looking for all things Bucs a little over a year ago. Being out of state makes it horrible trying to find news on the Bucs. Hope the Joes continue to grow and have great success! Thank you for all the great articles you put out on a daily basis. You don’t get enough credit daily for all the good work you guys do.
August 7th, 2020 at 7:35 am
It’s refreshing that Joe isn’t a sellout, or at least appears to operate independently as a fearless free-thinker unlike the rest of the media. I’ve read this site my entire adult life and it’s the most important voice and outlet for the fan base.
August 7th, 2020 at 7:43 am
I was an ardent newspaper reader (especially the sports pages) and would get made fun of by my wife and friends for having one always nearby. When they went to hell or were just unreadable (Tampa Bay Times), I needed a fix for my Buccaneers reading habits. I found that in your site and more. Love the site. Congratulations dudes.
August 7th, 2020 at 7:44 am
Happy Birthday Joes!
August 7th, 2020 at 7:46 am
Happy bday joe joe. ! My favorite place to read all bucs news. A fun playground for all bucs fans! Many happy returns. Great work!
C
August 7th, 2020 at 7:49 am
Happy birthday. I didn’t know this site was just young pup when I found you about 9-10 years ago. It’s been my only Buc source since then. I’ve tried a few other websites here and there but Joe is too unique and fun for any others to compete for my attention. I find your wicked and sometimes abrasive (😂) sense of humor to be quite charming too!!
August 7th, 2020 at 7:53 am
Good work and good luck to the Bucs, now and in future years…
August 7th, 2020 at 7:57 am
Joe, you really should be proud of what you do and what you have created. Congratulations on 12 years!
Keep up the good work!
August 7th, 2020 at 7:57 am
Thanks for everything Joe. A regular poster now for about 5 years and I check here 1st every morning. Keep up the good work.
Bucs record in 2020: 13-3.
August 7th, 2020 at 8:00 am
Growing up in Tampa until I joined the Military and settling down in Alabama, it was hard for me to follow the Bucs. JoeBucsFan made being a Buc’s fan so much easier and fun. Thank you Joe for your wonder website and contribution all these years. I know you get a lot of slack, some well deserved but you have done a terrific job. Thank you!
August 7th, 2020 at 8:00 am
Not much of a commenter, but been coming to this sight multiple times DAILY since Rachel Watson was actually a cheerleader.
Happy Birthday and keep up the great work!
Go Bucs!
August 7th, 2020 at 8:02 am
happy 12th, congrats and thanks for the reads!
August 7th, 2020 at 8:03 am
Happy Birthday to JBF. The best site for Bucs news and stories. It has been frustrating watching this team. But at least we have a place to come and voice our opinions even if we don’t agree. A fun site and a site that can make your blood boil. Great pod casts . Great owners again to wish all the best for!!
August 7th, 2020 at 8:05 am
#1 BUCS site on the NET
August 7th, 2020 at 8:06 am
Congrats Joe!!! I think I started commenting in 09 been addicted to this site ever since go Bucs
August 7th, 2020 at 8:10 am
Love the site, I’ve read it almost daily for more than 10 years.
But, it seems awfully coincidental that you start the site in 2008, rattle some cages, and the team hasn’t made the playoffs since.
Reminds me of Lavonte David after the Tennessee game where they couldn’t do what they wanted to do.
August 7th, 2020 at 8:10 am
Thanks, and Happy Birthday JoeBucsfan! I’m here every day, and enjoy the nuggets of info I get. Without this, since I live in Denver, I would be relegated to getting my Bucs news from BSPN. Thanks, again Joes for your website.
August 7th, 2020 at 8:12 am
And look at the Joe’s now! You even have a world headquarters!! Well done sirs! Well done indeed.
August 7th, 2020 at 8:24 am
Congrats Joes and Sage! Keep up the great work!
August 7th, 2020 at 8:27 am
Congrats – this site has been essential to fandom, news and just fun. Appreciate the Joes, Ira and the interns (all others that have contributed along the way
August 7th, 2020 at 8:43 am
Love this website.
10 years posting and still strong
Rooting for such a laughing stock of a team is made more palatable when you have real, solid Bucs coverage.
August 7th, 2020 at 9:04 am
Congratulations and best wishes for many years of future success!
August 7th, 2020 at 9:12 am
Where has the time gone? I remember arguing over Barrett Ruud and Buying a beer on this site for you guys to celebrate the Birthdays.
August 7th, 2020 at 9:21 am
I salute you sir may we be blessed with a Super Bowl ring this year 🍻🍻
August 7th, 2020 at 9:32 am
Happy Birthday JBF! You were very much the Buc fan back then. More commercial these days. Let’s not get carried away. The website literally looks exactly the same as it did a decade ago.–Joe
August 7th, 2020 at 9:57 am
congrats joe!!!!
heres to another 12years!!!!
GO BUCS!!!!!
August 7th, 2020 at 10:02 am
Great job Joe(s). I really appreciate the whole team
August 7th, 2020 at 10:35 am
CONGRATS JOE!!! You’ve earned your place in your click counts!!!
August 7th, 2020 at 10:39 am
Don’t remember how I stumbled upon your site in 2008 but have been stopping by each day since! Thanks Joe’s for your work and podcasts. Happy Birthday!
August 7th, 2020 at 10:45 am
Excellent site with a fantastic format. Short readable articles, sometimes thought provoking. Followed by a loosely controlled comment section so we can know the pain (sometimes idiocy) of fellow fans.
I haven’t seen anything else like it. Of course since finding this site I haven’t felt a need to go looking for another.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY JOES!
August 7th, 2020 at 10:46 am
N dog is going to mad joe…… you didn’t wish for the human turnover machine to be back on the Bucs.
August 7th, 2020 at 10:59 am
Thanks, Joe. I like your style.
August 7th, 2020 at 11:25 am
Happy Birthday Joe! You are the cause of many unproductive hours at work for me. I really enjoy your site!
August 7th, 2020 at 11:48 am
Congratulations and great dedication on your part Joe.
It’s hard to be a fan of this franchise sometimes and you keep plugging away.
We are a special subset of NFL fans around these parts and some of us say some crazy things, but you allow the majority of our opinions.
And hell, I don’t even mind that you have to smack my pee pee sometimes!
August 7th, 2020 at 11:55 am
Congrats Joes + Ira. There has never been a better spot for credible and relevant Bucs info. You guys are the best, keep working hard for us. We appreciate what you do. Go Bucs!
August 7th, 2020 at 12:51 pm
Happy bday JBF!
August 7th, 2020 at 1:19 pm
Even being under near constant moderation I am not phased and enjoy JBF like always and always will.
August 7th, 2020 at 1:45 pm
Guys, thanks for all the kind words.
Joe fully understands and never forgets that without dedicated readers like you, this website simply would not exist. So thank all of you very much!
August 7th, 2020 at 3:02 pm
Thank you for everything. Hope you have many more!
August 7th, 2020 at 4:31 pm
Congrats, guys!
Now I know that I come here for Bucs info for half of the site’s time! I knew you guys back in 2014 when someone (I believe was Joe Kania) put some media links on Bucs official website
Keep it coming!
August 7th, 2020 at 5:38 pm
Congratulations, Joe’s!
August 7th, 2020 at 6:28 pm
Add me to your faithful followers for years. Keep on doing your way and I will keep on listening!
August 7th, 2020 at 8:43 pm
I jump around the country as a travel nurse and your site is the only reason I can stay plugged into our wonderful wreck of a team! So a huge sincere thank you to the Joe’s and Ira… Keep it up! Go Bucs!
August 7th, 2020 at 9:37 pm
Happy birthday joe and thank you! Understand you have buc fans worldwide and not just in Tampa!
August 7th, 2020 at 10:52 pm
Congrats Joe 😂. We never attacked you. “Hey guys come check out my new Bucs site”.
Gtfo.
“No seriously, I got the sauce”
Well TBO does suck
“Here’s a link. Come see it, Please. I’ll pay you.”
Yeah yeah.
Haha, he was right. 3 or 4 fans talking total trash. I remember Piratic, Blackmagic00, maybe another. And of course Joe commenting on each post, actually slumming with us lowly slimefans. And Steve would pop off when he wasn’t working his day job, stealing fans from other sites. Bahahahaha, great business model worked like a charm. When RW became a Bucs Cheerleader the pics on here were constant and word got out.
August 7th, 2020 at 11:23 pm
Great site Joe, keep it up.
August 8th, 2020 at 1:38 am
Congrats, fellas. That’s a mighty feat! I hope the company took you out for a nice steak dinner and a few drinks! (Tax writer of, of course!) congrats, guys.
August 8th, 2020 at 6:13 am
Sorry I am a day late, but congrats Joe on making this a successful business. And thank you for providing such a great site for Bucs fans. This is my first stop every morning. It is how I start my day and I appreciate the quality and quantity of all that you provide here.
August 8th, 2020 at 4:48 pm
Happy belated birthday!
August 8th, 2020 at 9:03 pm
Thanks Pipe!