A Moment To Reflect
December 21st, 2020
Joe is really having a day of ecstasy after the Bucs’ thrilling victory yesterday.
And it’s not just about the Bucs. For guys like Joe who pay attention to other sports in town, it’s been a breathtaking year.
The Lightning won the Stanley Cup, and the young and crazy-exciting Rays marched to the World Series. And now here are the Bucs a breath from the playoffs. Joe’s reflecting today on what a gift this sports year has been in the midst of a pandemic that changed the world.
Wow!!
There are young dudes at work now, say a 23-year-old rental car agent, that literally have never seen the Bucs in the playoffs. Maybe they got into the NFL in fifth grade and have no recollection of Earnest Graham, Joey Galloway, Derrick Brooks, Rondé Barber and Jeff Garcia marching the Bucs to the playoffs in the 2007 season.
The Super Bowl win? For those guys and ladies it’s just something old people talk about.
There’s a whole new breed of Bucs excitement out there and Joe is so damn happy for the hardcore fans that plodded through The Lost Decade marked by bad ownership moves and non-moves, horrendous personnel decisions, gut-punch losses and a losing home record that was the worst around.
It really is a new day in Tampa Bay. How long it lasts, Joe has no clue. And Joe doesn’t care.
It’s a modern miracle and Joe’s going to savor these days.
December 21st, 2020 at 1:52 pm
I’m with you joe. It’s great time to be a Tampa bay sports fan. The lost decade has taken its toll on me so much I’m glad no one was around me in the 1st half yesterday. I was sooooo mad but the the 2nd half heroics start and erased a terrible 1st half. Let’s go Bucs. Now let’s erase this dam drought.
December 21st, 2020 at 1:56 pm
Ahhhhh I remember 2007 yelling in my dorm room it was fun never thought it would take this long to make it back to just the playoffs though. I would be all in on the this team if it wasn’t for a few guys in the secondary that keep getting burnt day in and day out.
December 21st, 2020 at 2:05 pm
So nice to see Joe positive and in a good mood. It’s a Christmas miracle!
December 21st, 2020 at 2:12 pm
Damn everyone thats a great article right here. yeah its been a ride for the faithful since 2007. weve been mocked, scoffed, ridiculed, patronized, laughed at. and now- here we are, here we go. i used to mean mug cowboys fans falcons fans etc here in dfw while the bucs choked. Now, when i wear my bucs mask to the store paying bills at work, its others mean mugging me pissed the f off. Its good man, so freaking good. my son was a bucs fan as are my wife and daughter. hardest part? since he passed away 2 years ago this season is bittersweet AF. But I digress. its been a wild year. no matter how it plays out- i will continue to bleed red and pewter
December 21st, 2020 at 2:21 pm
Joe Jerivicious ,sp !!!
December 21st, 2020 at 2:47 pm
Joe, I am one of those 23 year olds , you nailed it the last time I watched bucs in a playoff game we got run over by the giants when I was in 5th grade lol
December 21st, 2020 at 2:55 pm
Hard to be a true believer until they consistently put 4 solid quarters together game by game. Flashy comebacks may be a thrill but if the Bucs are for real the next two games should be beat downs. Joe gushing like school girl getting laid for the first time must have been after an extra beer or two at least. Really good teams bring their A game for 4 quarters! They have the potential. WTF is the problem with these slow ass starts?
December 21st, 2020 at 3:02 pm
I was at the 2007 NYG playoff game. What a disaster. Time to clean the slate. When TB gets this team to the playoffs, the team will feed off of him and Gronk and JPP and Suh.
December 21st, 2020 at 3:03 pm
Very proud of the Lightning. They have been chasing that Cup for years. And years.
December 21st, 2020 at 3:08 pm
Bill MFL, what team puts 4 quarters together? KC? Nope. GB? Yeah, right. NO? The Rams?
This “consistency” whining needs to stop.
Here’s a tip: look at the scoreboard at the end of the game. That’s right, after all 60 minutes have been played. Not at halftime. If the Bucs have one more point than the other team or more, then they win.
Passing yards? Doesn’t matter. Time of possession? Doesn’t matter. Gameplan? Doesn’t matter. Evans’ yards? Doesn’t matter. Halftime score? Doesn’t matter. Sacks? Doesn’t matter. Turnovers? Doesn’t matter. OL grades? Doesn’t matter. QB rating? Doesn’t matter.
December 21st, 2020 at 3:08 pm
I’m an optimist and loved the 2nd half….but that 1st half was bad… I mean REALLY bad.
they will get lit up in the playoffs if they start games like that. Let TB make the game plan and BL do the cleanup work in the 3rd and 4th qtr’s
December 21st, 2020 at 3:22 pm
I was at the Super Bowl in San Diego back in 2003. Cried like a baby when Brooks made the late INT and was on his way for the pick six to seal the game and stop that Raiders last gasp. One of the best days of my life as a sports fan.
But that does seem like an ETERNITY ago.
So many of us long-time Bucs fans have often gotten excited about every new season, only to have the season be over by about Week 6 and then starting to look forward to the Draft.
It still hasn’t hit me that we may actually make the playoffs and break that long drought.
December 21st, 2020 at 3:26 pm
ANYONE DONE A *FORMATION ANALYSIS* ???
It seemed like Brady only ran the Shotgun formation the entire 2nd half when we excelled. How many plays were directly under center in that dismal 1st half?
Maybe our Offense executes better out of a full-time Shotgun formation and maybe that’s a major adjustment they’re now going to make. Play-action is almost non-existent out of the Shotgun (aside from faking a RB Draw) but maybe we’re willing to give that up to start in Shotgun.
December 21st, 2020 at 3:39 pm
I think there are simply too many cooks in the Bucs offensive kitchen…..Arians, Leftwich, Moore, Christiansen & Brady…..and now Joe wants Reid….
Let Brady take over the offense…..turn Leftwich’s mike off in the 1st quarter…..go with runs & short passes…..play action on 1st downs….run on 2nd down….throw on 2nd and short…..run on 3rd and short…..and for God’s sake….stick with the easy passes on 3rd downs at least until Brady gets warmed up.
December 21st, 2020 at 3:45 pm
You know what Bucs fans, the Chiefs don’t play great for “4 quarters” and last time I checked the Dixie chicks get a lead on EVERYONE. The Bucs have a chance this year, stop with all the negativity, and just enjoy the ride while it last!!!
December 21st, 2020 at 3:55 pm
First two years weren’t so great either.
December 21st, 2020 at 4:33 pm
I still get frustrated about my team for so many reasons. I was at our last playoff games and our Super Bowl win which took a lifetime. I told my son (born in 2000) many times walking out of the stadium and sports bars after so many losses that when the Bucs win it will be sweeter having gone through the worst moments. My childhood was riddled with being made fun of for wearing Buccaneer apparel but when I was in the stadium that night in San Diego I cried sincere tears of joy and it was sweet because I endured. I hope my son experiences that. Sheesh… his first clothing was a Alstott onesie… I truly think you cannot be weak and be a true Bucs fan. It is easy to be a fan of traditional winners like the Steelers, Patriots, Packers etc…. but to stay steadfast with a team that consistently is not successful takes fortitude. Fans of those traditional winning teams do not have the toughness to stand by a team like this!
December 21st, 2020 at 5:55 pm
@#1bucsfan – ha you and me both brother! Told my wife to take the baby and go in the other room lol.
@LUV – I was in my last year of college that season and threw a beer into my TV during that game.
But damn I’ll never forget that super bowl win. Some hot rich girl was throwing a super bowl party at her house so we were all in the hot tub watching the Bucs dominate. Good times for sure! And a good night after as well.
December 21st, 2020 at 6:04 pm
Gawd way to make an old dude feel really old! Next you’re going to point out that the 23 year old wasn’t even alive when Sam Wyche came to the franchise and just a three year old when the late Wyche signed off on a draft that made the Bucs.
In all honesty does anybody believe Father Dungy would have taken the chance on Sapp after the weed bust? Wyche took the chance. Probably a smart move eh?
December 21st, 2020 at 6:06 pm
Been watching every Bucs games since year one. Cheered the Creamsicles win or lose and there weren’t many wins those early years. The Super Bowl Bucs were not a s talented but they were tough and smart. This may be the most talented group ever. BUT there seems to be far too many very slow starts this season. A slow start in the playoffs would likely be one and done. Slow starts against lesser teams like the Falcons just does not make sense given all the talent on offense and very strong defense (except for one db who got faked out of his jock multiple times). Hope Rojo can play next game. He hiits the hole faster than the other backs and gets more yards after the initial hits. This team can beat anybody when they play their best! No reason for them to go three and out repeatedly against an average at best team like the Falcons.
December 21st, 2020 at 7:29 pm
Bucs win out and Saints lose last two. Bucs clinch their division. I know… put the pipe and mushrooms down.
December 21st, 2020 at 8:38 pm
Very few if any teams put 4 Quarters together.
December 21st, 2020 at 9:53 pm
2007? I’m 60 and being a Bucs fan in the 80’s sucked, especially as a young Marine watching the NFL with your buddies.
December 21st, 2020 at 10:57 pm
^ Don’t put them down, just pass them over this way 🙂
December 22nd, 2020 at 12:36 am
Good thing they got their masks on!! 🤣 …. F’n joke man!!! And anyone who thinks wearing a mask is doing anything is a fool!! Everyone should just go back to life as normal.. they can’t arrest us all ! Stop conforming!! Going to a mall and seeing a sea of masks IS NOT NORMAL!! Now they’re saying you have to wear one even when you get the vaccine?? … WAKE UP PEOPLE!!! … Once government takes a certain power it never gives it back!! They are distracting you with stupid things like football that just don’t matter anymore until we fix what’s going wrong in this country!!!