Jason Licht, Wayne Gretzky And Mike Evans
March 9th, 2024Mike Evans fan.
Jason Licht and Wayne Gretzky walk into a bar…
Well, not exactly, but both were at a bar together when Licht received awesome news this last week.
At yesterday’s press conference/celebration of the greatest wide receiver in Bucs history, Mike Evans, re-signing with the team, Licht had an awesome story of when he learned Evans agreed to terms on his new two-year contract.
Tampa Bay Lightning coach Jon Cooper hosted a charitable fundraiser and as part of the festivities, “The Great One,” Wayne Gretzky, was there. He’s widely considered the greatest hockey player to lace on skates.
By coincidence, Licht found himself bellied up to the bar right next to Gretzky. The two began chatting it up.
These are the kinds of things that happen when you are a Super Bowl-winning general manager. Interview stud college football players and maybe future Hall of Famers at the combine one night, pound beers with Gretzky the next night.
Now that’s some life!
Anyway, Licht and Gretzky were chatting for a few minutes when Licht got a call. Joe can imagine what’s going through his mind, like, this better be damn good because I’m swilling beers with Wayne freaking Gretzky. Turning bottles of beer upside-down with “The Great One” at a bar happens, what, once a lifetime?
The phone call was damn good. It was one of Licht’s associates in the front office — he couldn’t remember if it was capologist Mike Greenburg or Bucs’ director of football research Jackie Davidson.
Licht excused himself to go to take the call. It was in this phone call that Licht learned Evans was coming back.
Licht returned to the bar buoyant over the news.
“I went back in, and I was fist-bumping and all of that and I told Wayne Gretzky that we had just signed Mike back,” Licht said. “He said, ‘Oh, he’s a great one.’
“I thought that was pretty cool for ‘The Great One’ to say [Evans is] a great one.”
When Evans later recounted Licht’s Gretzky story, he was visibly star-struck.
“Damn,” Evans said with a beaming smile, “Wayne Gretzky knows who I am?”
If Evans in the next two years can repeat what he pulled off last season, everyone will know who Evans is.
March 9th, 2024 at 12:28 am
Real recognize real.
March 9th, 2024 at 1:00 am
Mike Evans is the Tribal Chief.
ACKNOWLEDGE HIM!
March 9th, 2024 at 1:48 am
It’s a nice anecdote but I thought the most interesting part was that Mike’s wife was the one that put it all in perspective and dissuaded him from testing free agency. All Bucs fans owe some gratitude to Ashli for having ME13 a Buc for life.
Thank you, Ashli.
March 9th, 2024 at 2:07 am
And just go to think…….Many of these “fans” called for an Evans trade. Talk about myopia!
March 9th, 2024 at 4:19 am
And it is ironic that the call came while at a charity event. Our Mike Evans is all about community and charity. We are so lucky Mike is staying!
March 9th, 2024 at 5:47 am
The most awesomest story on JBF ever! WOW!!!
Mikey – “wow he knows who I am” —
LOL
March 9th, 2024 at 6:12 am
Interesting piece by Rick Stroud in TBT yesterday based on his interview with Mike Evans talking about what role Mike’s wife played in this re-signing.
“I don’t want to say I was waiting for my wife to speak up, but she just planted it,’’ Evans said Friday, via Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times. “These things are just like day and night. You have to think about it. We were thinking, and it just hit her and she said, ‘Maybe we should stay in Tampa, babe.’ I mean, I wanted to be in Tampa, and they offered me great money. It wasn’t about the money. I just wanted to see everything as a whole, and if we were going to get Baker [Mayfield] back and things like that. But I know I can play with whoever is at quarterback. Obviously, I hope it’s Baker.’’
March 9th, 2024 at 6:20 am
Wow, Mike saying it isn’t about the money really speaks volumes about his character and his wife too. Simply the best! We are so lucky to have them in our world.
Mike has made QBs look great throughout his football career. I hope Baker comes back. However, Mike will do well either way.
March 9th, 2024 at 7:16 am
$26m a year. Nah, not about the money. LOL
March 9th, 2024 at 7:25 am
Man, thank goodness for Ira and his wit.
When I watched the Evans press conference, it felt like coverage of a sad funeral.
Mike, please ditch the sunglasses indoors…and perhaps show a little enthusiasm about your personal record-breaking earnings.
Nobody died, nobody got hurt.
Ira, thank you for your first question. You broke the odd ice of sadness.
The interview changed for the better after.
Man, it was weird.
March 9th, 2024 at 7:40 am
First, for all the Baker Bois.
1. I do not hate Baker Mayfield.
2. I hope we sign him or another competent QB for less than 30 million.
and 3. when Mike says “…But I know I can play with whoever is at quarterback.”
Isn’t that more telling than his agent saying that he wants to play with “an elite quarterback”?
Mike certainly could have waited to sign. if he really thought he needed a specific level of quarterback to succeed.
Again, on Baker – I want him back.
But as Mike says about Baker coming back:
“I’m extremely confident,” he said. “I’m not 100%… Hopefully, we get him back, but he should do what’s best for him.”
So, you can understand that you think it will happen, but at the same time, the team has to do its diligence on the other guys out there.
March 9th, 2024 at 8:02 am
Back in the day a friend was a valet at the Sonesta Beach Hotel hotel in Miami where sports teams often stayed when in town. One night he got to drive Gretzky and his wife around town.
March 9th, 2024 at 8:22 am
That’s a great story.
March 9th, 2024 at 9:09 am
HeyJude
“Wow, Mike saying it isn’t about the money really speaks volumes about his character and his wife too.”
As the old hippie here let me agree with that sentiment completely. As the old dude here let me add that it also shows an enormous amount of intelligence and wisdom.
Mike is a wise man. Start with his marriage. Having a partner you can trust and respect that much for life altering advice is in MHO the most critical component to being happy and successful. Mike and his wife are wise beyond their years, and yes they both obviously possess great character.
March 9th, 2024 at 9:44 am
Hey Joe’s
” but both were at a bar together when Licht received awesome this last week.”
Was that “Bar” that served “Awesome” Mons in downtown Tampa? They have been serving up “Awesome” for years…
I am not a Journalist and do not have a journalism degree. But Proofreading is a lost art for those on blogs…
GO!!!!!BUCS!!!!!
March 9th, 2024 at 10:00 am
Well said, stpetebucfan.
March 9th, 2024 at 10:32 am
BFD
March 9th, 2024 at 11:28 am
He didn’t interview him. It was a sidebar. We all were there.
March 9th, 2024 at 11:53 am
That sidebar was the real story. It least Rick figured it out.