| A It's not easy living in New England if you aren't a Patriots fan. I like the Red Sox, and I like the Celtics, but I just cant bring myself around to like the Patriots. Never have jumped on that bandwagon, and I never will. You see, I grew up a Giants fan in the Eighties. Remember when Bill Parcells was still a relevant coach and the was a Simms who actually could play the quarterback position? Those were the days. I cut my teeth every Sunday as a kid watching defensive greats like Lawrence Taylor and Harry Carson. Watching Morris and McKonkey score off of wondrous fluke like runs and catches, and who could forget Bavarro? The Sylvester Stallone of the NFL. I remember Mark Bavarro running 15 yards into the end zone with four defenders draped over his back trying to pull him down. It was the defense that did it though. As gruesome as it was, I was glued to the television when Lawrence Taylor put Thiesman out of football. Or every concussion they gave Montana over the years. I was forever changed into a defensive fan. I spent the next decade regrettably not paying too much attention to pro sports, but in the late 1990s I started to awaken from my self induced sports coma. I could feel the ground shake, I felt rumbling and crushing hits as I awoke. One smashing blow after another they called to me, Sapp! Brooks! Rice! Barber! Lynch! I was awakened by a defensive squad that was led by the likes of no other. The king of defense, Monte Kiffin! And apon my return to the annals of sports legions, in a tribute to my Giants of old, I became a Tampa Bay Buccaneers fan. The Bucs had a great beginning to this decade and after a coaching change even won the franchise's first Super Bowl. It was an exciting time to be a Bucs fan. Unfortunately, we spent he last 5 years in extreme mediocrity. Poor records, first round of the play-offs elimination, and a revolving door of quarter backs and players. But, somewhere deep down I feel that monster awakening again. Roaring as it screams down the tunnel and out into Raymond James stadium. Brooks! Barber! Adams! Ruud! Here we are going into week eight and have yet to allow a rushing touchdown. We are the number one ranked red zone defense in the league, and our offense is actually scoring points. It feels good. Even if I have to suffer through the cold weather and constant attacks from Patriots fans, I have hope. As a Buccaneer fan, that is all I can ask for. |
Keywords: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
