Monday, January 27, 2003

 
ADIOS, SAN DIEGO

The Bucs have wrapped up their whirlwind journey, and mine is near an end as well. San Diego is returning to its routine. The Gaslamp Quarter streets are spotless, an amazing feat considering the mayhem there over the weekend. This city's third Super Bowl is being declared its best yet, and no doubt Bucs fans are in complete agreement.

Souvenir stands continue to try to unload their Super Bowl merchandise. Some are selling Raiders items for half price. Bucs memorabilia, especially anything with "Super Bowl Champs" on it, is still going for top dollar as merchants are fully aware of the many Floridians wanting to bring home souvenirs. Championship T-shirts sell for $30. The Tampa-area department stores will have them at more reasonable prices soon enough.

San Diego is indeed a super town. I received a nice e-mail from a local city council rep who wanted Tampa Bay fans to know that most of San Diego is thrilled that the Bucs used their visit to dominate the hated Oakland Raiders. Chargers fans are sick of seeing their town plundered by rowdy Raider fans once a year.

They have taken a liking to the pewter pirates from Tampa, the Super Bowl champion Buccaneers.
posted by Marty 8:35 PM

 
RAIDER COLORS, BUCS NAME

Bucs fans were all over the world famous San Diego Zoo the day after their team's Super Bowl victory, beaming from ear to ear. Several wore Super Bowl championship T-shirts that went on sale right after the game. There were not nearly as many Raider fans visible, though perhaps they simply forgot to wear their colors today.

The zebra pictured above was born just two days ago. She has no choice but to wear Raider colors but might soon be named after Tampa Bay if some fans have their way. The zoo is taking suggestions. Some of the ones I heard included Buc, Buccaneer and T.B.
posted by Marty 7:55 PM

 
THE MORNING AFTER

Coach Jon Gruden and free safety Dexter Jackson looked a little groggy this morning before their last San Diego press conference, but Jackson was sharp enough to give media members a few laughs while accepting a Cadillac Escalade as Super Bowl MVP.

When asked about being bypassed for the “I’m going to Disney!” commercials in favor of Gruden and Brad Johnson, Jackson said: “I’m a little disappointed. I always wanted to go hang out with Mickey Mouse. I can ride by Disneyland in my new Cadillac. I’ll just toot my horn as I drive by and go to Six Flags somewhere.”

Actually, Jackson and the Bucs will board a charter flight in about an hour before resuming their party in Tampa. San Diego, you can be sure, will always hold a special place in their championship hearts.
posted by Marty 1:57 PM

 
SUPER BOWL SHUFFLIN'

We "crashed" the Bucs' official victory party in this morning's wee hours to check out the celebration at the team's La Jolla resort hotel. Actually, some of the Bucs staffers told us to stop by. Some of the highlights included GM Rich McKay's on-stage dancing (pictured) and a Brad Johnson and Joe Jurevicius-led rendition of Sister Sledge's "We Are Family." Everyone was basking in the aftermath of a world title at the catered, invitation-only shin-dig.

Some of the more prominent Bucs opted to do their own thing, and we missed Jon Gruden's brief early appearance. But a large percentage of the team -- coaches and ownership included -- exchanged hugs and high-fives with friends, family and fans. It was a long-awaited affair.
posted by Marty 10:15 AM

 
WHEN BUCS FINISH, WE GET STARTED

Long after the Bucs had put the wraps on their first Super Bowl crown, the sports staff of The Tampa Tribune and one yellow-shirted one from TBO.com get to work on their stories. Everyone made deadline, more or less, on one of the biggest stories we've covered.
posted by Marty 1:14 AM

Sunday, January 26, 2003

 
NO JOKE! BUCS ARE CHAMPS!

The franchise that absorbed potshots and punch lines for most of its 27 years of NFL existence got the last laugh here in San Diego, where a sea of black and silver was left scratching its collective spiked head in a wild Super Bowl XXXVII.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are Super Bowl champions. You read that correctly. Bucs 48, Raiders 21.

It was a roller-coaster ride for the red-clad fans at Qualcomm Stadium, who began celebrating a Bucs victory early in the third quarter before having to sweat out an Oakland comeback bid that the Bucs turned away. What a way to end a week, a season and a nearly three decade-long quest by the Bucs to outgrow their history of coming up short of their ultimate dream.

That dream came true tonight. Enjoy it, Bucs fans.
posted by Marty 10:07 PM

 
SUPER HALFTIME

Shania Twain, No Doubt and Sting performed in a marquee Super Bowl halftime show. It was done quite modestly for a change, the highlight coming when Sting and No Doubt combined on a version of "S.O.S."

Down 20-3 at halftime, perhaps the Raiders could relate to that number.
posted by Marty 8:27 PM

 
A FAMILIAR VOICE

Tampa-area fans might recognize the smooth voice of the Super Bowl P.A. announcer. It belongs to Paul Olden, the radio play-by-play man of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.

Talk about a guy who deserves to call a championship game. He's put up with bad baseball for too long.
posted by Marty 6:56 PM

 
NO PATRIOTS, BUT PATRIOTISM

No complaints with Celene Dion's version of God Bless America or the Dixie Chicks' rendition of the Star Spangled Banner. Styx played two Queen songs in their on-field appearance, though. No "Come Sail Away" in the all-pirate Super Bowl. What's up with that?

Game time now. Get back to your TVs.
posted by Marty 6:27 PM

 
TUNING IN

Just like in recent Super Bowls, each seat at Qualcomm Stadium came equipped with a Super Bowl seat cushion containing a mini-radio for tuning in the game. Batteries included! Now if they could just figure out a way to show us the new TV commercials that many feel are the highlight of Super Bowl Sunday.

posted by Marty 6:13 PM

 
BUCS FANS SHOWING THEIR COLORS

Though there is clearly a pro-Raider bias in Qualcomm Stadium within an hour of kickoff, the stands on the home side of the field are filling up with red jerseys. The other side, though, has just begun the first "Rai-ders! Rai-ders!" chant.
posted by Marty 5:29 PM

 
OFF TO A ROCKIN' START

Styx is performing just inside the stadium gates as I type. I ran down to get a photo of my 5-year-old daughter's favorite group, and I ended up staying for five or six songs. Maddie's right. These guys are the best.

I don't care how well choreographed the halftime show is. Sorry, Shania Twain and No Doubt. Styx will not be topped.
posted by Marty 4:36 PM

 
DAVIS DRESSED FOR SNOW

Though temps must be in the low 80s, Al Davis was walking through a corridor toward his box dressed in a heavy leather jacket -- adorned with the Raiders' logo, of course. The league's most controversial owner looks ready for a battle. Wonder if the sudden dismissal of center Barret Robbins has anything to do with his stern game face.

The Glazers were spotted on the field a few hours before kickoff. Not likely we'll see much of the Bucs owners between now and the end of the game.
posted by Marty 4:32 PM

 
AS PROMISED ...

The Bucs and Raiders will be slugging it out here in about four hours. Not sure about updates between now and then, as there are some Internet connection issues to be worked out. Plus, I'm pretty sure there's food in this place somewhere. Enjoy the game.
posted by Marty 2:29 PM

 
PREGAME AT QUALCOMM

Here's an early shot of the security outside Qualcomm Stadium. It's a lot different from Tampa two years ago. Each member of the press was frisked before walking through a metal detector. Ticket holders will get the same treatment.

I was told upon sitting at my outdoor press spot that I was not allowed to snap a photo of the field just yet. The guy didn't seem too sure, though. So, photo upcoming.
posted by Marty 2:19 PM

 
FINALLY

The day Bucs fans have waited 27 long years for has arrived. It's going to be a warm one. A good omen for the Bucs, perhaps?

Probably the only Tampa Bay fans not thrilled this morning were the ones who stayed out in the Gaslamp Quarter until trolleys herded everyone to their beds well into the a.m. hours. Someone described the downtown night scene as bigger than Mardis Gras. Kickoff is some eight hours away, though, so even the heartiest of partiers have time for a little more rest. Those with game tickets might need it to survive tight security and what could be long lines at Qualcomm.

Time to grab some breakfast and make my way there. I hear Styx is playing the very early pre-game show, which Super Bowl organizers set up to encourage fans to arrive several hours before the game.
posted by Marty 10:43 AM

Saturday, January 25, 2003

 
SUNSET OVER PACIFIC BEACH

Pacific Beach seemed to be somewhat buffered from the downtown Super Bowl frenzy, but that didn't keep one Raider fan from raising a ruckus in a beachside bar and grill and being hauled out and handcuffed by police. Even his fellow Raider fans were laughing as they led him away.

The sunsets here probably beat the ones in Clearwater and St. Petersburg, if only for the crashing waves. It's a sight to behold. Check the price of housing in San Diego, though, and the Tampa area holds a distinctive edge.
posted by Marty 10:41 PM

 
AIR MILES NOW, NOT TOMORROW

Seems strange to hold a Super Bowl without a blimp, especially considering the number of companies slapping their logos on them these days. But such is the state of a post-9/11 event. Qualcomm Stadium is a no-fly zone tomorrow, blimps included.

So here’s one over the San Diego skyline about 24 hours before the big game. On the streets below, fans are getting more and more vocal. Raider fans and Bucs fans were throwing friendly taunts across the trolley tracks this afternoon. And the noise near the NFL Experience/Gaslamp and beach areas must be reaching a fever pitch.

May have to investigate.
posted by Marty 5:45 PM

 
BUCCANEERS WEB SITE RAIDED

Apparently Raider fans do not confine their plundering to football stadiums and San Diego's nightspots. They are also capable of damage in cyberspace.

The Buccaneers' official Web site was hacked today by someone who changed a headline to "Bucs Suck! Go Raiders."

Scott Smith, who manages the site, said this has never happened before and that the team is looking into the possibility of finding the responsible party. The correct headline has been restored.
posted by Marty 4:14 PM

 
DUDE, WHAT’S THE PROBLEM?

Good thing I snapped this photo earlier in the week of Bobbin’ Bob, the world’s largest bobblehead doll. (Bob is the big one. The other dude is Ryan Holmes, who was working the Upper Deck promotion.)

Anyway, Bob is gone today. His head, arms, surfboard and football were taken off last night – and not by Raider fans. Apparently, there was a problem with the company’s deal with the NFL Super Bowl Committee and Upper Deck was ordered to take down the 575-pound, poly-resin likeness of a California surfer.

Too bad. It was quite an attention-getter near the “dancing waters” of the Gaslamp Quarters. Hope Bob’s catching a big wave in La Jolla.
posted by Marty 1:33 PM

 
BUCS FANS HIT GROUND RUNNING

I went out for a morning run along the bay today in an effort to work off some of this Mexican food. The area around the Port of San Diego is, not surprisingly, somewhat like the Channelside District in Tampa.

And I have good news to report. After a week of wall-to-wall Raider fans, the Bucs fans out running and walking along my route this morning outnumbered those in silver and black by at least 4-to-1. Ronde Barber and Mike Alstott jerseys were everywhere.

Apparently fitness is not high on the list of Raider Nation priorities.

“Go Bucs!” was a common greeting. Many Bucs fans were stopping to chat with one another about where they live, when they arrived and how their team is going to go about winning tomorrow’s big game.
posted by Marty 12:19 PM

 
SUPER BOWL EVE

Saturday morning – another sunny day with expected highs in the 70s – and I get the feeling most people are glad the weeklong buildup is nearing an actual football game.

Certainly, the San Diego natives with little interest in football are ready to reclaim their city. There’s also an anxiety about what might happen after the game, particularly if Oakland wins, turning Raider fans loose in the streets.

Football fans, of course, are also ready for the big game, which has been dissected from every angle 100 times over.

The final night to soak up the pre-game flavor features some of the biggest and best private parties. Some – like the Maxim magazine gala – are so private their locations remain undisclosed to all but the invitees.

Might have to do some detective work.
posted by Marty 11:04 AM

Friday, January 24, 2003

 
ELBOW ROOM GETTING TOUGH TO FIND

It's official. San Diego is a madhouse. Local police expect 100,000 people in the several-block Gaslamp Quarter tonight alone, and gridlock has taken over on the roads.

Media shuttles that have taken just 10-15 minutes to wheel reporters from their hotels to the San Diego Convention Center all week can now expect hour-long round trips. If you can't catch a shuttle, the trolleys are definitely the way to go.

Among the downtown crowds, it's pretty easy to spot "ticket brokers" on every block. Most are still looking to buy and re-sell Super Bowl tickets. The going rate? I've heard up to $4,000 for a high-end ticket. The most expensive face value this year is $400.
posted by Marty 9:45 PM

 
BIG NASTY VS. RAIDER NATION

As mean as he looks, Big Nasty (right) and his similarly-nasty family and friends are actually pretty nice folks. They will scream till they're hoarse from now until the end of Sunday's game, but they won't be roaming the streets looking to stir up trouble.

The roaming near radio row -- where I found the Nastys -- reached a fever pitch today. Many of these radio shows are weekdays only, so today was their big Super Bowl preview day. Among the celebrities on hand were the "Tastes great, less filling" actresses from the Miller Lite commercials, Darth Vader and a legend from the world of "extreme fighting" whose name I didn't catch.

I have a photo of the Miller Lite ladies, but after yesterday's Hawaiian Tropic episode (scroll down the page) I decided to go with the Big Nasty picture. Hope my friends out there will forgive me.
posted by Marty 7:01 PM

 
FEAR AND LOATHING IN THE GASLAMP QUARTER

Roaming the famed Gaslamp Quarter for an hour or so this afternoon, it’s amazing how the activity has picked up since early in the week. The souvenir shops, restaurants and bars are filling up, and the evening activities are spilling into the streets.

One guy in a black leather jacket and black bandana was holding out a Bucs pennant at motorists as they slowly passed. I thought his Raider colors and support for the Bucs were an odd mix until I got a good look at the front of the pennant.

Over the Bucs logo he had drawn a circle with a slash through it. “No Bucs! No Chucky!” he was shouting.

Almost every shop in the Quarter has taken up the official Super Bowl merchandise business this week. There are a few exceptions, including the Wyatt Earp Museum and a cigar shop that could be of interest to Tampa natives.

I’m a little perplexed by the prices, though. Everything is expensive, of course. But the exact stuffed bears I saw for $18 at the NFL Experience yesterday were going for $25 in a Gaslamp Quarter shop.

My purchases will remain anonymous, as two of the three co-inhabitants of my house know how to read.
posted by Marty 5:55 PM

 
BUT WHERE DOES IT GET YOU?

Local police are looking for counterfeit tickets and cracking down on scalpers. Hopefully a St. Petersburg resident’s homemade pass will not be deemed a violation.

Steve and Judy Tolliver arrived Thursday on a charter flight for Bucs fans. Steve saw on TV before he left that passes were required to get into many venues, so he crafted an “Official Buccaneer Fan” pass to wear around his neck.

I’m sure he won’t get into trouble because of it, except perhaps with Raider fans. I’m also certain it will not get him into the Playboy or Maxim magazine parties tomorrow night. Judy is not likely to be upset about that.
posted by Marty 5:54 PM

 
BASEBALL NEEDS A GUY LIKE THIS

I'm not normally big on staged media events like commissioner Paul Tagliabue's state of the NFL address, but it strikes me that all sports leagues could use a leader like this. Are you listening, Major League Baseball?

If Tagliabue thinks the officials' oversight that cost the Giants a possible playoff win in San Francisco, he says so. He does, and he did. The same goes for his hope that the NFL returns to L.A., that the league can pull off a Super Bowl in New York City and/or Washington D.C. and his desire that the City of San Diego and Chargers owner Alex Spanos work out their differences and reach an agreement that allows the NFL to stay here.

Refreshing.
posted by Marty 5:04 PM

 
BUCS TAKING THEIR SHOW WORLD-WIDE

It came almost as an “aside” during NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue’s press conference today. In discussing the potential of the league to stage more games outside the United States, Tagliabue said he was happy the Bucs and New York Jets were playing a 2003 preseason game in Japan.

Tampa media members sat up in their seats. That’s news, isn’t it?

Indeed it is.

Tagliabue, pictured above with Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award winner Troy Vincent of the Eagles, did not give further details. But the game in Tokyo will be the first exhibition game of the year for each team and is likely to be played in early August.

While the Tampa Tribune sports department leaders begin sorting out the logistics of covering a game halfway around the world, TBO.com is imagining the possibilities, too.

I’m thinking live Web log.
posted by Marty 3:55 PM

 
NEW HOME FOR PADRES

The San Diego Padres' new baseball stadium is about halfway done, just across the street from the Convention Center and adjacent to the Gaslamp Quarter. The name, just announced, will be Petco Park. The town is bracing for an array of hot dog jokes. Opening is set for the 2004 season.

The Chargers wish they were so fortunate. Political haggling too detailed for a Web log has some speculating that the team will be leaving town in the coming years. L.A. football fans would be pleased to see a short move up Highway 5.
posted by Marty 10:12 AM

 
ON THE JOB

One of the Tampa-area people I've met actually planned to be here regardless of the Bucs' success. Jenna Bostic of Palm Harbor works for a public-relations firm -- Brener Zwikel & Associates -- that sends staff to help run Super Bowl events.

"It's a bonus that the Bucs made it," Bostic said between sign-ins at the NFL Experience media table. "I've seen a lot of people I know from Tampa."

This is Bostic's fourth Super Bowl. Her dad, Tom Bostic, is the longtime coach at Clearwater High School.
posted by Marty 10:05 AM

 
POOR TIMING FOR BUCS?

I feel like I haven't fully adjusted to the three-hour time change. According to performance development consultant Lee Igel, that three-hour difference could have a bearing on Super Bowl XXXVII.

"Interestingly, most physical and mental attributes grow increasingly potent throughout the course of a day," Igel said. "During the hours between 3 and 6 p.m., for example, anaerobic capacity -- the energy type used to sprint short distances or lift weights -- is a certain percentage higher."

Igel cited a study done by Dr. Roger Smith of Palo Alto, Calif., in which 25 years of Monday night NFL games were studied. In games between teams from opposite coasts, the west coast teams won 63 percent of the time. Their players' internal clocks read 6 p.m. (Pacific Time) for most of those Monday kickoffs, while the east coast players' read 9 p.m.

With Sunday's game kicking off at approximately 3:20 p.m. California time, Oakland's players will be in their "optimal biological performance time frame," while Tampa Bay's will be slightly beyond it (6:20 Eastern). However, it should be noted that Igel concluded his explanation with, "Go Bucs!"
posted by Marty 9:58 AM

Thursday, January 23, 2003

 
NFL FINES RAIDERS

The Gaslamp Quarter is packed with party-goers and the NFL has fined the Oakland Raiders. In other words, all is status quo in San Diego.

As expected, throngs of revelers arrived today, and they’re turning the streets of the town’s famed night spot into a mini-Mardi Gras. Some of the out-of-towners include members of the Bucs UK Fan Club. The plan is to catch up with them tomorrow night.

As for the Raiders, NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said the team has been fined $50,000 for violating the NFL’s Super Bowl media policy.

“A group of Raiders players and coaches either left early or failed to appear at the mandatory morning interview session at the team hotel on Wednesday morning,” Aiello said. It apparently was the result of a team miscommunication, he added.

Anyway, what’s $50,000 to Al Davis?
posted by Marty 11:34 PM

 
MAKE A CHUCKY FACE, BUCS FANS

Finally, some Bucs fans. They’re easy to spot amid all the Raider jerseys, and they were more than willing to show me their best Chucky faces.

(From left) Esa Flores, 10, Paul Chenelia, Oscar Marrufo and Brandon Marrufo, 9, made the quick drive down from Los Angeles, where they follow the Bucs religiously. I also ran into some San Diego-based Bucs fans who grew up in Tampa. And the numbers arriving from TIA for the weekend has increased as the week has progressed.
posted by Marty 9:12 PM

 
REALLY, IT WAS AN HONEST MISTAKE

I thought I’d spotted some Bucs fans at the NFL Experience. They were all wearing red, a sure sign of Tampa Bay fans in this sea of black and silver. So I stopped them for a quick photo, in the interest of honest journalism.

Turns out, these were the Hawaiian Tropic Girls. They didn’t tell me until after the fact. Is there any way I can block this post from my family?
posted by Marty 9:09 PM

 
THE RAIDER EXPERIENCE

As it stands now, they might consider renaming the NFL Experience "Raider Nation headquarters." There's a line to get your photo taken with your head atop a dummy player in a Raider uniform. The Bucs equivalent, just a few feet away, attracts visitors far less frequently, and most of the people I saw at that one were not dressed in Bucs garb.

It's to be expected, of course. The Raiders have a huge fan base here. There were a lot of Chargers jerseys, too, again to be expected. But a quick memo to Steeler fans: You're not in the Super Bowl. Looks to me like a lot of Pittsburghers figured their team would be here and booked trips well in advance. Steeler jerseys outnumbered Bucs jerseys at least 2-to-1 in the hour or so I just spent there.

Photos to come.
posted by Marty 8:08 PM

 
STILL THE ONE

This isn't as good a photo as I'd hoped for, but the Shania Twain/No Doubt press conference was one of the best-attended gatherings of the week. A front-row seat was out of the question. Shania is second from the left.

None of the performers had anything interesting to say, but the brief appearance of the halftime show's producers was pretty comical. Jimmy Iovine of Geffen Records and Joel Gallen of Tenth Planet Productions, introduced as music industry icons, took the podium before the performers and made some brief opening comments. When it was time for questions, only one was posed: "Is the show going to be live or lip-sync?"

Live, they promised. Let's hope.
posted by Marty 6:31 PM

 
MR. INTERACTIVE

You might have seen The Tampa Tribune's Bill Ward on his TBO video postcards. If not, they're worth a look. Bill's such an interactive media guru, I figured he deserved a presence in the weblog, too. Here, Bill keeps his digital camera aimed at either Don King or a Playboy bunny in the Super Bowl media center. I'm not sure which.

If Bill's mug doesn't get you fired up for the Super Bowl, I plan to upload a photo from halftime performer Shania Twain's press conference in a little while. Stay tuned.
posted by Marty 5:12 PM

 
BIG, BIG STARS

The number of celebrities who show up at these Super Bowls is remarkable. William "Refrigerator" Perry of the 1985 champion Chicago Bears was holding court near radio row today, presumably passing along advice to Warren Sapp about scoring Super Bowl touchdowns. Sapp seems content to block for his Bucs teammates in goal-line situations.

Don King -- the real one, not the media day impersonator -- is talking as I type. And that's just in the lobby of the San Diego Convention center. It's not celebs I'm looking for today, though. The plan is to visit the NFL Experience on its day of re-opening to the public and find some Bucs fans.
posted by Marty 4:28 PM

 
SAY WHAT?

Once people find out you're at the Super Bowl, you suddenly become a little more popular. I've had a few e-mail requests to do radio interviews from well outside the Tampa and San Diego areas. I just finished up with "Ugly Mike" and Sebastian from New Hampshire, and it was quite an experience.

I knew their show might be a bit different when, just before I came on, they were debating the merits of washed-up rockers Whitesnake, Dokken and the Scorpions. Among their questions for me: Do you know how to spot "women of the evening" at the various hotels?

Eventually the talk did turn to football, though. There is a game this weekend, right?
posted by Marty 3:59 PM

 
ROGER, HOUSTON

Meet the welcome committee from Houston, home to Super Bowl XXXVIII. The following year's Super Bowl hosts always enjoy Super week, shaking hands and trying to pick up as much good will and information as they can.

They're parked in a prominent spot in the media center and are raffling off a pair of cowboy boots at the end of the week. Telling them I had a layover in their airport on the way to San Diego does not increase my odds, I'm told. But I'm wearing them home if I win.
posted by Marty 12:48 PM

 
TALK ABOUT DURABILITY
When I ran into Jerry Green of the Detroit News at Super Bowl XXXV in Tampa, he was one of nine sports writers to have covered every Super Bowl. Two years later in San Diego, he said the passing of legendary Boston columnist Will McDonough has left the number at five.

"We're all hoping to make it through Sunday," Green quipped.

Green was a Football News correspondent when I worked there about a dozen years ago. And just like old times, he found a way to duck my question about who he thinks will win Sunday.

"I predict the Detroit News will beat the (Detroit) Free-Press," he said.
posted by Marty 10:57 AM

 
McCARDELL PUTS BUCS IN VIRTUAL DRIVER'S SEAT

Tonight's party had a purpose. Sony PlayStation 2 and 989 Sports held a bash at a San Diego hotel for the eighth annual "Game Before the Game," pitting the Bucs' Keenan McCardell against the Raiders' Charlie Garner in an NFL 2003 video game. As hosts Lynn Swann and Pat O'Brien pointed out, the winner of each of the previous seven video matchups went on to win the Super Bowl. Try to find another prediction source that reliable.

"You should be rooting for overtime," O'Brien told the crowd of media members and invited guests. "That means more free drinks."

Once again, there seemed to be a glut of Raider fans, but McCardell spoiled their party. Having Brad Johnson throw three TD passes -- including two to (who else?) Keenan McCardell -- the real McCardell and the Bucs put a 28-8 video loss on Garner and the Raiders.

There will be some happy folks in Tampa if history holds up.
posted by Marty 12:22 AM

Wednesday, January 22, 2003

 
BUC-A-FIED BERT CHECKS IN
Good news for Bucs fans. Buc-a-fied Bert (a.k.a. Albert Owens) and a crew from Channel 8's Daytime Show has arrived in San Diego.

They will be waking up bright and early to do the show live with the three-hour time change, but I don't imagine a little grogginess will keep Bert from an all-time best performance Friday morning. Will someone please tape that for me?
posted by Marty 9:31 PM

 
LONG ON CHARM, SHORT ON BUCS FANS

San Diego's "Little Italy" has some great shops and mouth-watering restaurants. One of the shuttle drivers described it as a better place to walk around than the more "touristy" Gaslamp Quarter, and it was good advice.

Unfortunately, I struck out on the two things I was looking for -- Bucs fans, and a hokey gift or two to bring back to Tampa. The Little Italy shops had plenty for sale, but far too nice for any of my friends to appreciate. As for Bucs fans, the search continues.

Actually, one of the shop vendors said she hadn't seen many football fans at all, and that they're hopeful the next few days will bring loads of them. You could do a lot worse than spending an hour or two in this charming part of town.
posted by Marty 7:00 PM

 
IF THE STAGE IS GRAND, HE'LL BE ON HAND
Former O.J. Simpson lawyer Johnnie Cochran held a press conference today in his continuing effort to have the NFL make a greater commitment to hiring African-American head coaches and coordinators. Marvin Lewis, Herm Edwards and Tony Dungy are the only black head coaches in the league.

The Super Bowl is the biggest stage for such a campaign, certainly, and the issue should be addressed. But it does seem a bit ironic that it's the Bucs and the Raiders doing battle in this year's big game. Oakland owner Al Davis has long been a champion of African-American opportunities in the NFL, and the Bucs called Dungy their head coach for six years -- with Edwards as a top assistant.
posted by Marty 6:44 PM

 
ON THE LOOKOUT
So far, Super Bowl week has featured a little bit of everything. Everything except an influx of Bucs fans, that is.

I'm sure that will change as the weekend approaches. Tampa Tribune folks went combing the beaches and the Gaslamp Quarter in the last 24 hours looking for Bucs fans. The closest they found were a group of beach-goers with Buccaneers logos on the breast of their shirts. Turns out they were with the team.

I saw some Tampa Bay fans on my flight in yesterday morning, but none since. My goal by the end of the day is to find at least one person in this town decked out in Bucs garb. I'm taking my search to "Little Italy," then back to the Convention Center. Raider fans are everywhere. It's not a pretty sight.
posted by Marty 5:16 PM

 
BEWARE OF TROLLEY GATES

San Diego has a great trolley system, I'm told, and it appears many locals use it as their main way of getting around. Two things I've learned from experience: The trains blare their horns throughout the night (presumably to let pedestrians know they're coming), and the gates that lower to stop traffic at trolley crossings do not always seem to know when the trains are actually coming.

Our media shuttle driver had to slam on the brakes and back up quickly this morning to avoid having one lower on the hood. Just as he put it in drive after the trolley went through, the gate lowered again suddenly (with no trolley coming) and bounced off the top of the van. No one was injured and the few people aboard had a good chuckle. But add the cost of fixing a dented shuttle van to the price of putting on a Super Bowl.
posted by Marty 1:20 PM

 
PERFECT SETTING FOR PIRATES

Within a short walk of my downtown hotel is San Diego Bay, where joggers and roller-bladers enjoy the great weather and a wonderful view. Sound familiar, Bayshore Boulevard lovers?

The ship pictured above was not just brought in for this all-pirate Super Bowl. It's the "Star of India," the oldest iron-hulled ship afloat. It was launched from Great Britain in 1863 and has circumnavigated the earth 21 times -- or approximately 20 times more than Michael Pittman has circumnavigated the end zone in a Bucs jersey. But I digress. The ship now houses a Maritime Museum, but I was there too early this morning to board.

Speaking of the all-pirate Super Bowl, Sunday's game is the first in Super Bowl history pitting teams with like mascots. However, my TBO colleague Jim Johnston points out that, if you consider Vikings to be something like pirates, the Vikings-Raiders Super Bowl matchup would have been the first.

posted by Marty 12:53 PM

Tuesday, January 21, 2003

 
THEY SURE KNOW HOW TO THROW A PARTY
Reporting here from the Tuesday night media bash at the NFL Experience in San Diego. There's an America Online tent right in the middle of the party with Internet speed about 10 times faster than The News Center's. If you're one of my Media General superiors, please ignore that previous sentence.

In between food samplings and searching for some Tampa colleagues, I stopped to try my luck at kicking extra points. One-for-two. And a sore foot to boot.

Martin Gramatica should fare better.

Until the morning ...
posted by Marty 11:10 PM

 
NO SUPER BOWL FOR YOU!
Bucs fans will get a kick out of this photo. Philadelphia Eagles QB Donovan McNabb, instead of preparing to play in Super Bowl XXXVII, spent part of Tuesday afternoon pushing his mother, Wilma, around a Chunky Soup set in a shopping cart.

One of the most elusive QBs in the NFL managed to fill his cart with cans of soup but ran out of time before he could stash any in a bin which accounted for “points” in the promotion. Brian Urlacher of the Bears pushed his mom to victory over McNabb, Pittsburgh’s Jerome Bettis and the Giants’ Michael Strahan.

Of course, McNabb and the Eagles fully expected to be playing Sunday until the Bucs left Philadelphia with a 27-10 triumph in the NFC title game.

I’m not going to knock the guy, though. He served me [and other media members] a tasty cup of soup as part of the promotion.
posted by Marty 9:00 PM

 
WHERE WAS SECURITY?
These won’t be the only fans you’ll see dressed like this.Wayne Mabry (left) and Pablo Navarro managed to gain media access to a Breathe Right nasal strips “Snore-Off” featuring one of their favorite players, the Raiders’ Jerry Rice, as a judge.

They’re not as mean as they look. In fact, both smiled when informed their photo would show up in Tampa to give Bucs fans a glimpse of what they’re up against.

For the record, Dana Stubblefield edged Brock Huard as the NFL’s loudest snorer. Trust me, you don’t want to hear the details.
posted by Marty 8:52 PM

 
SECURITY TIGHT, AS EXPECTED
You're asked to show your ID everywhere and given a quick pat-down before entering the media center to be issued credentials. Security, of course, will be tight at Super Bowl XXXVII and every one hereafter.

Checking in was easy, though, and both of the media relations folks I spoke to raved about the previous night's scene: a group of battleships leaving for the Persian Gulf from just behind the San Diego Convention Center that serves as media headquarters. It sure put a football game in perspective for everyone who witnessed it.

Any complaints about having bags searched or waiting in an extra checkpoint line have officially been rendered trivial.
posted by Marty 4:24 PM

 
SUNNY SAN DIEGO
The weather here is not disappointing. Feels like 70. Lots of sun. Probably a lot like home, in fact. Flight connections went like clockwork, but I'm making a mental note about not asking dumb questions at the San Diego airport, where two TV crews were camped out, waiting for celebrities to arrive.

Spotting a young woman with her hair dyed Tampa Bay red and black as I waited for my luggage, I casually queried, "Here to watch the Bucs?"

Her response: "Who?"

Needless to say, I didn't bother to pull out the digital camera. I hope the rest of my interviews go better.
posted by Marty 4:02 PM

 
RAIDER FAN SIGHTING IN HOUSTON
Live from Bush Airport in Houston. Bucs fans have suffered for much of the team's 27-year existence. Several suffered a little more this morning as their last-minute bookings left many with middle seats on Continental flight 1121 from Tampa. They didn't seem to mind.

Houston also brings the first sighting of Raider Nation at Gate D8 as we wait to board for San Diego. No incidents to report between Bucs and Raiders fans - at least not yet.

Everyone's hoping to be back here a year from now when Houston hosts Super Bowl XXXVIII.

On to San Diego.
posted by Marty 10:00 AM

Monday, January 20, 2003

 
READY FOR AN EARLY WAKE-UP CALL
I’m normally a light packer. With two laptops, a digital camera, cell phone and a week’s worth of clothes for San Diego, this trip will be the exception.

And trust me, bags feel heavier when your departure time for Tampa International is 5 a.m.

I’m not complaining, though. I’ve covered a Super Bowl before, but I’ve never been to San Diego, and I hear it’s one of the best places in the country to visit. The weather, they say, is almost always perfect. Tampa is expecting 70 and sunny Tuesday – a lofty standard to match.

San Diego’s views are great, too, I’m told. So I’ve thrown in a photo of the palm trees you can see from the fourth floor of The News Center. I can do some comparison shopping once I touch down.

I’ll be relating the sights and sounds of Super Bowl week via this Web log until the day after the big game. I’m going to have a little fun with it. It won’t be your typical Super Bowl preview-type stuff. You’ll get enough of that elsewhere.

Time now for a little sleep.
posted by Marty 10:47 PM