The Bucs First Championship: A Dozen Days in January

Tuesday January 28, 2003

Just like all the other events surrounding the Bucs championship, all the local TV stations televised the parade. Fans had a good time waiting for the team's arrival. For hours they cheered with one side of the street yelling "Tampa" and the other screaming "Bay." People crowded balconies, hung from windows and climbed trees. The crowd was estimated at over 100,000 people.

Police motorcycles lead the parade with players following in convertibles and pickups. Jon Gruden, Malcolm Glazer and the Vince Lombardi trophy rode in the first car. Rich McKay followed smoking a victory cigar. Warren Sapp and Derrick Brooks rode together, followed by John Lynch and Brad Johnson, then Joe Jurevicius and Mike Alstott. As each vehicle pasted, the team was enthusiastically cheered. The city of Tampa had a float, the Budweiser clydesdales were there, but the people came out to see the Buccaneers.

Many of the players got out of the vehicles and walked the parade route. They shook hands, gave high fives, and hooted and howled with those lining the parade route. Warren Sapp was walking down the center of Bayshore Boulevard eating corn dogs. Jon Gruden was signing Chucky dolls. Dexter Jackson was showing off the Super Bowl MVP trophy. Monte Kiffin lead the cheer of "defense" from the back of a pickup. Sapp, Kiffin, Dwight Smith, and Shaun King were among those recording the scene with camcorders. It was one huge party.

As the parade made its way downtown, politicians and proclamations kicked off the rally. Tampa mayor Dick Greco gave Jon Gruden and Malcolm Glazer keys to the city. Rich McKay served as master of ceremonies for the rally. "You know, I have been hearing a lot about the Raider nation, I heard a lot about the Eagles fans and I heard a lot about all these fans," McKay began. "I think we all know who the best fans in the United States of America are, the Buccaneers fans."

Rich McKay called John Lynch one of the old timers and joked, "I don't know if he can make it up here at his age." Lynch told the crowd, "I want to get one thing straight. A lot was made about me going to my home town with my team to win this championship. I was raised in San Diego, but my home town is Tampa."

Rich KcKay continued to introduce the players, "This next guy doesn't have a lot to say. So, if you guys have got an hour listen to Warren Sapp." Summing up player's feelings, Sapp said "I thought we had seen it all last night when rode over to that stadium. We've been talking the last four or five years about what it would look like when we brought this championship home and I couldn't imagine anything better. I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart."

Rich McKay brought the head coach to the podium by saying, "Let's go to a little guy who just got into this town last year, had a little bit of an impact, coach Jon Gruden." "There's a storm warning out there," Gruden said. "We've got a heck of a football team and we're just getting started."

Several of the players talked about repeating as champions. Derrick Brooks said, "We hope we'll be back here doing this again next year." Brad Johnson stated, "Stay hungry, stay lean, we're coming back for more." Keyshawn Johnson commented, "All I know is I'm looking to repeat." Rhonde Barber said, "We'll be right back, Houston next year, Super Bowl champions."

After the speeches, Warren Sapp, Monte Kiffin and Brad Johnson were among those dancing on the stage with the Lombardi trophy. Some players lingered to sign autographs before they left. The official celebrations were over.

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