Bucs

Bucs fans deface Dunedin cheesesteak shop

DUNEDIN -- A Philly cheesesteak eatery in downtown Dunedin caught the wrath of Bucs fans early Sunday morning.

Vandals spray painted the windows of Laspaza's Original Steaks and Hoagies in red: "Eagles S---. Bucs Rule. McNabb overrated. 23-17 Bucs."

Co-owner Ed Crowley, who said he's a devout Bucs fan, doesn't think he deserved it.

"They assumed that we're Eagles fans," Crowley said. "But we go to every Bucs game. We're going to the Super Bowl. Why should I have to go through all these problems just because I own a Philly cheesesteak restaurant? It's just somebody who stereotyped us and doesn't come in."

Open for four years, Laspaza's serves original Philadelphia cheesesteaks with ingredients flown in from the city of brotherly love.

Other Philly cheesesteak eatery owners said they worried over the weekend.

"I'd expect something like this from Eagles fans," said Bucs fan Paul Campbell, who owns Philly's Famous Cheesesteaks in Largo. "I've even heard of people from down here calling up to cheesesteak places in Philly and harassing them."

Campbell, who owns two cheesesteak shops, called the police when he heard about Crowley's plight. Campbell's Largo store is closed on Sundays.

"They said they'd patrol around there, depending on how the game goes."

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