Exuberance on parade

More than 100,000 shed other worries to cheer on the Bucs, while bay area mayors proclaim the day the region's greatest.

By Times staff writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published January 29, 2003

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TAMPA -- For one afternoon, standing in the warm sun, shoulder-to-shoulder with tens of thousands of fans in pewter and red jerseys, no one seemed to care about war or the economy, about their jobs or homework.

On Tuesday, the world champions were on parade.

"I had to be here," said Joe Castillo, 28. "All I wanted was a parade. A parade for the Bucs."

Buccaneers coach Jon Gruden, team owner Malcolm Glazer and the players rode in convertibles and pickup trucks, waving at fans and thanking them for their support.

Fans, estimated at more than 100,000, screamed themselves hoarse. They set up folding chairs along Bayshore Boulevard, looked on from different levels of the Old Fort Brooke parking garage, stood on the roof of City Hall and sat on trash bins and brick walls along Florida Avenue.

It was also a day of unity. Mayors Dick Greco of Tampa, Rick Baker of St. Petersburg and Brian Aungst of Clearwater joined hands and proclaimed it the greatest day in the region's history.

Even the outspoken Warren Sapp seemed stunned by the outpouring.

"I thought I'd seen it all last night," said Sapp, referring to the more than 60,000 fans at Raymond James Stadium on Monday night. ". . . I just want to thank you from the bottom of my heart."