Celebs turn out for bash
By ROGER MILLS
Published February 27, 2005
Leave it to Eddie DeBartolo Jr., the former owner of the 49ers and one of the most influential members of Tampa's high society, to bring together a group of the area's most influential sports personalities.
The likes of Lee Roy Selmon, Tino Martinez, Gary Sheffield and Matt Geiger gathered at the A La Carte Pavilion Friday night for the third annual DeBartolo Family Foundation All-Star Charity Gala.
The Tampa-based foundation benefits area communities, awards scholarships and provides grants to individuals and organizations with special needs.
"It's a great event when you can get the movers and shakers behind a good cause right here in this community," Bucs defensive end Anthony McFarland said.
"When you make a difference at home, it's a difference because people can see it first hand and it's big. (When it comes to) the DeBartolo Family Foundation, there's no one bigger."
Others who participated included Bucs linebacker Shelton Quarles and cornerback Ronde Barber, Falcons running back Warrick Dunn and retired NFL greats Marcus Allen, Ronnie Lott, Roger Craig, Steve DeBerg and Dwight Clark.
The man of the hour, of course, was DeBartolo.
"More than anything, once Eddie gets behind something, it's going to be big and first class," said Clark, the former 49ers receiver who, at age 48, is a real estate developer in Charlotte, N.C. "Throughout our career, it was always that way and once he's behind this organization it's going to be successful."
And could DeBartolo, who relinquished control of the 49ers to his sister, Denise DeBartolo York in 2000, be an NFL owner again?
"Actually, I'm kind of surprised that he hasn't gotten involved again in football," DeBerg said.
Hmmm!
MONEY MATTERS: McFarland, due to make $3-million this season, said he was aware of the Bucs' salary-cap situation ($17-million over) and would be willing to listen to any offers from general manager Bruce Allen to restructure his deal.
"I haven't heard anything from anybody," McFarland said Friday.
Agent Karl Bernard said last week that the Bucs had not approached him about a restructuring.
GRAMATICA'S ON THE PROWL: Kicker Martin Gramatica, who still has his offseason home in Tampa, will be a free agent on Wednesday and said he is looking forward to charting a new course.
"Technically, I'm still with the Colts until then, but we'll wait to see what happens," Gramatica said. "I'm looking forward to it. I would like to know where I'm going to be next year."
The 2004 season started badly and he was released by the Bucs, who drafted him in 1999 out of Kansas State, on Nov. 30. He was signed by the Colts on Dec. 8.
Gramatica, whose wedding is scheduled for mid March, said he wasn't kidding when he decided not to wear a uniform again in 2004 and opted to take a vacation to Mexico.
"But I did tell my agent ( David Dunn) that the only call I would take was from coach ( Tony) Dungy or (former Bucs special-teams coach) Joe Marciano (Texans)," Gramatica said.
"Sure enough, the minute I arrived I heard the phone and sure enough it was my agent telling me that coach Dungy had called and wanted to sign me. I left the next morning to fly to Indianapolis.
"(Playing for the Colts) was a great experience, it was awesome. It was tough to leave here. I have so many great friends. This was home for me. I drive by One Buc Place sometimes and feel like I can still walk in there. Obviously, I can't do that any more."