Retribution Now Will Be Okay Tom McEwen, The Tampa Tribune, published 5 October 2008 Not exactly a hurrah weekend for the Tampa Bay sports professionals, from Prague to Chicago to Denver. The hockey Lightning, under a new ownership, coach, and a lineup stacked with newcomers of considerable credentials, the youthful and easy-to-support baseball Rays and the ready-for-changes football Bucs all got their straps handed to them worldwide. The Lightning lost to the New York Rangers in Prague, the Rays dropped one to the White Sox in Chicago and the Buccaneers lost a grinder to the slightly tougher Broncos in Denver, 16-13. Sure each Tampa area team should have won. Sure. At home, they would have. So, what now? Redemption, of course, and quickly. The Rays have another shot to wrap up the American division playoff best of five series against Chicago today in Comiskey Park. If Chicago loses to the Rays today it’s over and the Rays return and get ready for either Boston or Anaheim, but if they lose they come back to Tampa Bay for the pivotal game. The Lightning will end their European goodwill hockey adventure and return to their Channelside home-Dome here. The Bucs, well, they can return to One Buc and Raymond James with a special opportunity for their football redemption. The opponent? The undefeated North Carolina club that trounced the Chicago Bears 34-0. Yes, the Bears. Yes, 34-0. The Carolinians did what they did while the Bucs lost, barely, but still lost, to a good Denver team. The Bucs lost to Denver because their offensive line could not block the Bronco defensive linemen. Those big guys sacked Tampa quarterback Brian Griese like he’d not experienced here as a Buccaneer—four times. He was hurried and harassed, and chased like a felon fleeing in a stripped suit. He was eventually knocked so silly that he had to exit the game. If there is an upside of this development, it got former starting quarterback Jeff Garcia into the game and he did well. He took the Bucs to a touchdown on a pass he threw to Ike Hilliard close the final score 16-13 . It has always been close, this quarterback competition on the Bucs. Last year, it was Garcia, a cool one who can move about a bit if he must, and he took the team to the playoffs. Coach Jon Gruden has had a time with this position (who hasn’t?), but this injury of Griese may well make the decision for him. This is not just redemption time for the mighty Bucs but opportunity time. Tough as Carolina may be, Tampa is familiar with the team, plays them twice yearly, and usually well. There is no fear there, no awe. Also, the Bucs truly could have been moving into a place for a surge, good word to use these days. The Bucs are still 3-2. A win Sunday would have pushed them to 4-1. And check the way the rest of the schedule unfolds. The Bucs have the Carolinians at friendly RJS and before a Bucko crowd. Then, Seattle, no powerhouse, comes to Tampa. The Bucs then hit the road, to Dallas and Kansas. Dallas is living on memories. Kansas City has bad problems. The Bucs then have a bye and Minnesota here, Detroit there, and New Orleans here. Guarantee you know that, realizing the games will come one at a time. Certainly, the Bucs’ result Sunday at Denver and we all want Griese to fit back in, then suit up and get on with his work for the Buccaneers. He’s got to get his retribution against the Broncos who knocked him about on Sunday, a mile high out here. Or, take it out on whomever he will next play, while assuring victory on the scoreboard, not just retribution.