Buc Ring of Honor Timely

Posted Aug 2, 2009 by Tom McEwen

Updated Aug 3, 2009 at 10:23 AM

Lee Roy Selmon’s selection to the Bucs Ring of Honor as its first member surprises about as much as that of George Washington getting that first elected spot. Who else? I’m going to guess ill-fated Ricky Bell might get the ring spot next to Lee Roy. And if those voting allow coaches’ Rings around the inside of Raymond James Stadium, that first sage, John McKay, may have a spot.

But, for the moment, the selection of the faultless Selmon will gratify Buccaneer fans. It is a good idea, just as was the Pirate Ship in the north end zone that fires cannons at good-time moments. As has been most of the outside-the-lines decisions relating to Tampa Stadium and wonderful One Bucko Place. Now if we can turn around this economy, get our priorities right, on to winning the Super Bowl.

Making Lee Roy Selmon the anchor member of the Bucs Ring of Honor was a slam dunk, as was naming as leg of the Expressway for him, or whatever may seem right to him. I mean, in Selmon, now a University of South Florida fund-raiser and a most celebrated Tampa resident, with wife Claybra and family, we have, thanks to the Outback guys who have admired him so, Chris Sullivan, Bob Basham, and Tim Gannon, a popular and successful restaurant man around our town.

In this neat job to which I clung with the Tribune, few developments were easier than presenting Selmon to the balloting for the Pro Football Hall of Fame in voting. It was not a gimme. Just look at the nominees, each year. But, hey, Lee Roy was legit, though at times in those years (0-26 to start the franchise), the Bucs impressed few. It was 1995 and I had some support, I knew, oh, Jack Buck, Cooper Rollow and Edwin Pope, and there were no quarterbacks in that class. Defensive lineman Selmon had a shot.

Procedure calls for the representative of the franchise’s area to make a speech, followed by those who will. Get all the nominations in, count them and vote some more. I had been on the committee for some time and had no known enemies. I made the pitch, noting when Selmon got through the blockers, he’d pounce on the quarterback, arms wide, envelope him as if wearing an overcoat, or if in chase to the ball-carrier’s right, unimpeded, Lee Roy could catch and swamp most before they made it around the far corner.

McKay liked linemen with big chests and thighs and little legs, the build of Lee Roy. Texas Coach Darrel Royal said when Selmon was at Oklahoma, he had a simple solution for coaching against him. He just never ran to the left. But, all added, Selmon never tried to hurt anybody. And, Lee Roy, in college, drew no penalty flags for roughing, none for late hits, none for a personal foul. None.

“I almost did once,” said Lee Roy, “but the ref put it back in his pocket.”

He’ll be in the ring once it’s unveiled when Green Bay comes to town on Nov. 8. Now, when I left the Hall committee, truly an honor, I recommended Tribune veteran Ira Kaufman. He took the post. His next presentation on behalf of a Buc likely will be for linebacker Derrick Brooks. He’ll get in. Ought to.

Kaufman is glib. He’ll get it done.