Missed opportunity: Tampa teams soar, fans watch from afar

This has been a year for Tampa Bay sports like no other, though the area’s three successful professional franchises haven’t had a chance to truly capitalize on the boom and energize pockets of a fan base that in recent years have earned the tag of front-runners. "As fans you can't ask for much more, and you couldn't be prouder of all the teams," said Hall of Fame linebacker and former Tampa Bay Buccaneers star Derrick Brooks. — The Bucs, who usually rank near the bottom of the NFL in attendance, are off to their best start in a decade behind Tom Brady.