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Wednesday, January 22, 2003

By Ed Bouchette, Post-Gazette Sports Writer

SAN DIEGO -- Network funnyman Tony Siragusa, as big as a cow, fit right in when he joined the herd of news media that descended on Qualcomm Stadium yesterday for media day -- the largest mass interview session in sports.

"Now," said Siragusa, who retired from the Baltimore Ravens after last season, "I'm a part of this cattle crew."

Siragusa earned a Super Bowl ring as a defensive tackle with the 2000 Ravens, and it flashed on his right hand as he approached his former teammate at Pitt, Jeff Christy, with some words of advice: Enjoy the show. Christy, a Freeport native in his 10th year in the NFL, has landed in his first Super Bowl.

"It goes fast, man. Tape everything," said Siragusa, who then picked up Christy's video camera and taped him giving interviews.

Christy, a three-time Pro Bowl center, is in his third season with the Buccaneers after spending the previous seven with Minnesota. His brother, Greg, played tackle in Buffalo but was gone by the time the Bills made their playoff run in the 1990s.

Jerry on Jerry

Wide receiver Jerry Rice, 40, on wide receiver Jerry Porter, 24, a third-year pro from West Virginia University: "His potential could be unbelievable. If he really keeps his head on straight and if he keeps working hard, he's going to continue to develop and make plays."

All about the ring

The ring. To some, it means everything.

Former Steelers tackle Tunch Ilkin played 15 years without getting one. Asked if he would trade making the playoffs, say, 14 times in those 15 years without winning a Super Bowl vs. making the playoffs just three times in 15 years and winning a Super Bowl, he said he would take the ring, without question.

So would Tampa receiver Keyshawn Johnson.

"When I look at guys who have a ring, that's my ultimate prize and goal. I've got plenty of money, plenty of good numbers, played in a lot of games, done well in them, but the one thing I don't have is a Super Bowl ring."

Raiders memories

Johnson, a Los Angeles native who went to Southern California, parked cars at the Coliseum when the Raiders played there in the 1980s.

"I grew up probably two blocks from the Coliseum," Johnson said. "The Coliseum is like Soldier Field, a historical place where football is definitely needed and wanted. It gives the neighborhood a lift."

Some will say that happened when the Raiders moved back to Oakland.

Brother act

Two years ago, Buccaneers cornerback Ronde Barber had to watch his brother, Giants halfback Tiki Barber, come to Tampa to play Baltimore in Super Bowl XXXV. Now it's Ronde's chance to win one, although without a brotherly escort.

"Tiki had it easy," Ronde said. "I got to show him around town. He got to eat home-cooked meals all week. I've only been to San Diego once. I have no idea what this city is about, let alone during the Super Bowl."

The brothers filmed a Visa television ad together, but "I couldn't act," Ronde said. "It was a little stressful trying to get all of the smirks and smiles and everything else to coincide."

No vacation

Pro Bowl defensive tackle Warren Sapp said the Buccaneers are not just happy to be here.

"We aren't here for a vacation," he said. "I live on the only peninsula in the United States of America, and if I want vacation time, I live it every day of my life."

Staying power

Tampa Bay General Manager Rich McKay was close to resigning after the fiasco his owners, the Glazier family, wrought last year when they tried to hire Bill Parcells as head coach. The Glaziers fired Coach Tony Dungy and had Parcells' signature on a contract before Parcells backed out.

In the end, they paid $8 million and four draft choices to pry Jon Gruden away from the Raiders, and McKay wound up staying.

"I came close to leaving the team because the circumstances were such that the coaching situation was struggling to resolve itself," McKay said. "I wasn't sure if the coach coming in was going to have the title."

McKay is the son of Tampa Bay's first coach, the late John McKay.