I was born across the street from “The Big Sombrero,” old Tampa Stadium.

From that day on, creamsicle blood pumped through my veins, whether I liked it or not.

For my entire childhood, that meant being the laughingstock of any social group. As my front-running friends proudly donned their puffy Starter jackets emblazoned with Packers, Cowboys, Broncos, 49ers and Steelers logos, I defiantly wore an orange-and-white ringer tee with a winking pirate and a picture of Jimmie Giles on the front.

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The Tampa Bay Buccaneers made losing an art form and a way of life for kids like me, but I just couldn’t bring myself to give them up in favor of some other Lombardi-studded franchise.

In 1997, my blood turned pewter (probably should have gotten that checked out), and the fortunes of my beloved Bucs finally turned around. Thanks to a foundation laid in the few years prior (drafting Hall of Famers Derrick Brooks and Warren Sapp in 1995, hiring Tony Dungy as head coach in 1996), Tampa Bay posted 10 wins and a playoff victory for the first time since 1979.

That generation of Buccaneer football would eventually be crowned with a Super Bowl win following the 2002 season.

But one of the most important cogs in that machine was a Florida Marlins pitching prospect out of Stanford, selected in the third round of the 1993 NFL draft.

John Lynch was mostly a special-teamer for his first two seasons in the NFL, then flashed some playmaking ability in 1995, starting six of nine games and picking off three passes. He would then prove himself to be a vital building block for the most successful run in franchise history.

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From 1996 to 2003, Lynch would start 122 games, establishing himself as one of the most feared and physical safeties in the entire NFL (just ask his brother-in-law). He was a vocal leader and imposing presence on one of the best defenses in league history.

But as Lynch is inducted into the Bucs’ Ring of Honor Thursday night, those of us who grew up in the Tampa Bay area during that time will remember him for his contributions to our community as much as his on-field success.

A hallmark of Dungy’s tenure as Tampa Bay’s head coach was building a roster the fan base could be proud of, both on and off the field. Lynch was a shining example of that philosophy.

Lynch and his wife, Linda, founded the John Lynch Foundation, which now serves youth and communities in Tampa, Denver and San Diego:

John and Linda Lynch formed the John Lynch Foundation in August 2000 to provide encouragement and positive alternatives for young people. In a time when violence and irresponsibility seem to be glorified, the Lynches are determined to reach students and instill in them the drive to become effective community leaders. John and Linda strongly believe that good, solid values can be learned through education, sport participation and community involvement. Teamwork, self-esteem, time management, responsibility and determination are the lessons that carry over into all areas of life.

Lynch has been honored with multiple awards for his community work, including the Junior Seau Foundation Legend of the Year award in 2010.

We all know the NFL is a business, but it still stung when Lynch was released by the Bucs in 2004. It stung a little bit more when Lynch made the Pro Bowl in each of the four following seasons as a member of the Denver Broncos.

A nine-time Pro Bowler and four-time All-Pro, Lynch will likely get inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame himself in the near future. The Broncos already inducted Lynch into their Ring of Fame earlier this season.

But to us “lifers” down here in Tampa, Lynch will forever be remembered as a Buc. He has always embodied the best of what an professional athlete can be, both as a player and a man. He was part of an era that brought joy to a long-suffering fan base, and gave them something they could finally be proud of in every way.

Thanks, John. The honor is ours.