Mr. Johnson's Wild Ride

Big Pooh

New Member
Original Poster
I'm going through football withdrawal really bad right now(sad, ain't it?;) ), so I was reading the Tampa Trib. and came across this article. Thought everyone would enjoy it:

Mr. Johnson's Wild Ride
JOE HENDERSON
Published: Jan 28, 2003




ANAHEIM, Calif. - Well, shucks.
There was Brad Johnson, the pride of Black Mountain, N.C., atop the big float Monday morning, riding down Main Street USA. Just in case you still weren't really sure it actually happened, yes, the Bucs really are Super Bowl champions and he really had gone to Disneyland.

Atop the float was his adoring wife, Nikki, and their young son, and it was just so perfect - a Rockwell postcard to send to all your favorite Raiders fans. Mickey Mouse, and Minnie, and a whole bunch of other Disney characters dressed in Bucs' uniforms were along for the ride.

No Donald Duck, though.

Confetti was flying, fans were taking pictures and cheering - except for the one lone wolf in the fold, who kept chanting ``Raiiii-ders!''

Some people get it and some people don't. It was schmaltzy, not to mention Goofy, but if the hair on your arms didn't stand up at least a little bit, you either need to get out more or you don't have hair.

Of course, this annual ride for a chosen one from the Super Bowl champion is an occasion designed to make us write the word ``Disney'' as many times as possible, but we do what we must because this was flat-out pretty darned cool.

``It's one moment in your life, and it's short-lived, to say you're a champion,'' Brad Johnson said later. ``It doesn't happen to many people.''

Aw, shucks.

He's Hot

Misconception: The trip to Disney - land or World, depending which coast the game is played on - automatically goes to the Super Bowl MVP.

That's who usually gets to go, but Monday was the fifth exception in the 17 times this event has been staged. Trent Dilfer, remember, was not the MVP of Super Bowl XXXV in Tampa two years ago, but he got the ride instead of linebacker Ray Lewis.

Draw your own conclusions why.

So safety Dexter Jackson will have to be comforted with being the MVP of the Bucs' 48-21 win against Oakland. He got a Cadillac Escalade out of the deal, but Brad got the ride.

Later, Jon Gruden also will get the Disney ride. They say that's a first for a coach.

Be advised: Make sure Warren Sapp sees the following quote. He'll know what to do with it.

``He's HOT.''

Eighteen-year-old Sophie Mattos spoke those words as she waited in the crowd for the parade to begin. She was wearing some pants with a JLo label and a pink visor that said ``princess'' on it.

She and her sister, Jessie, want to be cheerleaders.

They seem to have a thing for the man from Black Mountain.

Jessie: ``He has a nice body.''

That's where we are now.

Brad Johnson.

$ex symbol.

See what a Super Bowl win will do for you?

Sophie also made $20 on the game after winning a bet, for what that's worth.

Her mother, Laure, just laughed and said of the Bucs - you couldn't make this quote up if you tried - ``They were the Cinderella team.''

Then she paid $13 for three waters, a Coke and a Mickey pretzel, and we all wished upon a star.

Enjoy The Ride

The parade took place around noon PST Monday. Brad said he hadn't been to bed all night, and wasn't really sure when he'd find time to sleep.

He did ``Good Morning America'' earlier in the day, took a limo to the San Diego airport, and flew by private jet to Disneyland.

From there, it's back to Tampa for the parade today, then back to Hawaii on Wednesday to get ready for Sunday's Pro Bowl. He'll fit Jay Leno in there somewhere, and probably about a thousand other events where people just want to shake his hand, pat him on the back and have their picture taken alongside him.

He's earned it.

This is the payback for all those extra workouts, for all those times he got knocked on his backside. This was payback to Daniel Snyder, the Redskins owner who ran Brad out of Washington in favor of - stop laughing - Jeff George. Wonder what they were doing Monday morning?

This couldn't happen to a better person. Modest, confident, respectful, he was a champion long before he earned a Super Bowl ring.

``You know what I like?'' Laure Mattos said. ``He was just so nice after the game.''

Of course he was. That's who Brad Johnson is.

A nice man and the right quarterback for the right team, now atop the float and on the best ride of his life. Mr. Johnson's wild ride.

The Bucs quarterback, goin' to Disneyland and riding the float of champions down Main Street USA.

Aw shucks.

And tell Donald he missed a heckuva show.
 

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