By Michele Miller, Times Staff Writer
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Tampa Bay Buccaneers player Tyrone McKenzie greets students Tuesday at Longleaf Elementary School in New Port Richey. Players and cheerleaders were on hand to give the school a $10,000 check for winning the NFL’s wellness competition.
TRINITY— It was one of those days likely to last for a while.
At least in the memories of kids like Josh Merrick, 9, who came to school in Tampa Bay Buccaneers gear, complete with taped feet and blackout under his eyes. Or Matthew Rucco, 10, who boasted an orange throwback jersey bearing autographs of former Buc stars Brad Johnson and Lee Roy Selmon. Or Sal Zito, 11, who doesn't play on an organized team, but often imagines himself playing with the pros during afternoon pickup games in his neighborhood.
On Tuesday, the three Longleaf Elementary students were among 30 children ...