If you haven't yet seen the History Network's new show Swamp People, I recommend catching a few episodes.
Sprawling over a million-acre swath of southern Louisiana, the Atchafalaya River Basin is the largest swamp in the United States. Many of its inhabitants are the hardened descendants of French refugees who were forced out of Canada in the 18th century and settled in this harsh yet majestic environment. HISTORY follows these swampers through a time of year that is crucial to their survival: the 30-day alligator hunting season.
This past weekend, Tampa Bay sports teams had their own Swamp People encounters.
On Saturday, the USF Bulls went into The Swamp for some Gator hunting. Through the first quarter, the Bulls had the Gators on the line. The bait was set, the Gators jumped at it, and the hook was in the Gators' mouth.
Throughout the second quarter, the Bulls went toe-to-toe with the behemoth, fighting, scrapping, and trying to pull alongside that gator. But this was no baby gator. It was a thirteen foot monster that was not just going to just jump in the boat.
the third quarter revealed that not only was the gator not going to be caught, but that he was gonna eat the bait, straighten and pull off the hook, slide under the boat and slash at the boat, tipping someone into the swamps.
After the feeding frenzy, the Gators had their fill, another boat was abandoned in the bayous and The Swamp was once again quiet.
Then on Sunday, we listended as the Buccaneers Radio Network played an interview with Jake Delhomme. Delhomme is from Breaux Bridge, Louisiana, and his parents are both Cajun. Listening to him talk is just like listening to Alligator hunter Troy Landry as he shares the legend of "One-Eye," one of the most infamous monsters of the bayou.
As you know by now, the Buccaneers beat ol' One Eye Jake Delhomme and his Brownies (Browns 14, Bucs 17), but not before the skies opened up at Raymond James, turning the North End Zone into a spooky swamp, where Earnest Graham fumbled on one late trip and Josh Freeman failed to find either of two open recievers on another.
Tune in next week, when we compare how the Rays are like an episode of the Jetsons (or not).