Advertisement

Joe Henderson: From Bandit Ball to Super Bowls, Nafe has seen it all in Tampa Bay sports

 
Rick Nafe spent four decades in various roles of major sports operations in this area, including the last 21 as vice president of operations for the Tampa Bay Rays. [Photo courtesy of Rick Nafe]
Rick Nafe spent four decades in various roles of major sports operations in this area, including the last 21 as vice president of operations for the Tampa Bay Rays. [Photo courtesy of Rick Nafe]
Published March 7, 2019

There was one day left before Super Bowl XXV was to be played when two FBI agents showed up at the office of Tampa Stadium Operations Director Rick Nafe. Each man carried a Tiffany bag.

One bag had the Vince Lombardi trophy that would be presented to the winning team. The Most Valuable Player trophy was in the other bag. The agents had kept the trophies for two weeks but handed them over to Nafe for safe keeping.

But where would he put them? There was no secure place in his office and that wasn't the kind of hardware he could leave laying around. What to do?

"I went out and put them in the trunk of my Jeep and took them home," Nafe said with a devious grin. "I got lots of pictures of my kids and neighbors holding the Lombardi trophy. It took me a half hour to wipe all the fingerprints off."

Alas, there probably won't be any more opportunities like that for Nafe. After four decades spent in various roles of major sports operations in this area, including the last 21 as vice president of operations for the Tampa Bay Rays, he has retired. Sort of.

He'll be available to the Rays part time as needed. The full-time work is done, though.

But what a run it was.

He was the venue host for the first Super Bowls played in Tampa and assisted the National Football League with nine others. He was the host for the 1984 United States Football League championship played at Tampa Stadium.

There was the 1999 NCAA men's Final Four at Tropicana Field and, of course, the 2008 World Series with the Rays. He is on the board of directors for the Outback Bowl and served five years as executive director of the Tampa Sports Authority before going to the Rays.

Nafe, who turns 67 next week, has a quick and often dry wit, and the list of people who know more than he does about running a stadium would be short. He spent 33 years as the program chair for the annual meeting of the national stadium manager's association.

The man does tell a good story. Take the time the Tampa Bay Bandits were preparing to head out of the locker room for their first game. They were to be led onto the field by a charging horse named Smokey.

Nafe picks up the story here.

"They bring Smokey over and he chose that moment to relieve himself, and not the liquid kind, right in front of the door," Nafe said.

Welcome to the USFL.

Whitney Houston's stirring rendition of the Star-Spangled Banner was a lasting memory from Super Bowl XXV. What isn't well known is that Nafe was standing guard at the door of a climate-controlled room where Houston waited before going out to sing.

The temperature was regulated to avoid any strain on her voice.

Rapper MC Hammer appeared at the door and wanted to say hello to Houston. Nafe had to tell him no.

"I wish I had said it's not Hammer time," he said.

Or there was the time he was entrusted with a gold Krugerrand that was to be used for the coin toss at the USFL title game. When a league official came to get the coin, Nafe deadpanned that he was sorry, but there was a problem.

Spend your days with Hayes

Subscribe to our free Stephinitely newsletter

Columnist Stephanie Hayes will share thoughts, feelings and funny business with you every Monday.

You’re all signed up!

Want more of our free, weekly newsletters in your inbox? Let’s get started.

Explore all your options

He explained the coin was about the size of a quarter and he had put in a soda machine by mistake. The color drained out of the official's face before Nafe burst out laughing and handed him the gold.

"I think back on how lucky I was to be a part of all this," Nafe said. "It was a real blessing to work with the people I did."

And now?

"I would love to run the water taxi in downtown Tampa and narrate the tour," he said.

I mentioned Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn has joked he wants to drive for Uber or Lyft after leaving office.

"As long as he doesn't crowd my territory, we'll be fine," Nafe said. "Just tell him to stay off the water."

•••

A few words from Rick Nafe about some major figures in Tampa Bay Sports

Yankees owner George Steinbrenner: "I miss him. Dynamic."

Former Bucs owner Hugh Culverhouse: "Orange coat."

Bandits coach Steve Spurrier: "Fun, and as an FSU man it hurts me to say that."

Former Rays manager Joe Maddon: "Renaissance man. We probably had 100 meetings and never talked baseball."

Rays owner Stewart Sternberg: "The perfect dad model."

Former Bucs coach John McKay: "Unbelievably funny."

Former Bucs owner Malcolm Glazer: "Misunderstood. And very friendly."

Bandits owner John Bassett: "An innovator and marketing genius."

Former Rays owner Vince Naimoli: "Fiercely loyal."