Lee Roy Selmon: My Friend Is a Man of Courage and Faith, He'll Make It

Lee Roy Selmon has been my friend for 35 years.

We met in 1976 when he was the first overall pick in the NFL draft by the new Tampa Bay franchise that was named the Buccaneers.

I was one of the first to interview him. He was 21, I was a 26-year-old sportswriter at the Tampa Tribune.

We've been friends ever since.

I cried when I heard my friend suffered a serious stroke at his home Friday afternoon. I was despondent when reports surfaced that he had passed.

"No how, no way," I thought. "Lee Roy won't give up without a fight. He's a man of strength, courage and faith. He's not leaving us this way."

An hour ago, his brother Dewey told the Tampa Tribune: "He's stable and we all have great hope. He's a fighter. Keep the prayers going."

Dewey didn't have to ask for prayers. All of Tampa has been praying for the return of our treasure. I have been praying for the return of my friend, a man who gives so much to his adopted home here in Tampa.

If you ever meet Lee Roy Selmon, you are a better person for it. He was an All-Pro football player but in life after football, he's been even greater. He's in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, but he is also in the Human Hall of Fame, he's that great.

It's a very unique privilege to grow older with a man like Lee Roy Selmon. It's been great to watch him embrace this Tampa Bay community like no other.

Today the University of South Florida plays Notre Dame in football. Lee Roy Selmon is the reason USF has a football team.

He's the reason people know where Tampa is on the map. He came along at a time when we needed a man like him.

My 10 years as a sportswriter put me in front of many great people. But none compare to Lee Roy Selmon.

This is so very tough for me to fathom as my friend fights for his life. He's only 56 years old. He has so much more to do, so many more people to help and inspire. And that's what he's done every day of his life since he retired from the NFL. He's been there to help those who needed him, he's been an inspiration to so many that it is impossible to count.

One thing life has taught me is not to take anything for granted.

When I walked for an hour at dawn this morning, I cried, couldn't control it at times. I admit that to you because this man, Lee Roy Selmon, is that special.

Every time I've seen him, and I've been fortunate to have more time with him than most, I understand that this special man is a walking example of how we should all conduct our lives.

Lee Roy Selmon is a man of dignity, he's an extraordinarily humble man. At times, I think he is embarrassed when people treat him like a celebrity.

To me, he's always been Lee Roy.

He's always been there and it comforts our world to have him among us.

Lee Roy has been a blessing to all of us who have been fortunate to know him.

He has simply been on loan to us from God.

And I pray that God will allow him to stay with us.

And all of Tampa is with me.