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McEwen: Eddie And The Big Five

Tribune photo by JAY NOLAN

Eddie and "Candy" DeBartolo sitting in front of their trophy case containing five Super Bowl trophies.

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By TOM McEWEN | TBO

Published: January 29, 2009

It was January 22, 1997, two days before the Super Bowl XVI in the Detroit Dome, San Francisco was going to beat Cincinnati. Even inside it was chilly.

The 49ers were practicing. I was standing with Edward DeBartolo, Sr., and with Tampa Mayor, Dick Greco.

Mr. D, and I had our hands in our coat pockets, a most normal circumstance for this fine man in his pinstriped suit. He was juggling something in his right hand. I asked him if he had dice. He pulled his hand out and opened his palm. He had no dice, though the guess wasn't a bad one.

He had in his hand four Super Bowl rings.

Now, Eddie Junior would do the same thing. He would be just as proud to keep them hidden, but with him, and available to show the rings to friends.

Well, here we are now able to show you through the camera work, and the okay of Candy and Eddie D and Tribune Photo Photographer Jay Nolan, the display in the DeBartolo's Avila home a rare picture of a stunning display of the five Super Bowl trophies won by the Forty-Niners of the DeBartolo Family. They are displayed in a room built for them, by the designers from St. Petersburg, which spreads off the DeBartolo home living rooms and which also includes a small movie theater. Eddie said he has "films of all of the Forty Niner games during his times with the club.''

The DeBartolo Corporation, shopping center builders, among other enterprises, was moved here (near Avila) some years ago, from Youngstown, Ohio, along with their many employees.

They are all here now: Eddie and Candy, and daughters Nicky, Lisa, and novelist, Tiffany. They have been heavy into charities and matters of civics, since. It was a boon when the Debartolos came south.

In truth, Greco and others tried so long to persuade them to move earlier. That they didn't demonstrated loyalty to their home place and the people there, but heck, now the daughters promote a big deal charity dance-dinner and Eddie has jumped in full blown, including a strong association with the Outback Bowl, producing the luncheon for that.

Think of something, they're in it.

Moreover, Eddie D has told me repeatedly, and the word has been passed along, that he is forever a candidate to own the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, should they end up on the market. He had some experience with the Forty Niners. Ed's late dad, M. D., was among the original dozen plus candidates to purchase the expansionist Bucs.

The NFL at first chose a man who accepted, then turned it back, then chose the late Hugh Culverhouse, then the Malcolm Glazer Family, whose sons of Malcolm, Bryan, Joel and Ed, now direct the operations.

The value of the team—of all NFL teams, even in these times, have leaped. The Glazers also have since bought soccer's best known club, Manchester United. If the Glazers ever do chose to sell, DeBartolo would certainly make an offer.

"You know how I love this place, and the people here,," said Eddie. "It is my home. It is the home of my family. Now, my girls have homes in South Tampa. They are here to stay, too, like Candy and I are. I remember years ago on the Innisbrook Golf Course, you asked, and I said I was always interested in the Tampa Bay Bucs.''

And I did ask again, recently.

"I remember when you were in San Francisco to cover something, a Super Bowl maybe, and you had a room at the Fairmont and I called you and asked if I could borrow it, and I did. I brought Bill Walsh, then the coach at Stanford. I remember that I sat on the bed and he was on the couch and I hired him on the spot to head coach the Forty Niners,'' said Eddie. "I called Carmen Policy, my general manager then, to make it legal. And then we went down to the lobby to celebrate and leave our hearts in San Francisco with Tony Bennett.''

I then asked Eddie if I could take another look at the five Lombardi Trophies, the five Super Bowl rings, and the rest of those NFL championship reminders.

There is only one at Number One Buc Place. Not sure if/when there'll be another.

Underline the "if" or the "when."

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