Former Tampa Bay Lightning player Vincent Lecavalier and Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Vincent Jackson are the latest athletes who have warmly expressed their love of Tampa and their desire to retire here. There are other cities to choose from, including the places where they grew up, but they say TAMPA is home, and they want to retire here.
Obviously, they feel a connection to the city and want to enjoy life here. What’s also heartening is that they also want to get involved in community work. Lecavalier said he plans to help promote youth hockey in the Tampa Bay area.
Lecavalier, a native of Montreal, Quebec, was chosen by the Tampa Bay Lightning as their No. 1 pick in the 1998 draft. He went on to play for the Bolts for 14 years, winning with them the Stanley Cup in 2004 and the Rocket Richard trophy as the NHL’s top goal scorer in 2007. He played for the Philadelphia Flyers for three seasons starting in 2013 and for the Los Angeles Kings in 2016, and will be retiring this summer.
Lecavalier has spoken about how he loved Bayshore Boulevard and watching the sunset on Davis Islands and feeling like in a different world.
Bucs wide receiver Vincent Jackson has been in the news recently for being one of the graduates of the University of South Florida in May 2016. Jackson obtained his business degree from the USF Muma College of Business. Previously, he completed a special business program at the Wharton School of Business. He has invested in hospitality, apparel, fitness and real estate businesses.
Jackson was chosen by the San Diego Chargers in 2005 and was signed by the Buccaneers in 2012. He grew up in Colorado Springs, Colorado and played for the Chargers for seven years in San Diego, California, but he considers Tampa home and plans to retire here. Being a child of military parents, he founded the Jackson in Action 83 Foundation aimed at fostering relationships between active troops and their families.
Perhaps the most famous athlete who have retired in Tampa is former New York Yankee player Derek Jeter, whose $7.7-million 30,875-square-foot mansion on Davis Islands has been touted as the largest residence in Tampa.
The other athletes enjoying life in Tampa after playing years in professional sports are:
. Brad Culpepper — former Tampa Bay Buccaneer
. Chris Dingman — former Tampa Bay Lightning player
. Jassen Cullimore — former Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman
. Václav “Vinny” Prospal — former Tampa Bay Lightning player, also played for Ottawa Senators and others
. Larry Robinson — former Montreal Canadien player, former New Jersey Devils head coach, and Hall of Famer
. John Tucker — former Buffalo Sabres and Tampa Bay Lightning player, founder of the Tampa Bay Lightning Alumni Association chapter
. Mariano Rivera — former New York Yankee pitcher
. Wade Boggs — played for the Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees and Tampa Bay Devil Rays