Today I would like to tell you a story about failure, more specifically, record setting failure, and how, in spite of it all, those who failed epically still managed to triumph in the end.
The Losing Streak is a cocktail based on the iconic struggle of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers who, from 1976-77, set an NFL record with 26 straight losses at the beginning of their franchise. A record that remains unbroken to this day.
This drink is made of many components—all of which play specific roles in bringing that unique Buccaneers experience to life: coconut milk, simple syrup, orange juice, grapefruit juice, orange liqueur, vodka, rum, orange extract and ice. Inspired by those bold and slightly garish uniforms of the 1976 team, this drink tastes like a creamsicle, but with a surprising finish.
Most of the histories that inspire these episodes are ones I discovered in books and documentaries. But today’s story is unique, because today’s story is personal. My dad and I have been Bucs fans a long time. Since their inception for him, since my birth for me. Because of our Buccaneer allegiance, we have endured tremendous pain and national shame that came before Tom Brady joined the team. True, we had some memorable moments in the Dungy/Gruden era of the 90s and early 2000s, but that was but a blip in their long history. You see, the Bucs hold the worst regular season winning percentage in the NFL. Only recently the Minnesota Timberwolves in the NBA surpassed them for having the worst regular season winning percentage across all four major sports in America.
It seemed from the beginning that the Bucs were destined for pain. At the onset of their franchise, the Bucs were served a tough hand. Player talent was, at the very best, similar those you’d find on mediocre college football teams and their quarterback, nine-year Florida vet Steve Spurrier, was sacked so often he spent the first season running for his life. They team was a band of misfits.
Over the course of the streak that scarred the franchise and named this drink, the Bucs were shutout eleven times. In fact, the culture of losing was so pervasive, head coach John McKay became known for his sarcastic criticisms of the team and some players decided to hang up their spikes and walk away from the game altogether. During their first training came, one player told his coach during he was going to the bathroom, but left the facility and never came back.
In 1977, the Bucs second season, Spurrier was cut from the team to begin his transition toward an epic college coaching career. The Bucs defense saw a lot of improvement under 1st round draft pick, and future hall of famer, Lee Roy Selmon, However, the losses continued to mount. That is until two very important things occurred.
First, in a game against the Bears, the Bucs dominated legendary running back Walter Payton. They still lost the game, 10-0, but, for the first time, they realized they could actually compete with the rest of the league.
Second, preceding their penultimate game against the Saints, New Orleans quarterback, Archie Manning, went on record to say that losing to the Bucs would be a complete embarrassment. Using these words as fuel, the Bucs crushed the Saints 33-14 for the team’s first ever win, bringing about a joyous end to their losing streak. Well, the first one. It is the Bucs, after all. They would follow that win up the following week to beat the St. Louis Cardinals to end the 1977 season. Not surprisingly, the coaches for both the Saints and the Cardinals lost their job for losing to the once embarrassing Buccaneers.
Now that I’ve led you down a memory lane littered with losses, let’s talk about the drink. Like it’s Florida roots, The Losing Streak begins with citrus, with both orange and grapefruit juice. This is followed by orange liqueur, vodka, simple syrup, and coconut milk, which will set the stage for a creamsicle finish. For that, we’ll add we add orange extract and a vanilla extract, but, be careful, a little goes a long way. Finally, to get the color right, we’ll add also some orange food coloring, then ice and shake to mix.
When you take a swig, you’ll find it really does taste like a creamsicle. Its orange sweetness is refreshing, but, the taste profile ends with a surprising finish. Bitterness. Coming from that ounce of grapefruit juice, we have bitter aftertaste. And while you may want to exclude the grapefruit juice and enjoy a simple creamsicle cocktail, for the authentic experience of a 70s Buccaneers fan, includes both the sweetness and excitement of having a football team, and the bitter disappointment in having to watch them.
Sit back, turn on the game, and find out what losing taste like.
Cheers!
