Largo's 10-Year-Old Dance Star Busts a Move on 'Today' Show

After quickly rising to fame for his "Gangnam Style" performance with the cheerleaders at Tampa Bay Buccaneers games, Christian Bottger danced during Tuesday's live broadcast of NBC's "Today" show.

First, he wowed the crowds at Tampa's Raymond James Stadium with his dancing skills. Now, Largo 10-year-old Christian Bottger can add "performed live on national television" to his resumé. Bottger appeared Tuesday morning on NBC's "Today" show, displaying his dance moves and rubbing elbows with Matt Lauer and Al Roker. The Fuguitt Elementary School student has quickly risen to fame thanks to his performances of "Teach Me How to Dougie" and "Thriller" at Tampa Bay Buccaneers games alongside the team's cheerleading squad. But it was his "Gangnam Style" interpretation that caught the attention of TV cameras this past weekend, and a clip was shown Monday morning on "Today." One day later, Bottger was invited to fly up to New York City — his …

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Largo Boy Who Danced With Bucs Cheerleaders to Appear on 'Today' Show

Christian Bottger, whose "Gangnam Style" routine at a Tampa Bay Buccaneers game has made national news, is slated to perform Tuesday morning on NBC's "Today" show.

A 10-year-old Largo boy who's been showing off his dancing skills at Tampa Bay Buccaneers games is set to appear on the "Today" show Tuesday morning. Christian Bottger, who became a nearly overnight sensation thanks to a clip of him dancing with the Bucs cheerleaders to "Gangnam Style," is flying to New York to appear on the morning show, the team reported on its website Monday. Bottger is a student at Fuguitt Elementary School in Largo; his father, Ed, is the Bucs' video production manager. Christian Bottger has been performing routines to "Thriller" and "Teach Me How to Dougie" at Bucs home games this year with the team's cheerleaders and mascot Captain Fear, to the delight of Ramyond James Stadium crowds. It was a TV clip of his "…

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Bucs Not Blacked Out: Will You Watch?

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers sold enough tickets to have Sunday's home game shown on local TV for the first time this season. Bucs fans, do you think the NFL's blackout rule is fair?

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Bucs Not Blacked Out: Are You Glad?

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers sold enough tickets to have Sunday's home game shown on local TV for the first time this season. Bucs fans, do you think the NFL's blackout rule is fair?

Good news, Tampa Bay Buccnaeers fans: This weekend's game won't be blacked out on local TV. The Bucs' home game against the New Orleans Saints at 1 p.m. Sunday will be shown in the Tampa market, TBO.com reports. That's the first time this season a Bucs home game won't be blacked out. The team sold the required 85 percent of general admission tickets necessary to avoid the blackout of the Sunday's game at Raymond James Stadium, the team announced Thursday. The Bucs failed to sell out each of their first three regular-season home games this season and 16 of their previous 18, TBO reports. Sunday's game will air locally on Fox 13. Are you looking forward to watching Sunday's game? How have you been dealing with all the Bucs' blackouts the …

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Tell Your Breast Cancer Survival Story to the Buccaneers

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are searching for inspirational stories of breast cancer survival from individuals in the community.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are seeking inspirational stories of overcoming the disease. On October 14, when the Buccaneers host the Kansas City Chiefs, one fan’s story will be featured as part of the team’s breast cancer awareness commemoration at Raymond James Stadium. That afternoon, the nominee will be named an honorary captain and accompany the Buccaneers on the field for the opening coin toss. The nominee who wins will also receive VIP luxury suite access for themselves and three guests. To share a story of inspiration, click here or visit www.buccaneers.com/BCAstory and complete the online form. Throughout October, NFL games will feature players, coaches and referees wearing pink game …

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Share Your Breast Cancer Survival Story with the Buccaneers

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are searching for inspirational stories of breast cancer survival from individuals in the community.

NFL's Steve Smith Leads Offense on Field, Serves the Homeless Off It

The Carolina Panthers wide receiver washed feet and helped hand out 400 shoes and socks to homeless people living at Pinellas Safe Harbor on Saturday.

Steve Smith caught seven passes for 106 yards and was the main highlight of a mostly stymied Carolina Panthers offense Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. When the clock reached 0:00, Smith untied his cleats, placed them on the field, removed his socks and walked off. It wasn’t because of the loss, but rather to bring attention to Samaritan’s Feet, a charity with the goal to put shoes on the feet of the needy. But what might be even more attention grabbing is that Smith, with the help of some volunteers, washed feet and put new shoes and socks on 400 homeless people at the Pinellas Safe Harbor shelter Saturday afternoon. Smith is doing this in every NFL city where the Panthers play this season. The foot washing and shoe giveaway in …

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Hometown Bucs Player Realizes His Dream

Leonard Johnson, who grew up playing football at Largo High, has cracked his first NFL roster with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

For Leonard Johnson, playing for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers isn't just a dream come true — it's a homecoming. Johnson, whose football career began with the Greenwood Panthers as a youth and continued at Largo High before he starred at Iowa State, has cracked the hometown Bucs' initial 53-man roster. “I am excited just to be back home,” Johnson told JoeBucsFan.com earlier this week. The cornerback, signed as an undrafted free agent this spring, went to Bucs games as a kid and attended Bucs coach Greg Schiano’s local football camps while in high school. Now, he may be seeing lots of action for Schiano in the Bucs' secondary, especially with E.J. Biggers and Anthony Gaitor contending with nagging injuries, JoeBucsFan.com reports. Johnson's feel…

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Largo High Grad Helps Bucs Break Ground in North Greenwood

Leonard Johnson, a member of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers who grew up playing for the Greenwood Panthers, was on hand for the groundbreaking of the Clearwater team’s field Tuesday.

Once it was overflow parking for Jack Russell Stadium. Now, it could be the field of the next homegrown hero. Greenwood Panthers players ran routes and caught passes from NFL players like Josh Freeman, Gerald McCoy and Connor Barth on Tuesday as part of a groundbreaking ceremony for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Field. But no name in this part of town is bigger than Leonard Johnson. The field is one of two being built on the former parking lot sandwiched between the North Greenwood Recreation and Aquatics Complex and the North Greenwood Library. Johnson, who grew up just a few passes from the new field, came up as a star quarterback at Largo High and went on to an illustrious college career at Iowa State. He is a rookie this year with the Bucs …

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Largo High Grad Battling for Spot With Bucs

The former Largo High school standout and undrafted free agent is trying to crack the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' roster during training camp.

Largo High grad Leonard Johnson is fighting for a spot on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' 53-man roster now that training camp is under way. The Clearwater native, who starred as Largo's starting quarterback for for years before suiting up for Iowa State, was signed by the Bucs as an undrafted free agent in May. Now he's looking to make his professional dreams come true as a cornerback, TBO.com reports. A leg injury to E.J. Biggers has given Johnson a shot at more practice reps this summer as he tries to crack the Bucs' opening day roster. "I can close my eyes and see my mom (Schenique) at the stadium Sept. 9, rooting me on,'' the 22-year-old told TBO. "I already see it. It's already in my vision and I'm walking toward it every day.'' Johnson …

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