The scarce link between Argentina and American football did not prevent an albiceleste athlete from becoming champion of the most important tournament in the discipline: Martín Gramática built a prolific career in the United States that led him to win the 2003 Super Bowl with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, playing a fundamental role in winning the precious title. Some time after his retirement, he tried to break the vice with the round, but the initiative this time did not prosper.
The Buenos Aires native, who was born on March 14, 1975, moved with his family to the United States when he was little. During high school, he was called up by the LaBelle High School coach because of his kicking accuracy: already on the school team, he scored eight of ten field goals and 22 points after touchdowns. His good performance catapulted him to play four seasons at the university level with the Kansas State Wildcats.
His extraordinary numbers, which included a school-record 349 points, earned him the nickname “Automatic” for his ability to score every time he tried to execute a play with his foot. In 1999, he was selected in the third round of the NFL Draft – which has a system similar to that of the NBA – and remained there for five years: during his first campaign, he was in the top 8 among kickers with the most field goals. harvested.
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The failed transformation of Martín Gramática: from his most glorious stage in the NFL to the injuries that cut short his regularity
In 2001 he was anointed as a starter in the Pro Bowl, the all-star game of the competition. Already in 2003, the Bucs beat the Oakland Raiders 48-21 in the Super Bowl, the final of the American championship: Martín Gramática scored 12 points and became the first player from his country to do so in a decisive instance. In addition, he signed a contract with the franchise worth more than 14 million dollars, which placed him among the highest-paid Argentine athletes, surpassing soccer stars of the stature of Hernán Crespo and Juan Sebastián Verón.
Martín Gramática, the Argentine Super Bowl champion (Photo: AP)
Martín Gramática, the Argentine Super Bowl champion (Photo: AP)
After his prolific time in Florida, he moved to Indianapolis to wear the Colts jersey in December 2004, but injuries conspired against his consistency.
In 2006 he joined the ranks of the Dallas Cowboys and retired permanently with the New Orleans Saints a year later, with many difficulties to earn a place and already aware that he was going through his last days as a professional.
The failed transformation of Martín Gramática: the passion for football that led him to become coach
Throughout his entire career, Martín Gramática’s passion for football remained intact: he repeatedly said that he was a Boca fan and even used the number 7 shirt as a tribute to Guillermo Barros Schelotto, one of his idols. “The times I escaped from the camp to watch the games… I remember leaving the hotel where we were in the middle of the night to watch the Intercontinental final against Real Madrid,” he said in an interview.
Martín Gramática and his children are Boca fans. (Photo: Instagram/@martingramatica7)
For this reason, Martín Gramática did not surprise anyone when, in 2022, he accepted the offer from Tampa Bay Strikers to be head coach of the men’s and women’s futsal teams.
“In addition to experience, we looked for qualities in our candidates. Passion, leadership and a winning journey, as well as commitment to our community. “Martín has all those characteristics and more,” said Andrew Haines, co-owner of the club.
Shortly before, the kicker had coached the West Florida Flames under-19 category. “For those who are not fans, I explain that this is like hockey. There are a lot of goals, a lot of rhythm, because the ball rarely leaves the field. If you look at the first game, it seems like it goes on and on and never ends,” the former athlete said. In any case, the challenge had several disagreements.
Gramática scored 12 points in the NFL final.
Although his team managed to qualify for the postseason, the NISL tournament was abruptly canceled. Several of the technicians alleged lack of payment and even little support from the competition organizers due to the long bus trips, the absence of meals prior to each match and the obligation to sleep inside the venues.
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“I told the league that I don’t want to commit to continuing, except for my players and my assistants to get paid. Once that is done, I will be able to talk about the future,” explained Martín Gramática, a star with personality both on and off the court.
2024-01-22 08:37:00
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