Thousands of kilometers across the Atlantic from Malcolm Glazer's oceanfront mansion in Palm Beach, angry English soccer fans swarmed the streets to protest and burn his likeness in effigy.
The response from the reclusive owner of the gridiron Tampa Bay Buccaneers was predictable -- in that there was none. Manchester United loyalists may have to get used to it, because that's simply Glazer's style.
Low-profile, unobtrusive. Seldom seen, and heard even less.
PHOTO: AP
There's no sign Glazer wants to be like some other high-profile club owners who command almost as much attention as their teams.
Glazer is rarely spotted at public gatherings in Tampa and routinely rejects interview requests.
The 76-year-old Glazer's Buccaneers won a National Football League title three seasons ago and still is not a known commodity for NFL fans. Instead, he is content to stay out of the spotlight while enjoying family and friends at his home in South Florida.
The owner is so unassuming that he didn't seem to notice that pro gridiron Football Hall of Famer Willie Davis addressed Glazer as "Marcus" rather than "Malcolm" during a victory celebration after a playoff game.
"He's really been good for this franchise," All-Pro linebacker Derrick Brooks said. "You don't see him often, but you see the impact. He's made a difference."
The red-bearded father of six, whose appearance has been likened to that of a leprechaun in high-pocket pants and suspenders, never misses a game. There's an occasional sighting on the sidelines, but he's rarely found hanging around the practice field or team headquarters.
He hires people such as Buccaneers general manager Bruce Allen to help run the show, and allows them to do their jobs.
"Whether he leaves me alone or not doesn't matter. He's quite supportive of everybody in the organization," Allen said. "We don't have important items [to discuss] every day, but he's well aware of what's going on."
Sons Joel, Bryan and Ed, who operate the Buccaneers for their father, are more visible than Malcolm, though not much more accessible since bungling a news conference to discuss the decision to fire former Buccaneers coach Tony Dungy after the 2001 NFL season.
The family was also stung by criticism of the subsequent search for a replacement, which turned into a long, meandering process after first choice Bill Parcells reneged on an agreement to take over the team.
The Glazers made out OK by completing a deal to hire Jon Gruden, who was under contract to the Oakland Raiders.
That cost the Bucs four first- and second-round draft picks, as well as US$8 million (6.3 million euros) in cash, just for the right to begin discussions on a contract worth more than US$17 million (13.5 million euros). But no one questioned the price when Tampa Bay won its first NFL title less than a year later.
It's difficult to argue with the success of the Bucs since Glazer bought the team in 1995 for US$192 million (152 million euros), then a record for an NFL franchise.
The family has made millions off Raymond James Stadium, built largely with taxpayers' money. But the Glazers also have invested in the team, including the acquisition of a shopping mall that's since been demolished to make way for a new training facility.
And, to the delight of fans, the Bucs have prospered on the field -- compiling a .531 regular-season winning percentage under Glazer ownership, compared to a miserable .300 in the first 19 seasons of the club's existence.
"Everything they do for the franchise is to support the operators of it, the employees," Allen said.
A native of Rochester, New York, Glazer began working for his family's watch-part business when he was 8 and took over the operation as a young teenager when his father died in 1943. He steadily built his wealth through investing in mobile-home parks, restaurants, food service equipment, marine protein, broadcasting, real estate, natural gas and oil protection and other ventures.
Glazer has not gotten everything he's aimed to get. Two years ago, he failed in a bid to buy the Los Angeles Dodgers Major League Baseball team from Rupert Murdoch. Harley-Davidson and Formica Corp were two other companies he looked at acquiring.
Forbes Magazine cited his net worth as US$1 billion (790 million euros), placing him 278th on the publication's 400 Richest In America list in 2004.
The value of the Bucs has soared to nearly US$800 million (633 million euros) under the guidance of his sons, who are expected to remain involved in the daily operation of the NFL team.
"That won't change. They love this team," said Allen, who added that there are no plans to sell the Bucs to help finance the takeover of Manchester United.
"The economics, when you read these things, are big. Even for us who deal with expensive players every now and then. But as Forbes Magazine will tell you, this is one of the successful business families in our country."
When Glazer paid ?790.3 million (US$1.47 billion; 1.16 billion euros) to take control of Manchester United on Monday, Allen was not surprised.
"In order to afford it, it proves you haven't failed at a lot of things," Allen said. "They are very determined. They have an excellent vision for where they want to take everything for the next 10 or 15 years."
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