"On to Tampa"

by joedobr on Sep 30, 2008 10:19 PM EDT Comment 14 comments

The current story on ESPN, the lead, at 1010 in the evening.

Current article in the Tribune today:

http://www2.tbo.com/content/2008/sep/30/302006/st-petes-sake-where-do-you-think-rays-play/

Interesting, if the White Sox flew to "Tampa", then the Rays would automatically be up in the ALDS 2-0 because they went to the wrong city! Are the folks at ESPN geographically challenged or that naieve. After repeated national warnings and letters, the Bristol folks as well as morons like Dayn Perry don't seem to understand it. Oh, its the chic, cool thing to call them "Tampa". After seeing this and reading continued disregard for this, its why I am still somewhat livid about the uniforms!

This is a regional franchise, with a regional identity. Tampa is the anchor city of the region, no doubt. But for crying out loud, the Tampa Bay Rays play in St. Petersburg. I wonder where the ESPN or Fox Sports "mafia" thinks the games are? Are they adjacent to the Forum? Near Port Tampa, near University of Tampa, do the Rays play off of Bayshore Blvd or Dale Mabry? Tell me, where in "Tampa" do the Rays play!

I am just bonkers about this. And yes, I know for the unteempth time, the Rays do plan on bringing "Tampa Bay" back to the road uniforms, yes, I acknowledge that, but some of this crap is brought upon by stupidity! Its ridiculous!

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Just say "Bay"

What is so hard about adding the one word and say “Bay”, or just acknowledge they play in St. Petersburg? That’s all. I am proud as heck of Tampa, Clearwater, Brandon, New Port Richey, its what makes this area so great. Its a group, regional effort. So don’t slight anyone! If the Patriots host the AFC title game, is it “on to Boston”??? No, because they play in Foxboro, 25 miles south!! Same with Orchard Park, or Landover or Glendale, the frigging city is acknowledged!

What is so hard about the simple acknowledgement? Arizona and Minnesota get that, why not stop the petty stuff? Just get it right.

Joe

by joedobr on Sep 30, 2008 10:35 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I get your point...

But at the same time, I think you’re fighting a losing battle. I feel like this is a common problem in sports….if the city name is in your name, then obviously you play in that city even if you don’t technically. The Patriots are a bad example because they aren’t the Boston Patriots, but the New England Patriots….big difference. They aren’t actually tied to that city, but to the region as a whole.

Take the New York Giants and Jets. As a New Jersey-ian, it’s bothered me forever that they’re both associated with New York City…but they play in New Jersey! At this point, I’ve resigned myself that nothing is going to change. Because the place “New York” is in their name, that’s how the media is going to represent them…that’s just the sad truth. So I’m sorry, but you might as well just get used to it.

"I never threw an illegal pitch. The trouble is, once in a while I toss one that ain't never been seen by this generation." - Satchel Paige

by Steve Slowinski on Sep 30, 2008 10:50 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Pet peeve

Thanks, I appreciate it. I just get mad that its done out of either laziness, or it looks “cool” just to say Tampa. I don’t know if its an editorial decision by writers or the editorial staff. My complaint isn’t do diss Tampa, believe me. I love Tampa, and I recognize it as the “anchor city” of our region. Its fine and dandy.

This is clearly a losing battle. But I do see why the folks would be upset, especially a Chamber of Commerce. Its one of the reasons I was mad about the road uniforms too. I think “Tampa Bay” is just as simpatico as “Rays”. That is something the front office has to reconcile, and of all of the wonderful stuff they have done, its my chief complaint. I get the reasons, and its my understanding that it will be corrected, but I can’t help but to think some of the fervor wouldn’t be as bad if they more acknowledged the geographic designation in the uniform design.

When you go to East Rutherford, its not like going to Patterson or Passaic or Seacaucus! I know the NJTPK very well, and no one gets slighted. I think this complaint is squarely on the Rays because of the uniqueness of the regional conception.

Joe

by joedobr on Sep 30, 2008 11:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

People even remember to say "The Meadowlands" for God's sake! Not New York

It’s really not that hard to say Tampa Bay. There is no good excuse.

Regressing to the mean streets of St. Pete

by stpetelawyer on Sep 30, 2008 10:52 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Thanks Litigious One

ESPN, shame on them. Dayn Perry shame on him. Ken Rosenthal, shame on him. Say it right, or tell the truth. Its more or other than “Tampa”.

Just mad, “on to Tampa”, nuh uh!! Let there be a forfeit because ESPN told the world that Chicago was going to Tampa and not St. Petersburg!!

Joe

by joedobr on Sep 30, 2008 11:06 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I don't know why we act surprised that they can't get the city right

I swear at least half of them don’t even get the team name right. Click on the ESPN message board for our team and it says “Devil Rays Message Board.” We are the Rodney Dangerfield of baseball…

Regressing to the mean streets of St. Pete

by stpetelawyer on Sep 30, 2008 11:14 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Part of the problem

They don’t respect the franchise. Its something the ownership has to take a look at. What can you do as a fan? Kurkjian is naieve, Steve Phillips is naieve, Gammons too. The whole operation has a tremendous disdain for Tampa Bay, and doesn’t understand it. And the lack of understanding is a buzzkill for a larger degree of proper recognition.

Guys like Colin Cowherd don’t get it, as much as he may say that he does, his train is off the track. Guess what, even if the Rays win the Series, it still won’t change! Tampa Bay is the scourge of the ESPN universe, and it won’t change unless Silverman or Stu themselves want to do something personally about it.

Joe

by joedobr on Sep 30, 2008 11:17 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Oh hell

I live in New York now, and was raised in Clearwater, but I always tell people I’m from Tampa. Why? Because people outside the area ACTUALLY KNOW WHERE TAMPA IS. Say St. Pete, and you’ll just get blank stares most of the time.

Vogt early, Vogt often.

by Brickhaus on Sep 30, 2008 11:32 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Wow

As I said, I acknowledge Tampa as the anchor city of the reason. But St. Petersburg has gone out of their way to get noticed, and with that bridge they got, and a distinct culture, they deserve some recognition. We stand as one Tampa Bay, and you tell them its “Tampa” because its easier to roll off of the tongue?

When I was younger I knew where both Tampa and St. Petersburg were! Go to Minneapolis and St. Paul and ask them, or San Francisco and Oakland? Just asking that the naieve ESPN recognizes where the team plays. If others don’t know where it is, then guess what, that perception was created by ESPN and other media not reinforcing what “Tampa Bay” is. Read the article, which I am sure you have and you understand. Again, I know Tampa is “Tampa”, but what is wrong with asking them to be accurate?

Joe

by joedobr on Sep 30, 2008 11:42 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

From now on, I'm just going to say that ESPN is in Stamford.

I mean, that’s the only city in Conneticut, right? There’s an Ivy League school there too, so they must be in Stamford. The WWE has their headquarters in Stamford, to ESPN has to be there too, right?

ESPN is in Stamford, Conneticut. There are no other cities in Conneticut.

by kericr on Oct 1, 2008 11:12 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Is it that big a deal?

Dallas Cowboys are in Irving, Texas. 49ers are trying to move to San Jose. Both NY football teams are Jersey. I believe the Lions have returned to Detroit now, but they used to be in Pontiac. We could always try to get the point across with a crappy name like the St. Petersburg Rays of Tampa. Most people outside of the area think the name of the city is Tampa Bay. They consider the entire area one-in-the-same.

Blake
USF--Class of '09

by usfraysfan on Oct 1, 2008 2:56 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Chamber of Commerce

Pays lots of money to task groups and other focus groups stating that St. Petersburg, FL is the “Home of the Rays”. You even see the sign flip over behind homeplate every couple of innings. If you ask me, the city of St. Petersburg isn’t getting the return on investment.

This is convoluted logic here, but I understand why St. Pete people want the team name to be the St. Petersburg Rays. If its always going to be “Tampa”, then I would be ticked too and be upset from a civic standpoint. There is a financial burden the taxpayers of St. Petersburg have put on identifiying themselves with the Rays, and that should not be understated. It’s why you say either TAMPA BAY, or acknowledge St. Petersburg as a stand alone city.

Some of the demographics are unique to both Tampa and St. Petersburg. Look, I am upset from a different standpoint, one that we are one area and region, but as far as the team is concerned, Tampa and St. Petersburg are stand alone cities. No one nationally understands that.

Joe

by joedobr on Oct 1, 2008 3:54 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Did anyone care about this last year?

by rayweaver on Oct 1, 2008 4:16 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

This was an issue of mine

and with others….its all over both papers websites right now. For me, I just want it to be fair. And they are trying to be cute about it, and that sucks. What is hard about getting it right?

Joe

by joedobr on Oct 1, 2008 4:17 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs