First recorded Rays bandwagon jumper?

[turningtides]

[tyberesk]

hahaha and there are prob more to come as long as we keep winning:highfive:

[Williamsburg2599]

2 weeks ago? I doubt it. But that's hillarious.

[SDL]

I live about 10 min away from the Trop, but there is no way I will ever become a Rays fan. In fact, given the arrogance I see here, it's become easy to dislike the Rays now. To be honest, they've brought it on theirselves.

Where the heck were all these Rays "fans" when the team really sucked? Us New Englanders aren't bandwagoners...for example, when the Pats were pathetic, we still sold out The Fox..no local TV station buying out the game to show it.

Sorry..you can take the boy out of Boston but you can't take Boston out of the boy. I'll still wear my Sox/Pats/Bruins/Celtics stuff PROUDLY.

Oh...and one more thing. Up yours, Steve Duemig.

[Eddiey]

I live about 10 min away from the Trop, but there is no way I will ever become a Rays fan. In fact, given the arrogance I see here, it's become easy to dislike the Rays now. To be honest, they've brought it on theirselves.

Where the heck were all these Rays "fans" when the team really sucked? Us New Englanders aren't bandwagoners...for example, when the Pats were pathetic, we still sold out The Fox..no local TV station buying out the game to show it.

Sorry..you can take the boy out of Boston but you can't take Boston out of the boy. I'll still wear my Sox/Pats/Bruins/Celtics stuff PROUDLY.

Oh...and one more thing. Up yours, Steve Duemig.

When the Rays sucked their management did also. Staying away was the only
way to protest bad management.
As far as arrogance goes, please, give me a break. Boston and New York
are alot worse. Go back and read some of the crap Yankee and Red Sox
fans have posted in here.
BTW, if Boston is so great then go back!!!

[zengator]

When the Rays sucked their management did also. Staying away was the only
way to protest bad management.
As far as arrogance goes, please, give me a break. Boston and New York
are alot worse. Go back and read some of the crap Yankee and Red Sox
fans have posted in here.
BTW, if Boston is so great then go back!!!

Concur 100%.

[SDL]

Concur 100%.

I just got the deed to my house. Went over it with a fine-tooth comb. Sorry...I guess the seller forgot to put in the "you must now root tor the local team or else" clause in it.

You want to give me $350K for my house, I'll be out tomorrow.

[Eddiey]

I just got the deed to my house. Went over it with a fine-tooth comb. Sorry...I guess the seller forgot to put in the "you must now root tor the local team or else" clause in it.

You want to give me $350K for my house, I'll be out tomorrow.

I guess in this housing market you're stuck with it. :)

[zengator]

I just got the deed to my house. Went over it with a fine-tooth comb. Sorry...I guess the seller forgot to put in the "you must now root tor the local team or else" clause in it.

You want to give me $350K for my house, I'll be out tomorrow.

Bitter, angry, and self-loathing is no way to go through life. If you can't be with the team you love, honey, love the team you're with.

[Westlake]

Bitter, angry, and self-loathing is no way to go through life. If you can't be with the team you love, honey, love the team you're with.

If you move to NYC, are you going to become a Yankees fan? What a ridiculous way to life your life as a sports fan. I can't believe anyone actually believes this. I don't know if it's more funny or sad. Sounds like it's coming from someone who has never moved from their home state in their life.

SDL, I know we didn't like it when these guys were in our forum talking trash, so it would probably be better if we didn't do the same in theirs.

[Eddiey]

What peeves me is when fans of other teams come into this forum
without any knowledge of the history of the Rays. The previous management
was one of the worst in the history of the sport and its going to take more
then just one year to build up a following. The Sox, Yankees and many others
have been in their cities for many years so naturally they have a stronger
following. If the Rays management continues to try and put a decent
product on the field they will build some of the loyalty that the old line
teams now enjoy.

[SDL]

What peeves me is when fans of other teams come into this forum
without any knowledge of the history of the Rays. The previous management
was one of the worst in the history of the sport and its going to take more
then just one year to build up a following. The Sox, Yankees and many others
have been in their cities for many years so naturally they have a stronger
following. If the Rays management continues to try and put a decent
product on the field they will build some of the loyalty that the old line
teams now enjoy.


I live 10 minutes from the STILL FULLY FUNCTIONAL AND USEFUL Trop..have lived here since March 2000. Used to write for several local sports publications.

I'd like to think I've learned SOME history in my 8+ years here.

[Eddiey]

I live 10 minutes from the STILL FULLY FUNCTIONAL AND USEFUL Trop..have lived here since March 2000. Used to write for several local sports publications.

I'd like to think I've learned SOME history in my 8+ years here.

The truth comes out. An anti stadium ranter. Therefore anti Rays.
As a ballpark I like the Trop and it should be functional for another 10 years.
In this climate a dome is a necessity.
The problem as I see it is the location. If the Rays do get a new ballpark
eventually I hope the location affords easier access to fans from Tampa and
Orlando.

[SDL]

The truth comes out. An anti stadium ranter. Therefore anti Rays.

You wouldn't be the person who stole some signs out of my yard, would you?

For those who aren't Rays fans, the team is pulling the old "if we don't get a new stadium we'll move" card. Evidently, playing in a AIR CONDITIONED STADIUM WITH PLENTY OF PARKING RIGHT OFF A MAJOR INTERSTATE isn't good enough.

No, instead they want to crap on history and tear down Al Lang Stadium and
build a new park there...open air with a shroud..just where you want to be when hits in the 90s with high humidity. Even with the shroud up, rain does go sideways with a good breeze and people will still get soaked...and all it will take is one good storm and bye-bye shroud.

And don't get me started on the alienation of the local fans by moving ST to a place in the middle of nowhere...

The Rays can move if they don't get their way in regards to a unnceessary stadium. No skin off my nose. I personally refuse to patronize the Trop even when my Red Sox are in town.

[Eddiey]

You wouldn't be the person who stole some signs out of my yard, would you?

For those who aren't Rays fans, the team is pulling the old "if we don't get a new stadium we'll move" card. Evidently, playing in a AIR CONDITIONED STADIUM WITH PLENTY OF PARKING RIGHT OFF A MAJOR INTERSTATE isn't good enough.

No, instead they want to crap on history and tear down Al Lang Stadium and
build a new park there...open air with a shroud..just where you want to be when hits in the 90s with high humidity. Even with the shroud up, rain does go sideways with a good breeze and people will still get soaked...and all it will take is one good storm and bye-bye shroud.

And don't get me started on the alienation of the local fans by moving ST to a place in the middle of nowhere...

The Rays can move if they don't get their way in regards to a unnceessary stadium. No skin off my nose. I personally refuse to patronize the Trop even when my Red Sox are in town.

Were those signs yours??? :)
Hey, you're entitled to your opinion re the ballpark or anything else.
Speaking for myself I don't go into the forums of other teams and mock
the fans or their team. Please don't do it here. If a Rays fan enters
a Sox forum and trash talks, confront him or her there and tell them
to take their crap somewhere else.

[zengator]

These transplants take themselves so seriously...

Root for whomever you want to root for. Like Eddiey said, tho, repeatedly talking trash on the internet about the team of your new home just reeks of comfrontationalism... as does walking into a grocery store with a Sawx jersey during a series with the Rays and acting offended when anybody makes a comment.

I'm so sorry you're stuck here. Why not make the best of it?

[spark240]

Us New Englanders aren't bandwagoners...

When was the last time you were actually in New England?

[Westlake]

When was the last time you were actually in New England?

That matters why?

[Danielh41]

Having been a Rockies fan since day one (I went to the franchise's first two games ever, against the Mets in New York), I was amused by the bandwagon jumpers during the run last season. I didn't really mind them much other than when someone asked me if I was a bandwagon jumper. I was wearing my Larry Walker jersey, one that I had owned for several years, and I made sure to point that out to the person.

But since the Rockies would need another miracle run to make the post season, I will be pulling for the Rays in September and October. I would absolutely love to see both the Yankees and the Red Sox shut out of the playoffs this season...

[Trickyhop]

That matters why?

Oh, it matters. And it's annoying.

[SDL]

All the anti-visiting fans crap down here is fueled by this idiot on the radio, guy named Steve DUImig--oops--Duemig. Calls himself the "Big Dog" and he rants against people who move down here and don't cut their ties. he salutes people who hassle visiting fans. One time he said to a Orioles fan "you think when you're at the Trop that the Orioles CARE that they they have a fan in the stands?" (I'll bet that any visiting team cares they have fans on the road). He also says that if you move here you have a year or so to get it out of your system.

I got into a fight with him on-air once where he picked up on my accent and told me to go back to Baaaah-stahn and choke on my chowdaaah.

That's the spokesperson for the Rays fans...a total jackass...

[zengator]

All the anti-visiting fans crap down here is fueled by this idiot on the radio, guy named Steve DUImig--oops--Duemig. Calls himself the "Big Dog" and he rants against people who move down here and don't cut their ties. he salutes people who hassle visiting fans. One time he said to a Orioles fan "you think when you're at the Trop that the Orioles CARE that they they have a fan in the stands?" (I'll bet that any visiting team cares they have fans on the road). He also says that if you move here you have a year or so to get it out of your system.

I got into a fight with him on-air once where he picked up on my accent and told me to go back to Baaaah-stahn and choke on my chowdaaah.

That's the spokesperson for the Rays fans...a total jackass...

Duemig is indeed a jackass and is in no way my "spokesperson", but you must admit that "choke on your chowdaaah" is pretty damn funny. :rofl:

[Williamsburg2599]

Oh, it matters. And it's annoying.


See, he asked "why" it matters, not if it did. Try to actually answer the question next time if you're going to come into a conversation and bring absolutly nothing to it.

I guess all the Red Sox fans fighting overseas are band wagoners too. Or is that a exception in the little rule book of being a fan located in your head? Seriously, it doesn't matter. Maybe SDL can't afford to move back to New England. Maybe he has job obligations. But more importantly, it's none of anybody's business.

[zengator]

See, he asked "why" it matters, not if it did. Try to actually answer the question next time if you're going to come into a conversation and bring absolutly nothing to it.

I guess all the Red Sox fans fighting overseas are band wagoners too. Or is that a exception in the little rule book of being a fan located in your head? Seriously, it doesn't matter. Maybe SDL can't afford to move back to New England. Maybe he has job obligations. But more importantly, it's none of anybody's business.

True. However, we're looking out for the poor guy, as constantly railing and raging at everyone around oneself is bad for one's health. Relax and enjoy where you are while you're there, I say. Root for your old team if you want, but don't be so obnoxious about it.

[Eddiey]

True. However, we're looking out for the poor guy, as constantly railing and raging at everyone around oneself is bad for one's health. Relax and enjoy where you are while you're there, I say. Root for your old team if you want, but don't be so obnoxious about it.

I see no problem with having dual loyalties. I am now a Rays fan and a fan
of all the central Florida teams, but I've lived here for 17 years. When I
first came down here to live my loyalties were with the NY teams. (Not the
Yankees, I've always hated them) It took awhile but eventually my loyalties
shifted. I do however and always will have a soft spot in my heart for NY
sports.

[Uncle Charlie]

Where the heck were all these Rays "fans" when the team really sucked? Us New Englanders aren't bandwagoners...for example, when the Pats were pathetic, we still sold out The Fox..no local TV station buying out the game to show it.It's hard to establish a fanbase when the team has never been remotely good. I live in Seattle and we'd never had a winning team until the '90s, and a lot of people said Seattle would never be a baseball town. Now, the fans have stayed even though we have one of the worst teams in baseball(and have had a losing record four of the last five years). Those aren't bandwagon fans, it's just that Seattle hadn't been turned on to baseball until we had a winning team and now support the Mariners quite nicely even after they started losing again. Maybe a similar thing will happen with Tampa Bay.

[raysnbran]

Us Rays fans can't win. If we start filling up the Trop, we're bandwagoners. If we don't fill up the Trop, it's "where the hell are all the fans?" and "Tampa Bay will never be a baseball town" and "they have a 1st place team and they don't deserve it"...:banghead: A decade of last place, 100+ loss seasons takes a little while for the general populace to forget about. And zengator is correct about the season ticket base being < 10K, and the Rays having to survive on walkups. As more people by packages over the offseason and beyond, the crowds will stay respectable.

[Gary Dunaier]

I guess the seller forgot to put in the "you must now root tor the local team or else" clause in it.


If you move to NYC, are you going to become a Yankees fan?

Sports seem to be the only form of entertainment where you're expected to support a particular "provider" based primarily on where you live.

If you live in New York, you're expected to root for the Mets or Yankees. But it's okay to prefer Jerry Springer (tapes in Chicago) over Maury Povich (tapes in New York), Judge Mathis (again, Chicago) over The People's Court, or even Jay Leno (Los Angeles) over David Letterman.

These may not be the best examples, but you get the idea.

[Eddiey]

Sports seem to be the only form of entertainment where you're expected to support a particular "provider" based primarily on where you live.

If you live in New York, you're expected to root for the Mets or Yankees. But it's okay to prefer Jerry Springer (tapes in Chicago) over Maury Povich (tapes in New York), Judge Mathis (again, Chicago) over The People's Court, or even Jay Leno (Los Angeles) over David Letterman.

These may not be the best examples, but you get the idea.

Another way to look at it. If a gizmo manufacturer in my town has a decent
reputation I will support that business instead of the guy in the town I
once lived. That doesn't mean I will bad mouth out of town businesses. I
want them to succeed too. If for what ever reason I find that my
loyalty to the out of towner is to much to overcome then so be it.
But I will not rip the in town business.

[SDL]

You can take the boy out of Boston but you cannot take Boston out of the boy.

[Cpope]

It should not really matter how we get our fans, long before we had the Rays I was and always will be a Braves fan :cap:, Boston, Milwaukee and now Atlanta. The Rays have always been my second team. (since becoming a Tampa err-St Pete team)

I am Florida. VIA, Florida. Not NY, Boston TX or Cali.

I really hate to see Al Lang Field taked down, Played many games there.
The Trop is a very neat place to play ball and most of the seats are great.
Unlike Atlanta's Park I set in nose bleed seats and really felt light headed.
No fun at all. Even tho I like the Braves as my #1, I rather go to the Trop and watch a game. Yes being in Crystal River Fl is closer to the Trop. But the Braves games are free. It just cost more in fuel. :)

Yes, this year we have a very good team, but we started as everyother Major League team, at the bottom and spent our time there. Here's hoping we keep this together for a long time to come.

In the future it would be great to see the Rays vs the Braves in the series.
Only time will tell, the Braves have got to get their chit together and the Rays have to keep their chit together. :highfive:

Don't trash a new fan, we all like to watch the game we all love.

[Boston Boxer]

Were those signs yours??? :)
Hey, you're entitled to your opinion re the ballpark or anything else.
Speaking for myself I don't go into the forums of other teams and mock
the fans or their team. Please don't do it here. If a Rays fan enters
a Sox forum and trash talks, confront him or her there and tell them
to take their crap somewhere else.

you dont go to other teams forums and mock their fans or team...really. You were the first Rays fan to do so. I remember it because i was thinking to myself that i have NEVER seen a Rays fan anywhere other than their forum. Your full of it.

[Seattle1]

Whoah whoah whoah let's all take a deep breath here.

[zengator]

you dont go to other teams forums and mock their fans or team...really. You were the first Rays fan to do so. I remember it because i was thinking to myself that i have NEVER seen a Rays fan anywhere other than their forum. Your full of it.

I was going to mock your grammar, but didn't because Rays fans just don't do such things.

[Eddiey]

you dont go to other teams forums and mock their fans or team...really. You were the first Rays fan to do so. I remember it because i was thinking to myself that i have NEVER seen a Rays fan anywhere other than their forum. Your full of it.

Find the post where I mocked a team or their fans. You won't. Bye bye.

[Trickyhop]

You can take the boy out of Boston but you cannot take Boston out of the boy.

There's waaay too much clam chowder in there to deal with. :D

[Captain Cold Nose]

you dont go to other teams forums and mock their fans or team...really. You were the first Rays fan to do so. I remember it because i was thinking to myself that i have NEVER seen a Rays fan anywhere other than their forum. Your full of it.

This is the Rays forum, not the Boston forum BB. Somebody in their own forum brings up what someone else said, and here comes a bully pulpit to set them straight on what a fan is?

I can't believe SDL had the audacity to complain about the arrogance of fans of other teams. That's one of the most ironic posts I've seen in my time on this site, among other things.

If anyone here claiming to be a fan of the sport attributes the voice of one radio idiot as a spokesperson for all fans of that team, then, they need to start looking past their own narrow mind.

[SDL]

This is the Rays forum, not the Boston forum BB. Somebody in their own forum brings up what someone else said, and here comes a bully pulpit to set them straight on what a fan is?

I can't believe SDL had the audacity to complain about the arrogance of fans of other teams. That's one of the most ironic posts I've seen in my time on this site, among other things.

If anyone here claiming to be a fan of the sport attributes the voice of one radio idiot as a spokesperson for all fans of that team, then, they need to start looking past their own narrow mind.

You've never heard this "radio idiot," have you?

[Captain Cold Nose]

You've never heard this "radio idiot," have you?

Admittedly, no. My time in Florida is spend in the Southeastern portion of the state. Ok. How is he different than any other radio idiot? And, to clarify, not all radio guys are idiots. I consider anyone who would attack people in general, such as fanbases of other teams, idiots. They're anywhere sports is played and watched. Yeah, they have their following. They should be treated like any cult.

I don't blame you one bit for going at it with him. Unfortunately, that's a no-win situation, which is nothing but frustrating. But I wouldn't use him as a gauge for anything but himself.

[zengator]

Admittedly, no. My time in Florida is spend in the Southeastern portion of the state. Ok. How is he different than any other radio idiot? And, to clarify, not all radio guys are idiots. I consider anyone who would attack people in general, such as fanbases of other teams, idiots. They're anywhere sports is played and watched. Yeah, they have their following. They should be treated like any cult.

I don't blame you one bit for going at it with him. Unfortunately, that's a no-win situation, which is nothing but frustrating. But I wouldn't use him as a gauge for anything but himself.

Most Rays fans I know also think this guy (Duemig) is a loudmouth w/ limited baseball knowledge. And like many of this ilk, he likes to stir up the audience with manufactured controversial opinions and then go at it on the air with callers who disagree. Somebody like SDL is his perfect foil.

imo, Bobby Fenton on 1010AM is the best sports radio host in the Tampa area. I can't catch him much in his current morning slot (9-12), but he's always informed, sincere, and entertaining. fwiw.

[ttmman21]

All the anti-visiting fans crap down here is fueled by this idiot on the radio, guy named Steve DUImig--oops--Duemig. Calls himself the "Big Dog" and he rants against people who move down here and don't cut their ties. he salutes people who hassle visiting fans. One time he said to a Orioles fan "you think when you're at the Trop that the Orioles CARE that they they have a fan in the stands?" (I'll bet that any visiting team cares they have fans on the road). He also says that if you move here you have a year or so to get it out of your system.

I got into a fight with him on-air once where he picked up on my accent and told me to go back to Baaaah-stahn and choke on my chowdaaah.

That's the spokesperson for the Rays fans...a total jackass...

As a Orioles fan since i was born, i know that the O's love to see support when they are on the road, i was actually acknowledged when i went to Boston to see them, taking all the harassment.

I am rooting for the Rays now that the O's are out of it, but this arrogance is giving Rays fans a bad name (ala Red Sox and Yankees fans.) Dont get me wrong, many sox and Yanks fans arent arrogant, but i would love to see the Rays win the division and for the Twins or W.Sox to win the wildcard. But im not a Rays bandwagon jumper, as in the O's vs Rays series on Friday, i will be rooting strictly for the O's.

[SDL]

As a Orioles fan since i was born, i know that the O's love to see support when they are on the road, i was actually acknowledged when i went to Boston to see them, taking all the harassment.

I am rooting for the Rays now that the O's are out of it, but this arrogance is giving Rays fans a bad name (ala Red Sox and Yankees fans.) Dont get me wrong, many sox and Yanks fans arent arrogant, but i would love to see the Rays win the division and for the Twins or W.Sox to win the wildcard. But im not a Rays bandwagon jumper, as in the O's vs Rays series on Friday, i will be rooting strictly for the O's.

Rooting for the Orioles?

GO BACK TO BALTIMORE IF YOU LOVE IT SO MUCH
(j/k, but don't be surprised if the stormtroopers--oops--ushers ask to see your ticket about 10 times in the first few innings)

[zengator]

Rooting for the Orioles?

GO BACK TO BALTIMORE IF YOU LOVE IT SO MUCH
(j/k, but don't be surprised if the stormtroopers--oops--ushers ask to see your ticket about 10 times in the first few innings)

I dunno, buddy; perhaps it's just you. I haven't seen nor heard of the ushers hasseling anybody who didn't deserve it since the new ownership group put in some actual customer service training a few seasons backs.

[SDL]

I dunno, buddy; perhaps it's just you. I haven't seen nor heard of the ushers hasseling anybody who didn't deserve it since the new ownership group put in some actual customer service training a few seasons backs.

Section 139, longish graying hair, glasses, blue-stud earring. That's Mr. Ego Trip.

I'd say asking to see tickets five times in a two-innong period and then hassling a guy for allegedly swearing...sounds like harassment. Me and several others told Mr. Ego Trip that the person he hassled didn't say anything. Mr. Ego Trip then says to all of us that were were now all warned..as if he was accusing all of us.

As long as jerks like Mr. Ego Trip are at the Trop, they won't get my money. And believe me...I go to Threshers games and I've met a lot of people there who have had crap given to them by both ushers and the yellow-shirt goons..they refuse to go to any more games at The Trop as well.

BTW..great front page article in the paper yesterday about attendance, eh? :D

[Matito]

Section 139, longish graying hair, glasses, blue-stud earring. That's Mr. Ego Trip.

I'd say asking to see tickets five times in a two-innong period and then hassling a guy for allegedly swearing...me and several others told Mr. Ego Trip that the person he hassled didn't say anything. Mr. Ego Trip then says to all of us that were were now all warned..as if he was accusing all of us.

As long as jerks like Mr. Ego Trip are at the Trop, they won't get my money. And believe me...I go to Threshers games and I've met a lot of people there who have had crap given to them by both ushers and the yellow-shirt goons..they refuse to go to anymore games as well.

BTW..great front page article in the paper yesterday about attendance, eh? :D

Ive never heard of anyone having a problem with the attendants without giving them a reason to have a problem since the new owners came. But every place, no matter how much training they get, is gonna have one or two people that think theyre Jesus with a lanyard and try to throw their weight around.

[zengator]

Section 139, longish graying hair, glasses, blue-stud earring. That's Mr. Ego Trip.

I'd say asking to see tickets five times in a two-innong period and then hassling a guy for allegedly swearing...sounds like harassment. Me and several others told Mr. Ego Trip that the person he hassled didn't say anything. Mr. Ego Trip then says to all of us that were were now all warned..as if he was accusing all of us.

As long as jerks like Mr. Ego Trip are at the Trop, they won't get my money. And believe me...I go to Threshers games and I've met a lot of people there who have had crap given to them by both ushers and the yellow-shirt goons..they refuse to go to any more games at The Trop as well.

BTW..great front page article in the paper yesterday about attendance, eh? :D

34K in the Trop today thing you're full of poopoo.

[SDL]

34K in the Trop today thing you're full of poopoo.

*I* didn't write the article...

[zengator]

*I* didn't write the article...

True, but the opinion stands.

[turningtides]

Wow. I don't frequent this board nearly as much as the one on raysbaseball.com, so I apologize for not being around to reply to all of this...feedback. Allow me to clarify a few things.

1. In no way was I trying to be arrogant with the first post. It was intended simply as an amusing look at some people actually converting from their pinstriped stupor to a team with more heart, talent, and desire than the dead one in the Bronx. How arrogance can be taken from the initial post...I honestly have no idea.

2. SDL, if you're a diehard Sox fan, that's just fine and dandy. If you hate everything Rays, from the team to the stadium to the fans, that's just fine and dandy. We hate people like you, too. You seem to have a personal agenda against the Rays that goes beyond division rivals--which can be a pretty pathetic thing. Rays fans hate the Yankees and the Red Sox, but I don't know that many that have the gall to belittle a team and a fanbase during their first ever year of success. When we first started winning, it was people like you who told us all to thank you, the Red Sox fan, for filling the Trop. When we kept winning, we heard all about our attendance problems, how the team is too young, how the Trop is a joke, the team's a fluke, whatever the hell else trendy bashes on the Rays you want to throw out there. None of this holds water with true fans of the team that have endured the belittling from fans like you in our own stadium; fans who have sat through, watched, and cried through a decade of dismal failure; fans of the team that carried names like Wilson Alvarez, Jose Canseco, Ozzie Guillen, Ben Grieve, Greg Vaughn, Joe Kennedy, etc., etc.; and those same fans that shed tears of hope, joy, and glory when our team made the playoffs for the first time ever at the trop. All your rants and raves come off as whining and moaning, like you're some elementary school bully that got it handed to him by the new kid. You may not intend it to sound like that, but that's exactly what it comes off as. As for Steve Duemig, the man has been the only voice on local radio to consistently analyze, follow, and give this team exposure. Everybody else was talking about anything else. You don't like him because he belittled you as a Boston fan? You are aware that you live in Tampa Bay, Florida; that Tampa Bay has its own baseball team, and that you are going to get harassed for trying to bring that team down and elevating your homer garbage in favor of a division rival? It would be no different, SDL, than me calling a Boston station to promote the Rays, or even a Baltimore, Toronto, or Chicago station. If you're mad because we don't like Boston...sorry, this isn't Boston, we don't have to like them or take your crap either. You can hermit away in your house all you want.

3. I didn't post this on any board but ours. What are fans from other teams doing here?

4. We won the AL East.

I hope this clarifies things.

[SDL]

Wow. I don't frequent this board nearly as much as the one on raysbaseball.com, so I apologize for not being around to reply to all of this...feedback. Allow me to clarify a few things.

1. In no way was I trying to be arrogant with the first post. It was intended simply as an amusing look at some people actually converting from their pinstriped stupor to a team with more heart, talent, and desire than the dead one in the Bronx. How arrogance can be taken from the initial post...I honestly have no idea.

2. SDL, if you're a diehard Sox fan, that's just fine and dandy. If you hate everything Rays, from the team to the stadium to the fans, that's just fine and dandy. We hate people like you, too. You seem to have a personal agenda against the Rays that goes beyond division rivals--which can be a pretty pathetic thing. Rays fans hate the Yankees and the Red Sox, but I don't know that many that have the gall to belittle a team and a fanbase during their first ever year of success. When we first started winning, it was people like you who told us all to thank you, the Red Sox fan, for filling the Trop. When we kept winning, we heard all about our attendance problems, how the team is too young, how the Trop is a joke, the team's a fluke, whatever the hell else trendy bashes on the Rays you want to throw out there. None of this holds water with true fans of the team that have endured the belittling from fans like you in our own stadium; fans who have sat through, watched, and cried through a decade of dismal failure; fans of the team that carried names like Wilson Alvarez, Jose Canseco, Ozzie Guillen, Ben Grieve, Greg Vaughn, Joe Kennedy, etc., etc.; and those same fans that shed tears of hope, joy, and glory when our team made the playoffs for the first time ever at the trop. All your rants and raves come off as whining and moaning, like you're some elementary school bully that got it handed to him by the new kid. You may not intend it to sound like that, but that's exactly what it comes off as. As for Steve Duemig, the man has been the only voice on local radio to consistently analyze, follow, and give this team exposure. Everybody else was talking about anything else. You don't like him because he belittled you as a Boston fan? You are aware that you live in Tampa Bay, Florida; that Tampa Bay has its own baseball team, and that you are going to get harassed for trying to bring that team down and elevating your homer garbage in favor of a division rival? It would be no different, SDL, than me calling a Boston station to promote the Rays, or even a Baltimore, Toronto, or Chicago station. If you're mad because we don't like Boston...sorry, this isn't Boston, we don't have to like them or take your crap either. You can hermit away in your house all you want.

3. I didn't post this on any board but ours. What are fans from other teams doing here?

4. We won the AL East.

I hope this clarifies things.

:yawn: :yawn: :yawn: :yawn:

Like I said before..where the hell were you fans when you guys stunk? You know, when the Sox, Pats, Celts and Bruins stunk, guess what? We still fiilled Fenway/The Fox/The Garden. I put on a Bucs game here, see empty seats and wonder how many tickets FOX 13 had to buy so they could show it.

Basically the new attitude sucks, to put it nicely...what I saw April 27 showed it. Don't like sitting near or seeing non-Rays fans? Just tell a usher they may not have the right tickets or they are swearing. That'll teach them to root for the other team!

As for the drunk driver on the radio here, he attacks fans who do not blindly cut their ties and jump on the bandwagon. The day he gave me crap, I called The Zone and let them know. Funny how DUImig all of a sudden got calls from up North that weren't exactly complimentary :rofl: (for the record, I was talking about the PATRIOTS the day he told me to choke on chowder).

At least we don't pull tasers on Rays fans (or even Yankee fans) in Fenway...tasers must be a Southern thang, y'all...

Oh, when you don't the get new stadium, hope you don't mid rooting for the Las Vegas Rays....

[turningtides]

We tazered a Sox fan because he was running down the steps, was drunk, and was obviously going to try to get onto the dugout and possibly down in the field. Player testimony has been given by Fernando Perez and Rocco Baldelli that the guy got what he deserved.

You ask where we've all been? I've been a Rays fan since 1998, and I can prove it to you if you wish in a number of ways--I have the inaugural game program, I have a shirt they made in 1997, I have about 80-100 ticket stubs from over the years (saved in a shoebox), and I have tons of memorabilia from giveaways as well. I can't speak for the rest of the people here.

As for your claim of filling up Fenway when Boston was losing--you obviously either don't know your history or are a huge bandwagon fan. From all the years before 1986, Fenway attendance was a joke. I'll let you look it up yourself.

Football teams don't apply in a baseball forum, and Tampa doesn't have a basketball team.

You failed to address the majority of what I posted and simply regurgitated the spittle of ignorance that has become your custom. So be it. You simply prove your blind stupidity with every typed word.

[SDL]

We tazered a Sox fan because he was running down the steps, was drunk, and was obviously going to try to get onto the dugout and possibly down in the field. Player testimony has been given by Fernando Perez and Rocco Baldelli that the guy got what he deserved.

You ask where we've all been? I've been a Rays fan since 1998, and I can prove it to you if you wish in a number of ways--I have the inaugural game program, I have a shirt they made in 1997, I have about 80-100 ticket stubs from over the years (saved in a shoebox), and I have tons of memorabilia from giveaways as well. I can't speak for the rest of the people here.

As for your claim of filling up Fenway when Boston was losing--you obviously either don't know your history or are a huge bandwagon fan. From all the years before 1986, Fenway attendance was a joke. I'll let you look it up yourself.

Football teams don't apply in a baseball forum, and Tampa doesn't have a basketball team.

You failed to address the majority of what I posted and simply regurgitated the spittle of ignorance that has become your custom. So be it. You simply prove your blind stupidity with every typed word.

Fenway attendance a joke before '86? Only time it MAY have been a bit sub-par may have been early in the season where some team called the Celtics were in something called the NBA Playoffs...(something I know this area will never experience) and a team called the Bruins were also in the Stanley Cup playoffs. Since people can't be in two places at once, some would opt to watch a playoff game going on at the same time as a early-season game.

I went out for a late-night meal tonight at Egg Platter on 19. Some of the local trailer park locals saw my Red Sox cap and ordered me to leave, dropping a few F-Bombs in my direction. Nice way to treat those who don't jump on the bandwagon, eh?

[Westlake]

As for your claim of filling up Fenway when Boston was losing--you obviously either don't know your history or are a huge bandwagon fan. From all the years before 1986, Fenway attendance was a joke. I'll let you look it up yourself.

Yeah, I did look this 'joke' up. Prior to 1986, attendance at Fenway was above average 14 of 15 years dating back to 1971. And that's not even taking into account that Fenway has one of if not the lowest capacity.

8 out of the 14 years, they were at least half a million people above the AL average.

You are the one who obviously doesn't know his history.


Here ya go: http://www.baseball-almanac.com/teams/rsoxatte.shtml

[turningtides]

Well, then, if we're just looking at it as a comparison to the rest of the teams instead of putting up actual numbers--

If you want to draw that comparison, the Rays 2008 attendance of ~23,000 per game would be above average as well for that time period, as well as above Boston's average attendance from 1967-1986 (21,958). Saying that the team is above league average doesn't relate to the scope, especially when your capacity has been high enough for at least 30,000 people for almost 75 years.

Simply put, the Red Sox were not selling out every single game and their attendance history is average at best when compared to comparable teams in the field, and they didn't start to draw until their team started to win.

Even if my above stat wasn't true, no fan of any other team will ever convince me that their stadium attendance would be among the league leaders or even above average after 10 years of terrible baseball. It just would not happen, regardless of the team.

The Rays attendance increase for 2009 will be gauged by their postseason success. The better they do in the 2008 playoffs, the higher their attendance will rise because of the ad campaign lumping postseason ticket opportunities with 2009 season ticket packages.

Again, if we are going that route of just comparison by average, the Rays 2008 attendance of ~23,000 per game would be as good as Boston's (and sometimes better) was between 1971 and 1986.

[turningtides]

Fenway attendance a joke before '86? Only time it MAY have been a bit sub-par may have been early in the season where some team called the Celtics were in something called the NBA Playoffs...(something I know this area will never experience) and a team called the Bruins were also in the Stanley Cup playoffs. Since people can't be in two places at once, some would opt to watch a playoff game going on at the same time as a early-season game.

I went out for a late-night meal tonight at Egg Platter on 19. Some of the local trailer park locals saw my Red Sox cap and ordered me to leave, dropping a few F-Bombs in my direction. Nice way to treat those who don't jump on the bandwagon, eh?

Actually, there were plenty of years between the first year of Fenway Park II and 1986 that the Red Sox consistently drew in the teens and low 20k area. Sorry to shock you, but facts are facts.

Again, you live in Tampa Bay, where your team is a division rival. You also get associated with other fans of that team in this area as a result. Since for the better part of the last 5 years the bandwagon Red Sox fans down here have been spending their time giving the team a bad name and ruining any credibility the fanbase originally had, you can expect nothing less. Again, I will draw a comparison. I don't believe, if I went to a Boston delicatessen with a Rays cap on, the patrons there would appreciate it.

Surely you don't expect the red carpet to rolled out for you?

[SDL]

Actually, there were plenty of years between the first year of Fenway Park II and 1986 that the Red Sox consistently drew in the teens and low 20k area. Sorry to shock you, but facts are facts.

Again, you live in Tampa Bay, where your team is a division rival. You also get associated with other fans of that team in this area as a result. Since for the better part of the last 5 years the bandwagon Red Sox fans down here have been spending their time giving the team a bad name and ruining any credibility the fanbase originally had, you can expect nothing less. Again, I will draw a comparison. I don't believe, if I went to a Boston delicatessen with a Rays cap on, the patrons there would appreciate it.

Surely you don't expect the red carpet to rolled out for you?

I seriously doubt any local yokels up North in civilization will come over you you while you're eating and order you to "git th'F-word outa here." Granted the humanoids I encountered at Egg Platter last night were in a semi-druinken state and lacked some teeth. Guess to them, Egg Platter was a night out from the Trailer Park and their verson of Sam Seltzer's or Ted Lobster...

You know..it wasn't until this year that I really had any trouble with Rays fans. The crap I saw at the Trop on April 27 changed how I saw things. I sure as hell won't give the Rays any more of my ticket money; I'll see the Sox in the spring when they play the Phillies and Jays...and during the regular season, I'll watch the Threshers and the GCL teams in the area. I have yet to see ushers at Bright House Field asking to see tickets stubs two times an inning and yes, I've heard horror stories from other people..some Rays fans about the "new attitude" at The Trop.

[Westlake]

If you want to draw that comparison, the Rays 2008 attendance of ~23,000 per game would be above average as well for that time period, as well as above Boston's average attendance.

Simply put, the Red Sox were not selling out every single game and their attendance history is average at best when compared to comparable teams in the field.

Again, if we are going that route of just comparison by average, the Rays 2008 attendance of ~23,000 per game would be as good as Boston's (and sometimes better) was between 1971 and 1986.

You said it was a joke, I proved that wrong, and now your diss on their attendance is that they 'didn't sell out every game'? I see...

And you're going to compare the average attendance of the 2008 Rays, a first place team, to that of a team that made the playoffs ONCE in that 15 year span? Not only does that not make sense, what does that even have to do with your previous point that Boston's attendance was a 'joke'? They were above the AL average 14 of 15 years, even with mediocre teams. You were proved wrong. End of story.

[turningtides]

Well, since our attendance of 23,000 this year has been labeled a joke by everybody and anybody, your attendance over a 20 year span of less than that must also be labeled a joke. Hence, the reason why I called it a joke. Do you see why I'm not wrong?

And yes, I think it would be fair to compare the attendance of two teams who made the playoffs rarely (the Rays once in 11 years, the Red Sox once in 15 years). There is definitely a comparison there.

You misinterpreted what I meant when I said that they weren't selling out every game. Being a Rays fan, I am in no position to "diss" anybody else's attendance. I am, however, in a position to defend my team when many of the attackers also have similar attendance numbers over their histories.

[Westlake]

Well, since our attendance of 23,000 this year has been labeled a joke by everybody and anybody, your attendance over a 20 year span of less than that must also be labeled a joke. Hence, the reason why I called it a joke. Do you see why I'm not wrong?

And yes, I think it would be fair to compare the attendance of two teams who made the playoffs rarely (the Rays once in 11 years, the Red Sox once in 15 years). There is definitely a comparison there.

You misinterpreted what I meant when I said that they weren't selling out every game. Being a Rays fan, I am in no position to "diss" anybody else's attendance. I am, however, in a position to defend my team when many of the attackers also have similar attendance numbers over their histories.

I guess you didn't know that attendance was waaaayyy lower back then, compared to what it is now. The Red Sox finished FIRST in attendance 3 times during that time with an average under 22,000. Don't tell people they don't know their history when you're the one that obviously doesn't.

The Red Sox were in the top 5 in attendance FIFTEEN TIMES from '67 to '85. TWELVE times they were in the Top 2. The Rays ranked 12th this year. It's not comparable. Your point was wrong. Stop.

[Matito]

I seriously doubt any local yokels up North in civilization will come over you you while you're eating and order you to "git th'F-word outa here." Granted the humanoids I encountered at Egg Platter last night were in a semi-druinken state and lacked some teeth. Guess to them, Egg Platter was a night out from the Trailer Park and their verson of Sam Seltzer's or Ted Lobster...

You know..it wasn't until this year that I really had any trouble with Rays fans. The crap I saw at the Trop on April 27 changed how I saw things. I sure as hell won't give the Rays any more of my ticket money; I'll see the Sox in the spring when they play the Phillies and Jays...and during the regular season, I'll watch the Threshers and the GCL teams in the area. I have yet to see ushers at Bright House Field asking to see tickets stubs two times an inning and yes, I've heard horror stories from other people..some Rays fans about the "new attitude" at The Trop.

I also dont see any other Red Sox fans as bad as you. You seem to have a lot more posts in the Rays forums defending the Sox, Boston as a city, and Bostonians as superior human beings and anyone originally from the Bay area as "toothless, half-drunken humanoids" than posts on the Sox boards proving that you can have a civilized conversation where you actually prove a point without resorting to insulting your opponent. :waving

[turningtides]

Don't tell people they don't know their history when you're the one that obviously doesn't.

First of all, it doesn't matter if attendance was way lower back then. Numbers are numbers. If our numbers aren't comparable this season to a couple of franchises with 100 years of history, and those franchises call our attendance a joke, then we look back at some numbers that DO compare with ours. And when we do, we find quite a lot of numbers.

The two northeastern teams have tons of national attention. They have also been successful for quite a few seasons in a row now. These are the only reasons Yankee Stadium and Fenway Park are selling out at this point, as indicated by the previous attendance record. The Rays have been successful this season, and are starting to receive attention; thus, their attendance will see a very nice boost starting next season.

Finally, I wasn't directly addressing you with the quoted comment. I was addressing the Sox honk who constantly posts here. Like I said before, the comparison to the rest of the league doesn't hold any water at all.

Let me ask you something: do you agree that the Rays attendance this season is expected even considering the success of the ballclub? And also, do you expect the attendance to jump next season?

The two answers you offer will explain much.

[zengator]

Let me ask you something: do you agree that the Rays attendance this season is expected even considering the success of the ballclub? And also, do you expect the attendance to jump next season?

The two answers you offer will explain much.

Ooo, can I answer?

1) Worst first decade for any expansion franchise in MLB history = of course attendance will suck.

2) The attendance over the 2nd half of the regular season was already up significantly over years past. Also, people around here are eagerly throwing down season ticket deposits to get playoff purchasing priority. (Brilliant promotion, imo.)

If the Rays are competitive again next year (and I see no reason why they wouldn't be), I'd expect attendance to be near the team record. The only reason why the innaugural season attendance record might stand is that the Trop holds 9K less these days, so there won't be any 40K+ crowds to bump up the average.

[Westlake]

First of all, it doesn't matter if attendance was way lower back then. Numbers are numbers. If our numbers aren't comparable this season to a couple of franchises with 100 years of history, and those franchises call our attendance a joke, then we look back at some numbers that DO compare with ours. And when we do, we find quite a lot of numbers.

Yes it does matter. That's like saying that all hitters in the 60s (when offense was down across the board) weren't as good as those in the 90s (steroid era) because 'numbers are numbers'. Sorry, that just doesn't work at all.

The two northeastern teams have tons of national attention. They have also been successful for quite a few seasons in a row now. These are the only reasons Yankee Stadium and Fenway Park are selling out at this point, as indicated by the previous attendance record. The Rays have been successful this season, and are starting to receive attention; thus, their attendance will see a very nice boost starting next season.

Attendance comes and goes with team performance in the long run. This is true and everyone knows it. If that was your point in the above paragraph, then I agree. All I was doing was addressing your point that Boston's attendance was a 'joke' which was absolutely false.

Let me ask you something: do you agree that the Rays attendance this season is expected even considering the success of the ballclub? And also, do you expect the attendance to jump next season?

The two answers you offer will explain much.

I think I expected it to stay low in the first have of the season and go up later in the season, which is probably what happened, i'm not really sure. It went up 6,000 people per game, and it will probably go up another 5K or so if the team continues to do well.

edit: Well Zengator said that attendance was up in the second half, which is what I figured. There's not anything wrong with that.

[Imgran]

Might be interesting to compare the Rays' attendance as the year went on to a remarkably similar Red Sox resurgence in 1967 (if you allow for the differences in the way baseball is played in the two eras, very similar indeed). The Red Sox finished the 1966 season with less than 800 fans in attendance after two decades of suck since the last Sox team that made the playoffs in 1948. The early to mid 60's was the absolute low point in all of Red Sox baseball -- the post-Williams, pre-Yaz era, if you will.

For the record, when talking about attendance, Westlake did it the right way -- comparing to the era.

[Shea 4 Life]

I am fu@king livid. I take 20 minutes to write up why I like the Rays and this POS website keeps dumping it. Here comes the short version.

I am on the Ray's wagon...because I moved to Clearwater for a few months in October of last year until January of 08, plus my family lives in Palm Harbor. In the short span that I lived in the Bay area I became fond of that Tampa (as well as the Lightning, God I love that Forum) squad, I knew that one of these days they would be a force in the AL. Well I had no clue that day would be so soon. Hey I'm a Die Hard Mets fan, but I have no issue saying that the Rays are a very exciting team with a bright future. I will root for them for years to come. Especially when they are playing in the Bronx. I love wearing my Rays fitted hat in a city full of Yankee logos. GO RAYS!!!

[SDL]

I am fu@king livid. I take 20 minutes to write up why I like the Rays and this POS website keeps dumping it. Here comes the short version.

I am on the Ray's wagon...because I moved to Clearwater for a few months in October of last year until January of 08, plus my family lives in Palm Harbor. In the short span that I lived in the Bay area I became fond of that Tampa (as well as the Lightning, God I love that Forum) squad, I knew that one of these days they would be a force in the AL. Well I had no clue that day would be so soon. Hey I'm a Die Hard Mets fan, but I have no issue saying that the Rays are a very exciting team with a bright future. I will root for them for years to come. Especially when they are playing in the Bronx. I love wearing my Rays fitted hat in a city full of Yankee logos. GO RAYS!!!


The Forum? You mean THE ICE PALACE.

[Shea 4 Life]

Yes, that place!

[Matito]

The Forum? You mean THE ICE PALACE.

I think he means the St Pete Times Forum. The Ice Palace is the old name.

[SDL]

I think he means the St Pete Times Forum. The Ice Palace is the old name.

I mean THE ICE PALACE. The St. Pete Times Forum isn't in St. Pete, now us it...

I will ALWAYS call it THE ICE PALACE...

[Matito]

I mean THE ICE PALACE. The St. Pete Times Forum isn't in St. Pete, now us it...

I will ALWAYS call it THE ICE PALACE...

They bought the naming rights, therefore the place is called the St Pete Times Forum. The University of Phoenix bought the naming rights to the Cardinals stadium in Glendale, not Phoenix, and they have a campus in Tampa, along with over 200 other campuses. If thats not confusing, I dont know what is, but its still the University of Phoenix.