Tampa Bay Rays Fans Speak Loudly by Staying Home

Tampa Bay Rays baseball fans spoke loudly and clearly again last night before a nationally televised ESPN audience, by staying home. 

Sunday's game at Tropicana Field between the Boston Red Sox and the Tampa Bay Rays drew only 21,504 fans, much to the chagrin of Rays players, team ownership and MLB Commissioner Bud Selig. 

Last night's marquee match-up between the American League East leading Red Sox and their staunch division rival Rays filled only 59.7 percent of Tropicana Field seats. The event ironically witnessed red clad Red Sox rooters making more noise at times than the Rays' cow bell carrying local crowd.

Last night's five hour and 44 minute pitcher's duel ended after 16 innings in a listless 1-0 Red Sox victory. However, tonight the Tampa Bay Rays square off against their other AL East bitter rival, the NY Yankees, and will probably stoke more heated conversations during another nationally televised ESPN game.  

Expect ESPN to offer colorful commentary about improving the anemic attendance of this very competitive MLB Florida franchise. But, will the World Wide Leader in Sports report candidly about what local fans in the Tampa Bay market are actually saying, by staying home? 

Will ESPN acknowledge that Tampa Bay baseball fans are saying "no mas" when it comes to the team ownership's constant crying about attendance and belabored bickering about building a new stadium with tax payers' money? 

Will ESPN cite Rays' perceived "carpet-bagger" owner Stuart Sternberg's repeated threats to leave town even though he signed a lease to remain in St. Petersburg for another 16 years? 

Will ESPN report MLB Commissioner Bud Selig's repeated veiled references to possible MLB contraction involving the Tampa Bay market if plans for a new locally financed stadium aren't finalized soon? 

Will ESPN remember Rays stars Evan Longoria and David Price chastising local fans last year for woeful attendance?  

Hopefully, ESPN will step up to the plate and interview the local fans.  

Yes, the local fans who have already said "no mas" to players' critical comments about attendance, the Commissioner's clamoring about contraction and the Rays ownership's whimpering about building a newer stadium with nicer luxury boxes and pricier tickets they can sell? 

However, advise ESPN not to look for the Rays fans in the stands at the Trop tonight, as most of them will be staying home, again. 

Straight talk. No static. 

MIKE - thee ultimate talking head on sports!

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