Tampa Bay franchise changes it's name...
John F
Seriously though, I wish someone would realize that Devil Rays is
starting to sound more and more tacky. Or just "Rays" for that matter.....
Tropicsprite
"Thunder", buy the rights from em, and slap that team name on the jerseys...
Which we could then parlay into a field name of
Tropicana Field at Thunderdome...
Everyone wins!
"John F" <n...@thistime.com> wrote in message
news:Ppf2e.8954$vd....@tornado.tampabay.rr.com...
David Horning
were getting into. Devil Rays is a football name. This is baseball--teams
name don't strike fear into the heart of the opponent. I grew up in the
middle of the country about 5 miles Northeast of nowhere. I had to choose
between the Cubs, Cardinals, Royals, Twins, and White Sox. Just in the
Eastern Division of the American league you have a slang term for a
Northeasterner or American if you are from Europe, two songbirds, and an
article of clothing, and an ugly bottom-dwelling fish that might sting, and
looks scary--go figure.
I think it's too late for a radical name change, but if they dropped devil,
and changed the team symbol to a setting sun framed by two palm trees and a
small sailboat in front of it they'd be a little closer the power curve.
"John F" <n...@thistime.com> wrote in message
news:Ppf2e.8954$vd....@tornado.tampabay.rr.com...
Tropicsprite
they
> were getting into. Devil Rays is a football name.
That shows what you know about football. No team name in their right mind
would use "Devil Rays" as a name. "Devils?" Yes. "Rays?" Probably not
(that's more a baseball team name anyway).
> This is baseball--teams
> name don't strike fear into the heart of the opponent. I grew up in the
> middle of the country about 5 miles Northeast of nowhere. I had to choose
> between the Cubs, Cardinals, Royals, Twins, and White Sox. Just in the
> Eastern Division of the American league you have a slang term for a
> Northeasterner or American if you are from Europe, two songbirds, and an
> article of clothing, and an ugly bottom-dwelling fish that might sting,
and
> looks scary--go figure.
>
Football is far more intimidating but that is because it is also far more
physical. Baseball is a lazy, slow-paced, theatrical game that relies more
on statistics, mystique and tradition than all other sports combined.
> I think it's too late for a radical name change, but if they dropped
devil,
> and changed the team symbol to a setting sun framed by two palm trees and
a
> small sailboat in front of it they'd be a little closer the power curve.
HA!!!!! Not a chance! Would just continue the stereotype of Tampa Bay
being called "God's Waiting Room."
Much better idea: Have a Thunderbolt zapping THROUGH a baseball and call
them the "Thunderbolts." This team had several name suggestions when
expansion was a near-certainty in 1995. IIRC, here is the status on some
the proposed named for Tampa teams.
- "Panthers": Frank Morsani's baby (later sold to Wayne Huizenga for his
hockey team) and it was not well-received (though it was FAR better than the
Devil Rays).
- "Stingrays": already taken by some minor league team (I Hawaii, I think)
- "Manta Rays": confused too many people.
- "Sunrays": Already taken by Orlando's old farm team.
- "Thunderballs": Would have been a great marketing tie with a the James
Bond movie "Thunderball"
- "Tarpons": Great heritage and history, but nobody knew what the hell
"Tarpon" were (most people are not aware it is a fish)
- "Sharks": San Jose had that name for their hockey team.
- "Suns": Jacksonville had a farm team by that name.
- "Thunder": The most popular name for the team BY FAR - but somebody
copyrighted it and held it hostage thinking Naimoli would pay up...fat
chance (thanks a lot to you boneheads, btw!)
- "Hurricanes": Miami fans would howl and it was also considered
politically-incorrect following Andrew.
Thunderbolts would be an acceptable compromise to most people - it would
reflect the weather nature of the area and it is no longer used by any team
(last time it was used was by the old Cleveland/Columbus AFL team in the
early 90s).
Flycoon
"David Horning" <dhor...@verizon.net> wrote in message
news:Ozi2e.15872$Go4.79@trnddc05...
>I hated the name from day 1. It showed the folks here didn't know what
>they were getting into.
>Devil Rays is a football name.
Goofy. The name "Devil Rays" and that statement.
John F
Flycoon wrote:
> "David Horning" <dhor...@verizon.net> wrote in message
> news:Ozi2e.15872$Go4.79@trnddc05...
>
>>I hated the name from day 1. It showed the folks here didn't know what
>>they were getting into.
>
>
>>Devil Rays is a football name.
>
>
> Goofy. The name "Devil Rays" and that statement.
>
Seconded.
Devil Rays is a minor league name. Like low class A ball in the SALy
League... You expect a small town, backwater city to host a team claled
the Devil Rays... Not a major league franchise.
I always wanted the team to be called the Thunder - which led to a lot
of rejectiosn from toehr fans. They hated the Meteorological trend in
Tampa -- Lightning, Storm, and then Thunder? But honestly, I saw the
uniforms as blue instripes and yellow lettering (gold maybe, with blue
edges and white highlights) to match the stadium's colors just a bit.
Alas -- you got something that was more out-there when Naimoli wouldn't
foot the bill for one of the more fitting and formidable names. Oh
well, too bad, so sad
David Horning
being called "God's Waiting Room."
Why do people have a hard time with that stereotype. It's really more of a
demographic fact, than a stereotype. The population around here is just
older. One just needs to leave the St. Petersburg area and go somewhere
crowds gather to realize something's different, only to realize that the
majority of people around you are younger than you rather than older.
Frankly, there's a lot of demographic groups that I'd rather not be
overwhelmed by than old people. Wal-Mart moms in the Ford Excursion with
the W on the rear windshield comes to mind real fast for me (let's see how
you feel about your MPG and W when your little Jacob, Cody, Tyler, and Caleb
reach draft age)
Your going to be a lot more successful if you face such facts. I'm not
suggesting that you call the team the Bluehairs although that wouldn't be to
far out of line with Angels, Mets, and Padres. (now that there are no
Expos we are in the running for worst team name, though Astros is still
running strong)
The whole idea that baseball makes a town a major league city is proof
positive that we are a minor league city. Back during the quest for the
team everything was built on improving the civic image of the area, not on
any real desire for baseball. I use to think then that if there were real
baseball thirst here we would have dropped the Florida State league teams
for a AAA team in the International League long ago. Once I expressed that
idea to my brother that lives in Philadelphia and his response was that if
baseball expanded here a AAA team was just about what we'd get. 10 years
later he looks somewhat like a prophet.
Stupid team names do seem like something people learn to live with just look
at what relocation has done, The Los Angeles Lakers have proven that
winning can make the dumbest name sound cool, but I don't think any kind of
winning will ever make the Utah Jazz sound like a decent name.
Indianapolis Colts? Sacarmento Kings, Arizona Cardinals--It's like where
somebody else's clothes
Tropicsprite
a
> demographic fact, than a stereotype. The population around here is just
> older. One just needs to leave the St. Petersburg area and go somewhere
> crowds gather to realize something's different, only to realize that the
> majority of people around you are younger than you rather than older.
> Frankly, there's a lot of demographic groups that I'd rather not be
> overwhelmed by than old people. Wal-Mart moms in the Ford Excursion with
> the W on the rear windshield comes to mind real fast for me (let's see how
> you feel about your MPG and W when your little Jacob, Cody, Tyler, and
Caleb
> reach draft age)
My sister has a child, but I do not. And why on earth did you have to
transform this from commentary on baseball into a political crack? Take
that rant to alt.fl.politics. As for the demographics, IIRC St.
Petersburg's demographics are actually YOUNGER than Tampa's (41.3 to 44.5).
If you want to see OLD, go to Sorrysota or Venice. This area is getting
younger, and maybe you just want to cling to that..I don't know.
> The whole idea that baseball makes a town a major league city is proof
> positive that we are a minor league city. Back during the quest for the
> team everything was built on improving the civic image of the area, not on
> any real desire for baseball. I use to think then that if there were real
> baseball thirst here we would have dropped the Florida State league teams
> for a AAA team in the International League long ago. Once I expressed
that
> idea to my brother that lives in Philadelphia and his response was that if
> baseball expanded here a AAA team was just about what we'd get. 10 years
> later he looks somewhat like a prophet.
What makes a city (or an area) major league is the unity that political
leaders show outwardly. To that end, it has only been the past six to seven
years that this has happened, and that is why the area is beginning to
flourish. We are not in our prime yet, but we are on the way. Pam Iorio's
decision to go for a "smaller scale" art museum shows responsibility as well
as an acceptance to live within our means. Rick Baker has shown a
propensity to think on a regional scope as much as on a municipal scope,
which will serve him well.
> Stupid team names do seem like something people learn to live with just
look
> at what relocation has done, The Los Angeles Lakers have proven that
> winning can make the dumbest name sound cool, but I don't think any kind
of
> winning will ever make the Utah Jazz sound like a decent name.
> Indianapolis Colts? Sacarmento Kings, Arizona Cardinals--It's like where
> somebody else's clothes
Part of the problem is brand recognition. In some cases it can be a wild
success, such as the Tennessee Titans. In others it can take a while to
adjust, such as the Baltimore Ravens. Most "renames" are the result of
franchise relocations, and there hasn't been major pro team to change it's
nickname while still in the same city for over 40 years (last one was the
New York Titans) The nickname is the "Brand". The city the brand
identifies with is simply window-dressing, a location reference because
Americans identify with team names rather than with geographic areas (MLS is
the exception to the rule, as they recently dropped nicknames and went with
strictly city names to identify teams). By the way, you missed one glaring
example of wearing "somebody else clothes" the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Tropicsprite
weather-related team names and the Thunder was the logical step for
baseball.
Personally, this would be the wildest uniform ever:
-A navy blue home cap, a grey away cap (Silver "TB" with white outlines on
the cap for the home caps, navy outlines for away caps.)
-Navy home jerseys with white striping, script "Thunder" in silver with
white outlines.
-Grey away jerseys with navy striping, block "Tampa Bay" in navy with silver
outlines.
-White pants with the following piping pattern (home: navy outside, silver
inside), (away: silver outside, navy inside).
-Navy socks
-Alternate white jerseys with navy striping, script "Thunder" in navy with
silver outlines.
On the left arm, the AL league patch, on the right arm, the team logo (A
thunderbolt blasting through a baseball with both entry and exit points on
the baseball blown open).
> Devil Rays is a minor league name. Like low class A ball in the SALy
> League... You expect a small town, backwater city to host a team claled
> the Devil Rays... Not a major league franchise.
More like NAIA in college (Division II, no less)
> Alas -- you got something that was more out-there when Naimoli wouldn't
> foot the bill for one of the more fitting and formidable names. Oh
> well, too bad, so sad
We should have seen the writing on the wall when Good Ol'Vince wouldn't open
his wallet and pay for the trademark, or at least bribe the holders with
lifetime season tickets!
David Horning
<no...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:hpum41l8njs3q5ig1...@4ax.com...
>
> I'd like to use the old Tampa Tarpons moniker. The phrase has nice
> alliteration. This is a nickname animal that is indigenous (sp) to
> the are, a great sportfish known worldwide, and a name used by none of
> the big leagues.
>
> Might be a bit like the Marlins, but hey, this is Florida.
>
Ah! aliteration and the Marlins in one post. Did they miss the boat or
what? Miami Marlins would sound so much better, I guess they thought the
Broward County people wouldn't sign on if they called themselves Miami. I
guess the California-Anihiem-Los Angeles Angels are showing there is a
precendent for that kind of change. Tarpon would have probably been the
best, But if I remember right back in the early days, there was debate about
city name should attached to the team. I still run into people that think it
should be the St. Petersburg Devil Rays. In the end it probably doesn't make
much difference. Cincinnatie has managed some success and a history in a
small market with a name like the Red Legs, which always sounded like they
were mad the the name Red Sox was taken.
David Horning
But where'd you get those demographic numbers? I wonder what happened to
St. Cloud. It use to be the oldest town in country, but has since been
overgrown by Disney. I'd like to see where they sit now. Three years up
for Tampa, is that really Tampa v. St. Petersburg, I could se Hillsbrough v.
Pinellas, 'cause north Pinellas is actually pretty young and Hillsbrough, on
the edges all around, is pretty old.
> My sister has a child, but I do not. And why on earth did you have to
> transform this from commentary on baseball into a political crack? Take
> that rant to alt.fl.politics. As for the demographics, IIRC St.
> Petersburg's demographics are actually YOUNGER than Tampa's (41.3 to
> 44.5).
> If you want to see OLD, go to Sorrysota or Venice. This area is getting
> younger, and maybe you just want to cling to that..I don't know.
>
.
>
> What makes a city (or an area) major league is the unity that political
> leaders show outwardly. To that end, it has only been the past six to
> seven
> years that this has happened, and that is why the area is beginning to
> flourish. We are not in our prime yet, but we are on the way. Pam
> Iorio's
> decision to go for a "smaller scale" art museum shows responsibility as
> well
> as an acceptance to live within our means. Rick Baker has shown a
> propensity to think on a regional scope as much as on a municipal scope,
> which will serve him well.
>
Exiled
> I'm Sorry I offended.
\
You should be.
Let me ask you this: If this area is so damn old, then why does Pasco
County, just to the north of Tampa,
have at least three new high schools on the drawing board in the next six
years, and literally thousands of
new homes...that is neighborhoods, not ACLFs or "mobile homes" going in,
literally as I speak.
Aside from Vegas, this is one of the fastest growing areas in the country
for families...that is people in
their 30s and 40s with children.
I'm in my mid forties, have lived here for 16 years and so damn sick and
tired of people like you who just dump on this area as strictly
a haven for seniors. Its long past that.
Get real or get lost.
KerplunKuK
average mix of people. I would have thought demographics were about average
in the area. But I suppose being from a different country I see things
differently.
Can someone explain what the age of people in the are has to do with
baseball, or the name of the team?
--
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David Horning
nobody's changin' no names. 10 year anniversary just passed and the local
paper did a big series on why baseball has failed so miserably here.
Everybody's blaming somebody. It's the owner, it's the town, it's the
stadium, it's the players. You go to some games during the mid-season where
you can come pretty close to hand counting folks in the park you know
there's enough blame to go around for everyone. I'd be a tough call if you
had to bet your life which would happen first A. The team contends in a
serious way, or B.the team moves, contracts, or just goes broke. The Expos
should have sent a chill. Now there's dumb name and wired demographic
"KerplunKuK" <kerplunkuk@gmail[dot].com> wrote in message
news:3b2kl4F...@individual.net...
John F
reference the World Expo in Montreal
B) look at the Expos stats from early on (attendance and such) and they
were fine for a time. They really hit a speed bump with the 1994
strike, however and most opinions are based on the region post-strike
when he team was out of contention and ownership was a set of bastards
or ignoramuses.
Tropicsprite
Dolphins" but changed their name when it was apparent the north part of the
state followed the Falcons.
"David Horning" <dhor...@verizon.net> wrote in message
news:u4Q2e.26957$Ax.13210@trnddc04...
David
play?