Fox Sports Radio

[Frank Ferreri]

Made a quick Publix run for beverage and snacks prior to the Rays game Saturday. Had 620 on during the short trip. One of the network Fox Sports guys was on. To my surprise his rant was the Rays can't even sell out opening day against the Yankees. A Twilight Zone feeling hit me as there were no seats available for Friday or Saturday and only random seats for Sunday. Sat in my car in the Publix lot to listen further. Seems some of the national guys are so on the "Tampa Bay, The Trop, and Florida will not support baseball" bandwagon. This guy (didn't even get his name) did no homework. Yes, the Trop's capacity is 42 something, however, the Rays don't use those seats where the view is the rings and catwalks. They sell 34 thousand baseball seats. There was even a caller who said that she sat up there for a Lightning playoff and her view was the rings. Of course, the guy on the air made no reference that the Lightning drew huge crowds at the old Thunderdome and made some sort of remark that hockey is played in a smaller arena. Guess he didn't know that the Lightning played there. Shame that the national media is so misinformed. Rays ownership has made the Trop as good as possible. Really isn't a bad venue to watch a game. It isn't only this guy. Watched an Oriole spring game and Gary Thorne was talking about the American League East and how the Rays can't even sell out playoff games! Where these people get their facts (or lack of) is a mystery. Perception becomes reality.

 

[badjef]

Made a quick Publix run for beverage and snacks prior to the Rays game Saturday. Had 620 on during the short trip. One of the network Fox Sports guys was on. To my surprise his rant was the Rays can't even sell out opening day against the Yankees. A Twilight Zone feeling hit me as there were no seats available for Friday or Saturday and only random seats for Sunday. Sat in my car in the Publix lot to listen further. Seems some of the national guys are so on the "Tampa Bay, The Trop, and Florida will not support baseball" bandwagon. This guy (didn't even get his name) did no homework. Yes, the Trop's capacity is 42 something, however, the Rays don't use those seats where the view is the rings and catwalks. They sell 34 thousand baseball seats. There was even a caller who said that she sat up there for a Lightning playoff and her view was the rings. Of course, the guy on the air made no reference that the Lightning drew huge crowds at the old Thunderdome and made some sort of remark that hockey is played in a smaller arena. Guess he didn't know that the Lightning played there. Shame that the national media is so misinformed. Rays ownership has made the Trop as good as possible. Really isn't a bad venue to watch a game. It isn't only this guy. Watched an Oriole spring game and Gary Thorne was talking about the American League East and how the Rays can't even sell out playoff games! Where these people get their facts (or lack of) is a mystery. Perception becomes reality.

You have very well demonstrated why I call them "sports geeks". On a national level, they are about as uninformed about the sports teams here as can be. It has improved, though, with fantasy sports. But these guys think that the Rays play in Tampa Bay. I have made suggestions from time to time we rename St. Petersburg to Tampa Bay if they want to keep the Rays. The newspaper has already done it, coincidently.

Most of the sports geeks throughout the country are listening to ESPN. If it is not happening in the Northeast, ESPN doesn't care. WFAN on HD-3 yesterday was more of a comedy channel after the Rays won on Friday.

Jeff in Sa-ra-so-ta!

 

[Studio20]

Ah, Gary "The Lawyer" Thorne, another in the long line of announcers that has no use for Tampa Bay. He was ABC's main voice for the NHL the year The Bolts won the cup. I've heard people on their way to get root canals with more enthusiasm for that, than Thornes lame call of game 7...John "St Pete is God's Waiting Room" Saunders ( a comment from his Davis Cup hosting duties at the then Suncoast Dome) as host didnt help matters either.

 

[badjef]

Ah, Gary "The Lawyer" Thorne, another in the long line of announcers that has no use for Tampa Bay. He was ABC's main voice for the NHL the year The Bolts won the cup. I've heard people on their way to get root canals with more enthusiasm for that, than Thornes lame call of game 7...John "St Pete is God's Waiting Room" Saunders ( a comment from his Davis Cup hosting duties at the then Suncoast Dome) as host didnt help matters either.

As he is sitting in his house on Siesta Key?

Jeff in Sa-ra-so-ta!