By Beaker
Growing up in the 1980s, the most popular jerseys and caps were of dominant teams like the Oakland Athletics, San Francisco 49ers, Edmonton Oilers, Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers. I’m sure there were others but these are the ones that stand out for me.
Success gorws your fan base – though I wonder how many of these people remain “fans.”
Back then no one wore New England Patriots caps or Detroit Red Wings sweaters. Now? They’re everywhere. It’s all part of the boom and bust nature of band wagon fans.
Recently, a stranger proudly proclained they were a Chelsea fan. My friend and I looked at each other and wondered, “10 years ago who were Chelsea? Betcha this guy didn’t know.”
Bah. Everyone is free to be an interloper.
Which brings me to the Tampa Bay Rays – formerly the Devil Rays and soon to be Tampa Rays. The Bay Devils would make a swell nickname.
The Bay Devils are a young and exciting ball team and are presently in first place in the AL east. Going into the season, experts felt if there was a team that could break the Red Sox/Yankees headlock it would be the Toronto Blue Jays.
That isn’t happening. Instead, halfway through the season, the Rays are staking their claim as a legitimate contender.
In a state known for its football, will people care? The Florida Marlins won two World Series and they still remain a quaint obscurity in Miami – which is odd given the city’s large Cuban population.
That being said, assuming the Rays are for real and are the team of the future, expect to see a growth in Rays caps on a street corner near you.
