The New Beast of the AL East. 9/29/08 - 10/5/08

Repeat this sentence three times: The Tampa Bay Rays have won the American League East. Done yet? I did not think so. So say it again and again because it is reality. That’s right the bottom feeders of the Baseball world since the Rays started play in 1998.


The Rays who have the second lowest payroll that is in all of Major League Baseball. Only to top out their in state rivals the Florida Marlins. The Rays won the toughest division in Major League Baseball.


The American League East is a division in which includes the top two highest payrolls in the game. That is the Yankees and Redsoxs whose payrolls combine equals to three hundred and forty two million dollars. The Rays have a payroll of forty three million dollars. So like the old saying goes “money does not buy happiness’. Right now, the only team in the American League that is happy is the Tampa Bay Rays.


The Rays have a complete bullpen; they have the bats, and the gloves. And now the Rays have their first American League East division league title to go along with all of that. These Rays are going to fill some more “first titles” before this magical ride is over.


For now though, they are the new beast of the American League East.

RJINTAMPAWSA@aol.com

Same Question New Week 9/22/08 - 9/28/08

Hello my fellow loyal readers, I am still waiting to hear your take on last week question.

Which was:

What does College/Professional sports mean to you in your life?

So Send Your Take To ; RJINTAMPAWSA@AOL.COM

What does College /Professional Sports mean to you in your life?

9/15/08 - 9/21/08

This is going to be a short article. So short that’s is going to be the shortest article that I have done ever before. I would like it if each and every one of my loyal readers to answer that question above. The Question is; what does college / Professional sports mean to you in your life?

So please send me your response, at the email address below. On next week, I share my thoughts on that same question. Thanks again for reading and please send me your thoughts on that question.


RJINTAMPAWSA@AOL.COM

These Rays bring about anew outlook to Tampa Bay.

9/8/08 - 9/14/08


This is amazing, what's amazing? Amazing is the fact that these Rays of new, are not only in the playoff hunt. But they are also in the picture to win the American League East Division Title.


That's right, as of now it seems like a real possibility of a title, to a team in which has finish at the bottom of the Major League Baseball standings for the past ten years!! Was it the uniform change of this year that cause this or just the right time? Their is something just as little as changing your uniform in the Tampa bay area for sports teams in which has brought major gains in returns. Look no further then the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League.

But It could also be just the right time after 10 years of heartbreak, it was enough for everyone or at lest for the ones in the stands That's another thing I will talk about later. but for now the players seem to be playing at such a high level even without the face of the franchise (Crawford) as he is on the DL.


This year has brought amazing results, so far for the fans of the Rays, with that comes the national baseball media critics of the fan base. Is it a shame for the fan base of the Rays, to have to deal with all of the outcry critics of the baseball media? Yes and no.


Unlike many areas of the baseball landscape, their are other things to watch and then Baseball in August and September. Not to mention the fact, that these games are not played in Tampa like many of the critics seem to think. You See from my House in Tampa, its a 64 mile round trip drive. Not to mention the total time of driving, which turns out to be one hour and 30 minutes.


But that alone is not the only vocal point of my argument. Also, Florida is a Football State, we crave our football down here like the rest of the south.


Sorry Baseball media and world.


Florida has been bless with three and maybe four powerhouses of college football as well as three National Football League teams. Tampa also is pretty close to Gator country, by that I mean it would take you the same time in a round trip from where the Rays play in Saint Petersburg, to get to a Florida Gator's football game up in Gainesville.

Now lets move on, to on why the fan base of the Rays myself included. Should be a shame for not going to the games. For one, football games are only on Saturdays and Sundays and sometimes on Thursday. For two, the Rays are by far the best story in baseball.

And for third, the tickets are still pretty cheap. Anyone can go online and buy a 20 dollar upper deck ticket and then scope for better seats once when you get in the "Trop." I myself have done that, along with other fans who know that is the best deal in all of baseball.

So now you the reader, and hopefully someone in the baseball world read this. Knows the facts now as to why you see so many blue seats, on TV during the games. With that these Rays have now all the sudden with its success a new outlook for baseball in Tampa Bay.

The only two question that remains now is how long will this magical ride last for the Rays and with this new outlook, will the fans be in the stands come October?

RJINTAMPAWSA@AOL.com

2008 NFL Rankings/Projections

9/1/08 - 9/7/08



Well the NFL regular season is here and with that comes the frist ever rankings/projections. In this article I will showcase all of the rankings of the 32 teams of the NFL, As the regular NFL season starts this Thursday night and into the weekend. I well also give you my projections on who will be playing in the playoffs, and of course who will be playing in Tampa, come February. so without further due here are the rankings 




1. Dallas Cowboys

2. San Diego Chargers

3. New York Giants

4. Jacksonville Jaguars

5. Minnesota Vikings

6. Seattle Seahawks

7. Indy Colts

8. *New England Patriots*

9. Cleveland Browns

10. New Orleans Saints

11. Philadelphia Eagles

12. New York Jets

13. Houston Texans

14. Pittsburgh Steelers

15. Tennesse Titans

16. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

17. Arizona Cardinals

18. Detroit Lions

19. Miami Dolphins

20. Green Bay Packers

21. Cincinnati Bengals

22. Chicago Bears 

23. Baltimore Ravens

24. Atlanta Falcons

25. Washington Redskins

26. Denver Broncos

27. Buffalo Bills

28. St Louis Rams

29. San Franciso 49ers

30. Oakland Raiders

31. Kansas City Chiefs

32. Carolina Panthers



AFC Division Winners:







South - Jacksonville Jaguars 

North - Cleveland Browns
West - San Diego Chargers
East - New England Patriotts


Wild Card: Indy Colts
Wild Card: Pittsburgh Steelers




NFC Division Winners:







South - New Orleans Saints
North - Minnesota Vikings
West - Seattle Seahawks
East - Dallas Cowboys


Wild Card: Philadelphia Eagles
Wild Card: Arizona Cardinals








Super Bowl Pick:


Jacksonville Jaguars vs Dallas Cowboys






RJINTAMPAWSA@aol.com