That article, while unfortunate, doesn't surprise me. With such an adolescent sports history here in Tampa, football is the daddy of them all. It just shows how far this town has to go before it becomes recognized as an all-around sports powerhouse (in regards to the fans). That, coupled with Tampa Bay being such a transitional area for people just means it's going to take longer for "us" to cling to more than one sport.
It's unfortunate. I also can't understand who would want to go to the Bucs game over this game 7. I LOVE the Bucs and have been a HUGE fan for over a decade - all the memorabilia - personalized Bucs license plate, clothes, all the crap on my walls, etc, etc... but there was no way in hell I was missing this Rays game. I may have flipped to the Bucs game 5 times throughout the night (during commercials of course).
They were playing freakin Seattle for crying out loud. And I, along with every other Buc fan, love Alstott, but who the hell cares about him making a 5 minute appearance. Geeez... I did hear that RayJay was nice enough to play the last 2 innings on the big screen at the stadium... and 'they' were saying that about 60% of the fans stayed behind to watch the outcome.
Still... Game 7 was HISTORY for the Rays. History... how often can you say you were at/watched the Rays go to the World Series. I'm a realist, and this could be a once in a lifetime chance to see. Unreal...
As far as the fanbase goes... it'll improve. I think of the Lightning and what happened when they went to the Stanley Cup. This town just got a fever for hockey, and while, of course, fans jump off the wagon, hockey has become one of those sports that becomes a norm to follow for many people now.
Go Rays... Go Tampa.... Boston fans,Go Home!