An Open Letter to Bob Ryan from the Tampa Bay Rays Nation

An Open Letter to Bob Ryan,

Dear Bob,

Let me preface this letter by saying I like you. In 2004 I found myself sitting across from you in a media room in Milwaukee in between NCAA tournament games.  At the time I was with Sportsradio 910 WRNL in Richmond, VA. It was my first gig since graduating from the University of Richmond and even though my degree had nothing to do with Sports Broadcasting it had always been a dream of mine. Till this day I remember how much you made me laugh and how blessed I was to realize a dream. Since then I have relocated to Tampa, FL and helped my father build a growing dealership group as he has struggled with every sense of retirement.

Recently though you took a run at me. You took a run at the entire Tampa Bay Rays Nation. On ESPN’s “Sports Reporters” you used your closing remarks to say that you didn’t “know of another organization in any other sport who has done more things right in front of a less appreciative audience.”

Now here is the shocking part. For the most part I believe you to be on point.

Having said that lets not over-simplify a fairly complex issue. The Rays Stadium is poorly placed and by MLB standards fairly adequate but nothing to celebrate. We also can’t ignore that the Rays aren’t the only pro franchise in FL to struggle for attendance and we can’t forget just how badly the recession damaged Florida specifically. I live two miles from that ballpark as the crow flies and I promise you that I support a Stadium built in whatever part of Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater will best support the Rays moving forward.

Now once again I could go on and on to muddy your argument. I’d point to TV ratings or the fact that regionally the Rays have grown more popular than the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (thus killing the football town argument).  BUT to a great part you are right. We have a special thing going and not enough voices behind our boys. We do have a winning ship and at the helm is certainly “the most interesting man in the universe.” The one time I met Joe Maddon I realized he was probably weary of baseball talk so I asked him about his favorite Pinot Noir. My girlfriend and current fiancé (the same woman who has attended over 100 Rays home games in the past two years with me) had converted me from a Cab guy to a Pinot guy and I knew Joe would be on point.

“Two words. Sea Smoke. It’s from Santa Barbara. If you can get it…your good.” He signed my replica pro-stock Louisville Slugger and I placed an order for some Sea Smoke that evening. Best Pinot we’ve ever had.

Now back to this Rays deal. I’m a rarity for sure, a die-hard Rays fan, but like everyone else I’m a “come here.” My family moved to Tampa in 1992 from Northern Virginia and I was a rabid Orioles fan. As a kid my dad would drive me 3 hours there and back to games in Baltimore and never complain. At the age of 12 I instantly settled into Florida’s Spring Baseball culture and I split time as both a Phillies and Orioles bat boy. When the Rays … a-hem Devil Rays came --- I was already back in Virginia in my sophomore year at the UofR: The team meant nothing to me.

When the Orioles were in town while I was home I was THAT GUY…Ripken jersey on … poking fun of Aubrey Huff’s hideous uniform.

Then one day it hit me as I sat packing in Richmond (Fall 2004) to return to Tampa. This is where I will live. This might be where I die. This is where I will probably raise kids. I couldn’t be “THAT GUY” anymore. I bought a Cantu Devil Rays jersey. I put a decade worth of Orioles media guides in the closet. I now have front row seats first base side and I live, eat, breath Rays baseball. Ironically my only friend in major league baseball is Jim Johnson of the Orioles. He makes fun of my Rays license plate. I’m a 33-year-old man that asked his fiancé for a Will Myers batting practice jersey for his birthday.

But you are right. It almost FEELS as we are undeserved.

The good news is I know that change is coming. Regardless of Bud Selig’s recent predictable All-Star Break rant about the Rays “untenable situation” I feel the change…I see the wind blow through the palms. I’ve seen principal owner Stu Sternberg smile. I know that Saint Petersburg Mayor Foster doesn’t want to see the Rays leave St. Pete on his watch but I KNOW he sure as hell doesn’t want to see the Rays leave Tampa.

This season feels like 2008. I’ll never forget the ALCS Game 7 at the trop. I bet you haven’t forgotten that game either. A young unknown David Price screaming into his glove. The Tampa football fans had made the trip. You could tell cause they behaved like they were at a Bucs game. Shit! Some of them wore Bucs jerseys. When Aki hit 2^nd base I had tears in my eyes. I’ve only cried one other night in baseball and that was Game 162 in 2010. Ok I digress.

You’ve inspired me Bob. So here’s the deal. On Wednesday September the 18^th we play the Texas Rangers (not the Yankees and not the Red Sox). It’s a weekday game. I’m starting a grass roots, fan based, one-man-band style crazy idea. Let’s sell the trop out. On a weekday game against a nemesis that still isn’t a draw at the Trop --- let’s pack the place. How? A call to arms if you will. A call to arms to area fans, area businesses, former season ticket holders…little leagues. Our weapon? Social Media. But I’ll need your help Bob Ryan. I will need your voice to join mine so on Wednesday September 18^th Tampa can #TopOffTheTrop

And if we get close to a sellout and rise up as a community to fill our dome… I want you --- Bob Ryan…to sit next to me in my front row seats and have a beer on me. You can even wear your Red Sox hat.

Sincerely,

Brett A. Morgan
St. Petersburg Resident
bmorgan@morganautogroup.com
@brettamorgan
@TopOffTheTrop