* Let’s give it up for the Tampa Bay Rays’ role in choreographing that tearfully heart-warming, Trop reunion between 9-year-old Alayna Adams of Dunedin and her dad, Army Lt. Col. Will Adams. It became an instant internet classic and the subject of countless, feel-good television spots. Sure, the Rays remain a compelling Major League Baseball story with their on-field success and attendance shortfalls. But we’re also reminded that they’re a pretty good neighbor too.
* The Barber of Civil–and class: To nobody’s surprise, Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ defensive back Ronde Barber has called it a career. And to nobody’s surprise, he did so while he was still an effective, NFL-worthy talent. He went out on his own terms after having finished a 16-year, Hall of Fame-worthy tenure with the Bucs. No police-blotter material, no boorish on-field behavior. A well-spoken gentleman who was also a superb football player–as smart as he was tough.
Barber didn’t linger on for another contract–or put the Bucs in a position where they might have to make the call for him–as they ham-handedly did with Derrick Brooks. Barber was that prominent, pro-athlete rarity: a role model on and off the field. An invaluable asset to his team and his town.
* Tampa Bay Rays’ attendance continues to be a challenge. The Rays drew less than 16,000 for a New York Yankees’ game last month; 9,900 for a Toronto game; less than 17,000 on average for three Boston games; and only 18,500 for the first post-game, concert night. The Rays currently rank 29th (out of 30) in Major League Baseball average (18,000 and change) attendance. Cleveland is 30th–and Miami 28th.
Some historical perspective: In the Rays’ initial season (1998), the team averaged 31,000. The figure dropped precipitously in year two to 21,600. The best year to date was 2009, the year after the World Series appearance, with an average attendance of 23,150.
* Rays’ pitcher Matt Moore is the youngest (23) left-hander to begin a season with eight straight wins in nearly a century. The last one to do it: Babe Ruth in 1917–for the Boston Red Sox. Yeah, Ruth was more than the “Sultan of Swat” back in the day.