Jury Is Out On The Case Of Rays v. Phillies

Posted Oct 23, 2008 by Steven Girardi

Updated Oct 23, 2008 at 05:21 PM

The Rays-Phillies World Series is creating a bit of a family feud at a law office in St. Petersburg, office manager Nikki Sobel reports.

Loyal Rays fans, the lawyers and staff at the Spector Gadon & Rosen law firm downtown are having it out with their brethren and sistren in the firm’s main Philadelphia office, who happen to be loyal Phillies fans.

And nothing good can come of this—except, of course, for the side that wins the bet.

The St. Petersburg office, confident in the Rays, has bet coconut patties and Florida oranges on the Rays. The Philadelphia barristers, equally confident, have answered by putting soft pretzels and Tastykakes on the Phils, Sobel said.

The offices have been trading barbs and photographs -– 15 Rays-clad St. Pete workers in one; a pile of Phillies-adorned Philadelphia workers in the other.

“We’re a small group, and we’re really trying to get at ‘em,” Sobel said.

Their allegiances are fierce—except maybe for Sobel, a native Phillies fan who moved here five years ago.

“I’m kind of torn because I love my Phillies, but I’ve come to know and like the Rays this season,” she said.

Here’s her secret:

“I’m in the picture with a Rays shirt,” she said. “But at night, I’m in my Phillies cap.”

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Giggles Greet Mayor And His Mohawk

Posted Oct 23, 2008 by Steven Girardi

Updated Oct 23, 2008 at 04:01 PM

There were more than a few giggles around the office when Clearwater Mayor Frank Hibbard showed up for work this morning. 

It had something to do with that single strip of hair running down the middle of his head.

“It looks like a squirrel died on my head,” Hibbard said.

The mayor, along with Pinellas County Commissioner Ronnie Duncan, is among the newest members of the Rayhawk hairdo club.

The two politicians offered up their locks as part of a fundraiser Wednesday for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Pinellas.

Hibbard said the event raised just about $4,000 for the program, in addition to giving his coworkers at a Clearwater financial investment firm a good laugh this morning.

“Everybody enjoyed it, and that’s what it’s all about,” Hibbard said. “The good thing is the blue washed out.”

Students from the Pinellas Vocational Training Center in Clearwater did the haircuts, which have become the rage as baseball fans follow the lead of the Tampa Bay Rays ballplayers.

Hibbard said he promised coworkers and others even before the fund-raiser that he would get the custom trim job if the Rays made the World Series.

“They said they were impressed I actually went through with it,” he said. “The beauty of it is, it’ll grow back.”

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Watch Games 4, 5 At Downtown Tampa Park

Posted Oct 23, 2008 by Christian M. Wade

Updated Oct 23, 2008 at 05:24 PM

Can’t afford to fly to Philadelphia for the final games of the World Series?

No need to be gloomy.

Tampa officials have permission from Major League Baseball to telecast Games 4 and 5 at Cotanchobee Fort Brooke Park. The games, which will be played in Philadelphia, will be shown on a 40-foot wide screen television in the park beginning at 8 p.m. Sunday and, if necessary, Monday.

The park is at 601 St. Pete Times Forum Drive. Admission will be free, and parking will be available at the South Regional garage for $5.

Low-back folding chairs, blankets and coolers are welcome.

Sorry, folks, no alcohol allowed.

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Going Blue For The Rays

Posted Oct 23, 2008 by Neil Johnson

Updated Oct 23, 2008 at 02:33 PM

James and Grace Pickering of Hudson have been Rays fans for as long as the team has been around, but about 10 days ago, they took things a bit further than most.

Grace, 84, gave James a mohawk, trimming his normal crew cut into the Rayhawk. Her favorite player is Carlos Pena.

Then, using blue spray a daughter bought, the couple adorned themselves with the team color. They kept the coloring in a couple days, but it’s gone now.

They stayed up to watch Game 1 and planned to watch tonight’s game. It may end by the time James starts to celebrate his 87th birthday on Friday.

“Go, Rays,” she said.

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Yes, The Dog Has A Cowbell On

Posted Oct 23, 2008 by TBO.com

Updated Oct 23, 2008 at 02:22 PM

 

L.A. Bykowsky, a special agent with the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, leads her 3-year-old Labrador retriever on a training exercise outside Tropicana Field on Thursday before Game 2 of the World Series between Tampa Bay and Philadelphia. Law enforcement has been beefed up for the World Series, but much of it is behind the scenes, and authorities won’t be specific on plans. In addition to getting assistance from ATF, the St. Petersburg Police Department is receiving help from several local agencies. 

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