None of this just happened, just as in recently - just as in simply.

And “this”, meant here, refers to the big-league Rays being the product of Tampa Bay, a product of which those hereabouts surely are getting prouder.

Remember, the Rays are relative newcomers to the upper echelon of major league baseball. Oh, some among us have been around the majors forever, it seems, and St. Pete and Tampa Bay as long as any place, but the Rays are in the hunt for it all, and with a shot at it with a class team and club, all the better. And, at the moment, the Rays are one win into the playoffs and 1-0 in the American League five-game playoffs at Tropicana Field against the major-league-pioneering Chicago White Sox.

Yet, even as the White Sox and Rays are locked in a contest along the road each hopes will lead to the World Series, the place in which they are competing still gets rapped — Tropicana Field, a big old round tilted concrete dome that was built for everything and nothing. It fills both needs. It’s okay. It’s okay. If it hadn’t been there the Rays would not be here. It is indoors: baseball simply in Florida simply must have that option. Tampa built Raymond James Stadium for the Bucs and the Times Forum on Channelside for hockey and other big-time events.

Years ago, Tampa Stadium became home to the U. of Tampa Spartans, the Bucs, the Bandits, the Rowdies and all manner of college bowl games, as well as a fourth Super Bowl next Feb. 1. Tampa deferred to St. Pete’s efforts with Tropicana Field and look what that has meant to that city. Now St. Pete is looking into a new baseball stadium — covered, of course — perhaps closer to the great growth on the east side of the real Tampa Bay. But these seem not to be the best of financial times for such ventures, some say. Sports seem so far immune to the sagging economic trends around us, so far.

But, major league baseball was not knocking on our door. We knocked theirs first. We did our work - we had to. They liked it. They knew about it. Spring training and Florida had been a fit for years.

“In 1982, well, that was the first time we got going,” said Jim Cusack, good progressive citizen, former FBI agent here, and among the official posse trying to find a baseball franchise. Among those on that franchise-pursuing team were Frank Morsani, treasurer and auto agencies owner, Bob Humphries, Jack Boggs, promoter Mark Ganis (still at it but in Chicago) and plenty more of ideas and influence.

“We made the move for Washington,” said Cusack. “Bought some stock. Went to Washington and met with Bowie Kuhn, baseball commissioner. He was against it and told us to sell our stock back to Gabriel Murphy. You (me) were there. You wrote about it.”

The Tampa Bay group would get the next available franchise, by purchase or expansion.

“In 1984, we began dealing with Eddie Chiles,” said Cusack. “We went (me too) to Texas and met with Mr. Chiles. We gave him a check. We bought that team. Then, George Bush - whose dad was then the U.S. President, and I think he was the governor - opposed that. We came home, thought we had the team.

“Chiles changed his mind, or, had it changed. We went for Oakland, thought we were getting somewhere, but, had to fight city hall. Hate to say that, but it was so.”

Morsani sued baseball through attorney Tony Cunningham and eventually won some money, but, still had no team, nor did his associates. Cusack and others were not included in the suit.

Much changing has been done since those futile times, including the Rays arriving and now firmly one of ours.

Would they have done better at a new stadium elsewhere in St. Pete, or along Channelside on that big stretch of city property near the port? Will they do better than they have in these recent weeks at Tropicana Field? Been winning and selling out, and Thursday hit a new plateau with an opening win over the White Sox in the playoffs before another sellout crowd. They look pretty snug these days in that Dome, despite its location and wild inside roof interferences.

Bet it would dress up nicely for World Series games.