The surrogate
It begins with a woman who yearns for a baby and another who is willing and able to give her one. You can imagine the motives of the prospective parents. But what about the woman willing to carry a baby, give birth and then walk away?
Friday Night Rewind It doesn't matter which team you cheer for. We've got video previews of every high school football program in Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco and Hernando County.
I was on a bridge over troubled waters, keenly on guard for the danger that lay ahead.
I was ready to slam on the brakes. I wasn't going to crash into that invisible, yet impenetrable, wall that aliens (or maybe the Yankees) have installed on the bay bridges to stop Tampa's baseball fans from reaching Tropicana Field.
Then it hit me.
Why are Tampa sports fans such wimps?
I was listening to a sports-talk radio show that morning as caller after caller ranted about the same thing: Driving across the bay is too far to go for a Rays game. The callers, and the two hosts, kept saying a new stadium for the team should be in Tampa.
These weren't average Joes and Janes. These were sports fans. Baseball fans. Or at least they pretended to be.
They need a demotion to the minors to develop a better argument.
Why?
Because this one doesn't float.
Say the economy is bad.
Say you're not a Rays fan.
Say there are too many other things to do here.
Say the premium ticket pricing policy is unfair.
Say this isn't a baseball town.
Say you're lazy.
But don't say the drive is too far.
I struggle with gephyrophobia, a fear of bridges, yet I can make it across the Frankland twice a day.
What's your excuse?
Even Paris Hilton, Rihanna and Chris Brown dared to venture across the bay to check out clubs in St. Petersburg. (Sure, they were probably in limos, but someone had to do the driving.)
The trip from Tampa to the Trop is easy. Just jump on Interstate 275, or the Lee Roy Selmon Crosstown Expressway.
It's quicker than driving from downtown Clearwater to the Trop.
Don't want to fight rush-hour traffic?
Understandable. But in an innovative marketing move Major League Baseball now schedules games on the weekend. Can you believe it?
One of the radio show's hosts opined that a Tampa stadium would draw new fans from Orlando and Sarasota.
Really?
I recall the drive from Orlando being just a tad bit longer than the trip from Tampa to St. Petersburg, not to mention that Interstate 4 is always fun.
And if the show's host thinks Sarasota is closer to Tampa than St. Petersburg, he needs a geography lesson. Oh, wait, there's that darn bridge thing again.
You don't hear people in Pinellas County complaining about the drive to Raymond James Stadium. Or the St. Pete Times Forum. Or Ybor City. All draw people from the west side of the bay.
So what's wrong with you people on the east side? I'm embarrassed to say I'm one of you.
I'm amazed you haven't petitioned the state to have the Pinellas beaches moved to your side of the bay.
But that drive doesn't seem to bother you. I've seen plenty of Hillsborough license plates along the beaches, from Honeymoon Island to Fort De Soto.
You think getting to the Trop is tough? Try going to a game in Baltimore, or Washington. Many of those fans travel from out of state, through gridlocked traffic.
New York, Chicago, Boston? Better public transportation, but it still takes more time.
Cardinals fans come from all over the Midwest to see a game in St. Louis.
But do you know who really puts you to shame? Canadians. The Detroit Tigers faithful in Windsor, Ontario. They leave their country, crossing the Ambassador Bridge to reach Motown. Along the way, they have to go through U.S. Customs.
Ever been searched by U.S. Customs?
Give that a try. You'll never again complain about crossing the bridge.
Kyle Kreiger rants about the serious and silly with one question in mind: Why? Contact him at kreiger@sptimes.com.
[Last modified: Jun 09, 2008 01:52 PM]
Comments on this article
by John
Jun 9, 2008 1:52 PM
It's not the drive thats the problem it's the prices, Way too much for parking! Way to much for tickets!
by Kelly
Jun 4, 2008 11:25 AM
If the Trop is too far for Tampa snobs, they can stay away from our beaches too. I've had enough of crowded weekends at Honeymoon.
by Jay
Jun 4, 2008 9:33 AM
Tampa fans.... Please, PLEASE! Stay away. It allows me a place to park close to the stadium and shorter lines to get food. Oh yea, and don't start coming in September and cheer for the Rays. Stay at home and root for your Yankees and Sox.
by Curt
Jun 3, 2008 6:28 PM
On wkday, after picking up family from Tampa near RJ (I work in ST Pete) I had 10 mins to spare. If more fans go on wkday you can count me out. I'm not one to enter half way through the game. Bad Location for majority. Not concert, more convenient.
by DJ
Jun 3, 2008 6:26 PM
Tampa fans are the worst in the U.S. 2/3 of Bucs season ticket holders live in pinellas.And the Tampa fans you do see at the Trop are in the form of Yankee/Red sox's fans.
by Tom
Jun 3, 2008 6:25 PM
Rocha - why does Pinellas have to carry attendance during the week? Is the Howard Frankland magically longer M - F ? Trop from Brandon: 45-55 mins weekdays, 35-40 mins weekends. Ooooo, I can't deal with that extra 10-15 minutes.
by Scott
Jun 3, 2008 6:19 PM
This fall when the Rays are hosting their first playoff game ever, you people will be complaining about the traffic into the Trop.
by Al
Jun 3, 2008 6:19 PM
You can't shame people into going to the game. If the teams keeps winning, the seats will fill. In sports winning cures everything
by JC
Jun 3, 2008 6:16 PM
I'm so tired of hearing people complain about the drive, as if Pinellas fans "have it easy". Every team in the area carries the Tampa Bay name, yet only one is located on the other side of the bay. St. Pete needs to pony up and retain the team!
by Paul
Jun 3, 2008 5:02 PM
Great article. I've had to cross the bridge East to see the Lightning and Bucs and have crossed the bridge west to see the Rays - it makes no difference, its part of life here. Stop making excuses!
by Dr. Rich
Jun 3, 2008 5:01 PM
Not to mention - Pinellas residents have for years made the trip to Tampa to see the Bucs and Bolts - without complaint. We live in the Tampa Bay area folks! When they develop the area around the new field there will be other reasons to attend.
by Chris
Jun 3, 2008 4:58 PM
I appreciate this article, i too come from pinellas to see bucs or lightning games and i NEVER complain about the drive. Why should they?
by Rocha
Jun 3, 2008 3:58 PM
Lets face it, Pinellas is going to have to carry attendance during the week and so far, they have not been doing a great job.
by Rocha
Jun 3, 2008 3:58 PM
True. There is no excuse on the weekend, but the weekend crowds have been good with a decent showing from Hillsborough. The complaints are about the weekday attendance which is very hard to make from Tampa on work nights.
by Alex
Jun 3, 2008 3:07 PM
Thank you for speaking the truth! Snobbery doesn't help anyone.
by Amanda
Jun 3, 2008 3:02 PM
I live in downtown St. Pete, yet I make it to probably 2/3 of Lightning home games, and any USF football game that I can. The people who say the Trop is too far are pretty dang lazy (spoiled?), if you ask me.
by Kyle
Jun 3, 2008 3:01 PM
Jeff: Canadian customs? That's a picnic. Try the U.S. side.
by Gus
Jun 3, 2008 2:54 PM
AMEN!!!!!
by Richard
Jun 3, 2008 2:45 PM
What a bunch of sissies! Don't want to pay six bucks for beer? Just say so, but don't complain about the drive. It's a pain to get to most ballparks but we do it anyway because we are true fans. This is a great team & a great ballpark. Come on out!
by Gene
Jun 3, 2008 2:44 PM
I drive from Lutz to the Trop and it is a lot easier than any other MLB city I have lived in. If you don't go, it is because you don't want to, skip the excuses. Having said that, please teach the SP police how to direct traffic!
by Tom
Jun 3, 2008 2:42 PM
whaaaaaaaaa, I can't drive 45 minutes to see a 1st place team. Thank you for writing this.
by Ryan
Jun 3, 2008 2:34 PM
I have been to 5 games this year and had no problems getting there in under 20 min from pinellas county. People just need to Car Pool to the game you get free parking if you have four or more people in the car.
by Karen
Jun 3, 2008 2:13 PM
I drive to over 20 games at the Trop every year from Gainesville, I have no pity for the people who won't drive from Tampa.
by Jeff
Jun 3, 2008 10:34 AM
I've made the trip eleven times over the past two years (five last year, six so far this year). And I've been search by Canadian Customs before...
by jimmy
Jun 3, 2008 10:28 AM
thank you!!!
finally a voice of reason.
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