Rays win Series? Pizza for all - St. Petersburg Times

It's more that he likes a good story and a big underdog — and a little publicity — as much as he likes making a good pizza. And, oh yeah, he hates the Red Sox and the Yankees.

So that's how he came to make this offer, and paint it on the front window of his Johnny's New York Pizza & Pasta shop in the Denver suburb of Lakewood:

Sounds crazy, especially in Colorado. "People come in and ask, why did you pick the Rays?" Keiley said Tuesday.

He made his first such deal in June 2007, offering free pizza in the unlikely event his hometown Rockies swept the Yankees.

As football season kicked off, he figured he would do it again: Free pizza if any NFL team went 16-0. The New England Patriots did. So on a Sunday in January, Keiley gave away about 1,500 pizzas.

A few weeks ago, he was impressed watching on ESPN as the Rays rallied to beat and sweep the Red Sox. He called a childhood buddy from New York (they were Mets fans), George Vricos, who now lives in Clearwater. The more he heard about the Rays, the more he liked. So he made his latest offer.

"I'm rooting for the Rays," he said. "And if the Red Sox and Yankees don't get in the playoffs, that would be heaven."

Comments on this article

by PASCO PETE	Jul 31, 2008 7:06 PM
Great gimmick Mr. Keiley might have taken out an insurance policy thats how car dealers do the if your key fits you win the car promos.

by Bob	Jul 31, 2008 6:56 PM
Outside of making a great pizza, and predicting odd sports outcomes, he is a huge sponsor for the local wheelchair softball team here in Denver. The wheelchair Rays and Rockies will face off next week in the first game of the National tournament.

by Chicago Girl	Jul 31, 2008 2:42 PM
Hey HERB (what a Name!!!) Go Back to New York......... LOSER!!!!!!!!!!

by Mary	Jul 31, 2008 2:42 PM
Good point, Matt - why doesn't a local biz do something like this?

by Kaitlyn	Jul 31, 2008 2:42 PM
John you are our of control.

by G	Jul 31, 2008 2:42 PM
How about some Carmen's bakery pizza from Joe Maddon's home town of Hazlton, PA. Delicious!

by myob	Jul 31, 2008 2:41 PM
On something like this, the insurance would be more expensive than it is worth. The offer is open ended, and the premium would have to be a minimum premium in order to justify the cost of a company underwriting it.

by Mike	Jul 30, 2008 9:31 PM
I used to be a pizza cook. That place must be HUGE to prepare and give away 2,500 pizzas. That must have gone on for the entire week or something. Now I need to know how he did it.

by Ric	Jul 30, 2008 9:30 PM
Herb, The Yankees suck and so do you. I think its great that a guy in Colorado would do something like this. I wish someone would do it here. I bet good ol' Herb would be the first in line for his free Pizza.

by topkin	Jul 30, 2008 9:21 PM
large, cheese only , ty

by Andy	Jul 30, 2008 7:41 PM
Mike, I'm sure he's not going broke either way. Sounds like a good businessman who knows how to get himself free press (as opposed to a loser blogging in the middle of the night)

by joe	Jul 30, 2008 7:39 PM
Herb you are an Idiot, yeah the Yankees's may buy every player out there but they won't win a thing to show for it...Go back to your roach filled apartment in Queens you loser!!

by Mike	Jul 30, 2008 4:06 PM
I hope the pizza is better than any of the places in St Pete or Tampa!

by Paul	Jul 30, 2008 3:50 PM
Oh Herb. Yet you live here, continue to tell your family back in the Crime Family Bronx how much you love it here, eat our pizza and wear Rays stuff when we're winning. Get the U-Haul ready and I'll personally help you pack your crap up. GO RAYS!

by Jeff	Jul 30, 2008 3:32 PM
I wonder if Johnny delivers it to Latin America...Pizza to the world, we also want a piece of it! Go Rays!

by Rob	Jul 30, 2008 3:31 PM
People don't usually go bankrupt from offers like this. They often buy some special insurance to cover the losses in the event they have to pay up.

by Chris	Jul 30, 2008 3:29 PM
Does he deliver to Long Island?

by Doc	Jul 30, 2008 3:21 PM
Brilliant advertising on his part. I mean how else would I hear about a pizza place in Colorado when I am in NC? Good for him.

by Bo	Jul 30, 2008 2:48 PM
I know that place, but I've never had the pizza. I used to live in Lakewood and still have place there. I like the way he thinks! I'm a Rays/Rockies fan, but have to go with the Rays if they play each other. Go Rays!

by Herb	Jul 30, 2008 2:39 PM
The Rays suck and so does the pizza in Florida. They should give it away for free. Only 4 behind. GO YANKEES!!!!!!

by John	Jul 30, 2008 2:07 PM
John I'm with You.

by Dave	Jul 30, 2008 1:54 PM
Anyone who hates the Yankee's and the Red Sox is OK. I will enjoy the pizza.

by BK	Jul 30, 2008 1:40 PM
U R THE MAN JOHN KEILEY

by Edwina	Jul 30, 2008 8:11 AM
Sweet! I don't "hate" NY or Boston, but I do LOVE the Rays, and I hope Mr. Keiley gives away some free pizza!

by JEFF	Jul 30, 2008 8:11 AM
GO RAYS!!

by Jay	Jul 30, 2008 8:11 AM
I like him just for the fact that he hates the yankees. They have the rudest fans of all.

by Doug	Jul 30, 2008 8:11 AM
Go Rays!...and go Johnny!

by Lisa	Jul 30, 2008 8:11 AM
If this guy can support the Rays from Colorado the hometown fans should certainly jump on the bandwagon and remember to stay there. GO RAYS!

by Robert	Jul 30, 2008 8:11 AM
El dummo Mike-o. Why would you wish bankruptcy on anybody? Go Rays & Go John

by cathy	Jul 30, 2008 8:11 AM
Do you deliver?

by Paul W	Jul 30, 2008 8:11 AM
I hope he has a lot of dough as he'll be giving away a ton of pizza - this is the year of our Rays. Tampa Bay - this is our moment, this is our time - yes we can YES WE CAN!!

by John	Jul 30, 2008 8:11 AM
lol with $5 per gallon gas, am I suppose to drive to Denver to get my free pizza?

by Dwayne	Jul 30, 2008 8:11 AM
The devil has been cast out of Tampa Bay....let the goodness of a Rays World Series spread around the globe and deliver prosperity for those so bold as to predict that which is destiny...Hell yeah that's what I'm talkin' about!

by Mike	Jul 30, 2008 2:45 AM
Dummy! I hope they win now just so you go bankrupt!

by mike	Jul 30, 2008 12:59 AM
GOD BLESS YOU JOHNNY!!!