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Back From Tampa
By Administrator | September 16, 2008
Some thoughts about my recent trip to Tampa and the first game of the Sox - Rays series:
I haven’t spent a lot of time in Florida in my life so I don’t have an especially broad frame of reference to draw upon, but it seems to me that it would be VERY difficult to find a nicer beach than Clearwater Beach.
The main difficulty my wife and I experienced along the beach was the tremendous number of small sea shells that line the shore, but once we donned our mesh-lined swim shoes even that distraction was abated. It was a great place to collect sand dollars in the late-afternoon and early-evening.
The Hard Rock Cafe Casino was a major disappointment in spite of the fact that I hit one of the slot machines for $150. No table games aside from poker (and even the poker experience was below par). One of the staff told me that blackjack (and other table games) will be forthcoming before the end of the year. MAYBE then it would be worth the trip back to the casino… but certainly not until then.
The Tampa Bay Rays fans do NOT deserve their ballclub! The Rays are a young and exciting team and have the best home record in baseball… in spite of these facts, the team has averaged something like 20,000 fans per game. Last night’s game seemed like a Red Sox home game — again!
Maybe guys like Scott Kazmir will eventually want to play in a place where fans really care about the game of baseball. Hey, Kaz! Boston would welcome you with open arms.
While it was rough getting on the plane and abandoning the 90-degree weather, it is always nice to come home to New England.
It may be a bit provincial, but there is no place I would rather live. We have the best of all worlds… four seasons, (generally) temperate climate, the ocean and lakes, the mountains, history, great sports franchises, and the best fans in professional sports.
I can understand why some retirees become snowbirds and spend their winters away from the cold and snow… but on balance, New England is far preferable to the Gulf Coast. It would seem to me that 300 or more days of 80+-degree temps and 80+-percent humidity would get old.
Topics: Miscellaneous |
