What not to wear, and how it doesn't apply to you

by John Fontana on Apr 18, 2011 11:38 AM EDT in General Sports

I honestly can't tell you that I've read criticisms of the Tampa Bay Lightning receiving (and wearing) Minnesota Twins paraphernalia during this weekend's Tampa Bay Rays / Minnesota Twins series this weekend.

Apparently, it's out there, however.

It was brought up in News and Notes in the St. Pete Times, and Dwayne Roloson had to defend the entire situation:

"To me, friendship goes beyond team boundaries," Roloson said. "I've known Justin for a lot longer than I've been here, and my ties to Minnesota are a lot."

But for any Tampa Bay Rays fans who feel aggrieved or slighted by players from the Tampa Bay Lightning dawning the logo / attire of an opponent, and feel like there's a need for solidarity in the Tampa Bay sports community, and the Bolts somehow defiled that notion and committed a cardinal sin:

Hello, Pot? This is the kettle. You're black.

And if you don't bother to recall all the brouhaha over this picture last May, let me remind you how it came to be: It was through a Rays staff member who had ties to the Chicago Blackhawks. A connection. Much like Dwayne Roloson has a connection to Minnesota.

And the 'Hawks were, at the time, playing the Philadelphia Flyers in the 2010 Stanley Cup Finals. Philadelphia. The Rays and Philadelphia Phillies played against each other in the 2008 World Series. Philly hate justified it all...

But I digress. I think the Times summarized things perfectly in introducing the "issue" as "from the Get A Life Department." It's not worth dwelling on. It's stupid.

Tweet Comment 13 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

But if I ignore it...

I can’t feign outrage!!

What kind of bird can't fly anyway?

by Matt Amos on Apr 18, 2011 11:40 AM EDT reply actions

Oh good grief...

I couldn’t care less who the players on my favorite hockey team have as THEIR favorite baseball (or any other sport) team. Geez. Most of the players don’t live in the Tampa area year round, and they have their own favorite baseball, basketball, soccer or whatever sports team.

Get over it folks it’s THEIR favorite team. Not yours.

Pull for the Rays. Or whatever team suits your fancy.

Trouble on the ice? Wait! Andre Roy could fix it!!

by Tina Robinson on Apr 18, 2011 11:47 AM EDT reply actions

Mike Richards, captain of the Philadelphia Flyers, wears a Yankees hat. Big f***ing deal. Seriously people, get a life.

I'm in love with the Lightning, the Flyers are my fling and I have a crush on the Flyers fans.
Dare to follow my childish, biased, petty and cheesy alter ego. Go visit my website. I will keep you updated on every Simon injury.
American Cheese, B!tch! ... #1 mission? Kill Holmgren.

by Katchis on Apr 18, 2011 11:56 AM EDT reply actions

I guess this shows who sports fans like more in Tampa, huh? Couldn’t care less about the Rays wearing Chicago Blackhawk jerseys. But if their beloved Lightning wears Minnesota Twins gear, then that’s plain wrong! Or something. (insert eye-rolling here)

The ways of Jedi Master Yzerman are not the ways of others.
Raw Charge, an SBN Tampa Bay Lightning community. Follow me on Twitter: @dagmar27.

by Cassie McClellan on Apr 18, 2011 1:33 PM EDT reply actions

The equivilent would be Rays showing up to a lightning game in the opposing teams gear

Believe me the Rays players would have gotten a lot more shit than Roloson if they did this

That’s a lot different from just wearing it on a themed road trip. Not that I care either way, but just saying.

Longo and Upton attend lightning games all the time and the Rays are flying a lightning flag in their locker room because of the playoffs right now. Upton is wearing a Lightning jersey in that pic btw.

Again I don’t think this is news, but I don’t think you can compare the two.

I'm an F18, Bro

by Sveet on Apr 18, 2011 2:53 PM EDT up reply actions

Yeah, Upton is wearing a Lightning jersey. And it wasn’t the full Lightning team at a Rays game, seeing friends on the opposing team and awarded with team caps as a gift.

Roloson also didn’t order hats and jerseys for the entire team through his connection, which was the opposite case (unless someone opted out) with the Rays.

My point is, to try to justify either case as being OK is BS to begin with. It’s a non-issue.

Typing is an adventure, and reading should be, too!
Raw Charge.

by John Fontana on Apr 18, 2011 3:10 PM EDT up reply actions

Ya to be clear. I think both are non-issues

I'm an F18, Bro

by Sveet on Apr 18, 2011 3:15 PM EDT up reply actions

Outrage!

Where was the outrage over roli wearing his islanders mask in his first bolts game? I’m sure they could have gotten him a blank one if it were that big a deal… It would be like people giving me a hard time for wearing my Norfolk admirals jersey to a bolts game… Its almost that ridiculous… as a side note on wearing the ads jersey at a bolts game… I was kinda disappointed that noone really seemed to know who they were… One guy even said “yeah! Milwuakee!”

by Go_Ads! on Apr 18, 2011 4:41 PM EDT reply actions

Folks, this is just the story of a marginalized sports team (yes, I’m talking about you, Rays) that is trying to maintain relevance in the sports market for now. “See!? We matter! And nobody supports us!”

Hey Rays: chill for about another 4-6 weeks, then you can have the rest of the summer. But come the middle of September begins hockey pre-season games, so we’ll need the headlines back. Oh, that’s right—the Rays will be out of the playoff picture shortly after the All-Star Break. :-P

by MTBoltFan on Apr 19, 2011 10:36 AM EDT reply actions