Why the "Tampa" Rays Could Use a Swear Jar

Oh boy:

The #Rays should have told Brett Michaels what city Tropicana Field is in...because it's not Tampa.

— Matt Stein (@MattSteinSTF) July 17, 2016

Of course, Poison frontman Bret Michaels is in good company, as national broadcasters and writer/bloggers have long referred to the "Tampa Rays" and their home in "Tampa."

But it's not like the Rays have exactly gone out of their way to correct the slight to "Tampa Bay" and St. Petersburg, either.  Can you imagine how FSU would react if the national media kept calling them the "Florida Seminoles?" 

Or a rival?

1st pitch is in and we are underway from Tampa! #LGM #Mets

— New York Mets (@Mets) August 9, 2015

Heck, even their own employees do it, even if it is unintentionally. 

But what could the Rays do to better-represent their region and St. Petersburg's investment in the team?  How about the same thing they did when they dropped the word "Devil" from their name in 2008?

The team developed a "swear jar":

But instead of sending pleasant or funny reminders of their official team name, the Tampa Bay Rays have generally allowed the convenient slight that suggests the franchise should be playing across the bay.

It wouldn't be such a bad tip of the hat to the team's fans around Tampa Bay who don't happen to live in the city of Tampa.  And who knows, it may even help them get some positive national exposure again?

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