Follow these easy steps to become a Tampa Bay Rays fan. Now's the time to jump on the bandwagon. Everyone else is.
1. Shave your hair into a mohawk and call it a "Rayhawk"
It's not every day that the mohawk becomes a fashion must, but now you can wear one without being judged. Come on, it's not a mullet or a bowl cut. In fact, you'll be praised by other Rays diehards. And if you want to prove your ultimate in Rays fan status, give your pooch or your hooch a buzz. The bigger and bluer, the better. You get extra fan points if you're a girl with a mohawk. And we'll want to go ahead and have you e-mail us a picture.
2. Become a fairweather fan
Visit the stadium for the first time. We know it's in St. Pete and traffic sucks getting there. But suck it up. You need to know what it looks like if you're going to be a fan. And, yes, it's that large round thing you can see from I-275.
3. Get out the body paint
Get your three biggest beer-bellied friends and paint R-A-Y-S across your bodies. Luckily, you're not a Diamondbacks fan, or you'd need a lot more friends. Who wants to root for the Diamondbacks anyway?
4. Go to a sports pub and drink everything Rays related
That includes the Berry Ray, Ray Ray, Ray Charles and the HeyRay.
5. Get a cowbell...
Christopeher Walken couldn't get enough of it from Will Ferrell, now it's the clang that's helping Rays and fans clinging to the hope of a national title. And if you're in the stands at a Rays game without one, you're gonna feel left out. Yep, they're loud and abnoxious, but you're gonna hear them anyway from the drunk guy next to you, so you might as well participate. You can get them at the game...or a cow's neck.
6. ...and a broom
This season, a broom means more to you than just a cleaning apparatus. With the season "sweep" taking place when the Rays started winning nonstop, you too will want to take your Swiffer and hold it high above your head.
7. Start calling Tropicana Field "The Trop"
You'll sound cool. Plus, you could use the term for your morning glass of O.J. "Pass me the trop, please."
8. Call the Rays the St. Petersburg Rays
You'll sound like you know where they really play. It seems a little backwards, but that's how the Bay area likes to do it. Try, the St. Pete Times Forum for another example.
9. Believe The Devil Rays myth
The wins have been racking up ever since The Rays opted to drop the "devil" out of their name at the start of the season. Coincidence? I think not. The new marketing strategy seems to be more than just that. In fact, many priests believe the myth--the "devils" hindered their game performance. Now, you should too.
10. You're a Rocco fan..
...despite his many injuries and missed games.
Still got Rays fever? Visit our Rays Central page.
