Jonathan Papelbon? You just made the list, buddy. Sometime between fist pump Nos. 2 and 3 of about five following his striking out the side to preserve a victory Sunday night against the Rays, the Red Sox closer solidified his spot on our list of the people Tampa Bay sports fans like to dislike. You know the guys, the ones who get under the skin of the bay area sports fans for something they've said or done, and, usually, because they're so darn good. So here's the latest in the ever-changing list:
Jonathan Papelbon .
The Red Sox relief ace ran his mouth after last year's bench-clearing brawl with the Rays, saying, "Payback is a (expletive).''’ That came, seemingly, after the score had been settled and tensions had calmed. Then came Sunday and his flurry of fist pumps for getting out of a nasty jam that he created.
Alexander Ovechkin
The NHL's best player was involved in two incidents that put him on Lightning fans' spit list. The first: a shady hit from behind on Lightning defenseman Jamie Heward on New Year's Day that put Heward on a stretcher with a concussion. Then came Ovechkin’s 50th goal celebration on March 19 at the St. Pete Times Forum when he drew the ire of Lightning coach Rick Tocchet and goalie Mike McKenna, both of whom thought the Capitals wing was showing up the Lightning.
Coco Crisp
Crisp has moved from the Red Sox to the Royals, but memories of last year's brawl with Rays pitcher James Shields remain fresh. Crisp was upset with Rays shortstop Jason Bartlett blocking second base. Then he took a hard slide against the innocent Akinori Iwamura even though Crisp later told the Rays if they had a problem they should go after him and not his teammates. Shields plunked Crisp on the behind and Crisp charged the mound and charged right into the category of disliked opposing players for Rays fans.
Curt Schilling
Hey, another former Red Sox player. Back in 2005, Schilling ripped the Rays organization and, in particular, manager Lou Piniella, calling Sweet Lou an "idiot.''’ Oh, but suddenly the Rays were good enough to be on his list of teams that he would consider pitching for this past offseason. To be fair, because of his constant need to be heard, Schilling is on the disliked list of most teams, maybe even Boston's.
Rays bullpen
They might wear the home team's uniform, but these days the Rays bullpen is taking heat from the locals. Dan Wheeler, Grant Balfour, Troy Percival and even J.P. Howell are hearing it from fans as they struggle to meet expectations raised from last season's solid performances. Percival, especially, seems to draw the ire of Rays fans even though he converted 28 of 32 save opportunities last season and is a perfect 5-for-5 this season. The bullpen is not alone. B.J. Upton, Gabe Gross and Dioner Navarro also have their names kicked around on local talk radio.
A.J. Pierzynski
He is one of those guys who just grates on everybody, even his teammates. He was involved in an infamous incident last season when the Rays lost a key game after he faked getting interfered with during a rundown. The umpires butchered the call, yet it was Pierzynski and his reputation that somehow took the hit for the play. Maybe that's because it seems the White Sox catcher is always involved in those type of plays.
Lightning management
Judging by Monday's town hall meeting, Lightning fans aren't too happy with owners Oren Koules and Len Barrie and GM Brian Lawton. They took a last-place team, fired its Cup-winning coach, made a mess of the next coach, promised playoffs, had the No. 1 pick in the draft who turned out to be a pretty good player and still finished with fewer points than the year before. Now they're talking about trading Vinny Lecavalier. No wonder the natives are restless.
Lane Kiffin
Gator football fans in these parts can't wait to run up the score on Lane Kiffin, and he hasn't even coached a game at Tennessee. Do you think before he started running his mouth about Urban Meyer Kiffin knew that the next meeting between the teams was in Gainesville and not Knoxville?
Hank Steinbrenner
Not only does he own the Evil Empire Yankees, he can't help but rip into the Rays. Remember last season when the Rays finished in the playoffs and the Yankees did not? Somehow Steinbrenner talked about subsidies as if he wanted some credit for the Rays making the postseason.
Tom Jones doesn't sing "It's Not Unusual'' or shake his hips (well, unless you're willing to pay cash), but he does have plenty to say about sports. If it's funny, crazy, weird, irreverent or worth arguing, Tom has his opinions. So pull up a chair and get his two cents -- and give him your two cents, as well.
E-mail Tom Jones:
Papelbum and Coco are the scum of the earth, hands down
Posted by: Boyd | May 13, 2009 at 09:42 AM
Ever notice what Papelbon's mouth looks like all puckered up as he checks the catcher's sign for the pitch? Hint: it looks like what he is; an a-hole.
Posted by: Rob | May 13, 2009 at 09:46 AM
No Youkilis? I can safely say he is #1 on my list.
Posted by: George | May 13, 2009 at 10:00 AM
anyone from the rundown cesspool, never finished grade school, stuck in a permanent recession, just go away for good, trash pile of useless humanity called Philadelphia
Posted by: Trevor | May 13, 2009 at 10:06 AM
Agreed, George. I call Youklis "The Dancing Bear". He's about as irritating as they get. I wish the PA announcer for the Rays would play 'Dancing Queen' when he comes up to bat.
Posted by: Jimbo | May 13, 2009 at 10:22 AM
How about Redsox Nation
Posted by: Joe | May 13, 2009 at 10:27 AM
Papelbon is the MAN! Intense? Yup. A little crazy? Sure. Can he be a jerk? 100%.
Hate him all you want. If you Rays fans had the opportunity to have him as your closer, instead of Percival, you would take him any day of the week and twice on Sunday....and you know it.
Posted by: Anton | May 13, 2009 at 10:27 AM
I hate those three that stuck out. You mean to tell me that none of them could get some wood on the ball. They should be ashamed. Same thing with Maddon. Why rest Pena? You had Monday off and Longo sees better pitches when Pena bats after him.
Posted by: John | May 13, 2009 at 10:30 AM
I hate those three that stuck out. You mean to tell me that none of them could get some wood on the ball. They should be ashamed. Same thing with Maddon. Why rest Pena? You had Monday off and Longo sees better pitches when Pena bats after him.
Posted by: John | May 13, 2009 at 10:31 AM
Anton - I don't think any logical Rays fan would disagree. I would much rather him be "our Douche Bag" instead of theirs.
Posted by: B | May 13, 2009 at 10:35 AM
Youkilis has to be on this list. Pretty much anyone associated with the Red Sox that is not named Rocco Baldelli is on our list.
And public enemy #1 is the losers who live here and call themselves Red Sox "fans". Real Red Sox fans live in New England. The other ones around this country are just frauds. They either never lived in Boston or they were smart enough to leave that miserable place, but for some reason claim un-dying loyalty to a city/region they CHOSE to leave. I hate every Red Sox fan on the planet that does not live in New England.
Posted by: Mike Creyton | May 13, 2009 at 10:37 AM
OMG Jimbo....Dancing Queen....that would be hilarious!!!! I agree, Youklis should be on the list. Everything about him is ANNOYING.
Posted by: Kathy | May 13, 2009 at 10:47 AM
Mike Creyton your an a-hole, I lived in Boston and now live here. I grow up a Sox fan when they were horrible and it was great to see them win the World Series. I would have like to see the Cubs win one as well. I think it is good for baseball in general. What the Rays did last year was fantastic and I wish them well. Without the rivalry between the Rays and the Sox you Rays fans would have nothing to cheer about and would abandon your team as you have in the past. You only started showing up when the Rays started winning. Check out how many sell outs the Sox have had. They are true fans, not fair weather fans like you. You are all over Upton, the bull pen and you are not even a third of the way in the season. I cannot wait until August when us Sox fans take over the Trop, because your Rays are 15 games out. More room for Sox nation.
Posted by: Madchum07@yahoo.com | May 13, 2009 at 10:53 AM
Madchum07, the Red Sox owner almost moved the team in the 60's due to lack of support. They only drew like 5-6K per game. He thought baseball would never work in Boston. And that is when the team has like 70 years of history to draw from.
The Rays are a 12 year old expanstion team in a much much smaller market. So try comparing apples to apples and getting your facts straight.
In the 80's when Clemens had the 20K game there were only like 23K fans in the stands. The Red Sox sell out streak started very recently. Like in the last 10 years.
Posted by: Paul Fenton | May 13, 2009 at 10:59 AM
Mike C....wow buddy. Slow up on the hate. It is just baseball. Remember, not all Sox fans are jerks, and not all Ray's fans are saints. Each group has a lot of both.
Posted by: Anton | May 13, 2009 at 11:04 AM
trevor, do you mean the world champion city of philadelphia?
Posted by: Heckler | May 13, 2009 at 11:10 AM
Hey madchum07...do you realize how stupid you people look who call yourselves "Red Sox Nation". All you people do is embarass yourselves and the communities that you live in. Everyone is laughing at you and you think you look cool.
Newsflash. It is not cool to for people in Anaheim, Oakland, St. Petersburg, Baltimore, etc. to show up in mass to root against the home team. First of all if you live there, you are a part of the community so that is your home team. Not some team who represents the city of Boston. So people around the country watch on TV and think, wow what a bunch of idiots, who shows up to root against their own team? It is a privledge to have a MLB franchise in your city. Those teams are part of the fabric of the community. They represent their cities and regions. They do charity work and give back to the community. They are your neighbors. Etc.
So if you think its cool to show up and root against a team many people fought like crazy to get here and bash the people who support them, then I think you should do some self introspection and decide whether you are a valuable part of this community. Do you want to bring the Tampa Bay area up or break it down. If its the latter, then please leave and go back to Boston. You will not be missed.
Posted by: Earl | May 13, 2009 at 11:10 AM
How about "the angry elf," Pedroia?
Posted by: Lucia | May 13, 2009 at 11:15 AM
I'm a Rays fan who has returned to Kansas City ...
Everyone here was/is all excited about Coco Crisp, and they just can't understand why I think he's a major feminine hygiene product!
I'm hoping the Rays don't forget about him when they play the Royals this season ...
Posted by: sevenyearhawk | May 13, 2009 at 11:19 AM
Gee Earl, I guess I have to root for the Bucs as well. Last time I checked I could root for any team I like. I did not think I am bashing the people who support the Rays. The Rays fans have earned the right to be proud. Going from worst to first is unheard of. The statement that I was trying to make was "who cares if I like the Sox and how does it effect you. Much like if you root for the Rays it does not effect me, I do like the rivalry and I think it is good for baseball.
Posted by: Madchum07@yahoo.com | May 13, 2009 at 11:21 AM
I hate the St.Pete police. They screw up traffic, the guy on the elevator in left field is a jerk, and they never seem to know what the heck they are doing.
I hate the Uhurus more though
Posted by: Lou | May 13, 2009 at 11:21 AM
Youkilis is a tool, I would have to agree.
Posted by: Tommy | May 13, 2009 at 11:31 AM
Great comment Earl. The guy who gets on my nerves the most is the one who's son or daughter was born in TG and is sporting Sux tshirt at the game. Betcha they wear a Bucs Tshirt on Sundays.
Posted by: Tommy | May 13, 2009 at 11:39 AM
At least Rays and Red Sox fans can agree on one thing...
the current yankee organizaiotn is a disgrace to baseball
Posted by: GBNinja | May 13, 2009 at 11:39 AM
What happened to my 9:46 post? Hey why censor me? Everyone knows Red Sox fans are jackarses. Just like this guy who was arrested for sucker punching a Rays fan-http://www.pcsoweb.com/InmateBooking/SubjectResults.aspx?id=1352435
Posted by: shuturyap | May 13, 2009 at 11:43 AM
Tommy & Earl. So what are the rules we are supposed to follow? If someone moves from St. Augustine to Lakeland, do they need to ditch Jags gear for Bucs? Move from Pembroke Pines to Apollo Beach...ditch Marlin's gear for Rays. Where are magic lines on the map? I don't see them. What are the guidelines we need to follow to be true sports fans?
Or...how about you cheer for the team you want, for whatever reason you want, and at the same time support the team closest to you by attending games as much as you can. If you are a fan of sports you can enjoy a game even if "your team" is not playing.
Posted by: Anton | May 13, 2009 at 12:05 PM
Earl is absolutey correct.
I grew up in NY as a Mets fan. Still have a soft spot for them, but I'm all Rays now.
I remember the struggle to get a team here. I remember when Miami yanked our team right from under us--ever wonder why the Marlins are the FL Marlins, not Miami Marlins--that's why. Originally they were supposed to come here.
I'm a season ticket holder and am sick, sick, sick of the "nation" and thier revolting behavior. 99% of the sox fans at the trop have never set a foot in Fenway. Only thing that can be said for them is they keep the beer vendors employed.
Who shows up en masse to root against their home team? The "redsox nation". What's worse is they brainwash their kids---born and bred here--into rooting against their home team! At a TB/Boston game I went to during the last series I saw a 12 or 13 year old KID in a sox jersy sucker punch a Rays fan (adult Rays fan at that) while he (the kid) was being escorted out by police.
Posted by: PDQ | May 13, 2009 at 12:34 PM
I live in TB. I grew up in MA. I have always been a Sox fan, and that won't change.
I have been to Fenway more than 100 times. Since I moved here in 1999, I have been to the Trop around 65 times. The lion share of those games were against teams other than the Red Sox. I like having a team here, so I follow and support them.
My son is 2. He has been to 5 games in the past 2 years. (More than most Ray's fans I know). Only one of those was against the Sox.
His first game was a Rays v. Indians game. I have the photo and ticket on the wall. He has a Sox shirt. He has Sox hat. He has two Ray's hats, a 2008 Ray's banner. Any kid's give-away we have is on display in his room. I want him to love the sport, a will let him choose the team he wants to support.
I stopped taking my son to the Trop when the Red Sox are in town. The last time I did that I had some Rays fans getting all in my face about the Rays win, while I was holding my infant child. Really classy.
So all you people who are so SICK of Red Sox fans, and think you know what is best...what exactly is so horrible about people like me being at "your field"?
Let me ask you this...are any of you complainers fans of the Canes, Noles, or Gators? Did you go to school there? If not, why are you not USF Bulls fans? Come on now...you have to support the home town team!!!Hypocrites.
Posted by: Anton | May 13, 2009 at 12:53 PM
When will papelblow realize it is only a save not the world series??? It takes him 60 pitches to shut down the angels one game in the 9th and on Sunday night he had to get out of a jam and he celebrates like it is the World Series, dude you should be thankful you got out of the jams you put yourself in.
Posted by: dawn | May 13, 2009 at 01:11 PM
I NEVER NEVER NEVER thought I'd hate a team more the Yankees. The Yanks make me laugh now. The Red Sox are easily 1000 times more obnoxious.
Posted by: John | May 13, 2009 at 01:37 PM
PDQ. I hear ya man. Most of us aren't originally from here and I think that is why we get so upset at others that refuse to support our teams. We live in a unique market. This isn't NY or Boston where you have generations of families that have long ties to a city. We also don't have the huge population density in the city's core. We are a regional market. We are spread out over several counties. We are an up and coming market and our sports teams can be a face for us for the rest of the country and the world.
The Bucs bring us national exposure and have even allowed us to host 3 Super Bowls.
The Lightning's Stanley Cup run put Tampa on a world wide stage for weeks. You can't buy that type of publicity.
And the Rays last year making it to the World Series was just huge. They were the sports story of the year and it gave our area another great opportunity for world wide exposure.
Lets face it, without our pro teams do you think Tampa and the bay area would be as well known as they are today?
Ask someone in 1975 where Tampa is. Their response will be much more informed in 2005.
Our teams are a way to unite us and bring all of us together that come from all over the country and give us something to be proud about. This is home now. Lets live in the present and future and not the past.
Posted by: Earl | May 13, 2009 at 02:00 PM
Michael "Hands of Stone" Clayton. I thought he had some kind of blackmail on Jon Gruden and that's how he stayed with the team, but the new regime REWARDS this no-talent with a $10 million contract? I guess that's about $10 for every drop.
Posted by: Adam | May 13, 2009 at 02:39 PM
If you need a sports franchise to be proud of your community, then I am sad for you.
Posted by: Anton | May 13, 2009 at 02:58 PM
Anton, a sports team in ANY community, whether New York or here or Dallas or wherever is one of the crown jewels of the community. It just so happens it's the one which more or less represents each community in competition with other communities on a very large scale.
Maybe you failed 6th grade civics. I am sad for you.
Posted by: Rob | May 13, 2009 at 04:51 PM
I'm annoyed at the 2 old bats that show up at the bar I occasion for the Rays games on tv and ring their stupid cowbells and fawn at the players. They've never been to the Trop they just come and disturb the bar. Heck I've been to the Trop for a half dozen games and I'm not even a BBall fan.
Posted by: longhaircowboy | May 13, 2009 at 05:20 PM
Rob,
Does pride in the community ebb and flow with the success of the local sports teams? Now that the Lightning are struggling, should I feel a sense of shame in my community? Enlighten me.
How about the thousands of people in the community who couldn't give a rat's backside about sports? How should they feel?
Sports = entertainment. That is it.
When the teams do well, it is more entertaining. I will give you that.
If you need to, be sad for me bro. Please don't think I am bashing this area. This is my home and I love it here. If the Rays were to up and move to Vegas...I would be upset, but I would still love my home and my community...and the Red Sox.
Posted by: Anton | May 13, 2009 at 05:31 PM
Anton... Dude, he's (Papelbon) a guy, you're a guy. Quit slobbering all over a guy. For real, dude. How embarrassing.
Posted by: Me | May 13, 2009 at 10:15 PM
I'm shocked to read that a writer for the hometown team hates their rivals best players. Compiling this list obviously required tons of research and effort.
Posted by: Tim | May 14, 2009 at 08:33 AM
Well...I see we have gone from debate to "huh, huh...you are gay dude". Good times.
Posted by: Antwanne (apparently) | May 14, 2009 at 12:11 PM
When your hated, that means you are good! Keep it up Red Sox! Who hates anyone from the Blue Jays or Orioles??
Posted by: B.T.J. | May 14, 2009 at 02:51 PM
Tebow and the Gators will put 50 on the Vols. I am no fan of the Gators but Kiffn's comments were foolish. His father is a class act but the son is a little short on class. Lane Kiffin should keep his mouth shut!
Posted by: B.T.J. | May 14, 2009 at 02:58 PM