SPORTS AND RECREATION
KRIS KULAAS, 65
RAYS FAN SINCE 2001
“I love the Rays because they
have a lot of heart. They have
pulled out some awesome
wins, and even when they’re
not winning, it’s so much fun
to go to the ballpark. It would
have been nicer to have been
able to go to the games in
person last season, but it was
still fun to watch on TV.”
MARLEE HOLT, 32
ROWDIES FAN SINCE 2014
“I’ve always loved soccer,
but it’s the Rowdies fan
community that makes it so
much fun. There’s never a
dull moment at their games.
It’s a place I can take my
boys and the three of us can
enjoy games together. Over
the years, I’ve watched the
Rowdies get so close, but
not there, and it was great
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way.”
St. Petersburg’s Tropicana Field against
the Toronto Blue Jays. By October, the
team had nabbed the American League
Pennant and played in the World Series,
though they were eventually eliminated
by the Los Angeles Dodgers in game
six.
Rays manager Kevin Cash, who was
named American League Manager of
the Year, told MLB Network that he
shared the honor with the Rays. “It’s an
honor and a great representation of a
great organization and a very successful
year for our players,” he said.
THE ROWDIES
The Rowdies brought glory to the area
in the form of an Eastern United Soccer
League conference championship.
The St. Pete-based soccer club began
the playoffs in October, after a
10-3-3 regular season, claiming
the championship with a 13-3-3
season.
In a letter to fans, head coach
and former player Neill Collins
said he was proud of the team,
who had accomplished so much
in such a challenging year. “It
would have been easy to succumb
to all the challenges we
faced,” Collins said. “We said
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by those of us who could
rise above, and I am pleased to
sit here and write that we have
achieved that.”
Tampa Bay Rays
The Rowdies, a
St. Pete-based
soccer club
The Rowdies
at Al Lang Stadium
FAN TAKES
30 'BURGLIFE | Living, Working and Playing in St. Petersburg, FL