Lets Go Rays, Lets Go Rays!

I am a Mets fan through and through. That said, being a Mets fan is an existence of disappointment. There have been brief times of glory. The miracle of 69 and the roller coaster ride of 86 are the only 2 times we have reached the mountain top. For that reason and the fact that being a Mets fan equates with either outright losing or bitter defeat, I pick a team every year that I choose in Spring Training and follow them throughout the season. I buy their hats. I like baseball hats. They make me feel comfortable. I digress.
I started this little ritual after The Mets lost to The hated Yankees in the 2000 World Series. In 2001, I was travelling to Arizona fairly regularly on business and I started following the Diamondbacks. Although I was and will always be a Mets fan, I became enamored with The D'Backs! I bought a hat! They beat The Yankees and won The World Series. I was on to something.
In the Spring of 2002, I read an article calling The Minnisota Twins the "anti-yankees". They had a low payroll, young players, an ex-Met manager, and had a losing record for a few years. I adopted them! I bought their hat. They finished first in their division but lost in the playoffs (to The Yankees) but they have been contenders since.
So I continued with this yearly pick of a team to follow so I could enjoy baseball after my Mets had fallen like a stone.
In 2003, I picked The Washington Nationals. They finished 2nd in The NL East but were surprise contenders for most of the season.
In 2004, It was The Houston Astros. They made it to the playoffs but lost.
In 2005, I picked The White Sox, and guess what? They won it all!!! That was for Shoeless Joe and the Eight Men Out! And Ray Kinsella.
In 2006, I believed my luck had changed, so I picked The Mets! They finally deposed the Braves, finished first in The NL East, but were devestated in game 7 of the NLCS by the Cardinals despite "The Catch" from Endy Chavez. I can still see Carlos Beltran looking at the third strike!
In 2007, I picked The Mets again (Big Mistake) although I thought The Red Sox were the team to beat. Then came the collapse. It was the biggest breakdown in baseball history. They broke my heart again.
In March of 2008, I watched a Spring Training game between the Yankees and The Tampa Bay Rays. There were pitches thrown at batters and a collision and fight at second base. These little upstart Rays were spanking the mighty Yankees! No one believed The Rays were going to be anything but the losers they had been for their first ten years. I found a team to follow! They reminded me of the 69 Mets! I picked the Tampa Rays to go all the way to The World Series and win! I have eye witnesses to prove it! I bought a hat!
Tonight, I watched The Tampa Rays beat The Chigago White Sox for the second time in the playoffs. It's not over, but I believe The Rays will finish off The Chisox, Beat The Bosox, and win The Series!
I have another reason to root for these upstart little underdogs. In July, 2007, I watched the last baseball game together with my Dad. It was The Tampa Rays vs. The Chicago White Sox. The Rays won.