Tales From The Inbox - November 13, 2008

MLB: Joe Maddon is the AL Manager of the Year, a well-deserved honor. This is just another page in my case that the Tampa Bay Rays are a real franchise. The Rays site explains it well:

"Considering he was managing a team that plays in a division with the powerhouse Red Sox and Yankees while sporting the second-lowest payroll in the Major Leagues, it would've been very easy for Rays skipper Joe Maddon to accept mediocrity going into Spring Training 2008.

In fact, that's what the Rays had endured the previous 10 years of the franchise.

But, in his third season with Tampa Bay, mediocrity wasn't something Maddon was ready to accept."

As I mentioned on Tuesday - this team will be dangerous next year. I bet the Red Sox and Yankees won't take them so lightly any more.

What is also interesting is that the Chicago Cubs manager, Lou Pinella, got the nod for the honor in the NL. He was once the Rays manager but couldn't bring the team anywhere. I recall when he got to Tampa Bay - ticket sales went up a bit and fans were very hopeful. We all know how that ended...


Life Rolls On: The organization's recent Night by the Ocean was featured last night on FuelTV's The Daily Habit. If you missed it, you can pick up the rebroadcast at least twice today.

Their signature event, They Will Surf Again will pick back up next year.


Today in Sports History

1875 - Harvard-Yale game is the first college football contest with uniforms

1875 - The National Bowling Association is organized in New York

1974 - Dodgers first baseman Steve Garvey wins the NL MVP

1992 - Riddick Bowe beats Evander Holyfield in 12 rounds for the heavyweight boxing title