Sports magazine's readers slam Devil Rays

Former Devil Rays managing general partner Vince Naimoli was named least effective owner.

By LOUIS HAU
Published November 26, 2005

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The Tampa Bay area was home last season to the best - and worst - owner in Major League Baseball, according to a new poll published by Sports Business Journal .

In a reader survey published in the weekly magazine's Nov. 21-27 issue, Tampa resident George Steinbrenner of the New York Yankees was voted the most effective owner of a Major League franchise.

The pick for least effective owner? Former Tampa Bay Devil Rays managing general partner Vince Naimoli, who ceded control of the team in October to new Rays principal owner Stuart Sternberg.

The Devil Rays were also chided for wearing the worst uniforms in baseball, with the Arizona Diamondbacks coming in second.

The Rays placed fifth under the category of the ballclub "most in need of a new ballpark." Those teams deemed to be playing in venues worse than Tropicana Field were the Minnesota Twins (Metrodome), the Washington Nationals (RFK Stadium), the Florida Marlins (Dolphins Stadium) and, at the top of the list, the New York Mets (Shea Stadium).

Elsewhere, Bill Davidson of the Tampa Bay Lightning was voted third most effective owner of a NHL franchise, trailing Mike Ilitch of the Detroit Red Wings and Stan Kroenke of the Colorado Avalanche. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers didn't rate among the top vote-getters of any of the survey's NFL categories.