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Fans pitch new name ideas for Rays

How about "Thunder?" (Might sound good with "Lightning.") Many surveyed want to dump the Devil.

By JON WILSON
Published April 26, 2006

ST. PETERSBURG - Thunder, Sting Rays or Tarpons: Stout nouns all, suggesting feisty spirit, a scary threat or merely a lot of noise.

They also represent the most popular possibilities for a new Tampa Bay Devil Rays nickname, at least according to an opinion poll offered on the St. Petersburg Times Web site, www.tampabay.com.

Last month, the Devil Rays told Major League Baseball they would consider a name change. The team has until May 31 to commit to one. If they do adopt a new moniker, it would take effect next season.

Meanwhile, fans took their swings with the online poll.

Their votes totaled 2,209.

The root question - should the Devil Rays change their name? - brought an affirmative response. The tally was 1,484 to 725, which probably qualifies as a landslide.

But the breakdown gets more interesting. Most poll respondents wanted the Devil out of the details.

Of those who favor change, 639 voters, or about 29 percent of the total, want to dump the Devil part. Just call the team the Rays, they said.

The others wanting change, 845 voters, favor a new name entirely.

The 725 status-quo voters represented slightly less than one-third of the voters. Leave the team's name alone, they said.

Here comes the part certain to provoke loud raspberries or encourage sage nods: the new nicknames people suggested.

Thunder was the name most frequently mentioned (15 votes) followed by Sting Rays and Tarpons with 11 apiece. Others in the top 10 included the Rough Riders, the Sharks, the White Caps and the Sun Rays.

Substituting St. Petersburg for Tampa Bay created a small splash. Ten voters suggested the St. Pete Pelicans; four others liked the St. Pete Suns.

None of the poll-taking is binding on anyone, of course. It's up to the Devil Rays' management and Major League Baseball to decide.

As they contemplate, St. Petersburg will watch and wait.

Call us, if you will, the Bated Breathers.

[Last modified April 26, 2006, 06:48:17]