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Rays' Loss Disappoints Fans Waiting To Celebrate

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By NEIL JOHNSON | The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 25, 2008

Updated: 09/25/2008 05:38 pm

ST. PETERSBURG - Nevar, a Tampa Bay Rays fan all his life, usually gets his favorite treat when the team wins.

But today, the American bulldog didn't get his ice cubes as the team failed to clinch the American League East division title.

Actually, owner Melissa Bennett did give her dog some ice cubes he slurped from a plastic cup but that was because he was thirsty. Hanging around one of the outside bars at Ferg's Sports Bar & Grill for nearly three hours works up a dog's thirst.

At 7 years old, Nevar is too young to order a beer.

Bennett comes to the Central Avenue bar "semi-frequently" to watch the Rays. Today, she dashed from work, grabbed flip-flops and Nevar and headed to the bar.

The crowd was scattered among the establishment's numerous bars and 64 television sets, nearly every set blaring the game. Not as thick as expected later tonight but they were loud and cheering as the team nearly pulled out a third comeback in a row.

The crowd mostly wore a mixture of Rays T-shirts and dress shirts that looked like they should have been at work.

Owner Mark Ferguson walked around wearing a blue strip of plastic on his shaved head - a blue Mohawk, he called it - in support of the Mohawk hair cuts many Rays players adopted for their playoff hunt.

He'll take it off after the playoffs are over. And when he takes a shower.

He said it was a fair crowd for a weekday afternoon game and expects more people to show up tonight.

Beer was the drink of choice, but some patrons more daringly had a blue, frozen slushy mixture called Rays Playoff Punch that made its debut on Saturday when the team ensured at least a wildcard spot in its first playoffs.

"We gave it away the whole night," Ferguson said.

The mixture of Gatorade and Vodka will be served through the playoffs.

A universal groan came when the last Ray went down in the ninth with the tying run at the plate against the Detroit Tigers.

"It sucks. It's not good," said Bennett of the 7-5 loss.

"If they'd won it would have been a huge block party," Ferguson said.

Ron Hostler was so confident the Rays could come from behind, he left his house in the eighth inning, sure he'd be at Ferg's in time to see a win.

"It didn't work out the way I had hoped," said Hostler, who has a team cap from every season.

He wasn't sure he'd stick around for the Boston Red Sox game later tonight. If Boston loses, the Rays will win the division.

"I'll be back tomorrow if I have to," he said.

Kip and Mindy Kedersh weren't too disappointed in the outcome, though Kip said it would be a little strange to see the team take the title through a Boston loss. The couple doubted they would stick around for the evening game.

They still have the seat cushions given out during the team's first season.

"We know the Rays will go on," Mindy said.

Actually, Ferguson is pulling for a Boston win tonight, giving the Rays a chance to clinch the division Friday night with a victory.

"This place will be packed," he said. "It will go crazy."

Reporter Neil Johnson can be reached at (813) 259-7731 or njohnson@tampatrib.com.

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