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It's Free, But Tampa Barber Will Make 'Do For Rays Fans

Tribune photo by JASON BEHNKEN

Rays pitcher James Shields signs autographs on real and fake Rayhawks before a recent game in St. Petersburg.

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By KEITH MORELLI | The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 26, 2008

Updated: 09/26/2008 03:04 pm

TAMPA - At first there was the mohawk, thought to be sported by warriors of the Mohawk tribe centuries ago in the Northeast.

Last year, there was the Grohawk, popularized by University of South Florida quarterback Matt Grothe as he led the upstart Bulls into the uncharted waters of national recognition.

Now, it's the Rayhawk, a hairstyle worn by several Tampa Bay Rays players, who are also treading into previously unknown territory: Major League Baseball's postseason.

To drum up fan support, one Tampa barber is offering free Rayhawks, featuring shaved sides with a strip of locks left on top from front to back, for the remainder of the Rays' playoff run.

The response has been bigger than expected, Fernando Santamaria, owner of Fernando's Shades & Shaves Hair Salon in Town 'N Country, said today. Three customers wanting Rayhawks had made appointments for this afternoon.

"I started it this week," he said. "I was here until 8 o'clock last night. It's like a craze."

He estimated that he has given up to 30 Rayhawks over the past five days.

Kiril Larrobis, 33, Tampa, sat in the barber's chair this afternoon, a little nervous about his decision to shave the sides of his head and let the top go.

"The Rays, man," he said. "It's a fun time, you know?"

"Are you ready for this," the haircutter asked.

"Sure," Larrobis sighed.

The clippers came out, and Santamaria started. Larrobis winced just a little. It's his first time getting such a style. He decided a day or so ago to get the haircut, just like many on the team.

"When I saw he was giving them for free."

He didn't finish the thought, peering into the mirror as Santamaria worked the clippers.

"We want to make sure we do this right," Santamaria said, "because we're going to the World Series."

Santamaria, 43, practices what he preaches. He got a Rayhawk on Monday, having his wife do the honors. One by one, he's conquering heads this week — a few hairs here, a few there — as a growing number of customers leave his shop at 5323 Kelly Road with the radical hairstyle.

The cutting on Larrobis done, Santamaria applied some gel, and within about 10 minutes, the job was done.

"Oh, yeah," Larrobis said, looking into a handheld mirror aimed at the wall mirror so he could see the back. "I like it. Oh, yeah, it looks good."

Typically, the most popular haircut is the fade-and-mohawk, which is kind of like a mohawk but not with shaved sides. Such a haircut would normally cost a customer $22.

"I didn't think I would get this many," Santamaria said of people showing up asking for the style. "And a lot are older guys, my age and up."

Rays fever is building in anticipation of tonight's game against the Detroit Tigers. If Tampa Bay wins, the Rays would clinch the American League Eastern Division title for the first time in the team's 10-year history. A loss tonight by the second-place Boston Red Sox against the New York Yankees would also seal the division.

Tips for Rayhawks range from $1 on up, Santamaria said.

"I have a Rays tip jar," he said.

After finishing a customer's Rayhawk the other day, Santamaria said, "I saw him slip a $20 bill into it."

Resplendent in a Rayhawk dyed dark blue, Charlie Denham, 41, visited the shop this afternoon. He had gotten his Rayhawk carved onto his scalp the day before. He's a big Rays fan and even plays on a softball team with the same name.

So far, he's the only one on that team with a Rayhawk.

"I'm trying to get them to do it, too."

Reporter Keith Morelli can be reached at (813) 259-7760 or kmorelli@tampatrib.com.

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