Rays, Bucs put Tampa Bay area in national spotlight

Tropicana Field and Raymond James Stadium will share the national spotlight tonight. And for a change, the focus won't be on empty seats, fan apathy and television blackouts.

The theme: good times.

The Tampa Bay Rays can climb one step closer to a potential championship. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers can show off their up-and-coming team. Some fans will enjoy a compelling night of sports in front of their high-definition televisions, while others, the die-hards, will be defined by their ability to quickly navigate the 21-mile jaunt between the Trop and Ray Jay for a baseball/football doubleheader.

At 5:07 p.m., the Rays will seek the upper hand against the Texas Rangers in Game 3 of the best-of-five American League Division Series. At 8:30 – probably some time during the Rays-Rangers late innings – the Bucs will take on the Indianapolis Colts on ESPN's "Monday Night Football,'' the National Football League's prime-time showcase game.

The Rays, making their third playoff appearance in the past four years and still basking in the glow of a riveting run to the AL's wild-card spot, have a sellout for the first time since the season opener.

The Bucs (2-1) are sold out for the first time since 2009.

"I love it,'' Bucs coach Raheem Morris said. "Absolutely love it. It's great for all of us.''

As the Bucs warm up on the field tonight, the Rays-Rangers telecast will be shown to fans on Raymond James Stadium's video boards.

"I will know what's going on (with the Rays),'' Morris said. "I'm not one of those guys who sits in the corner or goes hiding in the shower before the game. The preparation is done. We may go through a couple of last-minute things. But I'll definitely keep an eye on what's going on with the good pals over there.''

Meanwhile, Rays manager Joe Maddon said he's looking forward to unwinding with the Bucs-Colts game.

"We're very excited about (the fan interest), and we're very excited for Raheem, too,'' Maddon said. "It's a great day for the entire area. We believe the people in our area are enjoying it and shall continue to enjoy it.''

"It has to be one of the all-time nights ever for the fans of Tampa Bay,'' Bucs running back Earnest Graham said. "So much revolves around the respect given to the sports teams, so I think the fans will see it as our time to really shine.''

There was a similar night on Oct. 19, 2008, when the Rays defeated the Boston Red Sox 3-1 in Game 7 of the American League Championship Series to clinch a World Series berth. At Raymond James Stadium, at approximately the same time, the Bucs defeated the Seattle Seahawks 20-10 on NBC's nationally televised "Sunday Night Football.'' It was "Mike Alstott Night," when the Bucs paid tribute to their retiring Pro Bowl fullback.

"We were the minor-league game tonight in Tampa Bay,'' Bucs quarterback Jeff Garcia said after that 2008 game.

That might be true again, with the Rays playing in the postseason and the Bucs facing a winless opponent in the early regular season. Rays third baseman Evan Longoria, a big NFL follower along with most of his teammates, said he knows a sold-out Tropicana Field will set a nice tone.

"When we had that run in 2008, and we got 10, 12, 15 sold-out games, our record spoke for itself,'' Longoria said. "We do play better when this place is full. We're looking forward to that advantage. This place gets real loud when it's full. Obviously, an enclosed environment with 35,000 people, it can be (an advantage).''

Maddon said the Trop's sold-out noise is so distinct, he often has to shout at bench coach Dave Martinez – even though they are standing side by side.

Rays right fielder Matt Joyce, an Armwood High School graduate who grew up following the old Devil Rays and the Bucs, didn't hide his excitement. He is jubilant over the show of fan support.

"If we haven't really turned everybody in Florida into a Rays fan after this last month, there's something wrong,'' Joyce said. "I just feel like we're playing really exciting baseball and we're having a lot of fun doing it.

"If I was a fan of Tampa Bay sports – hey, really I'm still a fan – I know how pumped up I'd be about all of this.''