Rays Get a Visit From a Wild Boar

One of the things the Tampa Bay Rays can expect in 2009 after their trip to the World Series in 2008 is a lot more attention. They started to get a taste of it toward the end of last season and in the playoffs when they noticed they were no longer playing in front of 10,000 fans but instead full houses. This season the Rays will be playing in front of large crowds all year, and they're going to be finding themselves on national television a lot as well.

Their new-found popularity has also had an impact on the team in spring training. They're noticing more Rays fans in the stands during spring training games, and apparently they're not all human. The team's newest fan seems to be a wild boar that made his way into the team's complex over the weekend, causing quite a stir.

Charlotte County Sheriffs were called to the complex Monday by security, and here are excerpts from the report: "9:41 - Wild pig is inside fenced area ... 9:45 - Very large hog ... 10:01 - (Animal Control) will not respond advised they should leave the fence open and the pig will leave on his own ... 10:11 - Hog is out of the gated area now." ... Clubhouse staffer Brandon "Tank" Richesin had his own encounter when taking out the trash but managed to avoid the boar. His estimate of the size? "Big enough."

10:20 - The hog is back, and this time he's brought a gun!

10:25 - The hog is holding Evan Longoria hostage. He says he wants season tickets right next to Dick Vitale or he's blowing Longoria's head off.

10:27 - Joe Maddon gave the hog a steak, he released Longoria. Crisis averted.

Maddon is a genius, I tell you.