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Hernando Today

Students Dealing With Late Rays Games

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By MICHAEL D. BATES

The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 25, 2008

Hernando Today

Rays fever has hit the Tampa Bay region, with excited fans of all ages staying awake until the wee hours of the night to watch the final pitch of the playoffs and now the World Series.

The late games have also led to a decrease in sleep for many. And, as doctors have drummed into us, less than the optimum eight hours of snooze time can lead to slower reflexes, fuzzy brains and downright irritability the next day.

Adults can mask the effects of too little sleep with caffeine.

But what about kids?

How are they holding up in class the next day? Are they even coming to school or are mom and dad giving them some days off to rest?

Apparently not.

The Hernando County School District reported Monday's attendance districtwide at 95.61 percent. And that was after a late-night game that saw the Rays clinch a World Series berth with a win over the Boston Red Sox.

On Thursday, the day after the start of the series, attendance was 96.84 percent - not bad for a game that ended at midnight.

And on Friday, attendance for all grades and all schools was 97.16 percent.
Schools Superintendent Wayne Alexander said he is pleasantly surprised at the high attendance figures.

He's also pleased because it shows commitment from parents and students and indicates they put a high value on education.

But he also hopes students who are cheating on sleep are learning the consequences of their actions, especially if they are not as sharp in the classroom the next day.

Despite the fact that this World Series is a once-in-a-lifetime event, Alexander believes parents have a responsibility to get their children to bed at a reasonable hour. "Worst case scenario" that would be no later than 9 p.m. for middle school students and 10 p.m. for high school, he said.
World Series games are starting at 8:40 p.m., mainly to accommodate the West Coast audience and garner a lucrative share of prime time advertising.

Add in extended commercial breaks and interminable delays from pitching changes and extra strategic moves during the World Series, and games can creep along at a snail's pace - often lasting past midnight.

Alexander says it's unfortunate major league baseball and other professional sports leagues are putting profit over fan interest.

"They're missing a major chunk of the future market and that's younger kids who can't stay up that late," Alexander says.

It's no secret that Alexander is a huge Red Sox fan.

However, with his beloved team eliminated from contention in a thrill-packed, seven-game playoff series, it's time to switch allegiances to the Rays - if only for now.

"I have to," he jokes. "Everyone would kill me if I didn't."

Reporter Michael D. Bates can be reached at 352-544-5290 or mbates@hernandotoday.com.

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