Maybe things changed after the Phillies beat the Tampa Bay Rays in the 2008 World Series (Remember that? It was sweet), but we always fancied Rays manager and Hazleton, Pa. native Joe Maddon to be a pretty genuine Philly guy.

Guess not.

Because Rays pitching coach Jim Hickey knows a guy who knows a guy who robbed the Blackhawks of millions of dollars (Martin Lapointe), the Tampa Bay Rays will be the official MLB cheerleaders for the ‘Hawks in the Stanley Cup Finals.

From Puck Daddy via USA Today’s First Pitch:

“I think we’re going to get 20, maybe 25 guys to do it,” Hickey says. “Nothing like a little pro-Chicago, anti-Philadelphia sentiment. I thought we could share our mutual dislike for Philadelphia sports teams.”

Who would’ve thought — people don’t like Philadelphia teams! This is certainly an odd match, especially considering a team from Tampa will support Chicago’s hockey team more than the two baseball teams in the Windy City. Who’s jumping on the bandwagon next: the 1980 Kansas City Royals? The 1975 Buffalo Sabres? 1985 Georgetown Hoyas?

We’ll take any bad luck Chicago can get. Though it feels like the Phils haven’t scored a run since the 2008 World Series, they haven’t had a perfect game thrown against them in each of the past two seasons like the Rays have — or at least not yet.