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WEEK OF MAY 11, 2025

First thing on our mind:

As an elderly cradle Catholic, we never thought we would see an American Pope in our lifetime. Blessings upon Pope Leo XIV.

Leading off: What to do with that gambling $$

The U.S. Supreme Court did our nation a great disservice five years ago when they legalized sports gambling. The states, including our own, couldn’t wait to jump on the gravy train. Taxes on gambling have been flowing in, but the one thing virtually all our states have ignored is what to do about gambling addictions. A troubling article by the Associated Press’ David Leib reports our states have raked in three billion dollars in gambling taxes since the SCOTUS decision, but have spent a miserly 38 cents per capita on dealing with gambling addictions. The federal government allocates not a penny towards the problem. If our states and the federal government are going to feed at the trough of increased gambling, they must show much more responsibility in dealing with those seriously harmed by its addictions, not to mention safeguarding the integrity of games.

Tampa Bay, politics and notes:

The GOP is downcast with Georgia Governor Brian Kemp’s decision not to seek the state’s US Senate seat next year. Kemp had led left-leaning incumbent Jon Ossoff in every poll taken.

Is it hypocrisy or simply chutzpah – Cackling Kamala’s comments on the 100^th day of the Trump presidency? Lady, there is a reason (actually many) Americans rejected you.

Idle question: With as many orders as Amazon screws up, how do they stay in business?

Strike three: Troubled Kohl’s fires its third CEO in four years. Ashley Buchanan had been on the job for just four months.

Historical oddity: Some 83 years after its sinking, explorers have discovered a car on the original US carrier the Yorktown. It’s believed to be the staff car of Rear Admiral Frank Fletcher. He survived the sinking. The original Yorktown was Fletcher’s flagship. Its successor, a tourist magnet, is moored in Charleston.

Thank you, Ruth Buzzi for so many laughs over the years. The veteran comedienne was 88 years old.

Born 100 years ago this week (5/12) in St. Louis was New York Yankee icon Lawrence Peter “Yogi” Berra.

Sports, media and other notes:

For what it’s worth, it’s the South side for Pope Leo XIV. He grew up a Sox fan.

Shopping news from the 5:05 Newsletter: Kart Rite Manufacturing issued a nationwide recall following the discovery of a grocery store shopping cart that had four properly functioning wheels. Customers affected by the properly functioning carts have been issued apologies and coupons for boxes of cereal priced at $1.99 each if they buy at least three.

Addenda: we strongly suspect the offending, properly functioning cart was not found at Wal-Mart.

“Immortal” rock acts like Outkast, White Stripes and Soundgarden to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. There is still no room for minor acts like Anka (53 Billboard charted hits) or Sedaka (a mere 30 charted hits) not including their impressive writing credits. What a joke.

It’s wait ‘til next year again for French jockey Julien Leparoux who started his 15^th Kentucky Derby without a win and finished out of the money last week on his mount Render Judgment.

The Washington football team to return to D.C. from Maryland.

The Pirates’ Derek Shelton is the first victim of having a non-competitive MLB roster. His club was already 14 games under .500 38 games into the season. Four or five other managers face the same fate because of front office failures.

Quote of the week: “Baseball is designed to break your heart” – former MLB Commissioner Bart Giamatti.

One last thing: Number 8

The Baltimore Ravens Lamar Jackson needs to get over himself. The good regular season, but not so great postseason, QB is suing anybody and everybody over the use of the number 8. His latest target is NASCAR icon Dale Earnhardt, Jr. Jackson seems to think he’s the only one to ever wear the number. He conveniently forgets folks like three-time Super Bowl champ Steve Young (Jackson has no rings). Then there are stars like Kobe Bryant, Alex Ovechkin, Cal Ripkin, Yogi Berra and Willie Stargell to name a few great number eights. Again, Lamar Jackson needs to get over himself, at least until he matches some of the accomplishments of the folks listed above.