This week’s dining suggestion (see back story in Jan. 1 Rants): It’s kind of a slack time before the summer rush, so that means there may be a few empty tables at Keegan’s on Indian Rocks Beach - great chicken and grouper sandwiches along with a most unusual and tasty Key Lime Pie.

Mooring fields – another no brainer for Clearwater

A Clearwater Beach entrepreneur wants to start mooring boats out in the Mandalay Channel – the body of water between east Clearwater Beach and Island Estates – an idea fraught with problems. To concentrate on two obvious problems, they are a navigation hazard in an already busy channel and more importantly an environmental issue at a facility that will have no pump out functions. Fortunately, the proposal by William Blackwood faces several hurdles at the city in the way of development codes. We can find no one at city hall, elected or appointed from City manager Bill Horne down, who is on board with this proposal. Even if Blackwood gets it by the city, an extreme long shot, he then faces county approvals as well where he should not expect a warm welcome either.    

Tampa Bay, politics and stuff:

1. A tip of our Rants and Raves cap to Governor Rick Scott for his veto of the so-called liquor wall law. Alcohol dependent people and our youth have enough temptation without vodka being an aisle away from Raisin Bran in grocery stores. We give a further tip of our cap to Publix who stood out among their less principled competitors in opposing this law.  

2. Forget about being sheriff, we suspect Pam Bondi would lap the field if she ran for governor. The state’s attorney general says she’s not in that race either. But Republicans, who realize their lead candidate might be a guy who reminds you of Opie of Maywood, could come knocking.

3. Out of the blue comment from a nurse attending your humble blogger last week: “Don’t you wish John Kasich had been elected President”? Frankly, yes.

4. Last week (RANTS- May 21) we reported on the guilty conviction of north Florida Rep. Corrine Brown being found guilty of the theft of hundreds of thousands of charity dollars. Now the Gainesville City Council is looking at removing her name from a transit hub – just another reason not to name things after living individuals – particularly politicians.

5. You’ve lived in Clearwater awhile if you ever enjoyed Seafood and Sunsets at Julies on Clearwater Beach. Favorite menu entry was the Craig Rubright - something to the effect of a hardboiled egg and 6 Budweisers - hold the egg.

The diamond, the media and other stuff:

6. Nothing better to start off the week than to find your community has been awarded a Super Bowl in 2021. The folks at Raymond James Stadium have proved over and over again they are up to the task.

7. Number of the week - $36 bucks – the least you could pay for a ticket to last weekend’s Rays – Yankees series. Second number of the week – 30 per cent – the percentage of seats (28,000 total) that went unsold against the best draw in baseball. The Rays just don’t get it.

8. The world of baseball and our nation suffered a loss this past weekend with the passing of Jim Bunning, a Hall of Fame pitcher who authored no-hitters in both leagues and had a noble political career as a U.S. Representative and later Senator from the state of Kentucky.

9. Factoid: the top five recording acts of the rock era – Elvis, the Beatles, Elton John, Stevie Wonder and, somewhat surprisingly, James Brown, who unlike the other four, never had a number one record.

10. This week marks the 100^th anniversary of the birth of John F. Kennedy – the first American president born in the 20^th century.

MLB at the two month mark:

In the American League, it looks like the only sure thing is the Houston Astros. They have sprinted away from the field and are looking to add another arm before August. The Yanks lead the East but pitching remains a dark cloud for the Bombers. Nicest surprise, by far, is Minnesota but can they maintain? In the National League, nothing is an ironclad cinch. The Nationals, while leading the East, have the same concerns as the Yanks – pitching - specifically a leaky bullpen. In the Central, after shaky starts, the cream (read Cards and Cubs) are starting to come to the surface. In the West, other than the Padres, it is impossible to count anybody out. Nicest surprise in the NL – the Braves, who despite losing MVP candidate Freddie Freeman, are playing winning ball – for the moment.

SNEAK PEEK AT NEXT WEEK -THE ART OF CUSTOMER SERVICE