The “art” of returning calls

We were looking for a sporting goods item a few weeks back. Scrolled through our options on the internet and came across Dicks Sporting Goods. Was about to look, then suddenly remembered this is the same company that failed to return a family member’s call on a fairly important matter during the past year – scratch them in our search. It amazes us that companies (and individuals) cannot take the few minutes it takes to return a call from a customer, potential customer or vendor. In saying call, we are grouping all those modern conveyances that we do not practice – emails, texts and a twitter – if that is applicable in this case (still don’t know what twitter is, but our current President seems to). Beside the fact, returning a message is just common courtesy; not doing it can cost you customers, potential customers and, worse, friends.

Great Tampa Bay, politics and stuff:

1. There were media conservatives Charles Krauthammer and George Will and then there were the rest. Krauthammer, who overcame early paralysis to become a formidable conservative voice, died from cancer last week at 68.

2. If the Democrats want to have a chance at reclaiming the governor’s mansion, they need to run Philip Levine, but the Demo candidate will most likely be Gwen Graham who will not beat Adam Putnam.

3. We want to tip our cap to Shawn Morrison, the owner of Car Tunes on East Bay Drive in Largo. We came in with an issue involving our new car’s radio and our MP3 player. It certainly was not a big money making project for Shawn, but he treated us like it was. Thanks!

4. We’re not sure we are ready for valet parking at Publix which is being tested in South Tampa, but we sure like the covered parking at the Island Estates store particularly during summer’s rainy season.

5. Super hero news from the 5:05 Newsletter: Last month marked the 80th birthday of Superman. Now that he is 80, Superman is rendered helpless by Kryptonite and his email password.

Sports, media and other stuff:

6. We repeat our assertion of earlier this year (TBRR 1/7/18) that the Bucs need to cut their losses with Jameis Winston. It’s too late to salvage the ’18 season with the possible three game suspension looming, but this year’s draft priority needs to be a potential franchise quarterback.

7. Times beat writer Marc Topkin’s look at the 2019 Rays last weekend read very much like a concession speech.

8. Gee, do you think the U.S. Open will wind up at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club any time soon after last weekend’s debacle?

9. The answer: George Malone, Warren Davis and Charles Patrick. The question: Who wrote The Book of Love? – a smash hit 60 years ago this month.

10. In our continuing series of each MLB franchise’s best players and pitchers (see back story TBRR 3/25/18), the Mets are up this week. Choosing their best all time pitcher is an easy one – Hall of Famer Tom Seaver who won 198 of his 311 victories with the Mets. On the player side, it’s a little tougher as the three best players (all Hall of Famers) to wear a Mets uniform, Gary Carter, Willie Mays and Mike Piazza all had significant time with other clubs. One career Met stands out even though his later career has been ravaged with injuries – 13-year Met David Wright who has poked 242 career home runs and maintained a batting average just shy of .300 and is a seven-time All Star.

Clearwater and the Phils

First full disclosure, we were more than casually involved in the original effort to build the Phils a new stadium back at the turn of the century. What is shocking to us is the price tag of proposed renovations to the complex at Drew and 19 is double what the entire stadium cost in the early part of this century. And in looking at the menu of upgrades, there are more than a few “nice to haves” rather than need to haves. We like the fact that the Phils, as they did with the original stadium, are on the hook for any cost over runs, but just the same, there seems to be the need for a little value engineering for a city facing a tax increase and uncertain county and state support for this very large project. Finally, an admittedly cynical analysis will tell you that the days of cities in Florida and Arizona jumping through hoops to land 18 or so spring training games each year has come and gone.

UP NEXT: Flight 370; celebrating the 4^th; MLB mid-season

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