TOP OF THE WEEK: (Two weeks to go – down the stretch will either Charlie or Rick shock us with a positive ad?)

With apologies to the late Andy Williams, it’s the second most wonderful time of the year. Our national pastime’s World Series. Three memorable World Series stick out in the mind of your HB (Humble Blogger) – all upsets and all involving New York teams: the first one we ever watched - the ’54 fall classic when the Giants shocked the Cleveland Indians in four straight. The ’54 Indians won a record 111 games behind a pitching staff that should have had Cooperstown instead of Cleveland stitched on the front of their uniforms. Four of the 1954 Cleveland staff are in the Hall of Fame. The second great World Series was in 1960 when the Yankees outscored the Pittsburgh Pirates 55-27 over the seven games but lost the series in a freakish 10-9 Game 7 – a game in which neither side recorded a strikeout. And a bright young lady from Columbus, Ohio won a quarter on her first ever sports bet. Lastly was the 1996 World Series in which the Braves lost to the Yankees after routing them two straight games at Yankee Stadium only to lose the next four straight – three at home in Atlanta. Again, this was a team with four Hall of Famers – two inducted this year (Glavine and Maddux) and two more who will be first ballot choices when eligible (Chipper Jones and John Smoltz). Big upset again this year? Let’s settle back, as Vin Scully would say, and see what the 111th edition brings us.

Around the Bay –

1. Maybe Floridians would like to see you sweat a bit, Charlie.

2. Quote of the Week: Clearwater Mayor George Cretekos on the former city employee who would not sell her property adjacent to the new fire station. “She cost us a lot of money because we had to redesign the entire station around her property”. Sorry Mayor, but your staff cost you a lot of money by not making sure they assembled everything before plowing ahead with a questionable location for a fire station. And by the way, Commissar, excuse us… Mayor, there’s a little thing called private property rights.

3. Glad we could have U.S. Rep. Cathy Castor weigh in on Greenlight Pinellas. Through an incredible feat of gerrymandering, she actually represents a few thousand Pinellas residents from her office in Hillsborough County.

4. In a related note, our Rants and Raves focus group (comprised of three old, cranky people) suggests that in exchange for Pasco County passing a resolution supporting Greenlight Pinellas, our county commission ought to turn its attention to Pasco – perhaps with a resolution that it be annexed into Hernando County. (Margin of error – 50 percent or so).

5. Our Man of the Week: Secretary of Veterans Affairs Robert McDonald who hands out his cellphone number to veterans he meets. So many more of our bureau and departmental heads should set such an example to their staff members.

6. How could a restaurant possibly survive with a menu of only four entrees? The Kapok Tree Inn on McMullen Booth Road did just that for decades offering shrimp, steak, ham and fried chicken to thousands of diners weekly.

The Diamond, the Media and Other Stuff –

7. Our Rants and Raves sports prognosticator Achmed Walled (pronounced wall-ED) likes the Giants over the Royals in the fall classic.

8. The post season is not yet over, but watch out for dramatic changes in the National League East next year. The Marlins and Mets, with their stables of young stud pitchers, could both overtake the traditional leaders in the division – the Nats and the Braves.

9. Doesn’t the whole Jameis Winston mess seem familiar? Just substitute Auburn and Cam Newton and you have the same thing –“Let’s sweep it under the rug until we get our trophy”.

10. In the early going of the new TV season, our personal favorite is Madam Secretary. If you haven’t watched it, pick it up with the first episode. Lighter fare but promising are A to Z and Manhattan Love Story.

IN CLOSING:

Although overshadowed by Derek Jeter’s retirement, another classy career came to an end on the final day of baseball’s regular season. White Sox first baseman Paul Konerko left for a defensive replacement to a standing ovation at U.S. Cellular Park. The ovation of the fans and teammates was joined by the full dugout of the Kansas City Royals as well. Although he modeled Dodger and Red uniforms early in his career, he made his mark with Sox leading them to their first World Series victory in decades in 2005. Konerko’s number 14 will be retired by the team meaning that number 14 will never be worn again by a Chicago player on either side of the city. Ernie Bank’s number 14 was retired years ago by the Cubs.