TOP OF THE WEEK:
 
Welcome all six readers to the initial edition of Tampa Bay Rants and Raves. Someday, an archived copy of this might be as valuable as the initial copy of Sports Illustrated with a youthful Eddie Matthews on the cover. Unlikely, but possible!
 
We naturally launch our maiden voyage with a political note on the eve of an important election in Pinellas County. It was barely a century ago that Pinellas (then West Hillsborough) County fought long and hard to de-annex itself from Hillsborough County. Apparently, we have not come all that far when the Democratic Party cannot find a suitable candidate for District 13’s congressional seat among the several hundred thousand people within our county boundaries but must import someone from Thonotosassa who couldn’t find Ulmerton Road without her GPS.
 
THIS WEEK’S TEN:
 
1. Don’t have the money for either project, but would sure try to save Tampa’s Jackson House rather than the Belleview Biltmore despite the number of memorable events your HB (humble blogger) attended there over a half century.
 
2. Hey St. Pete, how’s that new mayor working out? Have we figured out how we’re going to pay his gang of eight over the years?
 
3. Before the next Winter Olympics come up, could someone from Clearwater contact Michael Wilbon of ESPN’s Pardon the Interruption and tell him how to correctly pronounce the city’s sister city – Nagano?
 
4. The city of Hampton, Florida is on the brink of dissolution by the state. That’s what happens when three-quarters of a city’s revenues come from traffic tickets. Now on to Waldo, Lawtey, Inglis and Brooksville – all of whom seem to spend more time on speeding tickets and red light violations than actually running a city.
 
5. At Phillies spring games, there is a huge void this season – the seat in the scout’s section that was always occupied by Braves vice-president and former MLB manager Jim Fregosi. Most fans know of his numerous accomplishments on the field. Not as many know how much Jim gave to this community. Kudos to the Phillies for a moving tribute to Jim prior to the March 5 Braves game.
 
6. Regarding the recent tragedy on I-275 that killed five people, does anyone else wonder why some bozo is videoing the errant driver on their smart phone rather than dialing 911? It might not have made a difference but certainly shows where we have come as a people. Not pretty.
 
7. NASCAR note: You may not like the way he said it, but Richard Petty is right about Danica Patrick. We normally admire Tony Stewart, but his suggestion that there be a match race between the King and darling Danica makes as much sense as a home run hitting contest between Brian McCann and Yogi Berra.
 
8. Catholic’s lament: Why must Lent and the sale of Girl Scout cookies coincide?
 
9. Tarpon Springs Police are cracking down on golfers who might occasionally make a side bet during their weekly golf league. In an apparently unrelated note, a substantial reward has been offered in two of the several unsolved murders in the city.
 
10. Don’t you think the $2.13 an hour for tipped servers could be bumped up a bit without causing the ruination of the Florida restaurant industry?
 
IN CLOSING:
 
The city of Clearwater has its first real political race in a decade with David Allbritton facing incumbent Bill Jonson. Both bring strong credentials to the table. It’s a shame both can’t win or that Allbritton hadn’t jumped into the political arena a few years earlier when the city was getting mediocre council members because of only token or no opposition.
 
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