Tampa Bay Rants and Raves is a weekly airing of national and local politics, sports, lifestyles and nostalgia items from a very politically incorrect viewpoint. As always, beware - some of what is printed here should not be taken literally.

Leading off: USF should channel U of Tampa

We know this is a radical suggestion, but it makes sense. Before spending multiple millions of dollars on what is a national joke, perhaps the University of South Florida should channel its cross town neighbor, the University of Tampa and simply drop its football program, and concentrate on becoming an elite learning and research institution. USF’s football program is currently the 129^th ranked Division 1 School out of 131 – thank goodness for Akron and UMass. This would not be like UF or FSU dropping their long standing programs as a great percentage of USF grads never experienced a football program during their tenure (the school was founded in 1956 and the football program did not begin until over four decades later). With eight victories over the past four years, that’s not even close to a good return on your dollars – dollars that could be spent on turning out engineers, medical professionals and top flight educators.

Tampa Bay, politics and stuff:

We are saddened by the passing of a good friend and a very familiar voice – Don Guckian. For years, Don was the PA announcer for the Phillies and Threshers at both Jack Russell Stadium and BayCare Field as well a devoted Rotarian and just a man it was a pleasure to know.

At this time of year, among the things we say thanks for is the GOP capturing the House of Representatives forestalling a Democratic threat to codify infanticide in America.

As America was threatened by a rail strike, you found yourself asking, “Where is Harry Truman when you need him?”

Jane, how ya feeling about that police chief pick?

Idle question: What percentage of your mail are things you would open each day? That is not credit card applications from cards you already have, Medicare solicitations or organizations asking for donations? Many days the answer is zero.

Coming to a theater near you – a blank screen as industry experts say as many as 5000 of the U.S. and Canada’s 40,000 screens could shut down in the next six-twelve months.

Lunch date: Our tribute to Charles Schulz a couple of weeks back gives us this December luncheon date with three fascinating cartoonists beginning of course with the brilliant Peanuts creator - along with Chester Gould of Dick Tracy fame and our own local cartoonist extraordinaire Blondie’s Dean Young.

This week in 1906 (December 10) Theodore Roosevelt becomes the first American to win the Nobel Peace Prize.

Sports, media and other stuff:

Related to this week’s historical note above, we’re shocked that the editorial staff of the 5:05 Newsletter has not yet been so honored. The Nobel committee has done a lot worse.

And speaking of Tampa Bay’s premier periodical, this tidbit: The first member of Generation Z, 25-year-old Maxwell Frost, has been elected to Congress. Frost said he will work remotely from his parent’s basement in Florida.

Sports item: Atlanta to host the first field of 12 college football championship after the 2024 season – unless, of course, Joe Biden or Rob Manfred gets involved.

At least two college football teams with losing records will play in postseason bowls. That tells us one thing – at 41, there are too many bowl games.

Do you get the feeling that TCU might get hosed in the championship playoff selections? Hoping not, but Alabama and Ohio State are lurking out there with no more games to play (or lose).

Two names prominent in this year’s college coaching carousel are Fritz-Freeze. Sounds like a soft serve ice cream operation.

“It all started at a 5000 watt radio station.” This week marks the 100^th anniversary of the birth of comedic actor Ted Knight.

Seen on a bumper sticker: “I hope something good happens to you today.” Nice thought.

Christmas Factoid: Saint Nicholas, a fourth-century bishop, was known as a secret gift-giver, stuffing coins into the shoes of poor people who placed their shoes at their doorsteps. That tradition reconfigured itself into our Christmas stockings.

…and another thing: Toy Hall of Fame

This year the Toy Hall of Fame added three toys to their honor roll – the top, Masters of the Universe and Lite-Brite. Over the past two years (TBR&R 12/20/20 and 12/19/21) we have profiled the first 17 toys inducted into the Toy Hall of Fame – 10 in 1998 and 7 in 1999. In the years 2000-02, another nine toys were so honored. Let’s see how many of these were under your Christmas tree long ago. In 2000, the Hall honored the Bicycle, Jacks, Jump Rope, Mr. Potato Head and the Slinky – it really helped if you lived in a two-story house for the Slinky. Just two toys made the cut in 2001 – Silly Putty and Tonka Trucks. Another two entered the Hall in 2002 – two classics – the Jigsaw Puzzle and Raggedy Ann. Hope you found some of those treasures under your tree over the years. By the way, the Toy Hall of Fame is located in Rochester, NY and is on our bucket list for our next trip to the Empire State.

COMING UP: Focus Group; Christmas Lights; Bob Barker

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