TOP OF THE WEEK:

So the Church of Scientology is working stealth-like behind the scenes to oppose the Clearwater Marine Aquarium’s plans for downtown Clearwater? This creates an interesting dichotomy for more than a few long time Clearwater residents who have issues with what they feel is an overly ambitious plan on the part of the CMA in that it puts them in bed with the Scientologists who, no doubt, have their own agenda for opposing the move rather than fiscal responsibility. Or, if you really want to channel Oliver Stone, you could say CMA supporters are fanning the flames of the Scientology opposition to bring less than supportive Clearwater residents into their camp. Stay tuned.

AROUND THE BAY:

1. Florida bumps the minimum wage for tipped personnel from $4.91 to $5.03 an hour – how ridiculous. And oh yes, for those of you from north of the border, it is customary to tip for good service.

2. A person close to the issue and a lot smarter than us says it could take two more years for the Belleview Biltmore’s new owners to fight off legal challenges and begin construction. Good grief!

3. One of the early tests of new county manager Mark Woodward’s career will be replacing the highly successful Noah Lagos who retires from the St. Pete-Clearwater Airport later this year. To continue the airport’s upswing of the last few years, this is a hire Woodward has to get right.

4. Pinellas Sheriff Bob Gualtieri says he will support a proposed bill (by Sen. Jeff Brandes) to legalize medical pot. The positive side is this would be a law rather than a constitutional amendment. But there is still the slippery slope of what the few law enforcement officials who have come out in support call a “tightly managed” law. The devil is in the details. Stay tuned.

5. You’ve really lived in Clearwater a long time if you went to high school (or junior high school) at the corner of Laura Street and Greenwood Avenue.

THE DIAMOND, THE MEDIA AND OTHER STUFF:

6. Remember only a few years back when the Phillies were selling out a half dozen or more spring training games each season? Bad news for Stub Hub and other scalpers, tickets will be plentiful this year – as they were last.

7. In a related note, Ruben Amaro, Jr. is a terrific young man, but he appears to be next in line to get the Frank Wren award for general managers.

8. When was the last time you remember a non-incumbent being quite the shoo-in for their party’s nomination as Hilary Clinton?

9. Coach K’s 1000^th win leads you to reflect on the best in his field. He certainly deserves a spot among the top three with the others being his mentor, Bobby Knight and the “Wizard of Westwood”, John Wooden. There is a fourth name that deserves a mention – a man who directly or indirectly influenced all three above – Clair Bee. He was a two-time national champion at tiny Long Island University as well as a football and baseball coach and athletic director in the college ranks, an innovator (zone defense and the three second rule) and later a successful author.

10. Just a thought: if it weren’t for the Lightning and UCF’s football program, there wouldn’t be a winning major sports team on the entire I-4 corridor.

IN CLOSING:

We seldom agree with Robert Trigaux of the Times. We don’t think he likes business and pretty sure he’s never been in business, but that’s for another blog. Must nod our head in agreement with his column on Hillsborough County’s Fearsome Foursome who ousted one of the best school superintendents in the nation mainly because she wouldn’t do lunch with them. These meddlers, as Trigaux suggests, have to go. Level-headed people of Hillsborough County need to mirror what voters in Clearwater did in the mid-nineties and start lining up highly qualified candidates to blow the four of them out one by one.