Established in 2014, Tampa Bay Rants and Raves is a weekly airing of local and national news, sports and Tampa Bay memories from a politically incorrect viewpoint.

First thing on our mind:

This week (Saturday) marks our Saintly Wife’s birthday. We both celebrate our birthdays on Saturday this year and on the same day of the week every year. But we were born on different days of the week (her Tuesday in June, us Saturday in March). Cannot for the life of me figure that out.

Leading off: The minimalist life

Joseph Epstein wrote a brilliant piece in The Wall Street Journal last month about his 72-hour TV drought (the old thing broke down). During that time, he realized what a news junkie he had become, although we didn’t detect any move towards abstinence when the new set was installed. We sadly fall into that category as well – more in the national news area rather than the local, if it bleeds, it leads stuff. None the less, we’re going to rest the TV more and clear the bookshelf of unread volumes.

Another terrific article appeared in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on giving up something for a year. Most mentioned- clothes, shoes, carbonated drinks and, of course, sweets. The piece was written more from a get out of debt perspective than a minimalist approach, but either way it makes sense - simple stuff like emptying a personal item (shampoo, shower gel etc.) in the bath, before buying another. Give it a try.

Tampa Bay, politics and notes:

Sometimes big sports news makes it “above the fold.” Congratulations to the University of Tampa baseball team for their ninth Division II national championship.

Here we go again. The St. Pete city council is hell-bent to put a grocery store on 22nd Street South despite multiple failures by name chains. Grocery stores and other commerce need to be driven by hard numbers, not wishes.

We are old enough to remember how another Democratic president, this one with a spine, reacted to a Soviet threat to the western hemisphere.

Our friend TL wonders whether that was a trial in Delaware or a family reunion.

Iran is electing a new president, but a former president is being blocked from running by the Iranian “Guardian Council”. Sounds eerily familiar.

Related, some sources say the Top 3 in the GOP Veep sweepstakes are Senators Rubio, JD Vance and Gov. Doug Burgum of North Dakota. Rubio, being from the same state as President Trump presents unique problems and the other two do not move the needle among likely voters.

To Mayor Pete and the Heinz Ketchup boy, add FTC chair Lina Khan as Biden cabinet members who are completely out of their depth.

Commentary from the discerning minds at the 5:05 Newsletter, Why do professional athletes think I should care about what they think? If I wanted advice from someone who chases a ball, I would ask my dog.

This week in 1991 (June 21),WTTA-TV signs on at Channel 38 – the channel that had been dark for over 20 years (originally WSUN-TV). It is an independent station closely affiliated with WFLA Channel 8 and airs some network programming not carried by the various bay area network affiliates.

Sports, media and other notes:

Basketball lost one of its all-time greats last week with the passing of West Virginia and Lakers star Jerry West at age 86.

Kudos to UConn’s Dan Hurley for rejecting LA Lakers megabucks in favor of continuing to enhance what is probably the best college program in the nation.

Number of the week: 200,000 – the number of ticket requests for the Savannah Bananas’ game in Fenway Park last week.

The American League West has supplanted the two central divisions as the weakest in baseball. As we write this, the division’s teams are a cumulative 29 games under .500.

It’s summertime and the season for weddings, and later, anniversaries. And time to keep in mind this bit of wisdom, “when you find a good wife, you not only get a best friend and companion, you also receive a Driving Instructor for LIFE- shared by our Driving Instructor of almost 55 years.

…another thing: What says Tampa Bay?

The most recent question for our Rants and Raves Focus Group was “What item, thing, location or whatever, more than any other, says Tampa Bay to you?

Our leadoff hitter may have come up with the definitive answer with the beautiful, arching Sunshine Skyway and its multi colored lights.

Another answer that truly defines the Tampa Bay area comes from our newest focus group member – the Cuban sandwich and 1905 salad at the Columbia.

One of our original focus group members spoke about our marinas with their assortment of beautiful sailboats, yachts and charter fishing boats.

Another great answer from one of our number: the Courtney Campbell Causeway. It links Tampa to Pinellas County/Clearwater and it is a beautiful drive!!

Another of our group gives a similar answer – the attractive Memorial Causeway that links Clearwater’s mainland to Clearwater Beach with its white sand beach.

Another of our members, who we wish lived here all the time but doesn’t, talked about Tampa Bay and spring training – particularly viewing her beloved Yankees (happens in the best of families) at Steinbrenner Field.

Yet another contributor who we also wish lived here simply mentions the family he does have here.

As always folks, thanks for some very thoughtful answers.

NEXT UP: Coke and Publix; MLB hypocrisy; Krispy Kreme

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