Established in 2014 and published every Sunday, Tampa Bay Rants and Raves is a weekly airing of local and national news, sports and historical notes from a politically incorrect viewpoint.

First thing on our mind:

This fall vote like your life depended on it, because it kind of does.

Leading off: Tight race is worrisome

More and more right thinking Americans are hoping that the race between President Trump and Kamala Harris will widen beyond the “Philadelphia Factor.” That is, frankly, a term we made up. It refers to the very possible scenario that on Election Day, calls would be made to Philly, or Chicago or Atlanta saying “we need this many thousand additional votes.” The hope, of course, is that President Trump will be sufficiently ahead that the margin would be more than there are enough “phantom votes” that corrupt cities and states across America can make up. Or as one Trump supporter put it – “Too big to rig.”

Tampa Bay, politics and notes:

Hats off to hundreds of teachers and students who pitched in last week to make their schools ready to go back in session.

On the other hand, no mail delivery on a very sunny Tuesday of last week along with our libraries shut down after several days off and one of their innumerable Monday holidays.

Of the candidates for national office, we all know Donald Trump is very wealthy; Kamala Harris’ tales of humble beginnings are BS; Walz – who knows, but if you want to learn about an extremely hard-earned American dream, read J.D. Vance’s Hillbilly Elegy.

President Trump spends part of last weekend working at a Philadelphia area McDonald’s. That’s not very subtle, Don.

It’s kind of sad watching fading stars like Barack Obama and Bill Clinton out on the stump. Some folks just can’t let go.

Idle thought: Isn’t the match up of Kamala Harris and Taylor Swift a bit odd? You have a “green everything” candidate and pop culture person who leaves a carbon footprint equal to New York’s taxi fleet.

Another iconic American name brand, True Value, has filed for bankruptcy.

It looks more certain that America’s flagship The United States will be coming to Florida’s panhandle as an artificial reef and the subject of a museum in Okaloosa County.

From the creative genius of the 5:05 Newsletter: If you are better off now than you were four years ago, you are probably here illegally.

This week in 1971 (Oct. 23) WXLT (now WWSB) Channel 40 signs on in Sarasota as an ABC affiliate.

Sports, media and other notes:

Chalk up Clearwater’s signature Jazz Holiday as a victim of Hurricane Milton. The time-honored event will resume next year.

Sure, there are still a lot of non-corporate pizza parlors around, but the loss of Capogna’s and a couple years back, Post Corner, makes it tough. Our other “go to” place is Monty’s at the corner of Belcher and Nursery. Good pizza, nice folks.

Former WTSP Channel 10 anchor Rob Finnerty has taken over the prime 8 p.m. spot on the Newsmax cable channel. Newsmax is a rival to the fellow conservative Fox news channel. On Spectrum, you can find him at channel 1217. Their 10 p.m. The Right Squad is another show well worth a look.

The Florida Gators are a pre-season #21 in the AP men’s basketball poll. Kansas is ranked #1.

Related: Tony Bennett steps away from the Virginia head coaching job. We greatly admire his principles – not wanting to coach in what has become a professional league.

The ever changing Athletic 134 has a new #1 – Oregon. Still one Florida team, Miami (7) moves the needle. The mediocre bunch of others UF (58); UCF (64); FSU (88 and incredibly still just one win); USF (95); and FAU and FIU still joined at the hip at 107-08. And look at Army, still undefeated.

One of the best relievers of this century has traded a major league uniform for college garb. Mark Melancon logged 262 career saves. Not overpowering, he was a thinking man’s pitcher with an uncanny ability to keep the ball on the ground. Now he will impart that wisdom at San Diego State.

Thanks to Cleveland and the Yankees for staging one of the best games we’ve ever witnessed. Game 3 of the ACLS was a 10-inning thriller.

Add the name of Jhonkensey Noel to the list of unlikely postseason heroes like Dusty Rhodes, Mazeroski and Lemke.

One last thing: Allow reasonable donations

So President Trump or God forbid Ms. Harris, when you start looking for ways to help the “average American,” how about allowing a reasonable tax deduction for donations to legitimate charities? For many years, we had that and don’t think it staggered the government’s finances. We’re not suggesting some massive write off, but something in the range of one to five thousand dollars against income. Nothing could do more for our struggling charitable organizations than a sensible tax break to encourage the “average American” to increase their charitable giving.

NEXT WEEK: Bob, George & Taylor; The best announcers

102024/552

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