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

First thing on our mind:

As an eight year-old, we really wanted a bike for Christmas. This year, an adult trike would be cool.

Leading off: What’s your party like?

Fox News commentator Kat Timpf in her book I Used To Like You Until… quotes Pew Research as saying over a third (37%) of Americans wish there were more political parties. Philosophically, that makes sense, but as we’ve seen on a global basis, it makes for messy elections. However, it gets you thinking what if you could start your own party? What would the planks of that party be? We think we would grab the name “New Life Party” and go from there. What would your party look like?

Tampa Bay, politics and notes:

He was the Athletic Director at Clearwater High School for over two decades. Coach and teacher Harold Reddick passed away last week at age 87.

We wish a happy 100^th anniversary to St. Cecelia Catholic Church. The downtown Clearwater church was dedicated on Christmas Day 1924. Forty five years later, in August, our Saintly Wife unwisely said “I do” there.

We’re thinking the drone affair off the nation’s east coast would be handled a little differently come January 20^th.

The Biden administration is pushing to have Medicare and Medicaid cover Ozempic as a weight loss drug. It must pass muster with the Trump administration which may opt for another remedy – pushing away from a carb-loaded table.

Morgan for Governor? No, we’re good.

Hi Rob (Manfred), thanks for stopping by. Now, stay out of the way and let Pinellas County decision makers do what’s best for our area.

Something new seen in local real estate listings “did not flood during recent storms.”.

This week’s holiday note from the 5:05 Newsletter: “Eggs Benedict should be served in a hubcap because There's no plate like chrome for the hollandaise."

"

This week in 1981 (12/15) WFTS, Channel 28 signs on originally as an independent station. It became a Fox affiliate in 1988. In 1994, it replaced WTSP as the area’s ABC affiliate, while WTVT, Channel 13 assumed the Fox affiliation and WTSP Channel 10 joined CBS in the biggest network shuffle in Tampa Bay broadcast history.

Sports, media and other notes:

First, let us say we do not eat fruitcake. In an abundance of fairness, we publish this reader reply to last week’s piece on Jane Parker fruitcake. “With all due respect to your comments about fruitcakes: I believe all fruitcakes were formed thousands of years ago by some kind of natural catastrophe involving (1) fruit; (2) cake; and (3) a radioactive meteorite and that these ancient fruitcakes have been circulating as “gifts” ever since, being passed from person to person, with nobody ever actually eating them.”

Two familiar faces are returning to the Florida coaching ranks. Former UCF head coach Scott Frost is returning to the school where he had great success. Meanwhile, Willie Simmons who guided Florida A&M to a 45-12 record over six seasons will take over at Florida International.

Sports oddity: The Steelers’ Mike Tomlin on his way to an 18^th straight winning season has never been named Coach of the Year in the NFL.

One of the most beloved baseball players of the 50s and 60s, Rocky Colavito, passed away last week at age 91. He began his career with the Indians and was later involved in one of those superstar trades involving the Tigers and batting champion Harvey Kuenn.

Many folks say Juan Soto’s numbers won’t suffer without Aaron Judge behind him in the lineup. We respectfully disagree.

We feel we need to mention this every year or so. You can still get Robby’s Pancake Mix, which produces the best pancakes in the free world, on line from Williams-Sonoma.

Some of the biggest movies hit the theaters during the holiday season. Fifty years ago was no exception as The Godfather II was year end’s biggest hit.

Speaking of biggest hits – the best selling album of all time is The Eagle’s Greatest Hits (1971-75).

One last thing: About those predictions

In our 2024 New Year’s predictions, we went 3-7, the kind of record that gets most football coaches fired.

Briefly, we were wrong about Biden’s re-election and therefore wrong about continuing inflation, the border and high interest rates (but those are all good things to be wrong about). FSU has not left the ACC, right now, no one would have them. With some upset wins, Billy Napier’s job seems safe and the Dodgers did win the World Series.

Our pitiful three correct predictions included more high tech firms moving away from China; SCOTUS swatting down the election interference in Colorado and Maine and another Biden airplane steps incident. Our equally misguided 2025 predictions will appear in three weeks.

UP NEXT: Virginia; Greta; Rays

.

121524/556

Sorry, time does not permit replies to comments.