Tampa Bay Bucs about to go 0 for 3

It started with the Bucs hiring a guy who may not have been the best choice to coach them out of the 28-52 hole that Raheem Morris and Greg Schiano dug. Then they hired a journeyman quarterback to facilitate the “turnaround”. Now, it appears they are about to take the third swing and a miss with a loose cannon college quarterback who doesn’t seem to be able to stay out of trouble – big trouble. We all know about Jameis Winston’s recent (and good) interviews with the Bucs and the NFL, but as wise old Ben Franklin once said “well done is better than well said.” Winston talks a good game; he’s just never shown that good game off the field. This one the Bucs must get right. We hope they do, but very much fear they won’t.

Around the bay:

1. The Saudi-9/11 connection has been refuted by everybody from the White House down through the FBI but former Senator Bob Graham keeps hammering away in what appears to be an attempt to somehow remain relevant.

2. The last time a career politician ran the Pinellas Property Appraiser’s office, it took several years of work by appraisal professional Pam Dubov and her staff to straighten things out. So who is the first individual to announce for the job Dubov will vacate next year – another career politician. Pinellas County deserves better.

3. Add New Port Richey to the growing list of central Florida cities who are dumping their red light cameras. And give them credit. They were very forthright in saying the reason they are dropping the camera is they are no longer making money for the city as opposed to other cities that ask us to drink the “safety issues” Kool Aid.

4. The proposed sale of the Tampa Tribune building in downtown Tampa should not be shocking news. Daily newspapers’ staffs (and revenues) are shrinking and they no longer need the buildings they constructed in the 70s and 80s. The St. Pete Times and other Florida dailies have also been shedding real estate in the past several years.

5. Guys, you’ve really lived in Pinellas County a while if you got your very Sunday best at Wolf Brothers or Shorts. Webb’s Men’s Wear was around too, but that’s where your Dad bought his Sunday best.

The diamond, the media and other stuff:

6. In a related note to our lead piece, it’s hard to believe that not so long ago the Bucs employed two of the best coaches in the NFL back to back. But it now seems so long ago.

7. Turning to the college football scene, you can probably understand a team that consistently wins nine games a year occasionally hitting up their ticket holders for more money or a bigger contribution. But USF that has won nine games in three years? This USF alum hangs his head in shame.

8. Our apologies to a good friend for failing earlier this month to recognize the national holiday he holds dearest – April 7, 1933 – the repeal of prohibition.

9. Our Rants and Raves focus group (comprised of three, old cranky people) opines that most folks who constantly rail for separation of church and state separated from church a long time ago. (Margin of error – 50 per cent or so).

10. Topping the charts fifty years ago this week was Herman’s Hermit’s Mrs. Brown You’ve Got a Lovely Daughter from that magical era when you didn’t have to be good, just British, to have a hit record.

A rare, good baseball book and how Clearwater dodged a bullet

It’s a good year if one or two good baseball books are published in twelve months. We’ve reviewed a few of these gems before – Behind the Mask and Where Nobody Knows Your Name. Add another to a must read list for baseball junkies – Paul Dickson’s Bill Veeck: baseball’s greatest maverick. The book examines the amazingly complex man who owned three different major league teams, one, the White Sox, twice. Dickson details Veeck’s must famous stunt, pinch hitting a midget (and the sad after story of Eddie Gaedel); his exploding scoreboard in Chicago and the infamous disco demolition. Veeck was also a pioneer in integrating baseball and a champion of civil rights in general. Finally, there is the story of how but for his failed attempt to buy a fourth team; the Phillies might have never landed in Clearwater. It’s a long read, four hundred some pages, and pretty small type but a positively captivating volume.