Tampa Bay Rants and Raves is a weekly airing of national and local politics, sports, lifestyles and historical notes from a very politically incorrect viewpoint. As always, beware - some of what is printed here should not be taken literally.

First thing on our mind:

What a great week for Monday morning quarterbacks.

Leading off: Can the EPA get anything right?

Gosh, but the EPA seemed like a good idea when it started during the Nixon administration. In the 55 years since it was established, the agency has become rather embarrassing. They have delighted in browbeating business over the dumbest things. Even things that do make environmental sense are targets for its hatchet. The most recent example is the device in many modern vehicles that shuts down the engine at stop lights. The EPA’s Lee Zeldin says “the EPA approved it (stop/start technology) and everyone hates it.” That is simply not true and both car owners experiencing higher fuel economy and experts in the field say the technology works in keeping the air cleaner and the trips to the gas pump a little less frequent, yet the EPA wants to dump it. The President and his boy at the EPA are going to experience a significant pushback on this one.

Tampa Bay, politics and notes:

Long time St. Pete College professor, classic car owner and wonderful human being Jim Pfister passed away last week. He was 89.

So did we put Iran out of the nuke business or not? We strongly suspect they won’t be operating in the foreseeable future.

Not so idle thought: Perhaps folks who have a problem with the right wing Trump could migrate to Venezuela where their leftist president Nicolas Maduro just locked up most of the country’s economists for simply telling the truth about the country’s severely damaged fiscal situation.

For New Yorkers planning to flee the city should the radical Zohran Mamdani be elected, the Mayor of Boca Raton extends a warm welcome – and lower taxes.

Grocery giant Kroger to close five dozen stores across the country. Other than some delivery service, Kroger has no presence in Florida.

A timing issue last week forced us to pick up some pizza at one of the national chains. A birthday celebration with our oldest friends at Capogna’s this week reminded us how pizza is supposed to taste.

The 5:05 Newsletter reports on an oft asked question particularly in Blue states: “Would someone please tell me which stores I am supposed to loot in order to save democracy?”

Five years ago this week in TBRR, the city of Clearwater was mourning the passing of former Marine, Educator, Coach and City Commissioner, Bill Justice at age 98.

Sports, media and other notes:

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Our saintly and fiction reading wife gives a thumbs up to former President Bill Clinton and James Patterson’s best selling collaboration The First Gentleman.

We mentioned back in April (TBRR 4/20/25) the possibility of the Rays playing playoff games in front of less than 15,000 fans. Now that playoff ball is indeed a possibility, MLB is trying to decide whether to stage the games in front of a small crowd or move the games relatively close by (Miami or Atlanta).

We whined last week about the Chicago style voting (five votes a day) for the major league All Star team. This week, we ask why we must submit our date of birth on the ballot. In most circumstances, asking that is illegal.

On this patriotic week, a belated happy 60^th anniversary to DINFOS, the Defense Information School for broadcasters and journalists which has distinguished graduates such as J.D. Vance, Walter Mondale, Adrian Cronauer, the inspiration for Good Morning Vietnam, as well as less distinguished grads like your humble blogger.

One last thing: Baseball at the half way mark

If you had the so-called “chalk” picks of Baltimore in the American League and Atlanta in the National, better luck next year. The number one prospect in baseball, the Red Sox Roman Anthony is now in the show and drove in a pair of runs in his very first at bat. Meanwhile, the traded Rafael Devers decides playing first base is not all that egregious. Possibly the number one pitching prospect, Jacob Misiorowski (Miz for short) also called up, threw 11 no hit innings for the Brewers in his first two starts. Our Rays remain very much in the hunt for a playoff berth. Midseason MVPs – Aaron Judge and the Cubs’ Kyle Tucker. Cy Youngs – Pittsburgh’s Paul Skenes and Houston’s Hunter Brown. And Wander Franco throws away his baseball career.

NEXT UP: Summer Songs; Bill Haley; Puzzling youngsters

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