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:

Play ball!

Leading off: No way to say thanks

Good for President Trump buying an $80K Tesla to support his friend Elon Musk. The radical left has a funny way of saying thanks to a man who has saved our nation billions so far. Terrorizing his Tesla dealerships, damaging cars is truly bad, but predictable form. And targeting folks who own them goes beyond the pale. So thanks to the President for buying a car he won’t even drive anytime soon. And thanks to our law enforcement people for cracking down on the lowlifes. But the fact remains, no car is worth eighty thousand dollars.

Tampa Bay, politics and notes:

Our government’s fastest growing expense, to nobody’s surprise, is Social Security. The second fastest growing line item is debt service, a very chilling fact.

The sweetest sound of the past week was the pronouncement by Homeland Security head Kristi Noem that the Trump administration is moving towards eliminating the gravely flawed FEMA – but not, Ms. Noem, before making last year’s hurricane victims whole.

You have to wonder when Chuck Schumer doesn’t seem far enough left for many of his party.

Just when you think you’ve encountered the most disgusting politician in our nation, along comes someone like Texas US Rep. Jasmine Crockett.

Our friend TL shares one of the Ten Commandments for us older folks: The biggest lie you tell yourself is “I don’t need to write that down. I’ll remember it.”

Jerry Krause, a pioneer in bowling establishments in Pinellas County, passed away earlier this month at age 92. Among several bowling centers he established was Sunshine Lanes in on US 19 in St. Pete – one of the first automated pin setting lanes on Florida’s west coast.

This week in 1949 (March 31) the record industry is revolutionized with RCA’s introduction of the 45 RPM.

Sports, media and other notes:

As the tax deadline approaches, we bring back an oldie but goodie from the 5:05 Newsletter: “I am so glad I learned about parallelograms in high school math class instead of how to do my taxes. It comes in so handy during parallelogram season.”

Another needed word of thanks to Jamie Steffens at Ray’s Connecting Point in Dunedin for getting us up and running so we can subject you to another week of this drivel. He is one of the best in the tech field.

Konan O’Brien awarded the Mark Twain Award. Comparing O’Brien to Mark Twain is like comparing a kid with a chemistry set to Albert Einstein.

One of many, many things we don’t understand. You unsubscribe from some annoying item and the next thing that hits your email is You’ve Unsubscribed!

A bit unusual, as the NCAA men’s tournament entered the Sweet 16, all the number ones and twos were still alive. Normally, there is some sort of upset in the first weekend. Probably the biggest was #12 McNeese State over #5 Clemson.

Baseball note: Mets re-sign Sidd Finch. Braves add Mel Famey.

Speaking of the Mets, their offense is ranked #2 in major league baseball to start the season, behind only the Dodgers. The Braves and Phils come in at 3 and 4 with the first AL ranked team, Boston at #5.

Topping the record charts this week in 1965 was The Supreme’s Stop! In the Name of Love.

You’ve lived in the bay area a long time if you remember free copies of the St. Pete Independent on days after there was no sunshine for 24 hours. It happened just over 200 times in its 80 year existence.

One last thing: Spring training changes needed

At a spring training game in Dunedin two weeks ago, the Atlanta Braves fielded a pitcher and only one position player who had even a remote chance to make their regular season roster. The cost for this game was anywhere from $32 to $47 for seats deep down the right and left field lines. Had tickets in the infield been available, they would fetch from $100 to $239 – to watch AAA players. MLB used to have a hard and fast rule that four regular players should be in a visiting team’s spring lineup. But under Robber Baron Manfred, the fans get hosed. Another fan-friendly change should be mini road trips during spring. A strong draw like the Braves, Phils or Yanks should make a single trip to an area rather than two, saving them another trip and allowing out of town fans to combine their stay for their favorite teams. Two common sense ideas, but we’re not holding our breath.

UP NEXT: Saturday mail; MLB’s best; Video games

033025/508LT

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