Rays to Cuba – why?

As you probably know, the Rays will be playing the Cuban National Team this week. Why – when the Miami metro area, home of the Marlins, has four times the Hispanic population of Tampa Bay? The Marlins would seem the more logical choice. Maybe they didn’t want to stick it to their spring training hosts costing them many, many room nights and other significant pieces of revenue while they’re away. Guess it would be kind of a hoot to visit Cuba and its’ 57 Chevys and see a game. Probably couldn’t afford it. But – we can afford to send seasoned baseball observers like Barack Obama, Kathy Castor and Rick Kriseman (we’re willing to bet at least one of the three knows that the Rays’ third baseman is Evan – not Eva Longoria). The Rays junket doesn’t make a whole lot of sense.

Around Tampa Bay

1. Good news for Clearwater in last week’s election. All the referendums on the Bayfront passed allowing the city some latitude in giving that area of town a much needed boost. Bit of a surprise in the one council race with Bob Cundiff’s stronger resume overcoming most of the big money that was behind incumbent Jay Polglaze.

2. As Marco leaves the arena, the pundits are, as usual, overthinking what sunk Rubio. It simply came down to the fact that when the field got down to six or so, Rubio, a 44-year-old freshmen Senator, was the least qualified and experienced of the bunch to lead America.

3. We don’t think it’s our imagination - the bay area is becoming a shooting gallery. When innocent three year-olds get wounded in senseless shootings, it’s time for a reassessment by our area law enforcement agencies.

4. Remember the whiney Tampa matron that sooo wanted her privacy? Word on the street is that Jill Kelley is writing a book. Move over, Monica.

5. You’ve lived in Clearwater a long time if you remember Young’s BBQ on Gulf to Bay Blvd. operated first by Warren Young and later the Pappas family. There’s still a restaurant there but not nearly the same.

The diamond, the media and other stuff

6. Our sports prognosticator Achmed Walled (pronounced wall-ED) views the no dominant team NCAA tournament and sees a Final Four of two previous visitors: North Carolina (18 times – the most of any school) and Virginia (twice) along with two teams that have never been to the Final Four in school history – Miami and Texas A & M.

7. Nice start to the season by the Chicago White Sox with the Adam LaRoche mess. Maybe the kid doesn’t belong in the clubhouse but the Sox contractually promised that to LaRoche and the players don’t seem to mind him being around. Somehow, just like all the lousy trades the Padres’ front office made last year, this will end up being the manager’s fault.

8. Music Factoid: The man who had the most chart records in the first five years of the sixties was not Elvis Presley as you might imagine but the jolly piano player from New Orleans - Fats Domino with 42 charted records. Elvis was tied for second with Ray Charles (40 each) and they were followed by two very successful female stars – Brenda Lee (39) and Connie Francis (38).

9. It’s telling that Lovie Smith, Greg Schiano and Raheem Morris, the last three Bucs head coaches have not been interviewed for a single NFL head coaching job since being dismissed by the Bucs. Lovie, at least, got a gig at Illinois – a university where coaching careers go to die.

10. Our Rants and Raves focus group (comprised of three old, cranky people and all Seinfeld freaks) have chosen their three all-time episodes – “The Hamptons” where George had “pool issues” and Kramer poached some lobster traps; “The Voice” where Jerry made fun of his girlfriend’s rumbling stomach and Kramer’s Kramerica Corporation got a college intern (brilliantly played by Jarrad Paul) and their consensus best episode – “The Soup Nazi” (again an incredible character portrayal by Larry Thomas).

Don’t take good service for granted

There is a young lady who works at the Dunkin Doughnuts on East Bay Drive in Largo who deserves a special place in Heaven for absorbing the abuse a nasty old lady heaped on her recently. So out of line was the verbal dressing down that another customer even offered to pay for the woman’s purchase if she would just leave and stop verbally abusing the young woman. If you’ve ever been a server or had one in your family, you no doubt have a warm feeling in your heart for these folks. They put up with so much – cranky customers, lousy tippers and usually long hours on their feet. To the Kelly’s (Acropal – Largo), Jessica’s (Largo Family Restaurant) and Evan’s (Cracker Barrel – Oldsmar), we say thanks and we let their bosses know how much we appreciate them. Hope you will too.

SNEAK PEEK AT NEXT WEEK: OPENING PITCH – OUR BASEBALL PREDICTIONS & OTHER STUFF