Maybe there is something to this email stuff

Shocking as it may seem, this blog has been wrong about a few things in the past – particularly predicting the future. Well over a year ago, we said the Hillary Clinton email issue would dry up and blow away. Now after a scathing State Department inspector general report, even some of her staunchest liberal supporters are calling her out – supporters like the New York Times and The Washington Post, the two most liberal newspapers north of St. Petersburg, Florida. Before you know it, NBC’s Andrea Mitchell, Clinton’s personal apologist, will jump on the bandwagon. We still don’t think the email scandal will materially hurt Clinton’s election chances, but as we pointed out at the top, we’ve been wrong before.

Around Tampa Bay:

1. Emails aside, Hillary Clinton is listed as a 1-2 favorite to win the election while Donald Trump is 7-4. If you are looking for a big score, go with the thought that Clinton will be indicted and lay your money on Joe Biden who is 33-1.

2. We wish the best to Seth Taylor who comes on board as the new head of Clearwater’s Community Redevelopment Agency. He brings a good resume to a big job. Clearwater, particularly its downtown, has foundered since the departure of redevelopment guru Bob Keller many moons ago.

3. The Dunedin-Toronto Blue Jays dance will only get more interesting as the year wears on. But two things stand out. The idea that the Blue Jays are not talking to other venues is hogwash. Jays’ executives would be guilty of malfeasance if they weren’t looking at other options. And second, Dunedin and the county and the state need to turn a deaf ear to so-called economists who say spring training is a lousy investment. If that were so, cities all over Florida and Arizona would be letting teams walk and that just ain’t happening.

4. Beach diners are going to have to do without a favorite spot for several months – Crabby Bill’s at the west end of the Marina. The old building is coming down to be replaced by an expanded version constructed by Alan Bomstein’s Creative Contractors.

5. Speaking of restaurants, if you haven’t visited the Beach Shanty for breakfast or lunch, it’s a nice, relatively inexpensive spot. Find it on Mandalay about six doors down from the Ron Jon Surf Shop. Good food, friendly wait staff.

The diamond, the media and other stuff:

6. Hiroshima quote - “We have a shared responsibility to look directly into the eye of history and ask what we must do differently to curb such suffering again” – our current President. What we must do differently in the future might be to not provoke a war by a sneak attack on an American military installation. Obama promised no apology at Hiroshima but came as close as you can without issuing one - no surprise.

7. Kudos to Evan Longoria who graciously but firmly told Ray’s broadcaster Brian Anderson he is all wet about a lack of leadership in the team’s clubhouse. Anderson, a second tier former pitcher and second tier analyst, seems to think every clubhouse needs someone who shouts, throws things etc. Not true – each clubhouse is different and the Rays are actually doing quite well given their level of talent.

8. Break up the Rays West (the Padres). Last week San Diego traded away former Rays James Loney and at this writing, is on the verge of dealing James Shields. The Rays connection aside, it’s very difficult to understand what in the world the Padres have been trying to accomplish over the past two years.

9. We very often quote the long overdue for a Pulitzer Prize 5:05 Newsletter. This week, a thought a friend passed along that he swears did not come from that publication (if not, it should have), “If I had a dollar for every girl that found me unattractive, they'd eventually find me attractive”.

10. Our Rants and Raves focus group (now expanded to four old, cranky people) lists an eclectic quartet of now defunct things they miss – Howard Johnson’s Corn Toasties, the Ford Thunderbird, Farm Stores and Tampa’s Golden Gate Speedway.

Maybe there should be a Pop Hall of Fame

First off, for those of you from the Midwest, we’re not referring to Upper 10, or Squirt or Royal Crown – what we called pop is soda here in Florida. Every year we keep gnashing our teeth over the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s exclusion of early Top 40 giants like Paul Anka, Neil Sedaka and, until a few years ago, Neil Diamond. But recently we were looking over some vinyl we inherited from WTAN Radio legend Scott Dilworth (Scotty’s Swingshift). He marked what we called rock and roll played on his show as “pop” on the record labels. So perhaps that’s what is needed, a separate hall dedicated to early Top 40 acts like those above and even include some folks who are in the “other” hall like Sam Cooke, Jackie Wilson, Floyd Cramer and the Drifters – the Sex Pistols and AC/DC need not apply. And while we’re at it, let’s include some folks who influenced those early rock pioneers – the Four Freshmen, with their influence on the great harmonies of the Beach Boys, are the first to come to mind. And let’s do it soon while some of these legends are still with us.

SNEEK PEEK AT NEXT WEEK – TIMES ONE MONTH LATER – NO CHANGE