The Philadelphia Story

We’re not talking about the 1940 movie which won Jimmy Stewart an Oscar. We’re talking about the ridiculous measure in Philadelphia to add a “sin tax” to the cost of a soda (whether containing sugar or not) purchased in the City of Brotherly Love - something like a penny and a half an ounce. The political machinations surrounding the legislation were brilliant with the mayor and his minions earmarking the tax money for things like playgrounds, Pre-K education and other motherhood and apple pie items. Of course what almost always happens is the money that would have normally been budgeted for these items finds its way to less noble government endeavors (see Florida Lottery/Education). One can only imagine the Fast Eddies of Philadelphia already plotting how to bring in bootleg soda from Jersey. And somewhere out there is the making of a revival TV series: The Untouchables – Pepsi Generation.

Around Tampa Bay

1. Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton calls for an end to US companies moving outside the country to avoid taxes. Meanwhile the poster child for such shenanigans, Burger King, remains a contributor to her foundation - wink, wink.

2. Last week’s Supreme Court decision affirms to the Obama White House that there are, indeed, three branches of government, not one. It also underlines a major reason to deny Hillary Clinton the White House.

3. Why is it important for us, the general public, to know the contents of conversations between law enforcement and the terrorist killer of 49 people in Orlando?

4. It’s a good idea to co-locate the libraries of the Clearwater campus of St. Petersburg College and the East Branch of the Clearwater Library. Usable public space will be slightly more than the current library. The project scheduled to open in early 2018 has been a long time coming having first been discussed in the late 1990s.

5. Albertina, Cola III, Daisy Mae, Doolie Brook, Flo-Jo and Princess. You’ve lived in Clearwater a long time if you remember these Clearwater-based charter boats from the 50s and 60s. The Daisy Mae still exists - now in its seventh generation. Bonus points if you remember their skippers – Paul Boggs, Eric Jansen, Jake Korte, Bob Bestle, Nick Lopez and Gene Spaulding.  

The diamond, the media and other stuff:

6. The fan balloting for the All-Star game is a joke. As this is written, KC’s Omar Infante is third in the AL balloting at second base. He was designated for assignment two weeks ago. And while we’re at it, let’s please end the craziness of this exhibition game determining home field advantage in the World Series.

7. Last in a series of sports first names that need no second name attached, this time from the NFL – Bart, Brett, Deacon, Deion, Franco and Vince.

8. Liberal blogs are making a big thing of Indianapolis’ WIBC radio dropping Rush Limbaugh’s show. Why? On the Friday Limbaugh’s run on one of Indy’s better stations ends, you can be sure he will be on the air at a station across town the following Monday.

9. Canadian singer/writer Bobby Curtola passed away last week. He was 73. Curtola had a couple medium hits in the 60s – the biggest being Fortuneteller. But his largest contributions to pop culture in the 60s were some of the classic Coca Cola jingles including – “Things Go Better with Coke”.

10. Twists and Turns: Paul Anka and Annette Funicello were an “item” in the late 1950s. Anka wrote a bevy of songs for her which resulted in an album Annette Sings Anka. On that 1960 album was a song It’s Really Love. Two years later, the words were stripped away and the song became the very familiar theme song for the long running Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.

Ichiro a great hitter but not the “hit king”

Much was made of the fact that Ichiro Suzuki surpassed Pete Rose’s major league record of 4256 hits when you combine Ichiro’s numbers in America and Japan. Rose’s record is a little sturdier than say Hank Aaron’s 755 homers – later surpassed by Barry Bonds. Many traditionalists say Bonds was "chemically aided”. But at least Bonds hit all of his dingers in the major leagues. Most baseball experts consider the Japanese majors, as well as Mexico’s, as a sort of AAAA league. Both have improved over the years but still fall short of America’s major leagues – particularly in the pitching department where their hurlers tend to be finesse pitchers rather than Nolan Ryan, Randy Johnson types. Ruling here – Pete continues to wear the somewhat tarnished crown.