Continuing our dining suggestions (back story in Jan. 1 Rants) we open this week with a BBQ suggestion at one of the best such joints south of eastern Carolina. The Ozona Pig off Alternate 19 is a little hard to find but well worth the search. Good pork and a way too tempting peach cobbler. Closed on Sundays.

The devil’s in the details regarding medical pot

“It is incumbent on the qualified ordering physician to follow the law when diagnosing patients and determining if medical marijuana is an appropriate treatment”. That pronouncement came from the Florida Department of Health. Pretty much the same language exists for other narcotics, and we all know how well that has worked out over the years in the Sunshine State with folks flowing across state borders to see their friendly physician, some in downtown Clearwater, for their drug of choice. Florida’s oversight better be pretty specific and pretty strict with offending physicians otherwise, it will be Alice’s Restaurant.

Tampa Bay, politics and stuff:

1. Here’s a thought regarding the anticipated pot-related epidemic in Florida. In exchange for the privilege of using medical marijuana, you forfeit your driving privileges thereby protecting the rest of us on the road. Hey, if you’re that “sick”, you probably should not be behind the wheel of a car anyway.

2. Post inaugural factoid: U.S. Rep John Lewis of Georgia made a big thing of skipping the inauguration of Donald Trump along with several other left wing legislators. It isn’t the first time for the congressman who has skipped others. This seems to be less principled than just being a sore loser when things don’t go your way. By the way, only two of the boycotters are from Florida – Rep. Alcee Hastings who is somewhat to the left of the Castro brothers and freshman Rep. Darren Soto, who may still be trying to find his seat rather than actually boycotting the event.

3. In a related note, it has been asked more than once over the past week: “What would have been the media reaction if an equal amount of GOP legislators had boycotted the original Obama inauguration”? As one pundit correctly opined, “Their heads would have blown off”.

4. Congratulations to former Pinellas County commissioner Steve Seibert selected as executive director of the Florida Humanities Council – the latest step in his life of service to this county and this state.

5. You’ve lived in the bay area a long time if you owned a Blue Boy power mower made by P & E Machinery in Largo. They were virtually indestructible.

The diamond, the media and other stuff:

6. A tip of our baseball cap to Jeff Bagwell, Tim Raines and Ivan Rodriguez on their election to Cooperstown. All three were on our very unofficial ballot a couple weeks back (RANTS – Jan. 8). We still can’t understand the voters’ reluctance on Lee Smith, one of the four or five most dominant closers in history. This ballot was Smith’s 15^th and final appearance – a shame.

7. Spring training news – Braves to move from Disney World to North Port. It could have been St. Pete – thanks, Rays.

8. Every year Tampa Bay’s most successful coach, Jon Gruden, is the subject of a coaching rumor. This year it was the Indianapolis Colts. The rumor went nowhere – good for Jon and good for us the viewers.

9. This just in from the 5:05 Newsletter: Note: To all the foreign countries that contributed to the Clinton Foundation: There will not be a rebate.

10. Just what is the point of Fox Network’s Red Eye? For a network that does a good job of counterbalancing outlets like NBC and CNN, the show is an embarrassment.

Sports voices we’ll never forget

There was a piece in the news the first of the month about 88-year-old Keith Jackson. First, we were shocked that Jackson was 88 and then self-persuaded to write this piece about the five voices in sports that will remain with us always. Jackson was the preeminent college football announcer. It wasn’t a Saturday afternoon without his voice booming into your living room. Prior to Jackson, there was Lindsey Nelson – every bit as identifiable as Keith. In football and baseball and probably six other sports, there was Curt Gowdy. In the sixties and seventies, a sport wasn’t worth watching unless Gowdy had a role in it – such a pro and so versatile. Last fall (RANTS – Oct. 9, 2016), we did a piece on the gold standard of baseball broadcasters – Vin Scully. You didn’t have to be a Dodger fan to love Vin Scully. I guess you did have to be a Braves’ fan to enjoy Skip Caray; his acerbic way and repartee with fellow announcers Don Sutton, Pete van Wieran and Joe Simpson made watching the often awful Braves a pure joy. We can still hear and cherish all five of those voices.

SNEAK PEEK AT NEXT WEEK – A SLICE OF AMERICANA GONE