As is the custom this year (see back story in Jan. 1 Rants), we open with a dining suggestion – no, these are not paid plugs – not that we would be above that. This week, rather than a meal – a late night treat. It’s hard to beat the many flavors of Blizzards at DQ on Gulf to Bay Blvd, the north end of Clearwater Beach or other locales.

Another large slice of Americana gone

For a family on Florida’s Suncoast, it went like this: Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s Eve and Day and a few days later, on to the Bayfront Center for the Ringling Brothers circus. The Bayfront Center has been gone for over ten years, but the circus lived on until the startling news recently that it was closing down in just a few months. Changing attitudes, a lengthy suit by animal rights advocates (in which the circus prevailed) and escalating costs have robbed our next generation of something so integral to growing up in America.

Tampa Bay, politics and stuff:

1. Related to our lead story, one of the animal activists seemed rather pleased to take credit for her organization putting about 500 people out of work. May your household be visited by the same plague, madam.

2. Liberal editorialists bemoaned the fact that Donald Trump’s inaugural speech didn’t sound like that of his predecessors. Hello! The electorate spoke loudly that they didn’t want a clone of Trump’s predecessors.

3. A lot of folks seemed impressed by the number of people who showed up for Washington’s women’s march. Much more impressive is the number of women (and men) who could not choose whether to show up because their lives were ended prematurely by abortionists.

4. In a related note, it’s estimated that at least 20 percent of we the electorate based our presidential vote on the current (and coming) vacancies at the Supreme Court. This week comes the moment of truth as President Trump announces his nominee. The individual needs to be conservative and able to be confirmed by the Senate – a tall order.

5. You’ve lived in the bay area a long time if you woke up in the morning to guys like Paul Hayes (WSUN), Scott Farrell (WFLA), Rick Morgan (WDAE), Harry Lytle (WTAN) or Jim Stanley (WLCY).

The diamond, the media and other stuff:

6. She was the consummate girl next door – America’s sweetheart. With a shadow of a tear, we say goodbye to Mary Tyler Moore, age 80.

7. In addition to our dismay at Lee Smith again being rejected by Hall of Fame (RANTS – last week) voters, we were stunned that Yankee catcher Jorge Posada did not generate the required five per cent to stay on the ballot. The six time All-Star was one of the two or three best catchers of his era and while not a sure thing in our eyes, drawing less than five percent is an out and out insult to a fine career.

8. We were slow getting around to this book (it was a best seller in 2015), but if you are a 20^th century history enthusiast, get a copy of Erik Larsen’s Dead Wake. It’s an outstanding account of the sinking of the Lusitania which proceeded the U.S. entry into World War I and one of a dozen or so most outstanding history books we’ve encountered.

9. As our dear, sweet daughter would remind you, a significant day is just two weeks away – February 14. In her mind, it has nothing to do with Valentine’s Day. It’s the day pitchers and catchers report – proving she was raised well.

10. Our Rants and Raves focus group (comprised of four, old, cranky people) have selected their most annoying words or phrases in the English language. They are “you know”, “whatever”, “it is what it is” and “quick question” (they’re never quick and they are never singular).

USF’s Antiqua gone; is Harlan next?

A little less than three years ago (RANTS – May 4, 2014), we welcomed Mark Harlan as USF’s new athletic director. Most of us looked the other way when he stumbled badly on his first major hire – basketball coach Steve Masiello who, unfortunately, did not have a college degree despite a resume that indicated otherwise. The subsequent hire, Orlando Antiqua, was excused from his duties earlier this month. Now it would seem USF has made a good hire in Charlie Strong to helm the football program. Strong had better pan out and the basketball hire also needs to be good or the next vacancy in the athletic department may be the AD position.

SNEAK PEEK AT NEXT WEEK – THE PSTA’S SOLID IDEA