TBRR is a weekly airing of national and local politics, sports and lifestyle items from a very politically incorrect viewpoint. As always, beware - certain accounts printed here should not be taken literally.

Biden or Trump – neither is Jimmy Carter

As more allegations of impropriety are thrust Joe Biden’s way, we can be assured we will not be electing a puritanical chief executive this November. Trump’s inappropriate behavior is legendary and apparently, Biden is no saint either. But does it matter? Americans, unfortunately, have become used to the foibles of their chief executives. In fact, it is probably easier to list the straight laced Presidents of the last century than those who strayed. We have Clinton, LBJ, JFK, FDR and Harding to name five Presidents who had confirmed affairs while in office and there are whispers about a few others. So, if you’re looking for Jimmy Carter, forget it and concentrate on things like the economy, national security and other things you value in a President.

Great Tampa Bay, politics and stuff:

1. Quote of the week: “Right now the officers feel like they can’t win. And I would have to agree with them.” From Tampa Police Chief Brian Dugan. And any rational citizen would agree with Chief Dugan.

2. Protesters who randomly are tearing down statues honoring war heroes need to learn a little history before they tear down statues of Ulysses Grant and other patriots.

3. The bay area counties face mask ordinances provide a two-pronged defense against corona virus. First, the obvious – masking helps reduce the spread of the virus and secondly, the masks are a pain. So you’ll rethink all but essential trips to businesses. The downside, of course, is the negative effect this will have on businesses that are just starting the recovery process.

4. Tarpons Springs’ initiative to buy a marina across from the sponge docks seriously fails the sniff test. The marina is being brokered by one of the city commissioners. Recusing yourself from the voting is not enough. You need to back out of the deal to make it seem clean.

5. Five years ago in TBRR (6/28/15): Item: former Tampa Police Chief Jane Castor has changed party affiliations from Republican to Democratic. Are we the only ones who were surprised Castor was not already a “D”?

Sports, media and other stuff:

6. Number of the week – 39 years. The number of years Pat Sajak has hosted Wheel of Fortune – the record for hosting game shows. Another Sajak fact – he replaced Adrian Cronauer on Armed Forces Radio’s Dawn Buster show in Vietnam – the radio show that was the focus of the movie Good Morning Vietnam.

7. We must take part of the blame for the financial troubles of the iconic Brooks Brothers chain. We think Bush II was in office the last time we wore one of their excellent dress shirts and ties – or any other shirt and tie.

8. We’re coming up on the biggest boating weekend of the year. If you’re a boater, and have not perused the site “Qualified Captain,” you need to. Some bad luck, but it mostly features folks you see on the water who make you shake your head or use foul language.

9. From the sometimes accurate 5:05 Newsletter: “ In Chicago, 60 people died last month from COVID19 related gunshot wounds. This means they will have to vote by mail in November”. Additional note: 5:05 Newsletter to move its offices as bars are forced to close.

10. The answer: Northeast High School alum Craig Lefferts. The question – who was the last pitcher to hit a walk-off homerun? He did it while playing for the San Diego Padres in 1986. Lefferts, a southpaw, also pitched for the Angels, Cubs, Giants, Orioles and Rangers in a 12-year career.

One giant *

(Editor’s note: our month-ending Remembering feature will resume next month)

Baseball traditionalists have shuddered over the years as one gimmick after another has been added to the game. It started in 1960 when a third major league was formed – the Continental League. It was short lived when major league baseball agreed to expand. Today, all but one of the proposed Continental League cities has a team – Buffalo being the exception. Expansion brought more games each season and the first asterisk – Roger Maris’ 61 home runs the first year of expansion. Ten years later came the abomination that is the designated hitter (1973 to be exact). The rule is being forced on National League teams this season without forewarning where they could have picked up one of the half-a-players who serve as hitters only. The only change that makes some sense is larger rosters as traditional spring training will not happen. The most ridiculous, by any measure, is starting extra innings with a runner on second base – something that shouts T-Ball league and was panned by 80 percent of Major League Trade Rumors readers. This 60-game, money grab season by players and owners is nothing more than one giant asterisk. We might as well bring back Barry Bonds, Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa and their traveling medicine show.

UP NEXT: New dictionary needed; Top Value; Linda Cohn

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