Tampa Bay Raves and Rants is a weekly airing of national and local politics, sports, lifestyles and nostalgia items from a very politically incorrect viewpoint. As always, beware - much of what is printed here should not be taken literally.

This year’s All-Star game even more of a joke

We’re not quite sure this is what Chicago sports writer Arch Ward had in mind when he promoted the first major league All-Star game in 1933 at Comiskey Park as part of Chicago’s World’s Fair celebration. The event slated to be a “one and done” event proved so popular that it became an annual event – with exceptions in the final year of World War II and last year’s COVID cancellation. The game has had its ups and downs – like the years with two All-Star games (1959-62), the “Bud Selig Rule” – the winning team would have World Series home field advantage despite the fact the league’s best players often weren’t on the field. This came after a ridiculous tie game in 2002 – also during the Selig regime. This year marks the nadir of All-Star machinations with baseball commissioner and Biden crony Rob Manfred pulling the game away from Atlanta and relocating it to ultra-liberal Colorado with its recreational grass, anti-law enforcement policies and gay governor. We won’t be watching, although in the spirit of Democratic politics, we voted for every Atlanta Brave (with the notable exception of Marcell Ozuna) on the All-Star ballot as many times as we could.

Great Tampa Bay, politics and stuff:

And from the equal opportunity offenders at the 5:05 Newsletter: Only in America could moving a baseball all-star game from a city that is 51% Black to a city that is 7% Black be seen as a civil rights triumph.

Hey Joe, how many times are you going to tell Russia, “now don’t cyberattack us again!”

Number of the week: $818 million – that’s the amount of money each federal holiday costs us – the U.S. taxpayer. And that does not include the military or the post office. With addition of Juneteenth, we now have 11 such holidays. Allow us to do the math - that’s just shy of $9 billion.

Somewhere, there is a very opportunistic printer cranking out thousands and thousands of bumper stickers proclaiming “Don’t blame me, I didn’t vote for the guy.” That printer will be one of the few who prosper under a Biden reign.

With a bow to the date of this issue (7-11), you’ve lived in the bay area a long time if you remember long since gone convenience stores like Pick-Kwik and Tom Thumb along with grocery stores like Kash and Karry, Food Fair and Pantry Pride.

Sports, media and lighter stuff:

America’s love story: Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter celebrated 75 years of marriage last week.

Did you see the picture of Jay-Z and his three million dollar watch? How about a Timex with the rest of the money going to people in need? See the couple directly above for an example of how it’s done.

Yo, Bay News Nine, we have a storm bearing down on the bay area and instead of “weather on the nines,” we get “Who Cares with Allison Walker?”

Media note: Meghan McCain to leave The View. Our question: why was she ever a part of that circus?

Here’s another spinoff from the ridiculous runner on second rule in the major leagues. A reliever can enter the top of the inning, get three straight outs and still be charged with a blown save or a loss. Where is the logic in that?

The LA Dodgers need help – not on the field but in the clubhouse. This year Trevor Bauer is accused of domestic violence. His teammate Julio Urias served a 20-game suspension after similar accusations. And with all this facing Bauer, LA manager Dave Roberts was prepared to start him last Sunday until MLB stepped in. What was Roberts thinking?

Passing the baton

Permit us to wax a little philosophical this week. We ask you to remember, when as a younger person, you were asked to take on a very responsible task – leading an organization, becoming an elder at church or taking a giant step in your professional path. Chances are good you were a little overwhelmed. The reason this task and honor was thrust upon you was that someone else, usually someone older, had “passed the baton.” Now later in life, you might find it uncomfortable to say no to a new task or to continue with a long term obligation. Leanne Jackson, writing in Daily Guideposts puts it this way, “Your life is not a marathon; it’s a relay. You carry the baton for a while, and then pass it to the next person. You aren’t intended to carry it forever.” Good advice and a great opportunity for someone new to be blessed with an honor and challenge in their life, just as you were.

UP NEXT: Voting 101; A good investment; Brown Derby

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Way to go Bolts!