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

Leading off: So long Amazon Smile

Launched in 2013, the Amazon Smile program had a good run until the cancel culture got the on-line giant’s attention. Seems some way left of center groups, primarily the Southern Poverty Law Center, had issues with Amazon donating to some Christian non-profits even though the recipients are chosen by Amazon’s customers. Amazon says they will replace Smile with other initiatives saying, “with so many eligible organizations—more than 1 million globally—our ability to have an impact was often spread too thin.” That depends on your perspective. The small non-profit we designated, which deals with care for animals, gets about $1000 per quarter from the program. To them, that’s a lot of money. If you had a favorite charity you supported through Amazon Smile, you might join us with a resolve to eliminate two or three discretionary purchases a year from Amazon and send those funds to your favorite charity.

Tampa Bay, politics and stuff:

Related to our lead article, let us at least thank Amazon for their well-intended 10-year program until the cancel culture muddied things up. Also, there is a superb article by columnist and TV commentator Salena Zito that delves further into how Amazon’s decision adversely affects local communities.

The Biden administration claims all three Chinese flying objects shot down in the last month, “served commercial purposes and were not used for spying.” Pardon us Joe if we don’t believe you.

Florida’s Democratic Party got its nose thoroughly bloodied in last year’s mid-terms. Now, Nikki Fried wants to head the party and lead them to the promised land. Yeah, that should work.

That’s one down several to go, left wing Senator Diane Feinstein has announced she will not seek re-election in 2024 when she would be 91 years old. There are several other geriatrics in Congress who need to make the same decision.

If you read the distortion of facts regarding an abortion clinic in our local newspaper on last Sunday’s front page, you understand why the left-wing mouthpiece is circling the drain - much more on this next week.

Breaking news: Biden skips traditional Super Bowl interview, opts for slow pitch softball game.

This month’s luncheon date: February is the month of love – and infatuation. Three teen heartthrobs with whom we would like to dine, with our wife’s permission of course: Eleanor Donohue, Shelley Fabares and Katherine Ross.

Economic News from the 5:05 Newsletter: I got the feeling inflation was getting out of hand today at the 99 Dollar Store.

This week in 1959 (Feb. 22), the first ever Daytona 500 is run. Lee Petty is declared the winner in a controversial finish. Among the contestants is future Dunedin resident and builder, Ken Marriott.

Sports, media and other stuff:

After an endless day of pre-game shows, the Super Bowl is scheduled for 6:30. Actual kickoff 6:44. Just saying.

With spring training games about to begin this week, there will be ten new permanent major league umps with an equal amount stepping down after careers of 20 years or more including stalwarts like Tim Welke, Greg Gibson, Tom Hallion plus the immortal Sam Holbrook who gave us the never to be forgotten outfield fly rule.

Music trivia: Dionne Warwick was known as the vehicle for Burt Bacharach-Hal David songs, charting over 20 songs in the 1960s. But her biggest song of that decade was written by pianist Andre Previn – Valley of the Dolls.

Bally, the network that carries the Rays and Marlins games plus 12 other MLB teams plus the Lightning, is on the edge of Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Will it affect viewers short term (this season)? No, but most likely in the future.

You’ve lived in the bay area (or anywhere else) for a long time if the now average new car price, $49,500, was what you paid for your first 3-4 bedroom home.

…and another thing: baseball’s best analyst

It was spring 1981 and with veteran news director and talk show host Dennis Crandall, we were slated for a two-hour show with recently retired Phillie catcher and rookie baseball analyst Tim McCarver. We went into the interview thinking “another ex-jock who will phone it in from the broadcast booth.” Left the interview in awe. Never had we encountered someone so well prepared. And that was Tim McCarver for the next 32 years as a baseball analyst with the Phils, Mets and Cards as well as part of the high profile team with Jack Buck on CBS. He later teamed with Buck’s son on Fox who, frankly, McCarver carried. With Tim’s passing at age 81, baseball has lost a gem.

NEXT UP: Times hits new low; Sale of the Phils; AT&T

021923

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