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: Selective memory

As we change the name of things or tear them down because of this or that grievance (most recently Fort Bragg), we point to the great state of New York which has streets and parks named after William Tryon, their treasonous governor during the Revolutionary War. His misdeeds are well chronicled in Brad Meltzer and Josh Mensch’s The First Conspiracy. It seems our memories are very selective as to what stays – Tryon who ineluctably tried to destroy our nation or Gen. Braxton Bragg, who distinguished himself in the Mexican War and the Seminole Wars, but made the mistake of accepting a commission in the Confederate Army.

Tampa Bay, politics and stuff:

It was an awful Father’s Day weekend with shootings everywhere – if you define everywhere as cities being run by liberal mayors.

Answer: Hawaii and Utah. The question: what two U.S. states prohibit any form of gambling?

Good things to have: a good IT person, a good attorney, a good Realtor, a good accountant and, most of all, a good spouse.

One of the largest recent retail growth spurts is in the sales of flip phones. Take that Joe and Tom!

For our June luncheon, three captains of industry we would like to break bread with – George Westinghouse, Jack Eckerd and Lee Iacocca.

This week in 1944 (June 27) Cherbourg, France is liberated by the Allies.

Sports, media and other stuff:

Folks who are only casual golf fans have to admit that, before last weekend, they thought Wyndham Clark was a hotel chain.

Four – the number of the first five draftees in last week’s NBA draft who did not come from a college program. Analysts say this won’t be the last time.

The 5:05 Newsletter weighs in on the latest Biden-like Dodger moment. In the interest of equal time, next week the Los Angeles Dodgers will outrage Episcopalians by serving red wine with fish.

It’s Bobby Bonilla Week – the week (July 1, specifically) the Mets send a $1 million check to the former infielder/outfielder who last laced them up in 1999. The final payment on his contract is due in 2035 – only the Mets!

It’s also Rookie of the Year Week for the Rays on their western swing. In Seattle, they will see last year’s AL winner Julio Rodriguez, then this year’s likely NL ROY, the Diamondback’s star outfielder Corbin Carroll.

Pat Sajak will retire from Wheel of Fortune after next season. A few early names are being tossed around – Ryan Seacrest, perhaps a little over exposed, and Whoopi Goldberg. Should she get the gig, the next sound you would hear would be tens of thousands of remotes going “click.”

You’ve lived in Clearwater a long time if you remember watching one of artist Roger Bansemer’s hot air balloons soaring above the city in the 70s and 80s.

…and another thing: baseball at mid-season

First, it just doesn’t get any better than this. Last Saturday, 8-year minor leaguer Zack Remillard gets his first major league action. After a walk, his next at bat produces his first major league hit; the next drives in the tying run and his third hit drives in the winning run for the White Sox. Talk about a dream day! Yes, it is statistically possible to win a division with a losing record – see the American League Central. Meanwhile, you would need a three-sided coin to flip for MLB’s most disappointing team (all in the NL) among the Cards, Mets or Padres with honorable mention to Cleveland and the Phils. Could the Rays sweep the Cy Young and MVP awards? With Shane McClanahan and Randy Arozarena, it’s entirely possible. In the National League, Ronald Acuna, Jr. has been the MVP from the first pitch. On the pitching side, right now it’s a two-way battle between Cubs teammates Marcus Stroman and Justin Steele. Raise your hand if you had the young, surging Cincinnati Reds battling for a playoff spot. If the season ended right now, eight of the 12 teams in the playoffs weren’t there last year - more next month.

UP NEXT: Egos or the White House; John & Paul; Those predictions

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