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: What the Rays haven’t learned in three decades

The lesson is simple, you can’t easily get there from here –whether here is Tampa, our major population center, Upper Pinellas or Pasco. Yet this past week, the Rays announced they will build a new stadium at the site of the failed stadium. The original location was the result of some political scheming that would make a Chicago politician blush. In over three decades since the Trop went up, it has gotten only harder to get to south St. Pete. And just like in 1998, we don’t see mass transit stepping up to make the commute easier. We would also quibble with another fixed dome as opposed to retractable domes seen in virtually all locales with weather issues, but the overriding problem is, in the words of Albert Einstein: “Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.”

Tampa Bay, politics and stuff:

For years, we have enjoyed breakfasts at the Largo Family Restaurant. What made it so enjoyable was being not served, but spoiled, by Kim Deister. We are sad to report Kim’s passing last weekend. Breakfast will never be the same.

Keep an eye on Hyundai’s rapid expansion in America – particularly the South. The automaker (Hyundai, Genesis and Kia) is not unionized. That, naturally, does not sit well with the auto unions.

Factoid: Over 60% of mortgages in America are under 4%. With the current rate pushing 7.25%, you can understand why the mortgage biz is stagnant.

The IRS says it wants to become paperless by 2025. More than a few Americans would like to see the nation become IRS-less by 2025. The agency has become more and more a political tool over the years.

Retail fact shared by our friend TL, Wrigley’s gum was the first product to have a bar code.

Idle question(s): Why can’t one of the mustard companies come up with a container that spreads the product evenly on your hotdog? And what ever happened to the old fashioned French’s mustard jar?

This week in 1941(September 27) Ted Williams ends the baseball season with a .406 batting average, the last player to hit over.400 in a full season.

Sports, media and other stuff:

Durham Town, The Last Farewell and New World in the Morning were just three of the smooth offerings of Roger Whittaker. The Kenyan native with a rich voice died last week at age 87.

Random thought: We don’t think America needs two NFL games on Monday night.

Surely, there are better football teams in the country than Deion Sanders’ Colorado Buffaloes, but none more exciting.

Most coaches will tell you there is no such thing as a “moral victory,” but USF’s 17-3 loss to the Crimson Tide comes close – or is Alabama really that bad? The Bulls go to single digits – ranked #96 up from 112 of the 133 Division I teams.

With the season winding down, we can expect changes in the Yankees’, Padres’ and perhaps Giants and Mets’ dugouts for 2024. And we are to believe there won’t be one in St. Louis – amazing.

Saw a headline on MLB.com a few weeks back. It read “Every MLB stadium ranked from worst to first.” Didn’t need to read any further to learn which was worst. Top two? They were Fenway and Wrigley, both, frankly, overrated, ask any ballplayer.

September 25 is One Hit Wonder Day and we celebrate by going back to the 50s and Gogi Grant (The Wayward Wind) and The Elegants (Little Star). In the 1960s, we had Little Eva (The Locomotion, written by the couple she babysat for – Carole King and Gerry Goffin) plus Lorne Green (yes, that Lorne Green) with Ringo. And the 70s gave us The Starland Vocal Band (Afternoon Delight) and Debby Boone (You Light up My Life). Debby’s dad, Pat, was a bit more successful with 60 chart hits including six number ones.

Related note from the 5:05 Newsletter: I wonder if the guy who coined the term “One Hit Wonder” ever came up with any other phrases?

Speaking of one-hit wonders, you’ve lived in the bay area a long time if you remember Pat Scot and the Impacs. Their local hit Lost Love can now be found on iTunes if you want to relive some of your youth.

…and another thing: Attack on a Florida institution

The little high school journalism dropout who writes a column in our local left wing bi-weekly decided to attack Publix recently. For long time Floridians, which she obviously isn’t, that is tantamount to attacking the American flag. A suggestion to our fledgling scribe – if you don’t like Publix, there are, and will be even more, German-based Aldi stores in which to shop. Just bring your quarters for the shopping carts; money for bags and while you’re there, buy a lot of soap and disinfectant.

NEXT UP: Rob & Laura; The playoffs; Car insurance rates skyrocket

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