TOP OF THE WEEK:

After the NFL having its “season in the sun” during the fall with Rice, Goodell and company, the spotlight this spring shines brightly on NASCAR. The organization has spent millions on creature comforts at aging Daytona International Speedway but fails to install basic safety devices that resulted in a serious injury to star driver Kyle Busch. Meanwhile, Kyle’s brother, Kurt, goes all Ray Rice on us and is understandably banned for the foreseeable future. But NASCAR plods along installing gimmicky things like its new qualifying procedures that resulted in several wrecked cars before a race was even run. The France family may have been the right stuff for auto racing in the sixties – not so sure about their leadership in our new century.

AROUND THE BAY:

1. Well said: “Elections matter” - MaryEllen Elia’s comment during a toast to her by Hillsborough County leaders. Let’s hope the Hillsborough County electorate doesn’t forget that during the next couple election cycles.

2. Walmart employees in the bay area and elsewhere are scheduled for a modest pay raise soon. We scoff at the low wages America’s largest private employer pays, yet we flock there for seemingly low prices. It’s the same with those of us who scream “Buy American” but wear clothes made in Sri Lanka while we drive our Toyota down the road. You can’t have it both ways.

3. Item: Publix tumbles from atop the customer satisfaction pyramid of grocery stores. Based on visits to three different stores over the past couple weeks (total of six visits), can’t say as we’re surprised. Meanwhile, persistent rumors of Kroger entering the Florida market persist.

4. Unsuccessful Attorney General candidate George Sheldon has taken a job in Illinois. So, can we now say for sure this time he is not a resident of Florida?

5. You have lived in Clearwater a long while if you remember the jazz concerts in the pre-sci-ti Fort Harrison Hotel sponsored by WAZE radio and featuring legends like Woody Herman, Stan Kenton and the Four Freshmen. Those concerts were captured on tape by WAZE’s Ron Hitchcock, and you can still find them at www. hitchcock-media.com.

THE DIAMOND, THE MEDIA AND OTHER STUFF:

6. News Flash from the Sports World: Former Ray B.J. Upton has informed everyone he wishes to be referred to as Melvin Upton, Jr. from now on. We’re sure the name change will help lift the .198 batting average he’s posted since leaving the Rays two years ago. But now he’s out for two months with a foot injury. Can you say Wally Pipp?

7. Factoid: 100 years ago, the tallest structure in the world was the Eiffel Tower.

8. Another gem borrowed from the 5:05 newsletter: “Slow down Harper Lee! I’m only halfway through the first one”!

9. We criticized Bay News Nine awhile back for their scant weather coverage at the top and bottom of the hour. But we should also mention the very comfortable feeling you get when

Diane Kacmarik delivers the forecast. Most of the channel’s forecasters are good, but she is a pro who has consistently stood out during her 11 years with Bay News Nine.

10. Baseball lost one of its best last week when 32-year veteran umpire Tim McClelland retired. Best known for his role in the George Brett pine tar incident, McClelland was a steady presence on the diamond until back problems forced him to sit out last year and eventually retire. There should be a spot on the wall awaiting him in Cooperstown in the near future.

IN CLOSING:

It’s more than a year and counting and Clearwater’s Marina still looks like a war zone. With spring break here, folks will be greeted by scaffolds, stumps where palm trees used to be and even less parking than ever. Oh, did we mention no diner where visitors and residents have been able to enjoy a breakfast or burger since the 50s? This is just a mess and what do we get for our trouble? Another Mexican restaurant that will someday open; a diner moved from one end of the marina to the other that will someday open and one gift shop replacing another. And lest we forget, we lost the one unique shop in the marina – Capt. Bruce Littler’s nautical themed store and the beach’s only post office. This is progress? Hardly.