Established in 2014 and published every Sunday, Tampa Bay Rants and Raves is a weekly airing of local and national news, politics, sports and historical notes from a politically incorrect viewpoint.

First thing on our mind:

Democrats will probably want to drop the word “weird” from their future election campaigns.

Leading off: The Green Bay model

Poor little rich boys eventually get tired of their sports franchises, just as they trade in their out of date Rolex. The sale of the Lightning last month by Jeff Vinik brings in a set of faceless billionaires who care less about their local fans – except, of course, how many t-shirts and pennants they purchase. Up to the north and west of us is a franchise that has won more Super bowls than all but four other teams despite playing in the smallest market in the NFL. The Green Bay Packers are community owned and more communities should look to that model rather than having their teams sneak off to Las Vegas, Baltimore and who knows where next. Oakland tried, but started too late with the Athletics. Maybe the other “bay” Tampa Bay ought to look into making our other two franchises truly part of the community.

Tampa Bay, politics and notes:

We send condolences to our long time acquaintance Greg McClimans on the passing of his lovely wife, Rebecca last week.

Tis the season. Make a stop (or two) at one of those red kettles in the next few weeks. You’ll be funding one of the best charitable organizations on the planet.

From the just completed Black Friday, compliments of our friend TL, the store that does the most business on Black Friday, surprisingly, is Home Depot.

Factoid: The average lifespan of a dollar bill is 18 months. The average coin lasts approximately 30 years.

Answer: No. The question: Is Macy’s open the day of the parade?

Christmas query from the 5:05 Newsletter: Is it a bad sign when Santa Claus unfriends you on Facebook? Asking for a friend.

This week in 1991 (Dec. 4): The end of an era as Pan American World Airways ceases operations after 64 years.

Sports, media and other notes:

Will there ever be another college football game like last Friday’s 8 overtime battle between Georgia and Georgia Tech?

Yo Stu (Sternberg), while you’re fretting about your new stadium, there are thousands in the bay area without a roof over their heads. If you care to play the relocation card, the majority of bay area residents would probably say something in reference to a door and your rear end.

Just some suggestions for the Rays from popular culture: The Nashville Cats, The Charlotte Webs and the San Antonio Strollers – a nod to the 1975 Tanya Tucker hit.

In the most recent Athletic 134, Miami rests at #11 (10 in the AP Poll). Other state schools – Florida up to 33 after two solid wins; UCF stagnant at 68; same for USF and FSU at 100 and 103 respectively; FIU is at 121 and FAU at 130. Kent State at 134 has one more chance (Buffalo) to notch a win this season.

For the first time in a very long time, the ACC kicks off the basketball season without a head coach who has won a national championship after the retirement of Virginia’s Tony Bennett in October.

There’s a lot of talk about bringing NBA basketball back to Seattle. There’s also a lot of people, outside of Seattle obviously, who didn’t know the NBA had left Seattle 16 years ago!

More changing places: Barnes & Noble abandons its Carrollwood location and is relocating in an old Bed, Bath & Beyond location a few miles down the road while the old bookstore will become a BayCare urgent care center.

Topping the charts fifty years ago this week was Carl Douglas’ Kung Fu Fighting. Ten years earlier, it was the Shangri-las’ Leader of the Pack.

Idle thought: We’re at that point of life when aging has turned from a slow process into an outright sprint. With thanks to Jacqueline Wheelock

.

One last thing: Focus group on holiday food

The reason for New Year’s resolutions is the 30-some day period in which we now live – the holidays.

We asked our esteemed Focus Group members this question. “It wouldn’t be the holidays without this food item.”

Our leadoff hitter, a daughter of the South, answered promptly with Southern corn bread dressing.

Batting number two, another member went with a Southern version of eggnog, Tennessee boiled custard – his preference is unadulterated.

Another member recalling a year when travel plans called for no leftovers and thus not a full bird, must have “a turkey with bones.”

Channeling that thought, our newest focus group member replies, “It wouldn’t be the holidays without leftover turkey and sides for days.”

And what would the holidays be without pumpkin pie asks our Palm Harbor Focus Group member.

Pie also is at the top of our westernmost group member's list. But, for her it’s her Mom’s Apple Pie recipe which she has now successfully replicated.

Another focus group member replies, “Peppermint Stick ice cream is a must!! My favorite ever since I was a little girl.”

And our northernmost member voted for his family’s Christmas Morning Breakfast Casserole.  

A bunch of great suggestions and reasons to open up Dr. Atkins’ book come Jan 1.

UP NEXT: The Showboat; Fruitcake; $40 million boondoggle

120124/556

Sorry, time does not permit replies to comments.