Clearwater loses one of its greatest characters – the Can Man

Every community has its share of good old fashioned characters (a term we use only in the most positive way). In Clearwater, Largo and environs, there have been people like the long time street preacher at the west edge of Cleveland Plaza; “Skater Dude” who entertains folks at the foot of the Memorial Causeway and elsewhere; and then there was the “Can Man”. Most people didn’t know David Rulison’s real name. He was either the “Can Man” or “Capt. Can”. David was a presence at the Clearwater Marina every night for a couple decades collecting aluminum cans from the fishing fleet when they returned from their day on the gulf and recycling them. He was very proud that his recycling had bought him several trucks over the years. David also had a day job – first with Morton Plant Hospital and more recently at the Sheraton Sand Key. But every night when he finished what was usually an eight hour day, he would head to the Marina for another two or three hours. David passed away last week at age 73, and Clearwater and the environment are a little worse off with his passing.

Around the bay:

1. Item: State of Florida to receive over three billion dollars from BP – the bay area well over thirty million. Spend it wisely.

2. “Florida’s best newspaper” recently took issue with Florida DOT’s heavy handed tactics that threaten to affect an area of Tampa Heights. Yet months earlier, they were strangely silent when the same heavy handedness threatened a job-creating shopping center in Pasco County (RANTS, 11/2/14). Regardless, the bureaucrats at DOT need much better oversight.

3. We mentioned the site “You know you grew up in old Clearwater” a few weeks ago prompting a couple inquiries. You apparently have to be on Facebook to access it – the only reason we’re on Facebook. But it’s a great site full of pictures and artifacts of the city in which many of us grew up. Ninety nine per cent of the posters are folks who, probably like you, cherish the memories of our city. The other one per cent, including the “Don’t post anything that offends me” lady, you can ignore.

4. A few weeks ago (RANTS, June 7) we tipped our cap to the Clearwater Gazette for their excellent articles on Clearwater’s birthday. Another publication, we would recommend is the Clearwater Beach Neighborhood News and their multi-part History of Clearwater. It’s now in its third installment and previous installments can be picked up on line.

5. Three more things we really miss: the Clearwater Beach Hotel, Aunt Hattie’s and the Philly Hoagie Shop.

The diamond, the media and other stuff:

6. Doesn’t seem like it, but it was 10 years ago this month that the last Ford Thunderbird rolled off the assembly line. The T-Bird was one of America’s truly iconic cars – particularly the 1955-57 and 2002-05 two-seaters.

7. A related note “borrowed” from a recent 5:05 newsletter: “BMW’s new Deluxe 7 Series will allow drivers to simply press a button on their key fob to make the car park itself. And because it's an expensive BMW, it will park itself across two spaces”.

8. Factoid: Bobby Bonilla just received a check for $1.19 million dollars from the New York Mets and will do so through 2035. He retired in 2001. Not to be outdone, Bruce Sutter just cashed his annual $1.12 million dollar check from the Atlanta Braves and will do so through 2021. Sutter retired in 1986!

9. A couple All-Star game thoughts. MLB Network’s Harold Reynolds has it right calling for a utility player much like former Ray, Ben Zobrist, to be named to each squad. And speaking of former Rays, how can you be fourth in hitting in your league, as is Yunel Escobar, and not get an All-Star spot?

10. Fifty years ago this week, riding the top of the charts in America was a song, which legend has it, was written at the pre-cult Fort Harrison Hotel in Clearwater – the Stone’s (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction – the biggest hit of 1965.

More I-95 sports nonsense

There is a kid named Matz who has pitched less than a half-dozen games for those darlings of I-95, the Mets. Already some commentators, with a straight face, are comparing him to Babe Ruth and the rotation he is part of to the 50’s Indians, the 70’s Athletics or the 90’s Braves. The Mets rotation, in fact, isn’t the best in baseball; isn’t the best in the National League or even the best in their division but they play in New York! The Cardinals, the A’s, the Pirates, our Rays, the Dodgers and the Cubs all have better rotations by every statistical measure but none reside along I-95. Oh, and as of this writing, the overhyped Mets are a game over .500 and have a ways to go to match up with their press clippings.