* Moonstruck. For once the adjective “awesome” wasn’t misapplied to the mundane (“Those were some awesome turnips.” “Your boxers are, like, awesome.” Etc.) A network (NBC) news item on the recent “supermoon” perigee included some telescopic voyeurs expressing gut reactions. “Awesome,” indeed.
* Could we please have a moratorium on all local media sorts who insist on referencing Ed Turancik as the erstwhile “Commissioner Choo-Choo.” It’s trite. It’s sophomoric. It’s not fair to Turancik, who’s still, alas, ahead of his time on transportation around here.
* It may go nowhere, but why not at least consider the long-shot possibility of Hillsborough and Pinellas truly working outside the enlightened-regional-self-interest box when it comes to the Port of Tampa and a facility to house the Tampa Bay Rays? Within a few years, the Port will be unable to accommodate the largest cruise ships, which won’t fit through the 182.5 feet available under the Sunshine Skyway Bridge. A possible cruise port could conceivably be based near Fort DeSoto Park–and Pinellas visitor amenities. Reciprocity could involve the Rays, who would arguably draw better in this asymmetrical market with a modern facility in the hub of the Tampa Bay region–which is Tampa.
“Pinellas and Hillsborough could work together to grow two industries, baseball and cruise ships, that appear to be stymied today,” points out Hillsborough County Commissioner Victor Crist.
Surprisingly, the Tampa Bay Times, after editorially acknowledging the merits of regional creativity, then waxed all silly and smart ass on a swap scenario. Maybe St. Pete could trade the Honda Grand Prix for Tampa’s monster truck events? Or U.S. 19 for Dale Mabry Highway? Or the Salvador Dali Museum for the Gasparilla Parade. Or an unwanted pier for some food trucks?
And as long we’re taking the low regional road, why not swap the Times for the Tampa Tribune? Or is that not funny enough?