I could have told you...and I did

Three weeks ago I wrote about Patrick Kane the 20 something Chicago hockey player who beat up on the 50 something cab driver, in Buffalo.

I had said we should all feel sorry for Mr Kane as he was about to become a victim of probation, well you can stop singing sad songs for him, his high priced mouth piece got the charges reduced to disorderly conduct, that is an insult.

Wait it gets better, all he has to do is write a letter of apology to the cab driver, no talk about paying for hes medical bill's, his glasses or heaven help us the man's lost wages, all this scum bag could say he was looking to put this all behind him and he looks forward to moving on.

What makes this even crazier is nearly all the comments on Chicago based WGN.com was pro Kane, go figure and lets be safe out there.

Tampa Bay Rays/Tipping

Let us first talk about the Rays. The bull pin let the team down again. Nieman had pitched 7 great innings. He left with a 3-1 lead. Granted the relief corps did it yesterday but more oftain than not they have messed up a nice game. They traded Kazmir for who I can't find out. They have 17 very important games coming up with New York, Bostan and Detroit again. I notice Upton got two hits today, whoppee. The way he runs out grounders or long fly balls Billy Martin, rest his soul, whould have his ass. I recall a quote from Don Drysdale regarding Sandy Koufax. Sandy pitched one of his no hitters, Drysdale was hurt and wasn't there. However, when he was told about the no hitter, he asked if Sandy won. In those days the Dodgers offense wasn't to good. But the Rays offense is good. But they need a big time closer and sit up man. Now folks about tipping cab driver.s. I took this person and his wife to the airport and he was from out of state and we got into a discussion about tipping. He said that the fare on the meter should be good enough, Oh my here we go. I asked him he tipped the waiter or waitress when he goes to a resturant. He said sure. I asked him why, they don't cook the food all they do is bring it to your table. Now with a cab driver you and your wife and maybe a couple of kids are going to the airport to see Grandma and Grandpa. You put your life and the life of your wife and children in the cab drivers hands. You are hoping that he is a safe driver. Don't you think you should award him for getting you there in one piece. The meter amount is for the car and gas. Think about that folks. Be careful out there

Here you go buddy "keep the change"

I just read a story from Myrtle Beach, SC, on tipping cab drivers, it talks about people giving the driver $700 for a $680 ride and telling them to "keep the change".

The writer Linda Sullivan challenges her readers to try giving a 20 cent tip to a waiter or bartender and see the looks you get.

It also talks about the hours a driver spends behind the wheel each day, and how little they end up with for all those hours.

The story is titled "Cab drivers worthy of decent tips" you can read the story at: http://www.thesunnews.com/opinion/story/1033835.html

Reading this reminds me of something that happend about 10 years ago, I had picked someone up in the gate and to him on a ride that was $305 and the guy asked me if I wanted the nickle, after thinking for a second I asked him if it was $ 295 would he want the nickle?

He answered yeah sure, and then thought about it and said no, I told him too late first answer was yeah so I want it also, a tip whats that. =)

Baseball Season

Well good readers the baseball season is approaching a end. My Dodgers are still in first place after having taken 3 out of 4 from the Cubbies. The Rays are still in the hunt for a wild card in the junior league. Excuse me the American League. The Yankees have been playing some great baseball since the All-Star break. Good game tonight, CC vs Beckett. But the Rays remind me of the old Bucs a few years ago, they are fun to watch. Now with the Yankees I am not surprised, not with all of the power they bought, along with CC and AJ. But anything can happen, that is why Baseball is such a great game.

20 cents

Reading Tom's post about the 20 cents reminds me of a situation 3 or 4 years ago, I took a call taking a Doctor from the Howard Johnson on North Dale Mabry to the medical building on Sligh Ave on Dale Mabry. The fare was $7.80. Now this fine Japanesse Doctor gave me $8.00 and yeah you guessed it, he wanted his 20 cents back, along with a reciept. I gave him his 20 cents and the reciept. As fate would have it I got this sucker again a few days later. Same amount $7.80 and he gave me $8.00, wanting his 20 and a reciept. This time I put the amount on the reciept, $7.80. The ending of this little story gets better. A week later I went to Howard Johnsons but this time he came out with three more doctors. When we got to the Medical Building I already had the reciept ready as the channel two dispatcher told me it was a Doctor. The ring leader of this group wanted some blank reciepts, I told him no, not unless he wanted to pay $7.80 for each of the other Doctors. They got out without another word. I thought for sure I would get a call from the office. but no not yet. I would have given him a book of reciepts if he hadn't wanted his damn 20 cents. I really think that most professional people always tip, say 95% do. As their company normal pays the tab anyway. Be careful out there. There are still drivers out there that are eat up with the dumb ass.

All this over 20 cents

The star of the Chicago Blackhawks James Kane was arrested after an incident involving a cab driver in Patrick's home town of Buffalo.

When they reached the destination Kane gave the driver $15.00 for an $13.80, the driver gave him a dollar and told Kane he didn't have the 20 cents, Kanes then took the $15 back, punched the cab driver in the face, grabbed his throat and broke his glasses, seems like a reasonable thing to do after Kane was robed of 20 cents.

He also kept telling the driver "you don't know who you are dealing with" I have read that many times as big time athletes are being arrested, thinking the cops will be impressed, but the cops still arrest them and the courts make a joke about it and give only probation, or a fine that is also a joke, as it is penny's compared to what they make.

Didn't anyone ever explain the theory of tipping to this genius, who as a hockey star makes millions and can't afford to, or won't tip.

The only other explanation like many other athletes of today he is on roids and this was just roid rage.

Maybe we should just feel sorry for the soon to be victim of probation, you really didn't think he would get jail time, did you?

Pitch count what pitch count?

I read a sidebar story about the 15 inning classic Friday night between the Yankee's and the hated Red Sox.

It was about a game played 46 years ago between Juan Marichal of the San Francisco Giants and Warren Spahn of the then Milwaukee Braves.

It ended when Willie Mays homered of Spahn in the bottom of the 16, both starters pitched the entire game and both had a pitch count over 200 and Marichal was over 220, both pitchers are in the Hall of Fame as is Mays

Warren Spahn won 363 games in 21 years in the big leagues with an era of 3.09 and 2,583 strike outs.

Juan Marichal won 243 games during his 15 years in the majors with an era of 2.88 and 2,303 strike outs.

Willie Mays played for 22 years and was an all star 20 for 20 of those years, he played all but the last year with the Giants in NY and SF, he finished up back in NY with the Mets.

Willie was a life time .302 hitter with 660 home runs and over 3000 hits, all this plus he was a 12 time gold glove winner, he is known for the over the shoulder catch nearly 500 feet from home plate in the 1954 World Series vs the Indians.

Rays Sweep

If any of you folks follow the Tampa Bay Rays know that they whipped up on the Red Sox, that is red as in Boston, which is home of the Celtics, whom I detest almost as much as the Yankees. My co-author has just told me that the Boston press said something about the Redsox being down the tubes since they got bombed last night. I hope so that will push the Rays into a race with those guys from the Bronx, not sure but I assume that is part of New York. Hee, hee.

Now on a sadder note, if any of you follow Tampa Taxi Shot know that the writer of that blog drives a cab. I have know Tim for over ten years. Due to the slow taxi business he may be homeless in a few days, yep that is what he said. His cell number is on his blog so if you happen to need a cab give him a call I am sure you will enjoy the ride. Now about this guy (homeless hank) He says he is homeless, I guess he uses the computer at the library or maybe a friends. PayPal. Yeah right. With a beard like that would be kind of hard to make a good impression in a job interview. I don't think it should matter but I am afraid the person giving said interview might not think that way.
Also if you folks happen to have a few too many don't forget to call a cab or a friend. A lot of news print this week on DUI's people are getting killed out there. Take care

Airport Security Precautions

On 60 minutes tonight, they had a segment on airport security. This post does not have to do with the security when attempting to board a airplane. They have all kinds electrical equipment, including x-rays. I remember just after 9/11 when they were stopping cars. I am sure any you folks going to the airport remember that. Of course I was still working at the time. One fine day I had picked up this fare and had just got to the approach into the airport. My fare and I both noticed that they were stopping cars on right side of the road. As was my habit I was in the left lane. I commented to my fare look at those police over there what a joke. Wow he got pushed out of shape. He asked me "didn't I believe in security", I told him damn right if it is done properly. I than asked him if he took cabs to the airport very oftain. He said three or four times a month. I than asked him the clincher. "How many times has the cab he is riding in get stopped?" I already knew the answer. Zilch, nada, and zip that is how many. I had asked numerous drivers if they have ever got stopped. No they hadn't. I have been stopped once, but that is another story.