General columnist to the world, the Tribune’s Dan Ruth, who’s also a keen sports observer, wrote a piece for the Saturday paper I wish to echo.

In his words, Tropicana Field may be a dump, but it is our dump. He said it is what we have now and it is enough as home to the wonderfully surprising Tampa Bay Rays. Gosh, is Ruth ever right, or what?

He even suggested Progress Energy President Jeff Lyash (pictured, with the Rays’ Matt Silverman behind him) be unrestricted in his possible future ball park search, but keep his hands off old Al Lang Field on the St. Pete waterfront as a possible tear-down.

Thanks for the counsel, Dan.

And, Jeff Lyash in and on. For these are great times for the look-aheads in Tampa Bay. Time to prepare is now, during our temporary downtime with money a bigtime problem.

All three top-shelf sports clubs are doing just dandy.

Oh, I know, the Lightning of hockey just made massive changes, but they seem for the better under new leadership - without cutting ties with the those who got us here, like Vinny Lecavalier. And, I know the Buccaneers have been quiet but they appear to be laying in ambush. Coach Jon Gruden is not wailing.

They’re fixing up, as are the Lightning and those hot, hot, hot Rays. My gosh, none of us, none of us, could have foreseen how well Stuart Sternberg and Matt Silverman could have done with these Rays with old war horse Rick Nafe the veteran executive out front. He can take the heat.

So, by gosh, here are we are with a major league baseball team, the Rays, doing about everything right on the field, in the dugout, and off the field, who have assembled one of the best records in baseball. I mean, the Rays are in the hunt. They are good. They are potent. They are in the American League East title race.

They can hit it long and they can hit it in the gaps, in the corners, just beyond reaches and they can hit into the rafters of The Trop. They can bunt, squeeze, steal, hit and run, slide under the throw, gamble, fake, take and hit away. They can field slickly, turn a double play, run you down, pick you off, or nail you at the plate.

This is a fine team, far better than any of us could have expected, and I have mentioned the pitching, which is deep, and sound, with relievers about and varied. The ownership has been involved in the team, the Trop, and the future. Good. Now, this place of ours, so proud of our purpose and involvement in sports, needs to assist the search committee Lyash of Florida Progress heads on behalf of us all.

He apparently will start at the start, without preconceptions, though he is a big shot with the energy corporation in Pinellas. Over here, it is Tampa Electric. That was included purposefully. Assurance has been the look for a stadium location will be unrestricted, not partial to St. Pete or Pinellas.

And, important is that there is no rush. Nobody wants to rush to put a park on the St. Pete waterfront, not anymore. Flags are already up.

Years ago, remember, when others moves were imminent, thoughts were of a ball park nearer to the Tampa side of things, like near the St. Pete track, back when Frank Morsani was a potential of a big league team here. Those sights remain and they remain there for the Jeff Lash committee.

Big deal now is, I think, we now have three professional organizations among us at a wonderful time. They are successful now and on the move. Time to help those who may want it get the best available facility that can be put into place without those exorbitant costs that have seemed always to be there.

And, how neat is it for the Trop to be around still? I still think it is a neat alternative.