The New Axis of Evil

Far be it from me to say it, but way back when, when W referred to North Korea, Iran and Iraq as the new "Axis of Evil," I think he got it wrong. He should have slapped that label on the state of Florida. Florida is home to, among other things, the Marlins and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Lightning. The Marlins -- as many of you will recall -- ran over the Phillies last year on their way to the World Series title and continue to do so this year, with a streak of 9 straight wins over the Sillies and something around 19 out of the last 25. The Buccaneers, meanwhile -- or, as my friend Andy likes to call them, the "Succaneers" -- beat the Eagles in the NFC Championship Game in January of 2003 -- on their way to a Super Bowl win. Then there's the Tampa Bay Lightning. The very embodiment of mismanagement from their inception, they have somehow managed to disgrace hockey fans the world over and win the greatest trophy in all of sports -- the Stanley Cup. Oh, that's right -- they also just happened to beat the Philadelphia Flyers in the Eastern Conference Finals on their way to the Cup win. And, as if none of that were enough, we have Florida -- that hotbed of conservatism -- to thank for hijacking the 2000 election and getting George W. Bush "elected." Were I to have a "People I Hate" list going like Middie Back!, the entire state of Florida would be number one with a bullet. Thanks for nuthin'!