MARCH/APRIL 2019 | TAMPA BAY MAGAZINE 139
I cannot tell you how many
times I talk to folks locally and
elsewhere to extol the virtues of
the Tampa Bay area. During my
career in broadcasting, I received
lucrative job offers in every top ten
television market. My wife had been
raised in Ocean City, New Jersey, and
she had not been exposed to city life
except when she and her family visited
Philadelphia. So, when the offers came in,
our discussions centered on where she and
our children would live, and the pros and
cons of living in or around a big city. In
these cases, we opted to stay right where
we were, and we didn’t regret it one bit.
The Tampa Bay area provided then and
now, a great lifestyle. I have been fortunate
to see it grow culturally, expand into the
world of sports and improve in other areas
that benefit its citizens. There is a lot to
do here, and there are many activities in
which you can participate.
Because it is a great place, I fail to
understand those who criticize the Tampa
Bay area. I know traffic can be a bear and
seems to be getting worse, and I know
it seems like road construction is never
ending, but here is a thought. If you are
stuck on the Howard Frankland Bridge,
look around and see if you can spot a
dolphin, or a boat cutting through the
water. When I was commuting between
Tampa and St. Petersburg, a friend from
New York commented while on the bridge,
“You see this everyday?” Look around at
where you live. You aren’t looking at a
subway advertisement that you have
stared at a million times. People pay big
money to enjoy what you and I have daily.
I have always said that you can tell a
good city, or in this case an area, by the way
it takes care of itself. What are the residents
of the area doing to make it better? For
instance, do you wear a smile, and do you
acknowledge someone walking toward
you? Have you waved appreciatively
when a policeman signals you
into an intersection? Have you
thanked a serviceman or woman
whether active or retired? Do you
show appreciation for someone who
simply holds a door for you?
It is amazing how little gestures
like those make an area that much
greater. A smile, along with a nod
or a wave, can make someone’s day better.
It can make you better, too.
We live in a great area, and it is OK to be
happy you are here. If you wear a smile,
it is a really simple way to tell the world
about the great choice you made. I have
done the train, bus and car commuting in
New York City. Maybe that’s why I love the
Tampa Bay area, and the job choices my wife
and I made have left us with no regrets. 9
EDITOR’S NOTE: Dick Crippen, a staple in
Tampa Bay broadcasting for more than 40 years,
is a senior adviser for the Tampa Bay Rays,
and works extensively with the military. He is
active in the world of charity fundraising and
sits on 11 boards for nonprofit organizations.
COMMAERNTTARY
A GREAT PLACE
By Dick Crippen
Dick Crippen