The Hermes of the Hillsborough has been had. Columnist Dan Ruth, that basher of buffoons, slayer of sycophants and puncturer of pedagogues got his pink slip from the Tribune Today. Mr. "I've been wearing the same glasses since 9th Grade and I'm not changing them now" happened to be the main reason I subscribed to the Tribune. Not many people can elicit an audible chuckle from me before 1:00 pm. Dan "Ask me how to use alliteration for fun and profit!" Ruth always could.

I'm sure the Tribune management finds no joy in jettisoning Ruth or any of  the 80 or so employees who've had to pack up their careers in a cardboard box.  Most newspapers, and television stations for that matter, are facing a revenue trend line that angles towards the floor. But the Tribune dropping Ruth is a little like Quiznos getting rid of their toasters. I didn't always agree with him, but Ruth was the crust on what is often a doughy and bland baguette. 

The Tribune's hope that they can remain a vibrant news source and connect to their readers after lopping off so many pages and so many people reminds me of  Monty Python's Black Knight, who refuses to accept defeat in a sword fight even after losing both arms and both legs. "It's only a flesh wound!".

I haven't talked to Dan yet, but he said to St. Petersburg Times columnist,  Eric Deggans,  "For the last two years, hardly a day has gone by when I didn't wonder if this would be the day....I've given 36 years of my life to this business...now that day has come."

I have little doubt that Dan Ruth  will go on to something creative and fulfilling.  The tragedy is that so many of our resident nincompoops will be spared the witty barbs of our own Royko by the Bay.