USF's coup, an ESPN view of our city

Tampa columnist HOOPER E-mail: Click here Archive

© St. Petersburg Times
published January 8, 2002

Bringing one of the nation's pre-eminent civil rights activists to town for its Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. celebration is something of a coup for the University of South Florida.

The Rev. Al Sharpton will be the featured speaker at 7 p.m. Jan. 17 in the USF Special Events Center. Surely, his rise in prominence and the increasing dearth of visible African-American activists on the national scene put him in high demand during the days leading up to the King holiday.

Tracy D. Dace, chair of the university's MLK Celebration Committee and the assistant director of the College of Education's Carousel Center, said he was not surprised Sharpton chose to come to USF.

"It's a blessing to bring him to USF," said Dace, who credited his good fortune to a New York booking agent who is friends with Sharpton's scheduling secretary. "Rev. Sharpton is one of those individuals people are beginning to see in a different light. They're beginning to understand his passion ... for social justice."

Sharpton's credibility has grown since his infamous association with the 1987 rape case of Tawana Brawley, who authorities said lied about being assaulted.

Sharpton has become an influential voice in New York City, and he also received favorable attention from some circles for his 90-day imprisonment for trespassing at a military camp while protesting the Navy's bombing exercises on the Puerto Rican island of Vieques.

And it's worth noting that after the Rev. Jesse Jackson acknowledged fathering an illegitimate child, a void was created that Sharpton, who has announced he's running for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2004, may ultimately fill.

As the New York Times' Adam Nagourney wrote last year, Sharpton of all people recognizes that history has plopped him in a very large spotlight on a very empty stage.

Said Sharpton: "I have the hunger to do it, because I really -- well, who else is out there?"

Despite reports to the contrary, I did not take time off last week to recover from my New Year's Eve Tour. In fact, I went to Atlanta to celebrate my grandmother's 100th birthday. Former Atlanta mayor and U.N. ambassador Andrew Young and U.S. Rep. John Lewis were among the well-wishers, but the highlight was watching Grandmama do the Electric Slide.

ESPN brought the nation more than a meaningless game between the Bucs and the Eagles Sunday, they delivered a showcase of Tampa Bay snapshots.

The cable sports giant uses city scenes as bumps -- pictures leading in and out of commercials -- with its games, and this one was no different. In the past, it was usually skyline shots, but more and more there is a concerted effort to showcase the culture of the city.

"We're trying to get the cliche out of sports television when it comes to scenics," said senior coordinating producer Jay Rothman.

ESPN does an array of research to come up with scenics, including talking to the chamber, searching the Internet and just talking to people around the city, Rothman said. The scenes are usually shot one or two nights before the game. Tampa's scenics included a woman hand-rolling cigars and the Florida Aquarium.

Coincidentally, another scene captured friends Taylor Ward and Larry Dougherty dancing at Pipo's Latin Cafe on Davis Islands. They were not doing the Electric Slide, however.

I have to confess: I missed the second half of the Bucs-Eagles game watching Dude, Where's My Car? on Cinemax. After learning the Bucs gave up two touchdowns in the final minutes, it's clear what was offering more entertainment value.

That's all I'm saying.

-- Ernest Hooper can be reached at (813) 226-3406 or Hooper@sptimes.com.

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