Super Bowl XXXVII

Radio personality hitches a ride on the mania, literally

Tampa columnist HOOPER E-mail: Click here Archive

© St. Petersburg Times
published January 24, 2003

Fester of WFLZ-FM 93.3's MJ Morning Show arrived at the Clear Channel radio complex Tuesday morning prepared to fly to San Diego. MJ got members of the broadcast team to plead their case, and Fester had made the most convincing argument to go.

So as Fester was waiting for a car to take him to the airport, MJ looked at his suitcase and said, "That's too big." MJ tossed him a backpack and dropped the surprise: Fester would have to hitchhike San Diego.

In the zany world of morning radio, it doesn't sound all that crazy. But couldn't Fester balk at the idea?

"I was confident enough, and he was confident enough that I could take care of myself and use good judgment," Fester said. "It's like I explained to my wife (yes, there is a Mrs. Fester), this is what makes my life uniquely different than everyone in the world."

Fester, 28, got a ride to a Pasco County truck stop and then started making his way with the help of truckers. He covered 725 miles the first day, 850 miles on Wednesday and had made his way to Tucson by Thursday. He only made two stops: one in Gonzalez, La., and one in Fort Stockton, Texas.

"Everybody has been great," Fester said. "I've talked to them and they're just people."

If all goes well, he will get to San Diego in time for this morning's show.

If you've got your Bucs to keep you warm . . .

Another day and another sign that Bucs fever has about enveloped the frozen tundra known as Tampa.

The school district declared today "Bucs Spirit Day." School officials invited all employees and students to wear Bucs attire. For schools where students wear uniforms, principals will have to waive the uniform rule.

So I found myself in the Super Wal-Mart picking through the lone rack of Bucs gear. Unfortunately, I couldn't find a Bucs parka.

By the way, the school district will not let kids out of school for a potential victory parade next week. Better hope for a nighttime event.

A little bit of tolerance will go a long way

For all of you who have no interest in football and are longing for this city to return to normalcy, I have a simple request: Don't rain on the parade.

Some people like opera, others like ballet. Some people like football, and some people like horticulture. I ain't mad at you. I respect your passion and I simply want you to respect mine.

You may be inclined to argue that football is a silly kids game being played by grown men. You may reason your particular hobby or endeavor is far more sophisticated, and it doesn't cost taxpayers millions of dollars. (Of course, some of those tax dollars will help pay for the cultural arts district and it would have never passed without the stadium.)

But what you should do is save some energy and simply say, "Football: I don't get it."

There's nothing wrong with that. Hey, I don't get reality shows, but I'm not bothered if you build your life around Fear Factor and The Bachelorette.

Nonfans will probably do something else Sunday evening, like read a book or listen to music, but that's hardly newsworthy. An anti-Super Bowl party might be interesting, but mere apathy for the game doesn't make you more cultured or more enlightened. It just makes you different. Individuality is a characteristic, not a badge of honor.

Football is a big part of what defines this town, but that doesn't mean you have to move to Providence. In fact, I'll give you nonfans a tip: There won't be a television at Four Green Fields Sunday night.

See, there's room enough for everyone here. If you can endure us football fanatics for a few more days as we escape from our everyday problems, I promise not to show up at the library with a bullhorn, bring a boom box to the symphony or sprinkle the bike trail with carpet tacks.

That's all I'm saying.

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