One celebrity could replace another after tonight's spot on Headline News.
By RICHARD DANIELSON
Published April 9, 2004
TARPON SPRINGS - City boosters will tune to cable television tonight to catch a 2-minute video on their hometown featuring the dulcet tones of veteran sportscaster Pat Summerall.
City officials say the spot is scheduled to air between 6 and 6:30 tonight on CNN Headline News.
But for a follow-up production - a 5-minute marketing tape touting the city's virtues - the city may have to rely on the second-string.
Summerall, 73, was hospitalized in Jacksonville last week awaiting a donated organ so he could receive a liver transplant.
With the veteran broadcaster expected to take at least four months to recover, city officials Tuesday night considered five options for the 5-minute marketing tape: wait for Summerall to heal, or choose from among the voices of well-known NFL broadcaster John Madden, sportscaster Jim Nantz, former Dallas Cowboys star Troy Aikman or former Charlie's Angel Cheryl Ladd.
And even that came with a warning.
"You may not get your first choice," said city business services specialist Charlie Attardo.
The consensus was: go with Madden. The former coach, color commentator and football video game namesake was the first choice of three of five commissioners. Ladd came in second.
Summerall's Dallas-based video production company last year selected the city to receive its Champions of Small Government award, which came with the 2- and 5-minute video productions. The city agreed to pay $24,000 to defray the costs of producing and airing the video.
Tuesday night's discussion included a brief exchange on the merits of the various celebrities: Jim Nantz has best voice, said Commissioner Peter Dalacos. Madden, Commissioner Peter Nehr said, was well-known but also disliked by many people.
As the discussion rolled on, City Manager Ellen Posivach said she barely knew the sports celebrities.
