Weather | Sports | Forums | Comics | Classifieds | Calendar | Movies

Boys in buff not boffo

They gave it the full monty, but their naked ambition didn't leave them covered in success.

SEMINOLE - It seemed like a good idea at the time: cash in on the craze for nude calendars and give the proceeds to St. Petersburg College.

In fact, it seemed like such a grand idea that some of the city's brightest lights agreed to pose nude, or nearly so, with their nether regions strategically covered: the men on the City Council, city attorney John Elias, recreation director Jim Sheets and the men of the public works department.

But the calendar proved more scandalous than successful.

"I think we lost money on it," said Bob Cadzow, president of the Rotary Club of Seminole Lake, which sponsored the calendar. "So there was no money to go anywhere."

Had they made money, it would not have gone to SPC, as originally intended. SPC president Carl Kuttler nixed the idea, saying it reminded him of the pinup calendars that could be seen in certain businesses.

Those, Kuttler said, were offensive and it's likely some would find the Men of Seminole 2005 equally offensive.

So, given the iffy reception and the slow sales, does the Rotary Club plan an encore?

"No, I don't think we're going to do another one," Cadzow said.