Doc’s Legacy

Doc Blanchard died recently. For most contemporary sports fans his obit likely prompted a “who’s that?” response. Blanchard, 84, was a prominent athlete in the mid-1940s.

It was Blanchard, not Tim Tebow, who was the first to win the Heisman Trophy (1945) and play on two national championship teams (1944-45) before his senior year. The West Point All-American was also the first to win the Heisman as a junior. And he led the country in scoring in 1945.

Oh, and he also played linebacker and did the kicking for Army.

He was a first-round (third overall) NFL draft pick in 1946 by the Pittsburgh Steelers, but never played a game for the Steelers – or any other pro team. After graduating from West Point, Blanchard joined the Air Force, where he flew fighter planes during the Korean and Vietnam wars.

No, the Tim Tebows don’t come along very often. About as frequently as the Doc Blanchards.

Hemispheric Happenings

Last weekend’s Summit of the Americas underscored the reality — historic enmity yet rife with 21st century potential – that is the United States relationship with the rest of the Western Hemisphere, especially Latin America. Cuba, of course, was an issue, even if it wasn’t on the agenda. And the Obama-Chavez exchanges made headlines and wire photos.

Both Cuba and Chavez also provided more ammo for the usual suspects making the usual Sunday talk-show rounds, who don’t see merit in the American president taking something other than an arrogant, unilateralist approach to certain sovereign countries.

Almost lost amid the bombastic, partisan sniping (such as Sen. Lindsey Graham’s “Put up or shut up” decree to Cuba) are two developments well worth watching. Cuban President Raul Castro has indicated that “all issues” (including political prisoners) would be on whatever table he might share with the American president. He also conceded that, indeed, Cuba might been “wrong” in the past on some things. This doesn’t, of course, mean a market economy, free press and Jeffersonian democracy are imminent, but it’s a positive sign.

As for Venezuelan President Chavez, he has indicated plans to appoint an ambassador to Washington. Last year both the U.S. and Venezuela expelled each other’s ambassadors. But, no, he didn’t request an autographed copy of “The Audacity of Hope.”

President Richard Nixon, the consummate anti-Communist, talked with Chairman Mao, and history has affirmed it as an appropriately pragmatic move. But Obama shouldn’t deign to shake hands, act cordial or even sit down with adversaries who aren’t even mass murderers?

All-American Redux?

In less than two months, we’ll know if Tampa is an All-American City. Again. Last time this city was so designated by the National Civic League was 1990.

Now Tampa is among 32 cities — from Phoenix, Arizona to Providence, Rhode Island — vying for the honor. It will be bestowed on 10 of them at the 60th anniversary awards ceremony on Friday, June 19 right here at the Tampa Marriott Waterside Hotel. Tampa is the only Florida city represented. The key criterion: How well a city has done creating partnerships with elements of their communities to address local challenges.

In Tampa’s case, Exhibits A, B and C are:

*The 6-year East Tampa Initiative that has worked to help revitalize a neighborhood with recreational, social and cultural activities.

*The 40th Street Enhancement Project, the nearly finished $106-million improvement of 4.2 miles of roadway on 40th Street from Hillsborough to Fowler Avenue. It includes a new bridge – conceptually designed by a local King High School student. It features multiple partnerships as well as a citizen task force.

*The annual Sulphur Springs Children’s Holiday Event, which provides local children with gifts and food – as well as care and attention. Sulphur Springs, which has a median income of $10,592, also has the highest population of children of all Tampa neighborhoods. The key partner: the Tampa Police Department.

“I am really excited for the people in these communities,” says Shannon Edge, the director of Tampa’s Office of Neighborhood & Community Relations. “They felt like they never had a voice. Especially the 40th Street task force. To get this designation would validate all the time and effort put in. It will demonstrate that all the hard work paid off.”

It would also be a major, one-year, marketing coup, adds Edge, who can envision more than “All-American City” signage around town. Think official letterheads and web sites to city car magnets and t-shirts.

“It’s huge,” she underscores. “Especially for economic development. We’re talking the Chamber of Commerce, Tampa Bay & Company, the Convention Center, the Committee of 100. And in this crazy economic time, to have this boost in pride!”

So, is Tampa confident? Yes – but anxious too, according to Edge. She’s concerned that there might be, ironically, a bit of a home-venue disadvantage in being the host. It could mean that judges will cut extra slack to those who had to mix in more travel expenses and logistical inconveniences.

“We can’t think we’re a shoo-in because we’re hosting,” says Edge. “We have to knock their socks off. If anything, there’s more pressure because it’s here. We have to keep it tight, on point and enthusiastic.”

Starting with the Middleton High drum line to fire everyone up. 

Pundits Missed A Lot In Historic 2008 Race

Reflecting back on the 2008 presidential campaign, USF’s well-regarded, media-savvy political scientist Susan MacManus mused that the pundits were dead-on about a couple of things. Indeed, Florida was critical, the I-4 corridor was determinative and Hillsborough proved to be “THE bellwether” county in Florida. And, yes, a way ultimately was found for the Florida democratic delegation to be seated, to be accorded a vote and to rate prime-time seating at the national convention in Denver.

But on balance the pundit class was often prescience-challenged, the Distinguished University Professor of Public Administration and Political Science told a luncheon audience at last Friday’s Tiger Bay Club of Tampa luncheon. An important part of it was about the candidacy of Sen. Hillary Clinton.

Clinton was a “shoo-in,” went the conventional wisdom, reminded MacManus. Obviously, it proved more conventional than wise. Her campaign, recalled the USF professor, was undone in part by the political “calendar,” which had Florida and Michigan not waiting for its allotted time slots. The pundits didn’t realize how critical this would turn out to be.

“Florida going early probably cost Hillary the presidency,” assessed MacManus. Clinton would have won Florida “big,” she underscored, and “won Super Tuesday.”

Pundits also missed the impact of caucuses. “That string of (12) caucus losses really cost Hillary,” noted MacManus. “Caucuses are not fair” to certain demographics, she pointed out, notably “the old, the infirm, shift workers, single parents, the military.”

And pundits didn’t foresee the ironic dichotomy of sexism and women as unprecedented, prime time players.

MacManus said media coverage was “very discriminatory” to both Clinton and Republican vice presidential nominee, Gov. Sarah Palin. She specifically cited some “cleavage” references about Clinton and an especially “egregious” photo angle of Palin. “Very disturbing.”

And yet, the role of women, noted MacManus, had never mattered more. From candidates Clinton and Palin to high-profile media members – such as Katie Couric, Campbell Brown, Rachel Maddow and Greta Van Susteren – to entertainers such as Tina Fey, Oprah Winfrey and the women of “The View.”

“‘The View’ was drawing 4 million viewers the week of the election and 6 million the day after,” said MacManus. “And (had) much more impact on young and female voters.”

As for Fey’s “Saturday Night Live” parody send-ups of Palin, MacManus thought them highly detrimental to the Palin candidacy. “Psychologists say impersonators have a big impact when the person is not well known,” explained MacManus. “In a heartbeat, she was destroyed.”

Other mis-reads by the media:

*The GOP presidential nominee would be either Rudy Giuliani or Mitt Romney.

*The war in Iraq was the only issue that really mattered. (“Not $4 gas, the economic meltdown or Wall Street.”)

*The “Bradley Effect” (white voters misleading pollsters about voting for a black candidate) would be a factor.

*South Florida Hispanics wouldn’t vote for a black candidate. (“The economy meant more than ideology.”)

*Debates, especially those involving more than two candidates, wouldn’t really engage the public.

*The media wouldn’t be that ideologically segmented.

*Negative ads work. Period. (“Now being called more into question.”)

 

MacManus Outtakes

*Why we watch the pundits – even though so many can be so wrong: “People like to see people disagree. Agreement doesn’t make for good television.”

*Demographically-skewed popularity of the “Daily Show” and the “Colbert Report”: “They (according to an AP study on media habits of the young) bore quickly. Humor, cynicism and sarcasm work. And they won’t read a newspaper (as opposed to a quick-read tab)…”

*Media implications of above: “Now there are more registered voters under 35 than over 65.”

*How Barack Obama maintained the attention of the youth vote: “Keeping young people engaged. A daily e-mail by name. Reinforcing (the message that) ‘You’re part of the change.’ That moved them.”

*The Electoral College. “Every four years the winning party is satisfied, and the loser isn’t. I don’t expect a change in my life time.”

Assaulting Sense And Innocence

I think we can all agree that the death of 8-year-old Paris Whitehead-Hamilton of St. Petersburg was a tragedy. One that warranted as much grief as outrage, because it was so senseless and so eminently preventable.

What I won’t concur with, however, is the sense of societal guilt that some have been parceling out. In effect, “we are all at fault.” In an utterly imperfect world, we lack, among other things, idealized nuclear families and a perfect criminal justice system. As a result, we should hardly be surprised when all kinds of anti-social behavior, including anarchy and iniquity, result. It’s a societal failing.

This sort of rush-to-collective-culpability is, itself, an outrage. When you mis-assign indictment, you mis-apportion responsibility and accountability.

You want fault? Try this: Despite what President Obama and prominent African-Americans such as Bill Cosby have stood for, have said and have done, there can not be a “post-racial” America until a still-too-prevalent, dysfunctional black culture has been dismantled. St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Baker alluded to as much with a benignly nuanced statement about music and other cultural elements that promote violence. Others have noted the “no snitch” ethic all too prominent in many minority neighborhoods.

As a result of rival gangs “warring,” an innocent 8-year-old, known affectionately as “Princess Paris,” was killed because she was in the wrong place – her home – doing the wrong thing – seeing what caused the noise that woke her up — at the wrong time – 2:20 a.m. Three of the 50 bullets from semi-automatic rifles hit and killed her. They were actually meant for another member of her household.

You want further fault?  Try those who continue to pervert the Second Amendment with specious reasoning that manages to equate assault weapons with Founding Fathers’ intent in the era of musketry and well-regulated militias. Yes, we’re talking the National Rifle Association, its Mephistophelean lobbyists, all the craven legislators they intimidate —  and all the malefic, gun show subplots and loopholes that necessarily result.

You want to assign blame? Those who pull the triggers. Those who accommodate the trigger happy. And those who want to blame everybody.

Tampa’s Obama Connection

Tampa’s Frank Sanchez, a Barack Obama insider since early in the presidential primary and a key operative in various vetting scenarios since the election, has now been appointed to an important administration position of his own. Pending Senate confirmation, Sanchez, 49, will become undersecretary of commerce for international trade.

Advising a candidate is obviously different from advising an elected president, but here are some insights and observations from a July 2007 interview with Sanchez.

Trade: “Obama’s hardly for reversing globalization, but he doesn’t want to give lip service to labor issues and environmental concerns.”

Latin America: “For starters, we need to re-engage with Latin America. Brazil and Chile come readily to mind. For the last six years we’ve ignored Latin America – much to our detriment.”

Cuba: Sanchez underscored Obama’s priority of reversing the travel-and-remittance restrictions on the estimated 1.5 million Cuba-Americans living in the U.S. Indeed, President Obama just ordered that done.

As to the (then 45-year-old) economic embargo, Sanchez said Obama was not inclined to rush into any bold initiatives – preferring to use the embargo as “leverage” for changes on the island. The operative word was “incremental,” underscored Sanchez. Do not expect a diplomatic stroke that would “turn on a dime,” he emphasized.

Barack Obama: “He’s one of the smartest people I’ve ever met. A defining characteristic is that he’s an amazing listener. He’s not some superficial glad-hander. He’s perfect for a time when people are genuinely sick of Washington politics.”

Lincicome Was Psyched For Big Win

Al Lopez. Stan Musial. Ted Williams. Wade Boggs. Gen. Tommy Franks. Jon Gruden. Gov. Charlie Crist. Brittany Lincicome.

Brittany Lincicome?

Indeed, the 23-year-old golfer from Seminole – had it not been for a scheduling conflict – would have had her name added to the distinguished short list of athletic, military and political luminaries who have thrown out the ceremonial first pitch at a Tampa Bay Rays’ home opener.

It’s what happens when a home town athlete delivers on one of the world’s biggest sports stages: a Ladies Professional Golf Association major tournament. There are only four – and she won the year’s first, the Kraft Nabisco Championship at Rancho Mirage, Calif.,  two weeks ago. In fact, she became the first American winner in the past six majors.

Moreover, she didn’t just “win” it – and the $300,000 check that came with it. She made ESPN highlights with a dramatic eagle on the final hole to win by one shot. Her 210-yard approach on the 72nd hole left her four feet from the hole.

“It was by far the best golf shot I’ve ever hit,” assesses Lincicome.

And whatever is next best has likely faded from memory. For the previous year and a half, Lincicome had been unable to get out of the rough career-wise. She struggled to make cuts, let alone win. She felt guilty about letting down her sponsors.

“I felt like an amateur golfer,” recalls Lincicome. “What a roller-coaster. I was terrible.”

Prior to that, she had been one of the LPGA’s glamour girls. By 21, she had won the 2006 World Match Play Championship and the 2007 Ginn Open. She had also been runner-up that year at the Kraft Nabisco and was chosen for the prestigious Solheim Cup that biennially matches American and European golfers. Her earnings had already surpassed the million-dollar mark. And Time magazine had referred to the attractive, statuesque (5’10”) Lincicome as a “blond, blue-eyed beauty.”

What had happened to the athletic, long-hitting Lincicome — who had seemed on course for greatness since she was a scholastic star on the BOYS golf team at Seminole High School? To the affable, winsome golfer who seemed the quintessential LPGA marketing avatar?

It was a combination of factors, some physical, such as wrist and back issues, some psychological. She wasn’t, for example, as disciplined in the off season as she should have been.

“I took too much time in the off season,” she acknowledges. “I bought a boat. I was on it every day. I switched coaches.” And caddies.

And when things didn’t go well in a tournament – on a given shot or a particular hole – she became her own, nerve-fraying worst enemy. It was hard to stay competitive on such a slippery composure slope.

“It used to be when I would hit a bad shot, I would get down on myself,” explains Lincicome. “Then I would have four or five bad holes. I had a hard time letting go.”

So, how did she regain control?

Enter a new caddy, Tara Bateman, who was weaning herself off the arduous, tournament-circuit travel, but agreed to help out as a short-timer. Bateman introduced her to Vision 54, a well-regarded Arizona golf school with a heavy emphasis on sports psychology. It’s the brainchild of Lynn Marriott and Pia Nilsson, the co-authors of “The Game Before The Game.” In addition to shot technique and “quality practice” routines, Vision 54 focuses on “tempo, the short game and developing an ironclad, stress-reducing, pre-shot routine.”

Lincicome signed on. She had sessions before the Kraft Nabisco, and she was in touch conversationally during the tournament. “I felt like I needed a Band-Aid,” she says.

What she got was more like a mental makeover, one that was reinforced by Bateman.

“My caddy is so positive. She will take me off my bad shot,” says Lincicome. “Take my mind off the negative. Sure, caddies have to be able to read greens, but the mental part is critical.”

Specifically, Bateman reminded her to stay in the moment, to do her breathing exercises, to sing, if necessary. Indeed, they sang (country music) songs between shots at Rancho Mirage. And an empathetic crowd, adds Lincicome, became incredibly supportive.

After her career-altering triumph, the new Brittany flew home to Seminole, where she lives with her parents, Tom and Angie Lincicome, when she’s not on the road. But it wasn’t for long. And it wasn’t for boating. She quickly pivoted out for Phoenix.

Another tournament stop?

No, Vision 54 sessions.

And as for that “fill-in” caddy, Tara Bateman. She’s agreed to stay on.

 

True Brit

Regardless of how Lincicome’s career is going, those who know her best will tell you there will always be two constants: her values and her friendliness. Family and friends come first. And she’s nice to everybody.

“She’s just always been an All-American kid,” observed Jan Zimmerman, the pro shop manager at Largo’s Bardmoor Golf and Tennis Club. “She’s polite to everybody and has a fun personality. She’s genuine. She’s still Brit.”

Her dad, Tom Lincicome, who used to caddy for her, was there in Rancho Mirage to witness his daughter’s memorable victory. In fact, right after the tournament, father, daughter and caddy all jumped into the lake next to the 18th green for a victory splash. Win or not, he’s always the proud dad.

“She is what you see,” he noted. “It’s still special to hear people say what a great kid she is.”

In Her Own Words

* “Yes, my dad and I used to argue sometimes when he was my caddy. It’s tough to block all that out and just go to dinner.”

 

* “I like that little room with the microphone and they ask you questions. It means you did well. I used to watch Tiger Woods do that all the time.”

* “If it’s fishing, I want to catch more fish. If it’s poker (“Texas Hold ‘Em”), I want the winning hand. Maybe it goes back to having (two) older brothers. They never just let me win because I was a girl.”

 

* “I’m not the calendar type but dressing feminine is important. Golf is number one, but we are women. We wear skirts and look cute. And it’s not our fault if that attracts a lot of attention from men. But we’re not wearing bikinis.”

 

* “Sometimes I think I’ll retire by 35. Buy a home on the water with a dock. The travel is hard.”

 

* “It makes me sad when I disappoint a sponsor. It’s their name you’re wearing. Now I feel good for them too.”

 

* “That $300,000 check? I’m not spending it, that’s for sure. Last year was not a money maker.”

 

* “It’s exciting talking to my agent now. He said, ‘You can’t even imagine the new things that will come your way when you win a major.’”

 

* “I loooove coming home. No tournament stress – just hanging out, sleeping in, going to my favorite restaurants.”

Banner-Raising Rays

For this night, it all fell into perfect harmony. The gods of baseball looked past America’s asymmetrical pastime and its obscene payroll inequities to smile upon the Tampa Bay Rays in their season opener. The Trop was packed, the players pumped and the championship banners hoisted.

To complete the perfect storm of just desserts, the Rays won big — and the ultimate opposition, the fat revenue-stream New York Yankees, were vanquished.  But the pedigreed pinstripers weren’t just defeated by that embarrassing 15-5 margin, they were made to stand around and observe and absorb all the pomp and choreography that comes with celebrating a pennant. This time, somebody else’s pennant. In this case, their payroll-challenged, poor cousins from the American League East. How delightfully humbling.

So, the Yankees have won 38 more pennants and 26 more World Series than the Rays? So, they spent nearly half a billion dollars on free agents this off-season? So, they own the A-Roid circus? So, Derek Jeter is building a house bigger than Tropicana Field?

So what? Right now the Rays are better.

Bayshore Memo

Memo to Tampa and Tampa-area motorists who use Bayshore Boulevard:

On those days when it rains really, really hard – and there’s a strong wind, noticeably huge white caps in Hillsborough Bay, tons of water cascading over the balustrade and inevitably reoccurring high tides – think twice about staying on Bayshore.

There are plenty of side streets and some parallel routes, albeit less convenient. Use them. It doesn’t take long for Bayshore to become a no-wake zone. It’s not worth the risk, even at crawl-along speeds.

TIA Part of Incremental Changes In Cuba Policy

This column has periodically railed on about the dysfunctional relationship between the U.S. and Cuba. Actually, “dysfunctional” is too euphemistic. Make that stupid. Notably, the counterproductive, 47-year-old, economic embargo that only made sense during the height of the Cold War, when Cuba became a Soviet satellite.

            But administrations through Bush II — plus Congressional delegations from Florida — have been cowed by the Cuban exile community to the point where South Florida and Little Havana have exercised a de facto veto over U.S. foreign policy when it comes to Cuba.

            However, generational changes, the Castro Brothers’ biological inevitability and the Obama Administration’s reset button have now created the elements of a perfect geopolitical storm over Cuba.

            Many political observers see the easing of Cuban family travel and remittance restrictions as the first step toward normalization. Indeed, more changes are expected, although they will be incremental – which is, candidly, a point of contention among many insiders.

            The impetus for one such pragmatic change comes from our own back yard. Congresswoman Kathy Castor, who obviously understands political caution and pragmatism on this volatile topic, has earned plaudits for asking President Obama — via a letter to U.S. Customs and Border Protection — to include Tampa International Airport on the list of airports approved for charter flights to Cuba. The others are Los Angeles, Miami and New York-JFK. As long as opportunities for U.S. travelers to Cuba are likely to increase, reasoned Castor, TIA makes eminent sense as a departure point.

            Does it ever.

            Not only is TIA logistically helpful to those directly impacted, but it looks progressively to the future. When Cuba opens, Tampa needs to be re-positioned, via port and airport, as the real gateway to that island – with all the historical and economic implications that entails. 

            However incremental, this helps.