Lightning: Winning Ways Linger On

It’s now been the better part of a fortnight since we said “So long, Stanley.” The Lightning, alas, was finally pried away from its two-year, lockout-extended grip on the Stanley Cup.

The disappointment was the culmination of the perfect hockey storm.

The colossally stupid lockout produced a salary cap at precisely the time that the Lightning had a bounty of prime-time players they wanted to keep. The cap, in effect, precluded that, and goalie Nikolai Khabibulin cashed in by bolting for bigger bucks in Chicago. Ironically, one of the targeted beneficiaries of a cap would be smaller-market franchises such as Tampa Bay that can never outspend the New Yorks and Chicagos.

A few others also left, but nobody, especially in big games, stands as tall as a top goalie. Without one, you can’t win enough – let alone win it all with a John Grahame between the pipes. It was the beginning of the end of the reign.

And, true, there were other factors, including rule changes that magnified mobility chinks in the defensive armor and the luck of the draw in getting up-tempo, high-scoring Ottawa, the worst possible match-up for the Lightning, in the playoffs’ first round. And maybe that oversized Stanley Cup banner and those loudly expectant, sell-out crowds in a sequel-obsessed culture induced more pressure than inspiration.

The cap, the rules, the anxiety. Hat tricked by fate.

But let’s also remember this. In a professional sports universe that is too often defined and dominated by its rap-sheet prodigies, talented boors and celebrity mutants, the Lightning wore their championship mantle well. Individually and collectively, they made a city and a region proud. They were fun to rally around – and identify with.

They play an incredibly intense, collision-course game in front of frenzied fans — yet manage to keep it all in perspective. Tough and nice are not incompatible.

The players come from uniformly middle-class backgrounds and act like they know they’re fortunate to make a very good living playing a game. They are usually cut clean and typically well spoken in more than one language. They look like John Lynch on skates.

As a league, note that when a player scores, it only results in a fleeting moment of exuberance – not some “look-at-me,” cartoonish choreography. And there are no NHL edicts telling players that “business casual” attire — when representing one’s employer – doesn’t include (backwards) ball cap-doo-rag-shades-T-shirt-and-bling ensembles.

When’s the last time a Lightning player has been mentioned in the context of drug bust, DUI arrest, battery, sexual assault, road rage, weapons possession, parole violation or paternity suit? Or just generically acting like an arrogant horse’s hindquarters in public?

No, the National Hockey League is not the Ice Capades. But we also know what else it’s not.

Go, Bolts.

“Nuestro HimNo”

The “Star Spangled Banner” in Spanish? At least there’s bipartisan agreement on something. Even President George Bush and Sen. Ted Kennedy agree it’s not a good idea for this country’s national anthem. National identity isn’t trumped by the multi-culturalism card.

Frankly, “Nuestro Himno” sounds more like a Balkanization ballad — another refuge for the unassimilating – especially with self-serving, agenda-driven lyrics due out next month in a remix.

Imagine “La Marseillaise” or “Wilhelmus” in Arabic or “Das Lied der Deutschen” in Turkish? Surely, France, Holland and Germany can’t.

But, OK, nothing would be as unacceptable as Roseanne Barr’s English version of the national anthem. That really made us see red – instead of red, white and blue.

“Dateline’s” threshold

There’s no denying that “Dateline NBC” is getting a lot of May sweeps ratings’ mileage out of its “To Catch a Predator” series. Good for “Dateline.” It set up a sting operation with Perverted-Justice.com volunteers that lures those looking to use cyberspace to seduce kids — and delivers them to police. It makes eye-opening, if disturbing, TV.

The series has become controversial. Has “Dateline” turned into tele-vigilantes? Is its arrangement with Perverted-Justice a form of check-book journalism? Was it reporting the news or making it?

But, candidly, none are the right questions.

The only question that counts is a rhetorical one: Haven’t they performed a societal service by helping to identify and take out of circulation would-be predators?

That’s not to say, however, that “Dateline” hasn’t crossed that journalistic threshold on occasion. In 1993, it was caught staging an explosion to dramatize rear-end collisions in General Motors’ trucks. And as recently as this March it sent a group of Muslim men to a NASCAR event in Virginia to see if that would provoke some fan reaction. Had it, Al Jazeera, not just “Dateline,” would have had quite the coup.

That’s a prime example of trying to “make” – not report – the news. NASCAR officials had a right to be outraged.

Here’s hoping “Dateline” doesn’t get any ethically-challenged ideas about whom to send to see “United 93” – or just hang out in the multiplex lobby afterward.

“Meet me at Malio’s”

When it comes to really jump-starting the downtown riverfront renaissance, there is only so much the city – via Community Investment Tax dollars, streetscapes, signage, mayoral soapbox — can do. Developers provide for nearby residential mass and the citizenry, as has been well documented, will have to dig deep to fund-raise Riverwalk and museum dreams into reality.

But there’s another synergistic component in the public-private partnership scenario: entrepreneurs. Those who see an enlightened self-interest in providing a service that will serve as a people magnet.

Welcome back, Malio’s.

The announcement that iconic restaurateur Malio Iavarone had signed a long-term lease at the Rivergate Tower to re-open Malio’s – on the waterfront – is nothing short of a credibility coup. It should debut this fall.

Malio’s has that requisite “gathering-spot” reputation to become a catalyst for other fine-dining venues – and attendant ambience — so glaringly absent in downtown.

Having a hot spot on your ground floor is also a major score for the 31-story, cylindrical tower with plenty of vacant square footage. Might even get locals to can that unhip hops frame of reference.

“Meet you at the, uh, at Malio’s.”

List Love

We do love our lists, don’t we?

Whether it’s best CEOs or hottest hybrids or most eligible bachelors or lousy senators or great movies or worst scandals. We’re fascinated by rankings and juxtapositions. It’s voyeurism and gossip rendered acceptable. They’re also fun to weigh in on and, in a pinch, can bail you out if you come up banter challenged at the water cooler or cocktail party.

There are also the intriguing incongruities found only in such lists. Cases in point, a couple of recent ones:

“Time” magazine gives us the 100 “most influential people.” In the process, it also gives us Pope Benedict, Diddy Combs, Ayman al-Zawahiri, Howard Stern, Hugo Chavez and the Dixie Chicks in their only appearance in any context.

Then there’s the Library of Congress’ 2006 selections for the National Recording Registry. Safe to assume that this is the only way the Inauguration of Calvin Coolidge and “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On” by Jerry Lee Lewis ever share the same sentence.

But, of course, you have to peruse the entire list to find such gems.

Fox Got Repper Back In The Hunt

When consultant Mary Repper retired from the partisan political wars a few years back, it surprised a lot of folks. She was well regarded and successful. She helped a lot of candidates, Democrat and Republican, male and female, black and white. Most of them won; a few were eye-opening upsets. But after more than 20 years of being equal parts Zig Ziglar, Dick Morris and pit bull, she called it a career. The defeats, however infrequent, had taken their toll.

“Losing is just unacceptable to me,” she said at the time, “and it just rips my heart out. When it gets that way, it’s time to move on.”

That was 2002. She was 59.

Fast forward to two weeks ago. There she was at the Valencia Gardens in front of an animated, expectant crowd of political true believers, well wishers and worker bees. They were awaiting the formal introduction of their candidate, Al Fox, who is running for Congress. Repper was there because she’s the head cheerleader — and campaign manager for Fox.

He is who she came out of retirement for. Someone whom conventional wisdom says can’t win. Can’t beat the well-financed, name recognition-blessed Kathy Castor for Jim Davis’ District 11 seat. But if anyone could, it would be – Senate Minority Leader Les Miller.

It’s that daunting a challenge.

Fox is a 61-year-old rookie candidate and long-time Washington fixture who has returned to his Tampa roots. He’s been around the issues, but his biggest claim to fame is that he founded the Alliance for Responsible Cuba Policy Foundation and has made dozens of trips to Cuba – including the one that brought along former Tampa Mayor Dick Greco. He’s amiable, candid, not politically glib and refreshing in a long-shot, nothing-to-lose kind of way.

And he knew that to have any kind of chance he had to have somebody like Repper. Or better yet, Repper.

“I had never met her,” recalls Fox. “But I knew I needed somebody like that. So I called her. She said, ‘No. Period. End of story.’ But two weeks later I tried again. Meanwhile, she had been talking to folks. So she says ‘No’ again, but that it would be ok to call her from time to time. That told me we had a shot. We all (spouses included) had dinner. She was in.”

And Repper knew what she was in for.

“I know the odds are considered long, and he’s the dark horse and all of that,” concedes Repper. “But here’s what brought me back. I had been doing this stuff for years, and yet had never met anyone who matched Al’s sense of, well, just doing the right thing. He has the courage to take strong stands, and he’s genuine enough to lack political posturing. The more I got to know him, the more I felt I had a responsibility to work for him. He deserved to be represented by somebody who can help.”

And while Fox is best known for opposing the Cuban embargo and for normalizing relations with Havana, he’s hardly a one-trick pony, Repper maintains.

“Beyond a shadow of a doubt, he has more knowledge than everyone in this race put together,” avers Repper. “And I’m familiar with them all.”

But what about his Washington insider and lobbyist background?

“Bring it on,” says Repper. “I think it gives him more credibility. He knows how things work. And every single person in the race was at one time a lobbyist.”

Among those with early input on the Fox campaign was Patrick Manteiga, the editor and publisher of the Ybor City trilingual “La Gaceta.” He encouraged Fox to keep after Repper.

“I told him, ‘She’s exactly what you need. It puts you on the map. It makes people wonder why. People need a reason to believe.’

“I’ll also say this. Al Fox is an unusual character,” underscores Manteiga. “Most politicians don’t want to aim at the hard stuff while running. He’s even met with immigrant protestors.

“Politics normally doesn’t give us a lot of surprises,” acknowledges Manteiga, “but anything can happen.”

To date, the candidate campaigns have mainly made news through fund-raising figures. Castor leads everyone with more than $670,000. Miller has brought in $320,000, while Fox has raised $206,000.

Some of Fox’s take has gone to those “Who is Al Fox?” billboards now popping up around town.

To some, he might be Don Quixote.

But make no mistake, that’s not Sancho Panza at his side.

Pillage People?

When the Wasserman Vornado Strategic Real Estate Fund bought a majority stake in Old Hyde Park Village last year, it was with the intent of doing a “complete renovation” of the Village. Estimates were in the range of $100 million.

While there’s no disputing that the status quo – in the context of tenant roulette and competition from the ritzy International Plaza and the rehabbed WestShore Plaza – was no recipe for success, there is mounting neighborhood concern about what that “complete renovation” actually entails. To wit: It’s a lot more than curb appeal and revitalized retail. More like: IN with some disproportionately large, multi-family buildings and more traffic – and OUT with the lifestyle-enhancing Sunrise Cinemas.

In short, Wasserman says that the numbers only work by adding a major residential element, for which the developer will need some zoning help. Right now plans call for razing the Brooks Brothers block (40-foot limit) and going up eight stories and 89 feet for 102 residential units. It also means replacing the theater area with 102 units – going up nine stories to 106 feet.

Letters to the editor and a recent communication from Hyde Park Preservation Inc. to Wasserman indicate that the renovation scenario will be no metaphorical walk in the (Hyde) park. City Council will eventually weigh in – as will those who come before it for public comment.

The letter from HPPI president Mary Britain suggests that Wasserman consider “dramatically limiting the residential request for the (Brooks Brothers) site within the Village if not completely eliminating that aspect of the PD (Planned Development) rezoning.”

It also unsubtly reminds Wasserman “of the current sensitivity of City Council, especially certain Council members such as John Dingfelder, Linda Saul-Sena and Rose Ferlita, to the height, mass and density issues which have been presented in a number of condominium projects in South Tampa.”

Britain concluded by acknowledging that “each project is unique and stands on its own when being evaluated.” Having said that, however, she made it clear that HPPI feels strongly that “this project certainly has its own unique issues given the strategic location of the Village. Given this, it is unlikely we could support the current residential requests.”

What remains increasingly clear as renovation plans course through the re-zoning process: The real issues will be height, mass and density as well as creativity, ego and compromise.

At the end of the day, David Wasserman should be held to his word. In February he said his company’s goal was to “unite the intent of the Hyde Park Historic district design guidelines with our development vision.” He called the Village “an icon in a unique neighborhood.”

One, presumably, to be treated accordingly.

Common Sense Calling

Worth pondering:

*Scientists are finding that an adolescent’s brain undergoes a previously unsuspected biological makeover – a massive growth of synaptic connections between brain cells. This surge kick starts a major renovation of the brain that doesn’t conclude until the mid-20s, when the brain, in effect, catches up to the fully matured body.

*An immature brain – trying mightily to cope with emotions, urges, poor judgment and risk taking – is a key factor in making motor-vehicle accidents the number one cause of death among adolescents and young adults.

*Researchers from the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute determined that eight out of 10 U.S. accidents are caused by distracted drivers . Specifically, cell phones accounted for the most distractions.

*Florida is only now considering a law that would prohibit those with learners’ permits – let alone all teens — from talking on cell phones while driving.

Driven To Success

Over the past 25 years, Rick Bradshaw, 56, has given more than 100,000 golf lessons. To weekend duffers. To scratch golfers. To PGA pros. To sports celebs such as Rick Pitino. And to countless others who have seen any of the nine instructional videos he’s produced.

Among instructors, he’s a national player, an award-winning PGA teaching pro.

One lesson proved particularly propitious. The student was Willye Dent, the wife of Jim Dent, the prominent PGA Tour veteran and long-drive legend. Dent, a 12-time winner on the Senior Tour, was impressed with Bradshaw’s enthusiastic, common-sense, applied-physics approach. And patience. Heavy on the patience.

“It’s usually not a good idea to give your wife lessons,” diplomatically explained Dent, 65, the 10th all-time money winner on the PGA Senior Tour. “I liked Rick’s style.”

Also sampling the Bradshaw mien: Jim Dent, Jr. And finally Jim Dent.

A bond was born.

For the past 15 years, they have been partners in the Jim Dent & Rick Bradshaw School of Golf. Since December, they have been based at Heritage Isles Golf and Country Club in New Tampa, a venue outfitted with state-of-the-art digital video feedback equipment and staffed by five assistants. At Dent/Bradshaw, private lessons (with Bradshaw) start at $70 an hour and rates range as high as $900 per person for a “3-Day Power Package,” which is geared more to the out-of-state golf vacationer.

“Whatever the format, the key is finding a way to communicate,” avers Bradshaw. “I tell my assistants, ‘They don’t walk out of here without getting better.'”

There’s also a newsletter, DVDs, periodic Golf Channel appearances, national corporate clinics and the growing market niche of young players with tour potential.

Abbas-Ali Mawji is a prime example of the last category. The 18-year-old native of Harare, Zimbabwe, is here on a visitor’s visa after seeing a television piece on Dent/Bradshaw while in the United Kingdom. He is a two-time junior champion of Zimbabwe.

“I have dreams and aspirations for the (PGA) Tour,” says Mawji, “and this is a place that can help me realize those goals.”

And there’s the chemistry.

Dent and Bradshaw. They could be as different as a laid-back black man from Augusta, Ga., and an outgoing white man from Philadelphia, respectively. Instead, they are as complementary as two guys with a passion for golf.

Dent, still a specimen at 6’3″, 224 lbs., is the marquee name. He maintains as active an instructional role as his playing schedule permits. He’s especially popular at clinics. Dent’s powerful and seemingly effortless swing, which officially has propelled a golf ball 426 yards, is considered the nonpareil of the sport.

Bradshaw, an on-site fixture, is considered a “teacher’s teacher” and a smooth salesman — as at ease one-on-one as he is on video.

“He’s a workaholic,” quips Dent. “He only has time to get to the bank.”

“Jim’s a team player,” responds Bradshaw. “He spent time perfecting his game to make money. I taught to pay the bills.”

However it’s phrased, that’s a lesson for any partnership: Play to your strengths.

Immigration Principle: Be Fair, Be Firm

In whatever form and whenever completed, a new immigration-reform bill hopefully will reflect more enlightened self interest and pragmatism than pure politics. But even in the polarized pit that is Washington, the odds at least favor a better outcome than the last time this subject was in the cross hairs. That was in 1986, when the Immigration Reform and Control Act proved an exercise in bad policy (amnesty) and awful enforcement (of sanctions against businesses that knowingly hired the undocumented). Some context:

*No nation worth its sovereign salt can have a sieve for a border — even a country with a track record of taking in “huddled masses.” Nobody has an absolute “right” to your house.

*Nothing wrong with bigger, better border barriers – as long as you’re not fencing your own people in. How it looks from the other side is another matter. In the case of Mexico, which is ironically notorious for its own treatment of illegals from Central America, the perspective continues to be one that excuses chronic corruption, economic malfeasance and generic mismanagement of a country hardly resource-challenged. Stateside remittances are Mexico’s second biggest source of revenue after oil and a disincentive to get serious about deterring illegal immigration. This problem didn’t start with NAFTA.

*Ask anyone with inside insight on security, and they’ll tell you that seaport-container scenarios notwithstanding, a “dirty bomb” coming across the Mexican border amid a stream of economic immigrants is among the more viable terrorist possibilities.

*In the abstract, the U.S. economy – notably agriculture, construction and hospitality — would ultimately adjust without 11 million illegals. But it wouldn’t be painless. In the real world, with real logistics and unforgiving politics, however, it wouldn’t even be possible.

*Let’s hear it for some self-restraint on everybody’s part on agenda-driven, counterproductive buzzwords such as “amnesty” and “reward for breaking the law.” It would be neither a freebie nor a reward if there really is a significant commitment to be exacted to convert to legal status – whatever the details. In addition, the words “felons” and “criminals” only add heat – not light – to the debate.

*And to reiterate, some means of legitimizing illegals is necessary. A permanent underground population is the unacceptable alternative.

*A national I.D. card. If not now – post 9/11 immigration imbroglio – when?

*Good PR move for demonstrators to finally put away flags other than American. Not a good idea to say, in effect, “I have a right to stay where I entered illegally because I need the work, but I don’t need or want to be an American or even speak your language.”

*If the Statue of Liberty is to remain relevant, assimilation has to be more than a quaint historical footnote harkening back to the Ellis Island epoch. “Mexifornia” remains an ominous omen.

*And one more thing. Trying to convince the children of immigrants not to leave their school campus for a banner-waving rally proved an understandably touchy issue. The principals involved – at Durant and Plant City High Schools — did the right thing by making good on consequences. Ultimately, “civil disobedience” for a cause doesn’t trump the safety of kids who should be in classrooms instead of lining busy state roads.

And all those administrators who have long countenanced the loopy “Senior Skip Day” precedent only made it more difficult.