The opening ceremonies of the 30th Olympiad from London is being directed tonight by British film director Danny Boyle, known for his work on such sterling films as Slumdog Millionaire, 127 Hours and 28 Days. They'll be broadcast (on taped delay) on NBC at 7:30, and some folks in Tampa are gathering tonight to observe the events and reminisce about what never was - that is, Tampa hosting the 2012 Games.
Ed Turanchik, just a few years after leaving the County Commission a dozen years ago, dreamed the impossible dream of trying to persuade the U.S. Olympic Committee to bring the games to Tampa Bay. The region made it to top 8 cities for consideration - and then went no further.
But hey, screw the Olympics, we've got the RNC coming here in a month right?
We've also got a primary coming up in a two and a half weeks, and it's getting intense, particularly the Tom Lee - Rachel Burgin battle in Eastern Hillsborough for Senate. A recent hard hitting mailer against Lee has now led a Hillsborough County GOP activist to file an ethics charge against Burgin.
Speaking of Burgin, you might remember that amendment to a bill she filed last year that literally had the mark of ALEC, the American Legislative Exchange Council, on it. Yesterday a coalition of groups issued a report on how much influence this national group has had in helping craft legislation in Tallahassee.
And last Sunday night a Tampa Police officer shot and killed a 16-year-old black teen who they said was pointing a shotgun at the officer. Others say he was unarmed. Yesterday the parents of Javon Neal said they simply want justice in the resolution of the case.
And in our big Music issue in CL, we look at another quixotic dream: this one being St. Pete City Councilman Steve Kornell's idea of having a South By Southwest Festival in St. Petersburg.
