Trib Reporter Keith Morelli gives us the latest installment of how to fill a newspaper with a bunch of words that amount to nothing.
The Buccaneers unveiled a very large pirate flag on Thursday. But Morelli knows that any knucklehead with a computer can write about how there is a new big honkin’ flag. He’s gotta have something different. But it’s just a big flag. How is Morelli gonna take a football team PR stunt, and be able to stand out from some idiot in his pajamas?
Well, he comes up with a new angle, that’s how. Read the piece, and see how a professional wordsmith like Morelli can take that lame story, and turn it into a longer, even more pointless piece of drivel.
Furled Again? Nope: Bucs’ Flag Meets City Code
By KEITH MORELLI The Tampa Tribune
Published: Sep 7, 2007
TAMPA – In days of yore, hoisting the Jolly Roger instilled fear in the hearts of honest folks. The flag sent up a 15-story-high pole at One Buc Place on Thursday is intended to have the same effect on opposing football teams.
On the day it debuted, though, the 4,000-square-foot banner – a skull and crossed swords in a sea of red – caused more angst than fear as Tampa officials scurried to make sure a piece of nylon with the dimensions of a couple good-sized houses complies with the city code.
The city code? Since when does a marauding pirate trifle over city codes?
In the end, they learned, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers wouldn’t need to haul out the cannons. The 80-by-50 foot flag on the 147.5-foot pole is legal.
“Usually,” Tampa City Attorney David Smith said, “they are pretty good about checking with us on things like this.”
He had not heard about the flag-raising ceremony, though. An hour and a half before the event, he was asking questions.
“Is it on a flagpole? Is it free-standing?” Smith asked. If so, nothing in the city’s sign ordinance addresses it. If it were a banner hanging down the side of a building, that would be another story, he said. But a free-standing flagpole with a flag is legal, he said, no matter the size.
Oh, the article goes on and on (and on) from there. But the headline gives you the end result.
But was it the flag that really gave city officials more angst? Or was it some reporter with a stupid question?
Morelli bothered Tampa City Attorney David Smith with the inquiry, and then went on to get quotes from Tampa Code Enforcement Director Curtis Lane, as well as senior assistant city attorney Julia Cole.
There are no quotes from anyone who thought the flag might be a violation of city code. Which tells you right there who came up with the idea. No one else cared, or even considered it.
But after doing all that research, and wasting the valuable taxpayer-funded time of several city officials, Morelli wasn’t gonna let that keep him from a front page of METRO non-story.
rsi
2 years ago
I don’t disagree with you about the story, but I think you misplace the blame. This, no doubt, is what’s known in journalism as a “stupid editor story.” I’m sure Mr. Morelli took no more joy in reporting and writing it than you did reading it. Blame some faceless editor for the mind-numbing idea and execution.
Meredith
2 years ago
I’m inclined to agree with rsi. Perhaps the stupid editor was persuaded by some Bucs PR flack looking for more column inches. “Appreciate the giant flag, dammit!”
Carl Cronan
2 years ago
Y’all missed the whole point of this story. My reax when I read it was, “Dangit, why didn’t I think of this!” Not only did the Bucs fail to check with the city to make sure the flag met code, but the braintrusts at City Hall had NO idea. And what if it was a code violation? Would the Glazer Bros have ordered the flag taken down immediately or just stood there with a “what are you gonna do” smirk? Steve Otto’s column in Sunday’s Trib sums it up pretty well.
Junior
2 years ago
Big mistake-if it had Governor Crist as the pirate then it was perfectly all right. Crist loves his picture on enormous banners.
tommy
2 years ago
Carl,
I agree it was worth looking into, but once it was determined that the flag passed muster, there is no reason to print it.
voxyq
2 years ago
Junior !! There you go again !! LOL !!
I soo got that out of the article when someone said it would involve code if it fell down the side of a building. What arrogance when he did that. What a turn off. Davis won !! I do mind but I’m trying to give charlie a chance. Charlie wants to be loved. I feel it.
Anyhoooo — it was so overkill that there were AT LEAST fifteen mentions of that code stuff. I blogged it somewhere. Dudes, I am ordering a nailhouse flag. It’s gonna be so fricking BIG that they’ll see it in cleveland.
Now, watch the new laws come pouring out of city council.
over the years I’ve had so many good original ideas that tampa has long been creating ordinances just to pipe me down.
How’s that working out for you, Tampa??
Well, now with Joe Stines and the library board up your ass — lol, you may think it’s working out pretty well.
But, that’s not over yet, either.
LOL !!
voxyq
2 years ago
Thanks for the heads up, Carl.
Carl Cronan
2 years ago
Again, my point: When the question was first raised to City Hall, by the Trib not the Bucs, THEY DIDN’T KNOW. (I guess Watergate was a routine burglary, too.)
Junior
2 years ago
I am truly sorry but I am not of the 60 percent that likes what Crist is doing,it is very simple politics,he is playing the good cop and the rest are playing bad cop and nothing is getting done. It is an easy game,want to play/
voxy
2 years ago
junior, I like you more the more I read you.
pssst: I’m not in that sixty percent, either. IN FACT, I don’t even believe THERE IS sixty percent. There’s forces at work to shoo charlie in to the whitehouse.
I happen to know that he reads my crap online. For a fact, jack.
I’m using the power of positive reinforcement.
He needs love. We’ll give it to him but we’re NOT fooled by him.
Education got where it is today between charlie, jebby and that fool that’s running it now.
AND they’ve handed awards to elia.
You’ve blown my cover.
I’m so tired of having a governor I loathe I thought I would try something different this time. Not working so much, is it??
I’m too honest.
I try to be sly and ask him to be a governor FOR THE PEOPLE. Like he said he would be.
I don’t even believe those were real people up there protesting the realestate taxes. In fact, if I’m not mistaken there’s some evidence they were hired.
But, don’t tell charlie. Charlie needs love.
I’m gonna give him some if he gives us what’s good for Florida.
Again, I feel sure he won’t.
LOL !!
Junior when I grow up I hope I’m half as good a person as you.
voxy
2 years ago
well carl, as you know, city hall is busy with other things. LOL !!!!
I love love love your comments and your journal … good job on the coverage of htown democracy. not that what i say means anything but an appreciative fan, nonetheless.