MIRABEAU B. LAMAR: Greene good fit for sports council (5.22.08)

Mirabeau points out to members of the Columbus Sports Council board what a good fit Herbert Greene would be if the agency decides it needs an interim director. Greene recently stepped aside as athletic director at Columbus State University and now serves as a special assistant to President Frank Brown. Just this week Janice Davis went on medical leave after nine successful years as executive director.

Mirabeau was afraid this would happen. Now that Richard Hyatt is retired from the Ledger-Enquirer and isn’t getting parking tickets on 12th Street anymore, city finances have taken a tumble. Mirabeau is sad to announce that one of the Barney Fifes who patrols for downtown violators has been laid off. Mirabeau thinks Hyatt should make a donation to the fellow’s retirement fund.

People at Columbus State tell Mirabeau that the CSU's presidency is Tim Mescon's to lose.

Mirabeau loves to play gotcha with headline writers. Mirabeau got a chuckle when he saw a recent headline in the Ledger-Enquirer that said Columbus International University was giving Burger King’s Marvin Schuester an honorary decree.

Mirabeau may have to go see Little Jimmy Dickens Saturday night. The pintsized legend has found a new career as a foil in Brad Paisley’s music videos. He joins John Conlee at the Phenix City Amphitheater.

Mirabeau is still keeping an eye on the Muscogee Superior Court races. What Judge Kenneth Followill decides to do about reelection will have an impact on other potential candidates.

Mirabeau is like many of you. He’s waiting to see what WTVM-TV does when Dee Armstrong’s contract runs out next month. Maybe they’ll replace her as a primary anchor with Mrs. Food.

Mirabeau was surprised that no local Republicans will be delegates to this summer GOP national convention this year. Bill (Little Volume) Heard III will be an alternate along with Muscogee County chair Josh McKoon. On the Democratic side, Calvin Smyre will be a delegate when his party convenes.

Mirabeau wonders if you can guess what guest of the Frank Brown retirement soiree recycled the flowers from his table at the banquet and took them to a friend recovering in the hospital. Even Mirabeau isn’t that cheap.

Cheers for Frank Thomas. Mirabeau could have told the Toronto Blue Jays not to release the Columbus High slugger, that he would start to hit. Thomas is beginning to do just that as he holds down the cleanup spot for the Oakland A’s.

Mirabeau shakes his head when he passes the Sputnik Bar on 15th Street around dawn and sees that its doors are open. Mirabeau can't decide if the customers are left over from the night before or getting an early start on that day's Budweisers.

(Got a tip? Write him at mirabeau@richardhyattcolumbus.com)