Getting the Talk Right

It's going to be "Knoxville Day" in Nashville October 18, when a bunch of Knoxville business leaders will go watch the Nashville Watchamacallits play a home football game.

It's going to be "Tennessee Day" in Knoxville October 18, when the Tennessee Theatre will invite a bunch of Knoxville business leaders to come to its first fund-raiser ever.

In Nashville, there'll be banners and signs honoring Knoxville Superchamber members who participate.

In Knoxville, there'll be two big shows starring Bill Cosby and a reception for those who buy premium tickets.

Under the management of Ashley Capps' AC Entertainment, the gorgeous old theater—the focal point of downtown cultural life—is making a comeback. The 70th anniversary show will raise money for renovations. So why are our trailblazers of downtown revitalization skipping an event that celebrates that very goal? Well, according to the Superchamber's invitation, mailed out about 10 days ago, "It's Football Time in Tennessee!"

"Football Time in Tennessee?" Isn't that Saturdays at Neyland Stadium??? Nope. It's an Oilers game at 12:30 CST in Nashville. It'll be tough to get back home for the 7:30 show at the Tennessee, or for the Cosby reception. And the 2:30 show? Fuggedaboudit!

Superchamber spokesperson Carol Evans says her group "gave" the Tennessee $15,000 in Central Business Improvement District money. She says she OKed the football day without the knowledge of head Superchamberman Tom Ingram, who, by the way, played a role as a paid consultant in getting the Watchamacallits to move from Houston to Nashville, where they're worried about filling up the stands at dinky Dudley Field.

Evans says she planned the Nashville trip before she knew about the Tennessee event, which was booked in June, announced in July.

Ingram is a specialist at "getting the talk right."

The Superchamber was formed, at considerable cost, to coordinate local economic development efforts.

Outing Victor

Last week's "Strolling" column in the News-Sentinel allowed an anonymous "insider" to ridicule City Councilman Danny Mayfield for skipping a ribbon-cutting for the new Zoo Drive (which cost $1 million and is designed to take visitors directly to the zoo, thus sparing them a drive through East Knoxville) to attend a meeting:

"'Must have been a $2 million meeting,' the political insider quipped."

S. Daniel Carter, the other participant in the conversation, registered his disapproval in a letter to "Strolling" author Cynthia Moxley:

"As you know, the "the political insider" was in fact the Mayor (Victor Ashe, whose) ...name is not mentioned at all.

"While essentially a gossip column, I felt that it should have at least been made clear that this was the mayor making these comments. It is well-known that the mayor and Councilman Mayfield have had disagreements on a number of issues. While the mayor may have legitimate issues, this is a petty way to air them.

"The fact is that events such as this one are nothing more than photo opportunities for the politicians attending. No actual work is done, except perhaps for the city police officers who blocked the road off so the ribbon could be stretched across it.

"The 6th District would not have benefited by Councilman Mayfield's attendance. The work that Councilman Mayfield does with Tribe One and other community groups benefits his community far more than attending a staged photo op that was only covered by one TV news crew anyway (Channel 8, although Channel 43 used the same video)."

Carter says the conversation was unpleasant, with Ashe making fun of his wardrobe: "I had my black suit on and he said I looked like I should be at a funeral." He says Ashe wasn't accurately quoted: "Somebody polished up his comments... Added some zing to them. Made them appear to be funny."

Ashe and Moxley are in Greece with a group visiting one of Knoxville's sister cities, and are unavailable for comment.