Sure, the focus last weekend was the economic impact of having all those basketball fans–approximately 20,000, including Kentucky and Florida faithful–in town for the six NCAA men’s basketball tournament games at the Forum. Some Channelside Bay Plaza observers said it looked like a “mini Super Bowl.”
Not to be overlooked, however, was the downtown presence of those–7,000 strong–not in Tampa for anything remotely resembling “March Madness.” Mostly students–but also parents and volunteers–who were here for the Florida State Thespian Festival at the Straz Center for the Performing Arts and the Tampa Convention Center.
I came upon about a dozen of the high school participants out in front of the Straz. They were an eclectic mix: girls and boys, white, black and Asian looking. With one manifest commonality: a refreshing sort of, well, unaffected geekiness. You know, that sort of un-cool look that unathletic, smart kids with good grades and old-school manners have.
They seemed pleased and proud when a total stranger of a different generation noted how nice it was to see achieving young people in town for something other than sports.
“Congratulations,” I said, as a kind of drive-by compliment to no one in particular. They looked pleasantly taken aback. So I offered this: “You’re obviously here because you’re good at something. And that something is all about being smart, prepared and well spoken. Good luck.”
They lit up with pride. They hear that from their teachers and instructors. They hear it from their parents. But none will ever be the big man on campus. Nor likely the prom queen. High school dynamics and adolescent peerage don’t work that way.
But here was somebody rendering outside-world validation that the debating team was kind of cool too.
They obviously loved hearing it. I know it made me feel good to say it.