SCHMOOZING WITH THE DEAD

Your faithful, ambulance-chasing John Q. Public was doing his thing yesterday, listening to my preferred "Traffic, Weather and 'News'" radio station, when I was startled to hear the name of Adrian Fenty, mayor of Washington, D.C. mentioned. Mayor Fenty is the arrogant bikester and "homeboy trotter" who has been mentioned before by me in my blog comments.

What was the issue that engendered a reporter/commentator's indignation which his radio audience was forced to consider?

Let me provide the readers who are not denizens of D.C. Metro some recent history. The owner of the Washington Wizards (formerly Baltimore Bullets) died recently. He was also a prominent figure in the real estate scene locally. He may have properties elsewhere, also. Still, he is best known for building a sports arena in Largo, MD, which is in Prince Georges County (D.C. suburb), and subsequently, a new sports arena in a relatively unpromising area of the downtown. This new facility is the present home of the Wizards professional basketball team.

In conjunction with the Washington Convention Center the new facility built by the Wizard owner was credited with creating a "renaissance" in that part of downtown Washington, D.C. This renewal was not one of beautiful architecture that seized the imagination of the viewer and impowered the spirit to greater achievements. No one has ever lauded the gentleman-owner of the Wizards on that score - at least no one credible in the area of aesthetics. This renewal was of populations of well-heeled individuals flowing regularly to these two facilities (and to the forest of hotels and restaurants that have arisen to cater to their needs). It is money funneled into this area by fans and convention-goers that revitalized the area. How welcomed this money was!

The buildings themselves are like a cluster of warts on the skin: fascinating, perhaps, to a dermatologists, but not reckoned of much merit or value as examples of architecture to the well-balanced mind.

This owner of the Wizards and builder of buildings became quite rich over time. He was praised for his philanthropy. He appeared to be a man who wanted to leave the world a better place than when he came into it. This in itself would separate him from the great mass of humanity. He retained a certain degree of humility.

A friend within the Jewish community of Washington, D.C., who was a principal in the Giant Food Co. before it was sold, Israel Cohen (as I recall), had referred to him as a "mensch" ("a little man, a common man"). He was not trying to denigrate this owner and builder but praising him for retaining that quality. Perhaps for that reason also he had many devoted friends. He was married to the same woman for fifty-plus years, as I recall. He had children to carry on his way of doing.

This deceased owner of the Wizards was named "Abe Pollin." Clearly, he was a remarkable man.

However, probably contrary to his own character and inclinations, his death has been treated as if it were the death of an important head of state, or a globally revered figure, such as the late Pope John-Paul II or Sister Theresa. He is being presented in his death to first the high and then the low. Politicians of the highest rank have paid their respects. Mr. Pollin has been eulogized by Democrat, Republican, famous athletes, etc. Surely, he has been recognized enough; surely it is time to lay the man to his rest.

But, no. The media at the level of national news may omit certain matters, but the local media is locally focused. The death of Mr. Pollin is "too big" to simply drop.

For that reason this radio "talking voice" took Mayor Adrian Fenty to task for not attending one of the memorial events held in behalf of - of - of the memory of Abe Pollin. No one at this radio station (or anywhere else in Washington) is capable of saying when "enough is enough." Things like the death of Abe Pollin don't end until another bigger and better story arises.

This non-attendance by Mayor Fenty had been mentioned before on this radio station, which is apparently Mormon-owned and Jewish-operated (certainly in terms of talent). One might infer that there is a sub rosa defamation of Adrian Fenty as "anti-Semetic" from the pained tones of the questions regarding his "no-show" at a memorial event. How could anyone not weep and gnash his teeth at the death of such a man? the "talking voice" seemed to lament. The clincher in regard to this is that the radio "talking voice" wondered if Mayor Fenty had not "dissed" Abe Polin and/or his family by not attending the memorial event and, instead, flying down to Miami to watch the Wizards play.


True to character, Mayor Fenty refused to answer the question directly, but hid behind the skirts of his family. He's protecting his family, doncha know? He stone-walled all questions with his insufferable air of overweening arrogance.

What entered my mind was this: Why did not the reporters upbraid the basketball players who comprised the Wizards? They were well-paid beneficiaries of Mr. Pollin's search for a winning team - a champoinship team, which he wanted to give to the people of Washington, D.C. If the memorial event to Abe Pollin was so important, why would his team not be there? If one stated that Abe Pollin "would have wanted his team to play," then why is it not fair to urge that he "would have liked the fans to see the Wizards play, also?" It may be fair to speculate that his spirit was in Miami with his team and, perhaps, sitting right next to Mayor Fenty unbeknownst, rather than at the memorial event with all those other politicians and fakes mumbling pieties and "over-the-top" accolades..

I see in this a false piety, as well as inequality of treatment.

How could it happen? Many people who are not yuppies, urban pioneers, or manical bikesters detests Mayor Adrian Fenty. One really can't blame the radio station for "grasping at straws." However, maybe Fenty isn't all bad. Maybe he knew Abe Pollin better than the radio "talking voices."

Let Abe Pollin finally have his deserved rest.