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Brandon High Loses Match, Wins Respect

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 16, 2008

Updated: 01/14/2008 07:33 pm

Brandon lost.

In wrestling circles, that's downright oxymoronic. It comes with a national record of 459 consecutive dual match victories. Until last week, Brandon High School hadn't dropped a match in more than a generation.

Actually, the year was 1973.

As in Watergate, the Arab oil embargo and a U.S.-Vietnam cease-fire.

The year "The Godfather" won big at the Oscars and George Foreman became heavyweight champion for the first time. Secretariat ran away with the Triple Crown, Billie Jean King defeated Bobby Riggs and the Miami Dolphins completed an undefeated season by beating the Washington Redskins in the Super Bowl.

And the year Brandon High last lost - to Bradenton Manatee - until last week.

What the Eagles didn't lose was the record - no school in any sport can even approach it - or the first-class reputation that was synonymous with "The Streak" that stretched across more than three decades.

There was disappointment, shock and tears after the jolting loss. But nobody pointed fingers or blamed officials. Nobody threw a temper tantrum or trashed-talked the victors from Homestead South Dade High School. Brandon was as first-class in defeat as it had been in all those victories across all those years. Good sportsmanship didn't take a hike when "The Streak" came to a stunning, screeching halt.

Brandon wrestling is known nationally, even internationally, as an elite program with an old-school work ethic, peerless standards and unrivaled commitment to excellence. That won't change.

Locally, Brandon wrestlers are known as winners on and off the mat. They are legitimate student-athletes whose names rarely show up in the wrong places. They are a source of immense pride to the Brandon community and comport themselves accordingly. In a number of cases, the tradition has been passed from father to son.

Keep in mind, this was not a match that was regularly scheduled. For years, Brandon coach Russ Cozart has been going out of his way to host the "Beat the Streak" tournament that brought in out-of-county challengers. By soliciting better competition, he virtually assured defeat at some point - something that might not have happened for another three decades with only Hillsborough County competitors.

Brandon High. Now 459-1.

But word has it that Brandon isn't hurting for new goals. Something about an unprecedented eighth straight state championship this year.

Congratulations, Coach Cozart and the Brandon High Eagles. Nobody has competed better.

Rudy-mentary?

Reportedly, Democrat Phyllis Busansky is considering a run for the Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections office. Republican Buddy Johnson is the incumbent.

"There needs to be more integrity in the process," Busansky has said, "and I don't see it."

Item: A recent sample ballot mailed to more than 200,000 registered Hillsborough Republicans included the name of "Rudi" Giuliani.

Reportedly, Busansky is closer to a decision.

Primary Punch

As this state's Jan. 29 Florida primary draws nears, this much - despite monthslong warnings to the contrary - seems evident. Yes, our Florida primary votes will matter and no, no Florida voter will be "disenfranchised."

Big, momentum-assuring lifts await the primary winners of the nation's pre-eminent swing state, one that is a demographic microcosm of the United States. Don't be surprised if the infuriating candidate "boycott" gets analyzed even more this month. Florida is that important.

As to the seating of delegates, does anyone actually expect the conventions to determine the nominees? Not even those nostalgic for smoke-filled-room assemblies think so.

The nominees will be known beforehand and will come to the conventions for their coronations. They will have the most clout when it comes to making sure that all delegates are seated in Denver (Democrats) and Minneapolis (Republicans).

It's called self-interest, something that political candidates with an eye toward the general election are well schooled in.

Media Epiphany?

The media, as we know, love a good, prescheduled news event, one that lends itself to photography and video. Put it on an assignment sheet weeks, months or a year in advance and know you're guaranteed a nice story package.

But they're not all elections, city council showdowns, shuttle launches and summit conferences.

Just asking, but isn't it time to re-evaluate the newsworthiness and front-page coverage accorded the annual cross-diving ceremony that is part of the Epiphany celebration in Tarpon Springs?

Unless somebody wants to do an investigative piece on what happens under water.

Resolutions II

Last week's "New Year's Resolutions for Other People" item referenced those who unilaterally extend fireworks season beyond New Year's Eve. No need to revisit the rationales.

In a similarly improbable vein, we now call upon the television networks to also resolve to do something contrary to their nature when the subject is sports, especially football. When a play is over, please refrain - with exceptions, of course - from lingering on individual players as a matter of course.

It's now way beyond "reaction shots."

What you typically get - whether the player made a play or was merely in the stadium at the time - is some over-the-top, juvenile demonstration of look-at-me boorishness. Please do not enable and reward such asinine histrionics. It's not football; it's football as cheap lounge act.

In fact, if you don't show such shots, you would remove much of the incentive to behave this way. Instead, you'll be left to chronicle legitimate enthusiasm.

What a concept.

Joe O'Neill is a South Tampa writer who can be contacted at www.OpinionsToGoOnLine.com.

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