On his last full day in office, Mayor Karl Dean received a final award and also a surprise parting gift from the Downtown Nashville Partnership. What they gave the mayor didn’t have a Nashville twang — but a Boston brogue.
The baseball-themed poem that made him light up with surprise in front of hundreds at the annual luncheon ceremony.
Dean, a devoted fan of the Boston Red Sox, was serenaded by the team’s official poet. (Yes, that exists.) Dick Flavin managed to weave together the mayor’s legacy with his love of baseball — in rhyme.
“Here’s a look you at Mayor Dean. You put Nashville on the map. But tomorrow you’ll be out of work, so let’s take a victory lap.
As you jog about the town, just take a look around. There’s a new convention center, a ballpark for the Sounds.
The neighborhoods are thriving. You’ve set the town a whirl. You’ve done more for Nashville’s image than dear old Minnie Pearl.
You’ve brought us back form that darn flood, when the town was on a brink. But as for your Boston Red Sox — let’s face it, Karl — they stink.
That’s why were bringing you up there to play for the Red Sox. You’ve made Nashville a winner, now do it for those jocks.
You’ll hit home runs and doubles, and to help you with all that, we’ve got the perfect tool for you … it’s Carl Yastrzemski’s bat!”
With that, Flavin pulled a gleaming wood bat from beneath the podium. Dean took it with a smile, but then looked stunned after the poet made it clear that it was a genuine Yastrzemski bat.
Dean gave it a swing before stepping from the stage.
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