One More Chance
If there ever was any doubt that Bay City’s message to Madonna would be heard, surely those fears are alleviated today. A story first published by The Bay City Times on Saturday, and picked up by the Associated Press, has since spread around the world, being rebroadcast and reprinted by more than 200 media outlets globally.
In many cases, the headlines read ”Bay City wants 2nd chance from Madonna.”
The stories ran in newspapers and on radio stations and television programs everywhere from the United States to Canada, Ireland, France, China, Australia, New Zealand, the Persian Gulf and beyond.
”I got a call Monday from New York. It was ABC News,” said Bay City Mayor Charles M. Brunner, who wants to give Madonna a key to the city of her birthplace. ”They asked me some questions and recorded my conversation.
”Somebody was listening to ABC News on WJR and it was on the radio,” he added. ”I haven’t heard anything yet, but it’s certainly creating a lot of excitement.”
A Google News search on Wednesday returned 206 articles containing the phrases ”Bay City” and ”Madonna.”
The stories focus on Brunner’s recent letter to Madonna: ”We have always been proud of your accomplishments but recently your induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame reminded us that we need to honor you with the highest honor that Bay City can offer, and that is with the key to the city,” he wrote.
The New York Times carried its own version of the story on Monday with the headline, ”Bay City to Madonna: Come Home.”
The news even made a splash on RollingStone.com on Wednesday.
Other versions of the story ran in USA Today, The Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, New Zealand Herald, The Standard (Hong Kong), China Post, Khaleej Times (Dubai), Toronto Star, International Herald Tribune (France), Arizona Republic, Houston Chronicle, Philadelphia Inquirer, Boston Globe, Chicago Sun-Times, Detroit Free Press, Seattle Times, Miami Herald, San Francisco Chronicle and Minneapolis Star Tribune.
”The ball’s in her court, so if I don’t hear anything then I guess she just doesn’t want to do it,” Brunner said. ”Everybody I’ve talked to in the city just thinks it’s a great idea.”
”But will Madonna accept an offer from a city that’s rejected her so many times?????” muses the pop culture critic, referring to the time a former Bay City mayor refused to give Madonna a key to the city back in 1985. Brunner, keeping his fingers crossed, says he’s confident the Material Girl still has a fair share of hometown pride and will come.
”The flashing of ‘Bay City’ during her induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame – there’s no doubt in my mind that had to have been something she requested be put up there,” Brunner said.
Source: Bay City Times
Thanks to Dennis