Yep, you read correctly. Twiggie- The Water-Skiing Squirrel - will not be doing her thing at the up-coming Mid-America (Cleveland) Boat and Fishing Show. The event is scheduled for Jan. 14 through 23 at the massive I-X Center in Cleveland.
Long before Twiggie became a national star that appeared on just about every morning television show there is, she water-skied her way to fame at the Cleveland Boat Show, brought there by now-retired Lake Erie Marine Trades Association president, Norm Schultz, formerly of Mentor.
Schultz knew a hit when he saw one, and Twiggie won over the hearts of many Boat Show visitors. So much so that she became a Boat Show fixture; possibly even an icon.
Pity the fishing seminar speaker whose stage time conflicted with that of Twiggie. The seats for the seminar were nearly empty while throngs of visitors flocked around the shallow pool where a remote-controlled boat pulled the little gray squirrel around. I should know since during many of my speaking engagements at the Boat Show were upstaged by Twiggie.
Her appearance even drew the wrath of the rabidly anti-hunting/fishing/water-skiing squirrel group, PETA.
And this year she's not a Boat Show staple. Instead, the Boat Show promises that visitors will be enthralled by the two-day static appearance of the Time Bandit Super V Lite offshore raving boat.
Yeah, if that's going to happen.
- Jeffrey L. Frischkorn
JFrischkorn@News-Herald.com
Just goes to show you how popular a little Florida gray squirrel can get. And, "I feel your pain" -- to steal a line from a certain President -- at being upstaged by this aquabatic rodent!
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