Titus O’Neil saves 1st Friday

WWE superstar and local philanthropist Titus O’Neil took time out from doing everything in the Tampa Bay Area to rescue First Friday St. Pete.

The event was cancelled in November and was slated to be cancelled this month due to what has been cited as a lack of funds until O’Neil stepped in at the last second. 

“I was taking a little break from my usual Wednesday night routine of raising money for 14 or 15 different charitable causes by washing dishes at the Columbia in Ybor because they were short handed – get well soon, Pablito! – when I heard that this wildly popular downtown family-friendly St. Pete event might be coming to an end,” said O’Neil from the 14th tee box at former Buccaneer K.D. Dunn’s charity golf tournament just prior to launching a 645-foot drive which landed on the green about four inches from the hole. “So I made a couple of calls. That’s it, really.”

It’s not known who he called and what was discussed but one local altruist, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said it doesn’t matter.

“I don’t know what First Friday is and to be honest, I kind of hate St. Pete as much as the hockey team I own hates the Florida Panthers. But all I needed to hear was that Titus was involved,” they said. “Money couldn’t fly out of my pocket fast enough!”

“It was no big deal. I love Tampa Bay and everyone who lives here. I’m just happy to help. Have fun on Central Avenue tonight, everybody. I’ll be busy doing… something else” O’Neil said as he resumed rocking my hospice-ridden grandmother to sleep before running off to build bicycles for blind orphans.