You know it's a slow news month when the Raleigh Public Affairs Department issues a four-page news release about the city's Sir Walter Raleigh statue being moved--three months ago--to the front of the convention center. Apparently, Sir Walter is "starting some buzz" among conventioneers and has become a good luck charm for all those tourists wondering around downtown Raleigh. (Maybe the newspaper industry needs to start rubbing Sir Walter's boot.)

The statue, of course, has been around for decades. Yes, Sir Walter did take a sabbatical to the Midwest, but the city unveiled his refurbished physique in 2006 at Raleigh Wide Open 1 (not do be confused with the AWESOME Raleigh Wide Open 2 featuring headliner Eddie Money). Sir Walter's popularity was evident that night when he proved to be a bigger draw than Mayor Charles Meeker.

Still, I think it's fair to say some people find the 11-foot bronze statue a bit strange looking, possibly even creepy. Clearly, the Sir Walter standing outside the Convention Center won't ever be confused with Clive Owen. The city's news release notes that sculptor responsible for the statue viewed Sir Walter as being an elegant man, not a sloppy man. I think the city should consider commissioning a companion statue that would stand along side Sir Walter. Somebody who like Sir Walter is elegant, but not sloppy. Somebody who could bridge Raleigh's past with its future.

I'd suggest a bronze 11-foot Eddie Money. Got a better idea?