Dispatches From Miami: the Elian Chronicles

By HOWARD ROSENBERG

Jan. 31, 2000 12 AM PT

From CNN: “In the ‘Crossfire’ tonight will be Elian Gonzalez, who will be questioned by Bill Press and Mary Matalin about first grade in Miami, Fla., compared with education in Cuba.”

From Exile Press in Miami: “Newly established Exile Press announced today that Elian Gonzalez has agreed in principle to write his autobiography, with a summer publication date. The anxiously awaited book’s title will be ‘Elian Gonzalez: My Anti-Castro Memoirs as Told to My Relatives and Other Cuban Exiles Opposed to the Devil Leader and His Evil Communist Regime.’ ”

From Elian Inc.: “Elian Gonzalez’s great-uncle, who is also his chief of staff, has rejected scurrilous charges that the freedom-loving youth’s new clothing line, El Nino, is manufactured at sweatshops.

“ ‘It’s apparent, instead,’ Elian’s great-uncle was told by Elian, ‘that Fidel Castro is spreading these false rumors to thwart production of El Nino so that the line of sports apparel will not be ready for the all-important spring season.’ ”

From the Associated Press: “Republican George W. Bush and Democrat Al Gore reportedly have each scheduled a visit to Miami’s Little Havana in hopes of securing an endorsement from Elian Gonzalez in the coming presidential election.

“Aides for Bush and Gore would neither confirm nor deny reports that their candidates had arranged to see Elian, but they acknowledged that his endorsement could turn out to be pivotal in determining which side carries Florida in the November balloting.

“A spokesperson for Elian said the youth’s representatives had been negotiating with the camps of both sides but that the former Cuban resident would be unable to receive either candidate until after his previously scheduled talks at the Vatican with Pope John Paul II.”

From the Associated Press: “CNN’s new bureau in Miami’s Little Havana remained open after being stormed by hundreds of Cuban Americans accusing the 24-hour news network of favoring Cuban leader Fidel Castro. The charge arises from CNN’s reported refusal to offer Elian Gonzalez and his entourage another trip to Disney World in exchange for an exclusive interview with Wolf Blitzer about Big Bird, ‘Sesame Street’ and the TV industry’s Saturday morning children’s programs.

“ ‘They play hardball, we play hardball,’ said Elian’s New York-based media advisor. A CNN source said the dispute resulted from miscommunications.”

From Jenny Craig: “Jenny Craig is proud to announce that Elian Gonzalez is joining the weight-reduction firm as a commercial spokesman. The addition of young Elian will not change the status of Monica Lewinsky, with whom he will be making joint appearances.

“Jenny Craig contacted Elian after being informed by his family in Miami that he expressed a desire to work with Jenny Craig to trim some pounds. Elian plans to elaborate on this in his coming appearance on CNN with Larry King.”

From ESPN: “Basketball recruiters from Miami, Florida and Florida State have made exploratory visits to the Elian Gonzalez family compound in Little Havana hoping to secure a letter of intent from the youngster, whose quickness and court sense have impressed scouts from all three schools.

“ ‘He’s one of the best 6-year-olds in the country,’ said one of the scouts. ‘He’d fit into our program, and we’d love to have him visit our campus,’ said another.

“However, Elian’s relatives are said to be holding out for a major shoe deal. When informed that would violate NCAA rules, one of them accused the NCAA of being pro-Castro and hinted that Elian might skip college and jump right to the NBA.”

From the Associated Press: “The Republican Party scored a major political coup today when they announced that Elian Gonzalez would make an appearance at the party’s national convention July 31 to Aug. 3 in Philadelphia.

“Little Elian had also been in negotiations with the Democratic Party, whose convention is set for Aug. 14 to 17 in Los Angeles. However, those talks reportedly fell through when his relatives in Miami accused likely Democratic presidential nominee Al Gore of being a paid agent of Fidel Castro.

“Elian is expected to arrive on the Republican convention floor on the shoulders of expected presidential nominee George W. Bush. A GOP spokesman denied charges by Democratic sources that Elian’s decision to appear at the Republican convention was influenced by the Harley Davidson given to him by the party.”

From “Entertainment Tonight”: “Young love may be blooming in Hollywood, and we have the story. But a spokesman for Elian Gonzalez won’t say if he and little Mackenzie Rosman, who plays the youngest of the Camden brood on the WB’s ‘7th Heaven,’ are serious or just good friends. The spokesman cautioned not to read too much into unconfirmed reports of their plans to make a joint appearance at the coming Academy Awards.

“Meanwhile, one of Elian’s relatives in Miami said that joint Oscar appearance would not be finalized until the family sounded out Mackenzie on Cuba.”

From Morning Report in the Los Angeles Times: “Several members of Elian Gonzalez’s family in Miami withdrew from a scheduled appearance with him on NBC’s ‘Meet the Press’ Sunday after accusing the 6-year-old of being a paid agent of Fidel Castro.”

Howard Rosenberg’s column appears Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. He can be contacted via e-mail at [email protected].