upper waypoint

Video: San Francisco City Librarian Reads 'The Raven' While Wearing a Baltimore Jersey

Save ArticleSave Article
Failed to save article

Please try again

Remember when San Francisco Public Library made a Super Bowl bet with their Baltimore counterparts? You don't? Okay, well remember when the 49ers lost the Super Bowl? Yeah, that you remember.

Well anyway, one of the consequences of that oh-so-close defeat was that San Francisco City Librarian Luis Herrera had to recite the poem "The Raven" while wearing a Baltimore jersey, then put the video on YouTube, as per the wager. The SFPL posted the video on Saturday, maybe when it thought no one was looking. Even though Herrera is wearing No. 52, don't be confused -- "The Raven" is not about Ray Lewis. It's about "Lenore," who I think was a placekicker in the 1840s or something.

Notice how the supporting cast used purple paper for their scripts? Now that's an above-and-beyond presentation.

Sponsored

If the Niners had won, not only would you not be replaying that last series of downs over and over in your mind, but Pratt Library CEO Carla Hayden would have had to have donned a 49ers jersey while reciting "The Cool, Grey City of Love - San Francisco," by George Sterling.

By the way, not to put Mr. Herrera on the spot -- he did a more than admirable job -- but here's Christopher Walken reading "The Raven," with sound effects and everything ...

lower waypoint
next waypoint
Stunning Archival Photos of the 1906 Earthquake and FireCould Protesters Who Shut Down Golden Gate Bridge Be Charged With False Imprisonment?San Francisco Sues Oakland Over Plan to Change Airport NameAlameda County DA Charges 3 Police Officers With Manslaughter in Death of Mario GonzalezDeath Doula Alua Arthur on How and Why to Prepare for the EndAfter Parole, ICE Deported This Refugee Back to a Country He Never KnewDespite Progress, Black Californians Still Face Major Challenges In Closing Equality GapGaza Aid Flotilla to Include Bay Area ResidentsSF’s Equity Program Fails to Address Racial Disparities in Cannabis IndustryWhy Is Google Removing News Links for Some Californians?