We haven't even played the Super Bowl yet, but NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue seems suitably impressed with how things have gone so far.
"I want to thank Houston for all they're continuing to do to make this game a great success," he said.Tagliabue didn't indicate when Houston might get another Super Bowl, but he did say, "it's been a truly magnificent team, and we look forward to returning for another Super Bowl."
the star struck happy talk on the TV news
It would be difficult not to notice the "star struck happy talk" as you describe it. I find that facet quite annoying because Houston is typically not a star struck city.
Another thing, doesn't it seem that radio/TV have gone a little overboard warning audiences to be on the lookout for counterfeit NFL souveniers? After all, bootleg movies are bought and sold every day in Houston with nary a mention. I'm sure copyright laws are violated more often than I could even guess. So why the concern about some guy selling t-shirts out of the trunk of his car?
My speculation is that media outlets have been given incentives of some sort to be a mouthpiece for the NFL this week. I have no evidence to my claim other than how annoyed I have felt at the local media all week.
Posted by: Greg V on February 1, 2004 1:11 PMI think they're just chasing ratings. Even with 150,000 people at the downtown party last night, that leaves a lot of us not there. Surely some of them will tune in to see what they missed.
Posted by: Charles Kuffner on February 1, 2004 3:19 PMThe Chron and all the TV and radio stations have indeed been full of happy talk and boosterism. But it's a true fact™ that the Super Bowl will affect perceptions of Houston, by both its own citizens and by other folks around the world. Perceptions, in turn, affect things like businesses' willingness to locate here. We've invested quite a bit — emotionally and financially — in getting the Texans franchise and keeping the Rockets and Astros here. So I have a fairly high tolerance for the boosterism and happy talk. I'm glad for the city to have this chance to show off.
Posted by: Beldar on February 1, 2004 8:01 PMI don't mind the boosterism so much, though it has been a little over the top. I just want to know if the happy talk is warranted, and I don't exactly have full faith in their objectivity right about now.
Posted by: Charles Kuffner on February 1, 2004 9:48 PMI think one of the more obvious cases of "boosterism" on TV came last Friday on the Channel 13 news. Usually Marvin Zindler does his thing about all the restaurants with roaches, improperly stored meat and slime in the ice machine...but we can't have that while "company's coming," can we? So instead, Marvin just focused on some of his favorite places to each.
No doubt, come this Friday, with virtually all the visitors gone, we'll get our Slime in the Ice Machine again.
My biggest complaint is about a restraunt by the name of Capulcos- located on 290 and Barker Cypress.
This place is downright disgusting, the ice machine smells like something died in there. The
dishes are not clean, there are dead roaches dried to the dishes straight from the dishwasher..The health dept. should definitely shut this one DOWN!!!!! Marvin if you care about busting filthy eating establishments, you should really check this one out.