tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27400569.post115923497867230181..comments2024-02-23T02:43:28.895-06:00Comments on Yellow Chair Sports: The Night ESPN Saved Mardi GrasUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27400569.post-1159293642506214772006-09-26T13:00:00.000-05:002006-09-26T13:00:00.000-05:00Very well taken, Zuch. (Though I disagree on your ...Very well taken, Zuch. (Though I disagree on your last sentence, as several levels of government handled the situation poorly. Just blaming the federal executive response is way too short-sighted...but let's not get hung up on this.)<BR/><BR/>I'm glad you contested my points because that was lazily and hastily written, and I definitely did not articulate my point.<BR/><BR/>Essentially what I've been getting at (or trying to) is that I have a problem with the media overselling the symbolic value of the game last night. <BR/><BR/>The reopening of a valuable revenue source--that has tangible value. A three-hour long tourism ad for the city--also has tangible value. But the actual value of "having something to be excited about" or "a symbol that life is returning to nomral" is negligible, if real at all for the hardest-hit victims. Life getting back to normal? For the Saints organization, yes. <BR/><BR/>I felt that we were being sold this distorted reality that somehow the symbolic value of the Saints playing in the Superdome again is somehow an incredible boon to those still trying to recover their lives. The fiscal benefit of the reopening--yes, that is very valuable. Hopefully that revenue stream will bring livable housing and utilities back to. But the symbolic element has never nor will ever have meaning to a majority of the victims.<BR/><BR/>Hopefully I'm kind of making sense now (but probably still not since I'm trying to disect vague, possibly misguided feelings). But I'm glad you called me out and made me qualify my perceptions as best I could or else I'd be no better than Jay Mariotti.Vinniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11836050864225262267noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27400569.post-1159279552138867092006-09-26T09:05:00.000-05:002006-09-26T09:05:00.000-05:00When did this become Yellow Chair Politics?When did this become Yellow Chair Politics?Mikehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08515265223197297386noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27400569.post-1159244851717445272006-09-25T23:27:00.000-05:002006-09-25T23:27:00.000-05:00Frankly, I disagree wholeheartedly with most of th...Frankly, I disagree wholeheartedly with most of these sentiments. I don't think ESPN glossed over at all the condition the city of New Orleans is still in. Yes, they may have gone overboard a bit in their view of the Saints importance. However, the importance of the Superdome being available cannot be understated. Besides the incredible tourist money a return of the Final Four and Super Bowl will bring(just for the good PR, I expect both to be in New Orleans in next 5-7 years), the Dome will bring many people in through avenues outside of sports like conventions. Also, while the actual importance of sports will always be argued, the fact remains that tonight's broadcast showcased the recovery the French Quarter and other important tourist destinations have made to a large nationwide audience. I totally agree that the situation as a whole in Louisiana is stil a mess. However, we all know the blame squarely lies at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue and with his cronies on Capitol Hill.Zuchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09155975823397091461noreply@blogger.com