« January 2010 | Main | March 2010 »
From left: Texas vs. the Nation chairman Kenny Hansmire, Western Refining's Gary Hanson, El Paso Mayor John Cook, County Judge Anthony Cobos and Pro Football Hall of Fame marketing director David Motts in happier times...Like, just a few months ago.
So, I finish my stint as the Man in the Box, walking out of the cramped PA booth toward the promise of a beautiful El Paso winter's day, sunshine and mountains and the always-inspiring view from the Sun Bowl resonant, along with some decent football in the fourth annual Texas vs. the Nation Challenge.
Life was good as I walked down the hall of the Sun Bowl's press box. And then I walked into the KROD booth.
My KROD friends were wrapping up their broadcast of TvN, but the mood was a little shocked and sheepish. Sideline reporter Lou Romano had gotten the low-down from the field after interviewing El Paso mayor John Cook and TvN CEO Kenny Hansmire -- the Mayor was ashamed of his town and Hansmire alluded to other Texas cities laughing sarcastically at El Paso, and that he was ready to ship the game east next year.
The missing 10,000-or-so folks who could have put the game attendance over 35,000 to keep it here (you heartless bastards!) had not bothered to show up on a beautiful day.
And so, El Paso, according to our mayor and a Dallas promoter who lives here for about a month leading up to this game, it's suddenly Texas vs. El Paso. We're losers again while those covetous big-timers in Dallas and San Antonio and Austin yuk it up at our expense.
Who the...?
What the...?
No, that's not me asking those questions. That's Dallas and San Antonio and Austin upon hearing Kenny Hansmire is moving his game their way.
Saying other cities in Texas have been chomping at the bit for a game featuring players who've never been finalists for any of the major college awards reeks of something we've smelled from other promoters who've been here and split.
Who do you think you're kidding, Kenny Hansmire? This same game (as in the same players) in Dallas wouldn't draw flies.
Maybe it draws bigger names because it's in Dallas, in which case it might have a shot. But ask SMU and TCU what selling college football tickets in a pro town is like.
Seriously, Kenny. Do you think your patter about how Jerry Jones wanted this game in his new Cowboys Stadium but that you were sticking with El Paso really convinced anybody of Dallas' desire or your loyalty?
I'm sure there are elements of truth in what you say, but to what degree?
I will readily admit this is a knee-jerk response to Hansmire's knee-jerk response -- we'll all learn a little more over the next few days.
UTEP and El Paso gave Texas vs. the Nation a good deal. We want to nurture new events that take a chance on this city.
Yes, getting the Pro Football Hall of Fame as title sponsor really did raise the stakes. Give credit where credit is due -- Hansmire worked his tail off to donate to charity, stroke the community by bringing in ex-Dallas Cowboys out the wazoo, putting time and energy into creating something here.
But...
...To be yelled at by the director of a still-young game who hasn't brought one big-time college football talent to play here, who promised fans the Pro Football Hall of Fame would give El Paso dibs on the list of next summer's new inductees (a list we eventually found elsewhere), and who, most importantly, didn't bother telling anyone that they could lose the event if they didn't put out?
This is like getting a Dear John letter after a first date.
It's burning a bridge that was still under construction.
There seem to be a couple of factors at work in creating the low attendance. First, I'm not sure the fact that Canton, OH, had come calling really sunk in.
Also, UTEP is top of Conference USA in basketball with the biggest game of the season being played that same night in front of a sold-out crowd.
Not only did the Miners basketball team probably siphon some money that might otherwise have been spent that afternoon in the Sun Bowl, they almost certainly siphoned attention and momentum.
Don't get me wrong -- Texas vs. the Nation is a great concept and has been a wonderful event. Hansmire had it just right, too -- bringing a new game to a city that likes football but hasn't seen a whole lot of winning football played, outside of the Brut Sun Bowl.
Who's to say Hansmire wouldn't outlast the other senior all-star games and get a shot at having a Tim Tebow or a Colt McCoy play here?
Not after this rant. Now, too many people who had no stake in this to begin with can say, "Who cares?"
You can listen to Duke on the KLAQ Morning Show, weekdays 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. on 95.5 FM.
Duke comments on sports in general, but usually sticks close to home.
E-mail Duke at dkeith@klaq.com.
Recent Comments