exstatic
01-18-2006, 11:31 PM
The Water Cooler: Lessons from Louisiana
Web Posted: 01/18/2006 12:00 AM CST
San Antonio Express-News
The Saints have marched in. The Saints have marched out. And the moral of the story?
Cliffs Notes version
Three words to remember, one of them used twice, as we assess the city's fall fling with the Saints: No harm, no foul. Three more words to remember, one of them used twice, as we consider the possibility that Tom Benson shows up in our parlor again, smiling sheepishly and holding flowers: Thanks but no thanks.
Lesson 1: On true benevolence
No one in our area code deserves any real criticism for how local city and business leaders conducted themselves during the Saints' four-month bivouac here. We were the perfect hosts and supportive patrons. If we erred by lusting excessively after the Saints, we erred on the side of exuberance. The coming years may determine that our exuberance convinced some other NFL team to come here. Hopefully, that team would be owned by someone other than Tom Benson.
But no harm done. It was a nice ride, but now that horse is back in the barn, back in Louisiana, having left us with nothing more than a dozen quarters of NFL fame and a few lessons learned. Chief among these is the absolute necessity of saying "no thanks" to Benson if he comes calling in the future.
Four months ago, WC opined that Benson ought to be treated like any other displaced New Orleans businessman, free of recrimination for doing what he thinks best to keep his business viable. But now Benson has decided to return to Louisiana — and become part of the national pledge to rebuild that city. Granted, considerable pressure was applied to encourage Benson to go home. But rather than fight in court, he agreed to pocket considerable incentives and comply. Now he is committed to the cause of rebirth in the Big Easy. Bully for Benson.
Lesson 2: On true vulturedom
Still, Benson has left an impression with some local leaders that he may be back in 2007 if, after soaking up a season of NFL sustenance, he doesn't like the way he's treated — or if the Superdome turnstiles don't click fast enough. That's not going to cut it. Every other business now retrenching in Louisiana is going to face recessive revenues in the short term. And so is Benson. That's the burden he has elected to carry.
No foul occurred the first time the city batted eyes at Benson. It was, after all, Benson who batted his bushy brows first, back before Katrina was a sunbeam on the bounding main. Now, considering Benson's "gallant" return to Louisiana, it would be unneighborly, at best, and immoral, at worst, for San Antonio to encourage him, in any way, to come back, any time before New Orleans returns to vitality.
And, yet, the greater concern is the future opportunity, if Benson comes back, for San Antonio to play the Mardi Gras fool. City leaders should look back on the past four months as our opportunity to try Benson on for size, as well as the other way around. Sorry, only an unemployed car salesman would conclude that it's a good fit.
Lesson 3: Benson's box score
It reads like this: Three times he laid out his intentions to wild-eyed city officials. And three times, when compelled by the calendar to back up his intentions, he backed down. Or, more accurately, he bellied up to the deal de jour, confident that each day would deliver a new sucker. Specifically:
Benson had the opportunity, in November, to declare force majeure and effectively sever his legal ties to Louisiana. When the deadline arrived, he declined. While Benson may have had us at "hello," he lost us at "force majeure."
As the season came to an end, as the Alamodome swelled with fans for the third time, Benson declared his intent to press for a split home schedule in 2006. Local officials stood in anticipation of a half-dozen Saints games landing in the Alamodome. Then the league summoned Benson to Louisiana, waved its checkbook, and Benson, like an 8-year-old runaway, agreed to come home.
Even then local officials clung tightly to back-channel messages from Benson that San Antonio might land a few 2006 games, maybe a couple of exhibitions. Alamodome dates were left open — until this week when the city learned that even Benson's back channels are clogged with hubris.
Three strikes. He's out.
Lesson 4: Be careful what you asked for
Not that Benson cares about striking out, except to the extent that it may limit his ability to sell the same car twice. Surely, city leaders know now that to possess an NFL team is to possess its owner (ask Houston about Bud Adams). And as far as team owners go, Benson is a lemon, a man unashamed by his insincere flirtations and unshackled by any sense of public accountability.
San Antonio needs that about as much as New Orleans needed Katrina. We should admire the courage of Louisianans, who now have to deal with both.
Web Posted: 01/18/2006 12:00 AM CST
San Antonio Express-News
The Saints have marched in. The Saints have marched out. And the moral of the story?
Cliffs Notes version
Three words to remember, one of them used twice, as we assess the city's fall fling with the Saints: No harm, no foul. Three more words to remember, one of them used twice, as we consider the possibility that Tom Benson shows up in our parlor again, smiling sheepishly and holding flowers: Thanks but no thanks.
Lesson 1: On true benevolence
No one in our area code deserves any real criticism for how local city and business leaders conducted themselves during the Saints' four-month bivouac here. We were the perfect hosts and supportive patrons. If we erred by lusting excessively after the Saints, we erred on the side of exuberance. The coming years may determine that our exuberance convinced some other NFL team to come here. Hopefully, that team would be owned by someone other than Tom Benson.
But no harm done. It was a nice ride, but now that horse is back in the barn, back in Louisiana, having left us with nothing more than a dozen quarters of NFL fame and a few lessons learned. Chief among these is the absolute necessity of saying "no thanks" to Benson if he comes calling in the future.
Four months ago, WC opined that Benson ought to be treated like any other displaced New Orleans businessman, free of recrimination for doing what he thinks best to keep his business viable. But now Benson has decided to return to Louisiana — and become part of the national pledge to rebuild that city. Granted, considerable pressure was applied to encourage Benson to go home. But rather than fight in court, he agreed to pocket considerable incentives and comply. Now he is committed to the cause of rebirth in the Big Easy. Bully for Benson.
Lesson 2: On true vulturedom
Still, Benson has left an impression with some local leaders that he may be back in 2007 if, after soaking up a season of NFL sustenance, he doesn't like the way he's treated — or if the Superdome turnstiles don't click fast enough. That's not going to cut it. Every other business now retrenching in Louisiana is going to face recessive revenues in the short term. And so is Benson. That's the burden he has elected to carry.
No foul occurred the first time the city batted eyes at Benson. It was, after all, Benson who batted his bushy brows first, back before Katrina was a sunbeam on the bounding main. Now, considering Benson's "gallant" return to Louisiana, it would be unneighborly, at best, and immoral, at worst, for San Antonio to encourage him, in any way, to come back, any time before New Orleans returns to vitality.
And, yet, the greater concern is the future opportunity, if Benson comes back, for San Antonio to play the Mardi Gras fool. City leaders should look back on the past four months as our opportunity to try Benson on for size, as well as the other way around. Sorry, only an unemployed car salesman would conclude that it's a good fit.
Lesson 3: Benson's box score
It reads like this: Three times he laid out his intentions to wild-eyed city officials. And three times, when compelled by the calendar to back up his intentions, he backed down. Or, more accurately, he bellied up to the deal de jour, confident that each day would deliver a new sucker. Specifically:
Benson had the opportunity, in November, to declare force majeure and effectively sever his legal ties to Louisiana. When the deadline arrived, he declined. While Benson may have had us at "hello," he lost us at "force majeure."
As the season came to an end, as the Alamodome swelled with fans for the third time, Benson declared his intent to press for a split home schedule in 2006. Local officials stood in anticipation of a half-dozen Saints games landing in the Alamodome. Then the league summoned Benson to Louisiana, waved its checkbook, and Benson, like an 8-year-old runaway, agreed to come home.
Even then local officials clung tightly to back-channel messages from Benson that San Antonio might land a few 2006 games, maybe a couple of exhibitions. Alamodome dates were left open — until this week when the city learned that even Benson's back channels are clogged with hubris.
Three strikes. He's out.
Lesson 4: Be careful what you asked for
Not that Benson cares about striking out, except to the extent that it may limit his ability to sell the same car twice. Surely, city leaders know now that to possess an NFL team is to possess its owner (ask Houston about Bud Adams). And as far as team owners go, Benson is a lemon, a man unashamed by his insincere flirtations and unshackled by any sense of public accountability.
San Antonio needs that about as much as New Orleans needed Katrina. We should admire the courage of Louisianans, who now have to deal with both.