Good job Houston in the Super Bowl!

[CTroyMathis]

I saw some great things this last week and more.
Houston and Texas represented pretty well. Even with the bare tit thing.

Bron, you're thread copy will be re-inserted below. Just tell me you aren't inserting comments into this forum just to dumb it down. This forum isn't for this. Cheers.

[CTroyMathis]

addressed to a Houston audience at a Houston forum. be forewarned.

"I couldn't be prouder of Houston, you guys. Some factors were in our hands, other factors, like who would win the Super Bowl and how blown out it would be (HA HA), were outside of our hands. Adding both up, our hospitality plus the game day result/experience, I do not think that anyone (inlcuding Bill Simmons) can ever say "Super Bowl 38 --- Houston, right?---yeah, that was the worst Super Bowl I ever went to..." could ever say such a thing again. If they do, then I'm sorry folks, there is nothing that God, Superman, Judas Machabi, Jesus, the NFL, or Hollywood can do to favor Houston.

Bottom line, I want everyone of you who have represented Houston so well in the last few weeks to know how appreciative I am, those of you who have attended the events so well, who have volunteered so well, who are now opening new high rises where that old shitty McDonalds used to be in the thick of downtown (dalparadise)...great job!

This was supposed to be the most boring Super Bowl on record. This was also supposed to be the most boring host city for a Super Bowl in the modern era...
What it was was Houston... It may not of have been perfect, it may not have been Fifth Avenue, Michigan Ave., or Rodeo Dr., but it was GREAT. The game, the hospitality, the events... This is Houston, we don't follow formulas, but we somehow make things work out.

In another post, I mentioned "Cinderella" as far as "The Main Event" was concerned. I had said in that post that I had hoped Main wouldn't be a no-show next weekend, basically. But in reality, our true "evil step sisters" will forever be the media and Dallas. No matter how great a show we put on, they will forever be the naysayers.

Honestly folks, you all know that I'm H-town born and raised but am going to graduate school 600 miles away right now. It was the worst feeling to know that I couldn't see the Main Event, the light rail, etc. But I could see the game. From what I've heard from friends back home plus what I saw on that television (including the halftime show), I just can't see anyone from Dallas or MidAmerica criticizing anything.

But then again, you must also realize that Dallas most often criticizes us at our highest point. They really do. If we're on the ropes, you never hear anything from Dallas, really. But when we come out like Rocky in the 9th Round, well, that's when you hear the Dallas assholes. It's the P-R-O-P-A-G-A-N-D-A factor. For example, though not on the Hou-Dal issue, the Republicans should've in reality loved Bill Clinton. He brought the Democratic Party single-handedly back into the mainstream. But, good or not, politics became politics. It wasn't "Thanks, Bill, for letting your party see the light." It was "He's going down damn, it!!!!" So, yeah I'm drunk celebrating a Houston victory so to speak, but trust me, go to www.dallasmetropolis.com in the next few days. The propaganda DFW machine is about to start churning.... That I can bet anything on...

If it doesn't, then 2004 is a whole new world...

No offense bron, but, I just don't care for this. It just opens up a lot of unneeded crap. I really enjoyed Houston getting a lot of attention. Especially w/light rail and the upcoming All-Star Game for my second favorite sport around the corner!

[bron]

cmathis, I'm not saying you are a part of the Dallas "machine" by any means. What most people from Houston and Dallas don't know is that there is a football team among the cities...50 fat cats that call all the shots. My Houston example would be the 4F Room at the Rice Hotel back in the 60's...hence NASA, LBJ, the Texas Medical Center, perhaps even the Vietnam War if you believe that Brown & Root (Brown, a member, aka "George R. Brown Convention Center") was purposely sent over to Vietnam to set up a factory that would be easily taken over by the Viet Cong...hence, probable cause...

You guys have fat cats and I'm smart enough to know that JR Ewing isn't one of them. Maybe fat cats that look, act, and talk like JR Ewing, but definitely not JR Ewing.

My "propaganda" comment truly, and accurately, spoke to them. More than likely, they're not members of this forum. I certainly know that none of you guys have any power to do anything. Neither do I. It's just fun to BS back and forth all day...

[freewaytincan]

I didn't like this SuperBowl (of course not; I despise football and the ads were a BIG SUCK this year) and I'm glad I missed the half time show, but unfortunately, saw the aftermath aaaaaall over the place. GROSS!!! Not what I needed to see, you know? I'm going to have nightmares.

Currently on www.drudgereport.com

[bron]

Urban, you are the dorkiest man in the history of mankind. Go party with "Barney", "Papa Smurf" and the boys. They said you owe 'em money at the last poker game.

[bron]

hey, you can re-post my thread all you want. Just don't put it in italics. Put it in plain, straight up English. What if the Dallas Morning News posted their articles in italics. Yeah, nobody would read it. purpose...

[freewaytincan]

Originally posted by bron
Urban, you are the dorkiest man in the history of mankind. Go party with "Barney", "Papa Smurf" and the boys. They said you owe 'em money at the last poker game.

Aww, shut up. So I'm a mite prudish. Even if I weren't, I'm sorry. I don't want to see HER tit. Just...ugh. No.

[gc]

Enough on the personal attacks guys. Seriously.

I thought Houston did a great job with the Superbowl, so congratulations. The pre-game, the game, and the post-game activities were all great and second to none.

Did anyone hear about the streaker?

[tamtagon]

I think it's whacked out that the viewing audience is "protected" from nudity - the streaker and Miss Jackson's boob.

Like, coming back from halftime, for just an instant, you could see a pasty object on the field, which was immediately covered up by an statistical graphic. The announcers only refered to the event as the "interuption on the field." What happened to letting people have fun.

How can families make any sense of things when the songs we hear are all about getting it on, and taking off all our clothes, but a streaker is ignored out of existance. It's not nasty or a sin, it's funny when a naked guy runs across the field. I'm offended that the network is so paranoid about the sanctimonious ourtage.

[JBB]

The "streaker" wasn't even completely nude, just wearing a jock strap. Apparently, this is a guy who has a reputation for doing this at large events. According one of the guys on The Ticket this morning, a player knocked upside the head to put a stop to his chase with security. Hopefully some bootleg video will make it on the internet soon.

[gc]

Here you go JBB

http://www.vividblurry.com/mt-archives/000310.html

[mikedsjr]

tam,

Your right. But there is something called going beyond the lines that the public deems unnecessary. You can't escape the music. Its on commercial ads on radio and television. Nudity, even partial nudity, is not and goes over the line that many families want their children watching on a "family" event.

If they want to show the game to a mature audience, then put a mature version on pay-per-view and the family version on network T.V. showing the Wiggle or Barney as the halftime show. Frankly i would rather watch the wiggles do a halftime show and entertain my child. I never watch halftime shows anyways. Except the U2 concert halftime show. That was the best halftime show for a superbowl yet.

Bring back U2!

[drycreek]

Hey, I'm pumped for Houston. I couldn't be happier for them. They are really doing great things and it looked like they did an awesome job of hosting the big game. I couldn't be prouder of them. When it comes to the Dallas v Houston thing I just think it's stupid. I think both cities are awesome and heck they're both in Texas and that's all that really matters! So I'll support both to the end! Major props H-town...

[JBB]

Originally posted by GCarey
Here you go JBB

http://www.vividblurry.com/mt-archives/000310.html

Thanks. I checked Frontburner right after I posted and found that link.

I'm no prude, but the Super Bowl is billed as a family event and any performances should be carried out with that in mind. There were children in the room watching at the get together I was at, including one 9 year old fan of Justin Timberlake. I don't think his parents were thrilled with what come across the TV, even if it happened so fast that he didn't realize it.

I'm guessing that, with CBS saying MTV will not be involved in future halftime performances, that we'll see more shows in the style of the U2 performance from a few years ago.

[rantanamo]

Nelly, P. Diddy, Kidd Rock = Wholesome family entertainment.

On the Houston v Dallas thing, you'll find a lot of us could care less about the rivalry, and are proud of Houston. A lot of us find problems when Dallas is always mentioned, especially with snide remarks, in comparison to Houston. So, leave that stuff out and we have no problem with H-Town.

[gc]

The drudge report is reporting that a CBS official approved the skit....including the exposure...

People just wanted ratings and publicity....and it worked!

I agree though with earlier statements. Neither of the events were that bad....but it is sold as a family show....

[evdallas]

Janet is Hot.

[mikedsjr]

Another thing and i will get off my soap box.

You hear people all the time saying if you don't like it turn the channel. Are you going to tell me that when the Superbowl comes on I have to turn the channel because it doesn't fit a family label set on it?


Just don't tell me to change the channel on what is a family event!

I'm off my soapbox and will not say anymore on this.

[mikedsjr]

And yes, she is hot. Although you couldn't see her eyes. I guess that is not what we were supposed to be looking at. :D

[Columbus Civil]

She's had work done.

[gc]

A visitor's view
It paid to sweat the small stuff
BY JOHN GALLAGHER
http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/story.hts/editorial/outlook/2391684

Critics have not been kind to Houston. Sprawling over several hundred square miles, Houstonit has long been derided as the city without a zoning code, a place where skyscrapers rise next to single-family houses, a flat, sunbaked landscape that unfurls in strip-mall monotony to the horizon.

The last week I spent covering the Super Bowl XXXVIII events showed me that Houston's reputation for visual blight is, for the most part, deserved. But I also found several delightful examples to the contrary. And I saw signs that the city is finally, a generation or two behind the curve, learning the right lessons about good city building.

Houston thus offers lessons to Detroit and other cities waging their own campaigns to enliven their communities. I hope the Detroit leaders who came hereto Houston last week to bone up on Super Bowl preparations learned the right lessons about what makes a city really work.

Houston does not, and perhaps never will, offer the urbane, walking-around qualities that make Seattle's Public Market or New Orleans' French Quarter or so much of Chicago's urban core such memorable places to visit. But Houston, a generous city of vigor, hospitality and entrepreneurial spirit, is finally beginning to get a cityscape to match its other qualities.

Perhaps the newest improvements are mere brush strokes on the enormous canvas of urban sprawl. But they have been large enough and important enough to allow Houston to host the Super Bowl this weekin a manner that produced happy memories for many visitors.

Most encouraging is Houston's belated attention to the small and seemingly insignificant sidewalk-level amenities that are so important to urban vitality.

A variety of projects are remaking the older sections of downtown Houston inin areas known as remove pi 0 and pi 8 if paragraph indent is needed on first text line

Karen Warren/ChronicleThe Metro light rail cuts along Main Street early in Super Bowl XXXVIII week. As party crowds grew, rail service was stopped at the south edge of downtown.

View

Why did so many people enjoy themselves [during Super Bowl XXXVIII]? Clearly because the city's newfound attention to the smaller, seemingly insignificant aspects of a true urban street life have caught the imagination in a way all the skyscrapers and other monuments never did.

Market Square, Courthouse Square and along Main Street. Here dozens of historic two- to four-story brick structures have been reclaimed as restaurants, clubs, loft apartments and condominiums, and these formed the heart of Houston's raucous Main Event street party of the last week. Houston threw a New Orleans-quality street bash for several days, and it would not have been possible had not all those historic structures been brought back to life.

This emerging district of human-scale residences and enterprises stands in contrast to the rest of downtown. Houston enjoys a remarkable skyline, one of the most modern in America, and the roster of big-name architects who have crafted skyscrapers for corporate leaders is impressive.

But many of those skyscrapers that make such good corporate logos from a distance meet the street in chilly isolation. These almost blank walls of granite and glass repel any street life. Just consider: Even a few blocks outside the renovated area, this skyscraper district remained all but deserted, even at the height of the festivities.

Houston's new light-rail system known as METRORail adds to the mix in unexpectedly helpful ways. The rail line runs along Main Street, and the stations and related public artwork fill in the middle of what otherwise had been just another five-lane thoroughfare. The result: A livelier, denser, more crowded urban scene.

Stephen Fox, an architectural historian and teacher at Rice University and the University of Houston, says the rail line and other downtown projects have Houstonians thinking about urban space in new ways. "It's the little things that count, that are making the difference, and that is what was overlooked in Houston from the 1950s to the 1980s."

Nor is downtown the only area getting a makeover. For several years, a district known as Project Row Houses, in a predominantly black district about a mile south of downtown, has been remade by a collection of artists. The artists have renovated and decorated tiny shotgun houses -- small, one-story dwellings of the poor -- in a way that enlivens the neighborhood.

These newly remade districts join Houston's already existing areas of distinction. The area known as Hermann Park, a grand, City Beautiful monument to Houstonians' foresight three-quarters of a century ago, provides the broad spaces and elegant vistas that many other cities lack. Rice University, in the heart of the city, has long offered a distinctive campus setting. And there are pockets of prettiness showing up here and there elsewhere.

Houston still has a long way to go. Some months ago Houston architect Dan Barnum wrote an essay in the Houston Chronicle ("The Ugly Truth," Outlook, Sun., Aug. 31) in which he lamented, "We have no aesthetic roots, no aesthetic foundation, so we don't complain when there is ugly all around us." The riot of reaction to the piece showed the barb had sunk home.

Mostly the problems have resulted from Texans' famous ability to think big, perhaps too big. All those skyscrapers were done with the best of intentions. So were the old Houston Astrodome and the newer Reliant Stadium, where the Super Bowl was played last Sunday. The side-by-side stadiums are remarkable themselves, but they sit in the middle of nowhere amidst acres of asphalt.

Even the city's Theater District, a collection of newer buildings on the edge of downtown, somehow doesn't get it right. While individual buildings there are remarkable, such as architect Robert A.M. Stern's incandescent Hobby Center for the Performing Arts, the district is landlocked by an expressway and surrounding streets. The problem with expecting the Theater District to generate spontaneous street life is that there's no place for it to happen.

So in looking for examples of ugly urban sprawl, Houston still offers a target-rich environment. Why, then, did so many people enjoy themselves last week? Clearly because the city's newfound attention to the smaller, seemingly insignificant aspects of a true urban street life have caught the imagination in a way all the skyscrapers and other monuments never did.

What is most notable about all this is that it turns one of our most common bromides upside down. You hear it all the time: Focus on the big stuff and don't sweat the small. That might work in life or in business. But in urban planning it's a prescription for disaster.

Gallagher is the architecture critic for the Detroit Free Press and co-author of AIA Detroit: The American Institute of Architects Guide to Detroit Architecture.He can be e-mailed atgallagher@freepress.com.

[dallastophoenix]

some of my dallas and austin friends went to the s.b. and thought that the city did a great job w/ traffic, entertainment, etc... they said dt houston has really come a long way...