Solid Crouse Angle On Bears/ Saints

I've bean hard on her for soft coverage of the Jets, but leading into Sundays NFC Championship, Karen has a solid story on game in today's NYT:

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/19/sports/football/19chicago.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

 

Really? That was OK, but the guy's a Chicago native who happens to own a New Orleans-themed eatery that basically caters to tourists. So what, that he's rooting for the Bears? Isn't that expected? And good for business?

 

Wow a one-source story in the NY Times.....
If a few Saints players are regulars why not talk to them?
The restaurant could have horrible food for all we know, what do other people who eat there think of it?
And why did she choose this restaurant? Because the owner guy is from Chicago?
I thought it was written well, but I think there's some holes she could've easily filled.

 

Bears players eat there. It's in Chicago.

 

Now this is a good NY Times feature story...

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/18/garden/18roomies.html?em&ex=1169355600&en=61aa879ecdfee611&ei=5087%0A

 

It is.
Maybe if I read the Dateline eh?

 

That was pretty good. I've heard of House freshmen sharing a home and guys living in their offices, but those are some high profile veterans.

 

Yes, that's a good story. Puts the other one to shame. Or down a few notches.
Both are well-written but the one on the lawmakers is much more interesting.

 

The NYT has done this kind of local color piece for as long as I've been reading the newspaper, which would be since 1973. I believe even Red Smith did some.

 

I like the idea, the more color in the NYT the better, I like Wall Street Journal color pieces too. But if you're going to do it, do a little more than find a Cajun restaurant and talk to the owner. The senators' story is much better, I agree.

 

Or send Bill Grimes to do the food angle and let Karen talk to Tank Johnson's arms dealer.

 

Frank is right. They love scene-setters.
People don't read The (NY) Times for statistical breakdowns, Xs and O's bullshit.