Seriously, does anyone care?

[MC Sports Guy]

Yet another story like this creeps across the wire. Who gives a ****?


Mayors put food on the line in Bears-Seahawks contest
With BC-FBN--Bears-Seahawks Wager-Summary Box
CHICAGO (AP) — When the Chicago Bears host the Seattle Seahawks at Soldier Field this weekend, there’s more at stake than just an NFC playoff game.
Also on the line are mega cuts of meat from some of Chicago’s finest restaurants, pounds of hot dogs, deep-dish pizza, smoked salmon, booze, coffee and other delicacies.
Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley and Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels on Thursday each wagered some of their city’s finest gastronomical delights on the outcome of Sunday’s game.
Daley is counting on the Bears to deny Nickels the bounty of Chicago fare.
“I know he’s going to be disappointed when he doesn’t win all of them,” said Daley at a City Hall press conference to display the goodies.
Nickels said Daley, who will attend the game, is the one who shouldn’t get his hopes up.
“I hope he doesn’t have his heart set on Northwest salmon,” Nickels said in a written statement.
Seattle’s offer includes two pounds of smoked king salmon, three bottle of Washington state wine, cheese and, of course, Starbucks coffee.
Chicago’s wager of donated food also included Italian beef, potato chips, gourmet pretzels and popcorn, and Mexican food.

 

[KYSportsWriter]

It's interesting, but it won't run in our paper...

 

[User 1019]

...three bottle of Washington state wine, ...

Watch out for that line if you do run it.

 

[JayFarrar]

I think they're funny.

 

[Angola!]

I am sure it was interesting the first time, but at this point I could really care less. Plus, who pays for the stuff? Is it donated or are the taxpayers paying for it?

 

[friend of a friend]

I don't have a problem running a couple of graphs in a notes package if you have a local team involved. It's crap for anyone else.

 

[Buck]

I don't usually run them, unless there's a local tie.
But I always like to read about it. I like to see what items a city uses to identify itself.

 

[TheSportsPredictor]

Nickels should offer Microsoft to get back Boeing. Double or nothing!

 

[tommyp]

I'd honestly like to see what happens to these prizes...follow the 'donation.'

 

[EE94]

I don't usually run them, unless there's a local tie.
But I always like to read about it. I like to see what items a city uses to identify itself.

Don't you think that if you found it interesting, others might as well and therefore is worth publishing?

Personally, I wouldn't run them, even with the local tie-in, because what started as fun became part of the political machine. It was my way of resisting that without withholding crucial information to the public

 

[Buck]

I don't usually run them, unless there's a local tie.
But I always like to read about it. I like to see what items a city uses to identify itself.

Don't you think that if you found it interesting, others might as well and therefore is worth publishing?

Personally, I wouldn't run them, even with the local tie-in, because what started as fun became part of the political machine. It was my way of resisting that without withholding crucial information to the public

I don't always use what I find interesting as a measure of what the readers find interesting.
I have no interest in auto racing, but a lot of people are into it.
I like the NHL. People around could care less.
Same thing with these 'bets.' I always like to find out what's being bet, but I assume most people, outside of the areas in question, don't care.

 

[DyePack]

AP loves this ****, though. Someone in Chicago probably climaxed just writing the word gastronomical.

It takes their minds off getting kicked like a stray dog by the New York bureau.

 

[Buck]

Speaking of 'don't care,' why isn't there anything on thecable news channels about the attack on the U.S. embassy in Greece?

 

[dooley_womack1]

I think the loser should always receive a brimming mug of STFU.

 

[pallister]

That bet is seriously lopsided. Chicago food vs. Seattle food? No contest.

 

[Freelance Hack]

There was a story down here today involving Sen. Mitch McConnell who won an Orange Bowl bet with a NC Senator. As a result, he was treated to a Carolina pork BBQ lunch.

Is it news? Not really, even on a local level, but it can be a filler note if you're in need of one.

 

[RokSki]

*Yawn*

 

[Hed bust]

It's interesting, but it won't run in our paper...

These stories are best suited for GAMEDAY, pull-out tab sections which so many papers run during the late part of the week.
AP often gets these from a local paper who submitted it, then re-writes the lede and puts it out as "AP" copy.
No, they are not interesting stories.

As for the question of "why no coverage of Greek bombing" - I found this on the wire from up-and-coming Yahoo News:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070112/ap_on_re_eu/greece_us_embassy

 

[tommyp]

*Yawn*

Oh, you'd be all over this if the Cowboys were involved.

Having said that, aren't these 'bets' a bit more newsworthy during the Super Bowl? Who cares about a bet between divisional playoff cities?