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Sidelines Kalani Simpson |
Pro Bowl and Hawaii
a perfect matchSUNDAY -- good fun, yeah?
Yeah, the NFL thought so, too.
We should keep that in mind.
Of course the Pro Bowl wasn't going anywhere. Of course this deal was going to get done.
Why are we so afraid?
The Pro Bowl is great. I enjoy it. The players. The show. The feel-good nature of the whole thing. No, it's not a real game -- job No. 1 for these guys is not getting hurt (and that sometimes includes their autograph hand). But if you accept the Pro Bowl for what it is, it's a tremendous event.
And the numbers -- economic and otherwise -- say Hawaii loves it. It's good for us.
But we're not the only ones.
This is the NFL's best face, its anti-"Playmakers." With fan interaction and charity work and cheerleaders and mascots and all-stars in upbeat moods.
We're not the only ones gaining from this game. The NFL does do a lot of charity projects. This is not one of them. The NFL is not putting on this game (and bringing all the business that comes with it) as a favor to us. They do it because it's a good partnership. They do it because having the Pro Bowl is good for the NFL and having the Pro Bowl in Hawaii is good for the Pro Bowl. And the NFL knows it.
Hawaii saved this game. Hawaii made this game. Hawaii shouldn't forget it.
Now, I'm not saying the state and its various entities should be antagonistic or confrontational or, worst of all, stupid. Let's not blow it. It's a great partnership. But we shouldn't forget how crucial our part is.
Let's go into this with a little self esteem. Let's take the panic out of the equation.
We've got something to bargain with; we've got something to offer here. Hawaii is different. Hawaii is magic. For goodness sake, we even prop up "Average Joe 2"!
Let's face it, Elvis never made any movies about Orlando.
Besides, we're perfect (and the NFL knows it). We're a big market still small enough to be eager to please and easily amused. We're one of the few locations in the country that would get excited about a "game" like this (25 straight 50,000-seat sellouts, at least officially), and we're willing to do whatever it takes to make this event work, up to and including paying large amounts of money in order to keep it here.
If Orlandoans want to see the NFL they can get in the car and drive an hour -- an hour! -- to Tampa Bay. I really don't know how thrilled Orlando would be, aside from the nanny-nanny-boo-boo factor of stealing an event from another city.
Players are already opting out (cough! Brett Favre!) -- you think NFL pros would get on a plane for a free trip to Orlando? These guys who do play are in this game for three reasons: location, location, location. They play because they get to come here.
If the NFL walked away we would lose the Pro Bowl. But in a few years, the NFL would, too.
It makes sense to pay the Pro Bowl to stay. Yes. It's a good business deal. But let's just take the panic out of the equation. It needs us as much as we need it. Let's not forget that.
If the NFL ever did leave, Hawaii would still be Hawaii. The Pro Bowl would never be the same.
See the Columnists section for some past articles.
Kalani Simpson can be reached at ksimpson@starbulletin.com
