Over A Month Later And...

How many blogs become abandoned every month? I didn't forget about this baby, and I don't plan on letting it die any time soon. The excuses for not writing are infinite, but the time tells me to pick this back up and throw something on the online canvas, it will definitely stick.

My NFL week one picks were not bad, but for the season I'm getting crushed. I was right about Larry Bowa and his job, and the fact that it is going to be a tremendous NFL season. The Boston Red Sox / New York Yankees series captivated my attention for the last week and a half, and I am trying very hard to become more of an NBA diehard without my beloved NHL.

Casual dining had a decent month. Cheesecake Factory's stock is up. Darden's new CEO has a lot of work cut out for her. Outback bought out all the Chi-Chi's and made them throw away their green onions. I'm not one to focus solely on the money when I discuss casual dining, I like to talk about the experience. That is where I will begin:

Recently an Outback Steakhouse owned Bonefish Grill opened in my neck of the woods. I went to visit, not to check out the competition but to have an experience. I believe that is what any good chain is selling. Not just food and drink, but atmosphere, cleanliness, and the "x" factor that can only be supplied by the diner and their companion(s), the "experience". The idea is that when all of the other factors are in line, a diner is much more likely to have a memorable experience and return. I like to put that onus on myself when I go out to eat, that it is up to me to take the meal and make it special, or let it run its course(s).

Onto my visit. Made reservations for one less than the number in my party. Not a problem. Greeted happily at the door on my way in, sat at a large enough table, so far so good. It only got better. The restaurant was clean, which was not surprising since it is brand new. Service was great, food arrived timely and the food was very good. My server did not try to push anything on us, which I personally like but I wonder if that is the company line. No suggested app, drink, or dessert. The dessert list was three items long, we tried two and loved them (creme brulee and chcolate macadamia nut cake). The music playing in the restaurant was sharp, it helped set the tone for a tremendous experience. Kudos to the Bonefish team.

Moving on, one can't help but wonder what kind of holiday season it will be for the casual diner. Concerns of mine surround the economy, high oil prices, and christmas shopping. The rich get richer, so go after the rich --> alcohol, desserts, large parties all need strong focus to build a strong holiday quarter.

On the sporting life, this is the time of the year when I watch postseason baseball, football on Sundays, and hockey during the week. It saddens me as an NHL fan to have to endure the lockout. Blame falls on the players, in my opinion. The NHLPA propses a solution that sounds like a cross between the NBA's soft cap and Bob Costas' idea for changing Major Leage Baseball. Luxury tax? I like it. I like Major League Baseball, even if the Royals can't spend the money to compete with the Yankees. The fact is, there is someone, or a group of someone's out there that can spend the money to compete with the Yankees, and they should buy the Royals. However, if the owners in the NHL want a salary cap, if they want a league that is structured more like the NFL, then good, go to town. A cap would hurt my favorite team, the Flyers, because price is never a deterrent for the Flyers, they get the players they want. Price is never a deterrent for the New York Rangers either, and they havent seen the playoffs in a long time.

The NHL owners deserve to choose the solution to their labor problem because these owners are, in osme cases, in legitimate financial peril. Their investments are not only failing to turn a profit, they are taking a huge loss. The NHL is a league that has lost its luster, and its following over the past decade, and that is not due to a lack of good hockey. Or is it? Expansion has helped deteriorate the image of the NHL, and if the commissioner thinks that the leagues problems can be solved without contraction I, as an underinformed fan, disagree. Fewer teams, a shorter schedule, a stronger national tv contract (even stronger than the NBC deal) and mandatory local tv contracts will help rebuild the image of "old time hockey". I throw in the local TV contract bit because I lived in Chicago, and Original member or no, that franchise needs to be sold or contracted, it is the worst in sports by far.

The other obstacle for national attention that plagues the NHL is accessibility (sp?): 1. The NHL does not feature enough minority stars to captivate a television/media audience that has an increasing minority voice. 2. Ice Hockey, as a sport, can not be played as easily as either of the 3 other major sports, or golf, a sport which also has an issue with it's number of minority stars.

I feel like I am getting on a roll here, but thats enough for one night. If you stumbled across this post let me have some feedback, new ideas are always welcome.