Monday, June 10, 2019

Eater.com Strikes Out


An Eater.com article is making the rounds, proposing that SunTrust Park should be renamed The Waffle House. Cute idea, but a typical media biased fluff piece. Written by Sonia Chopra, managing editor of Eater.com. Besides the fact that Waffle House hasn’t the deep pockets to pay for the naming rights, there are a few other problems with the article:  

First the title: “The Waffle House is the Name Atlanta’s Baseball Stadium Deserves.” Deserves? Is this a slam? Sorry to break it to you, but millions of law-abiding American citizens love Waffle House, and love the Braves. Take your tongue and put it in someone else’s cheek.  

Secondly, the article says Atlantans are “widely recognized as the worst sports fans around” – citing three articles 6-11 years old, two of which don’t have anything to do with the fans being bad. A 2008 Bleacher Report article badmouthing bad Atlanta TEAMS – not fans. A 2013 Atlanta Magazine article also pooh poohing Atlanta teams’ poor performances – not poor fans. And a 2012 ESPN article purporting Atlanta fans don’t measure up to New York Giants fans – written by a New Yorker. Comparing New York to Atlanta is like comparing big apples to little peaches.  Too bad more recent information wasn’t available, like the past two seasons of 2 million attendance at SunTrust Park or Atlanta United’s record-setting attendance figures. The research here is sorely lacking.

And thirdly the article fails to address the elephant in the room: anyone with a tiny bit of knowledge of Atlanta’s restaurant industry knows that if any Atlanta restaurant buys the naming rights it will be Chickfila. Guess she didn’t want to go there, or bring them up. I’m no expert, but I hear Chickfila was been a little successful as of late. And they’re big time into  big-time sports naming rights. Ever hear of the Chickfila Peach Bowl? You can’t watch a football game without seeing an ad for Chickfila. And like Waffle House, Chickfila has maintained a presence at both Turner Field and SunTrust Park (and Mercedes Benz Stadium) than Waffle House – offering a much broader menu. In Houston Chickfila has ads on the tall yellow “Fowl” poles. Get it? But perhaps the world’s best-selling chicken sandwich didn’t fit well into Miss Chopra’s narrative.

But wouldn’t that be something? They could call it the Chickfila Pasture.

Sorry Sonia - three strikes and you’re out. Stick to food. The article doesn’t allow for comments. Eater.com can eat it.    


Friday evening Ceil ate pizza in Sandy Springs with Dawn and Dawn’s two friends. I took my time coming home, stopping by three stores. Bought a pair of running shoes with extra thick soles. Could by my Peachtree shoes. Will you be in town?

Saturday morning small group. Went back home after that. C and Dawn went out shopping for fabric for her daughter’s upcoming wedding. I turned on MASH and did dishes and laundry and folded clothes. Took a nap. Turned on the Braves. C and Dawn cooked. The gang all showed up for dinner: W&MC and A and Christian, plus Mathew. Baked chicken, baked vegetables, rice, berry cobbler, ice cream.

Ceil made English muffin egg sandwiches both Saturday and Sunday morning. Sunday School and worship. In the service the youth choir gave their return concert. Lunch was lentils and rice, and tossed salad. Slow afternoon talking to Dawn. Had the Braves on but left while they were in extra innings. Saw where L’s team piled on the points.

Supper at Lee and Nancy’s house. Grilled salmon, fruit salad, kale salad, oriental salad, key lime pie, chocolate cake, and white and brown rice (we’re not the only people to eat rice). Rice probably much healthier than potatoes. Face-timed with Dawn’s husband, who years ago was Lee’s roommate when Ceil roomed with Dawn.

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