I for one find it abhorrent that newspapers are so boosterish, especially when it comes to sports team coverage. It's just outrageous, really. [Tongue severely planted in cheek.]

http://www.newspagedesigner.com/portfolios/portfolio1.php?UserID=2472

Nice, Dorsey. Nice.

Also, I remember seeing that Sun-Times flag on Newseum ... my first thought as a sports fan was actually, "the Bears are coming off their bye week this week -- is the palm tree there to show that they're finishing up vacation or something?" The Miami/Super Bowl angle didn't occur to me until I thought about it some more, maybe it was more apparent to Chicago readers. (And maybe I'm not thinking that way just because there's no talk of Super Bowls in my paper's market.)

And is it "pandering" to raise the idea of the Super Bowl when your team is the best in football (and unbeaten) nearing the halfway point of the season? The whole spat almost seems manufactured to me, though it is entertaining.

I'm just glad someone explained what the palm tree was all about.

I was thinking the same thing.

I wonder if it has anything to do with this phenomenon?

http://www.sixteenstraight.com/

First, connecting with a community does not equal homer-ism. So long as the reporting stays unbiased, this is a way to say "We're YOUR newspaper," and we're going to see this more and more.

Second, thanks for that link, Brian. I expect my new T-shirt soon! Go Bears. (I can say that because I live in Florida now, right?) :)

Is hopping on the Bears bandwagon really "connecting to the community"?

I'm just asking. We promo the crap out of Bears content when we have it inside the paper. It just seems odd when there's nothing going on.

Let's not turn this into anything big. It's not. And, frankly, I'm more than amused by our columnists taking shots at each other.

But let's not be high minded and call this "connecting to the community".

Wait, I'm still stuck on the weather graphic. . .is the forecast really "irascible"??

But seriously folks. . .

Sports boostering is great because it creates goodwill with your readers -- something that is sorely lacking, more than we know/want to admit. If you don't believe me, put on a shirt with your paper's logo and go out in public trying to get quotes from random people in crowded places like a county fair. Few of us as designers get out of the office much, and it's eye-opening.

BUT we also dont' want to create the perception that we're in the sports organization's pockets or that we're biased. We can share our reader's love of the game IF we can keep it real when necessary.

Remember when the S-T changed their nameplate to "Chicago Six-Times" after the Bulls' second three-peat? Good times.

I tried to talk the Trib into replacing the American flag with a Bulls championship banner, but the bosses were distracted by the sound of Col. McCormick rolling over in his grave.