It’s probably a safe bet that few people under the age of 60 still regularly watch local Sunday night sports shows. Their viewer demographics are similar to pretty much any show in CBS’s primetime lineup that isn‘t “Two and a Half Men“ or “How I Met Your Mother.”
But just like with NCIS, CSI or AARP, those young whippersnappers just don’t know what they’re missing, like hard-hitting interviews with players and coaches pimping their new sports-themed restaurants. Take this enthralling back-and-forth with NFL Hall of Fame coach Don Shula, who recently opened his 32nd restaurant in St. Louis.
Perhaps the most fascinating part was finding out why Shula chose St. Louis as the 32nd-best spot in the country to put a restaurant. You’d think it was because, well, he already has them in places like Birmingham, Alabama and Providence, Rhode Island – so why the hell not put one in St. Louis? It’s almost as interesting as finding out why a McDonald’s location was chosen.
I was happy to discover that St. Louis was picked because Shula has “always enjoyed St. Louis” and “admired it as a sports town” and that the people here “get hungry.” Hey, we’re not America’s Fattest City seven years running for nothing. We do get pretty damn hungry, as if hunger was a prerequisite for eating anyway.
Besides, after Pujols 5 Westport Grill, Jim Edmonds 15 Steakhouse, Mike Shannon’s Steaks and Seafood, Dierdorf & Hart’s, Ozzie’s Restaurant and Sports Bar, and another million I’m probably forgetting, St. Louis could use another sports-themed restaurant based on a guy that never coached, played, or really even set foot much in St. Louis.
But it’s not just about the food. At Shula’s new restaurant, there will be plenty of cool things on the wall, pictures, footballs, etc. – once again setting it apart from other athletes’ and coaches’ restaurants – mainly because most St. Louisans won’t care about memorabilia from the career of a guy that never played or coached there.
Imagine the conversations you’ll have while eating your 18 dollar Shula‘s Steak Tips Sandwich. Conversations like “Who the hell is that?” and “My God, there are a lot of pictures of Dan Marino in this place.”
During his all-out local media blitz, Shula talked about another thing St. Louisans could care less about, the NBA Finals.
Yep, Shula is about as excited about the prospect of a Miami Heat championship as he is picking out restaurant location number 33 – coming soon to Biloxi, Mississippi.
Grubb Hub 