Nice article on OKC and the Oklahoma River in the New York Times

[fishwax]

It's been almost three years now since I moved away from Oklahoma, but I try to keep up with things there--still, I was surprised to find out that the US Olympic Rowing trials were there. (I had known that rowing was becoming a bigger deal there in the year before we left.) At any rate, I found the article interesting :)

Renewal of a River Alters a City's Course in Sports

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/22/sports/othersports/22oklahoma.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin

OKLAHOMA CITY — As the nation’s top kayakers and canoeists dipped their paddles in the Oklahoma River over the weekend while competing for a spot on the United States Olympic team, it was possible to imagine that a few city leaders had something else on their minds.


Civic leaders and politicians gambled millions that a rejuvenated river would attract investors to an economically struggling city known for its love of football and rodeo. But to the surprise of even those behind the effort, the river has spawned something else.

The city has become a mecca for elite water sports. Last fall, a crowd of 50,000 showed up for a rowing competition that drew Olympic athletes from Australia and the Czech Republic. Three local universities have begun varsity rowing programs, and a fourth is considering one.

“We completely did it by accident,” Mayor Mick Cornett said.

[Catch22Dem]

1. Great article

I didn't realize the schools were starting rowing programs. Amazing! I wish the voters in Tulsa had approved our river project. We had a multi-million dollar GIFT waiting to be given, yet these idiots turned away FREE MONEY!