Verdict on El Paso: Not a good bowl destination
One more day in El Paso, and it’s an interesting city. It is not a good bowl city.
There’s no crime in that. Oklahoma City wouldn’t be a good bowl city, even though it’s a wonderful place to live. The people of El Paso claim their city is a great place to live. OK. I can believe it. But that doesn’t make it a city you want to visit.
I know the Sun Bowl folks and the citizens of El Paso don’t want to hear that, but it’s true. It’s not a great tourist destination. Not great weather. Not a lot of things to do. The Sun Bowl seems to be providing good hospitality to the teams — the Sooners really seemed to enjoy their tour of Fort Bliss the other night, where they got to participate in shooting and tank simulations — and it seems to be a well-organized bowl. You generally don’t stay in business 76 years, and keep CBS as a partner for 42 years, without good organization.
The scenery is good; out here on the West side of town, where we’re staying, there are gorgeous views of the sun setting over the mountain range. I left Fort Bliss the other day to give OU’s Kenny Mossman a ride back to his hotel, and when I drove back to the base to pick up videographer Tim Money, twilight was descending. Some trees dotted the ground of the mountains behind Fort Bliss, and when the sunset hits, it looks like a painting.
And when you go up high — like at the Sun Bowl Stadium, which is virtually carved out of a mountain — and look at hte Rio Grande Valley, the cities, El Paso and Juarez, are very fetching. I’m looking forward to that sight tonight, when all the lights come on. It’s a little like that old Bette Midler song, “From a Distance.”
On the ground, El Paso is less impressive. El Pasoans have been touting for a month how safe their city is, and I believe it. It seems very safe. I haven’t once felt, uh-oh, I shouldn’t be here. Not even down at the border on Wednesday, when we went to shoot a video, and some guy walking in from Juarez yelled, “Go home.” But safety alone does not make a good bowl destination.
The border, of course, dominates the perspective of visitors, and I would assume residents rarely even think about it. To me, it’s a strange feeling to drive down a highway — in this case Interstate 10 — and look over at a foreign country, even discounting the troubled times in Juarez. It’s a so-near-yet-so-far feeling. You’re literally 100 yards from some place that you can’t go. Barbed wire or razor wire gives me a funny feeling, whether I’m near a prison or a place of business or a federal border.
Down at the border crossing, the lines to get into El Paso, both pedestrian and auto, are enormous. The lines to get into Juarez, virtually empty. I assume we’re checking things a lot more closely on our side, which is the way it was, on a lesser scale, when I went to Juarez in 1975 as a 14-year-old kid. They say that more than 60,000 people a day go back and forth across the border. I believe it.
I’ve been disappointed in the Mexican food. I’ve had it twice and went .500. Kiki’s was excellent despite awful service; Avila’s was mediocre. Jake Trotter also went to a joint on Saturday night before I got here and said it was mediocre. That’s .333. You can go into any three Mexican food restaurants in Oklahoma City, without any endorsements, just pick three off the streets, and bat .333.
I go to places all over the country. Some big, some not so big. Some I want to return for fun. Bring my wife and make a vacation out of it. Some I don’t care if I ever see again. Nothing personal. Just not a place I care to visit. El Paso might be a fine place to live, but I’m in no hurry to return.
-------------Berry Tramel can be heard Monday through Friday from 4:40-5:20 p.m. on The Sports Animal radio network, including AM-640 and FM-98.1. You can e-mail him here and follow him on Twitter @BerryTramel. Visit Berry's website here.
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Comments
Hey Berry,
what do YOU know about MEXICAN food?
“bad weather”…really can someone who just escaped a blizzard say that?
The Oklahoman is luck to have you.
All these blogs are sour, did you read the Brut one or the rumors of Stoops going to ND or Fla.? Berry just loves to start rumors, how about one of Berry going to work for the El Paso Times? Naw, they wouldn’t have him. Now where can we send Berry?
I did not understand your argument on why El Paso is not a good city to visit. I mean several things you mention seemed to have grabbed your interest. Perhaps you could have gone to Carlos & Mickeys to get Mexican food or Maria Chuchena, a Juarez business that recently moved to El Paso.
As far as the weather goes, I think El Paso has had a couple of sunny, clear days to host a beautiful bowl game. People were out there wearing sweatshirts. In what other city would you be able to do that?
I don’t understand your argument.
Even if this is just a blog, and it is your opinion, I would try to do more research before spreading news about a city you don’t know very well.
Berry, we had a great time watching the Sun Bowl in Baghdad.
The OU Club of Baghdad held a watch party and Barry Switzer, his wife Becky, Joe Washington, Brian Bosworth and Tony Casillas all watched the game with us.
They are over here for a USO Morale Tour with an excerpt of the tour airing during halftime of the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl.
Bruce Smith, Tee Martin, Tommy Bowden, Ty Detmer, Tommy Frazier, Rocket Ismail and some of the Colorado cheerleaders joined the Sooners here!
Pretty fun!
Rob Shahan
Camp Slayer, Baghdad, Iraq
I have to agree with Berry. I’ve been to El Paso twice, and both times I thought basically the same things he did. I met nice people, ate some good food, but would never want to come back unless I was on business, and had to go. Sorry
I have to laugh at the people getting upset. The first thing he says is that OKC is not a good choice either. All we heard was how bad the hotels are that they are staying in. I was lived in West Texas for several years and went to El Paso many times. I agree that the only thing we had to worry about was getting our car stolen. El Paso is a good city, but not a great destination and certainly not a reward. Yes, it was the Sooners fault for not playing better. And Beth, hopefully the Sooners will never have to come back. Go back to having Tech or Arizona State and not having a record crowd.
ZZZZZZZZZ…..
You can find better trip and destination reviews on tripadvisor.com
Back to the SPORTS page….
So you did not like El Paso, why do you have to spit in their face. There are numerous Sooner Fans that had a great time and really enjoyed their time. Your blog does not surprise me, because the majority or .900 have a negative slant.
The people of El Paso were very kind and it appears the players had a good time. Why don’t you focus on the team winning instead of being the moppy, depressed “journalist” that you are?
Yea, I agree. I don’t see why everyone is getting so worked up. Just because he said something that is probably true and you don’t want to hear it. He said the same thing about OKC, and he is probably saying that El Paso is better than OKC. You know why people get made, because they believe there is some truth to what the other guy is saying.
Try as I might, I can’t answer the question of why this
story was printed. It accomplishes nothing except to make
Sooners everywhere (for which Mr. Tramel is a represent-
ative) look like unappreciative losers, even though we won
the game. El Paso not a bowl town? Maybe yes, maybe no, but
this was not the place or time to print this story. Maybe
it should have been sent to the travel column for future
use and editing.
Barry’s an OU fan. He’s irritated that OU didn’t get into a better bowl game. Here is some news for OU fanatics; OU was LUCKY to get invited to this bowl game. For OU media/fans to moan about OU players not being “up” for this game is a joke. It’s an insult to the bowl game, to the teams OU has played this year. And have you noticed that OU fans ALWAYS complain about officiating? WHAH!!!
Everyone settle down. Berry is from Oklahoma and is used to his comfort zone in the Sooner state. Wherever a person is raised is where they are most at home. Nothing against El Paso. I’m a Sooner for life, but much of my family originated from Texas, so I like Texas also, just not as much as Oklahoma where I was raised! After all, we are NEIGHBORS!
This will make it sting even worse El Pasoans, Tramel loves Lubbock and sings it praises. Tramel means no harm, he’s kind of like your grandmother,frankly speaks his mind.
Don’t worry, you should hear what people say about OKC.
Come on people… Berry went out of his way to say that El Paso was in all likelihood a nice place to live, it just wasn’t a “fun” place for a Bowl Game. If your team is going to go to a non-BCS game, you’d like to at least have it be in a locale that offers several fun things to do. Everyone knows that! Our family went to the Holiday Bowl back in 2005. We had several great dinners in the Gas Light District, we went to the parade on the Waterfront the morning of the game, to the San Diego Zoo the day after and the Lego Land amusement park the day after that. The entire time the temperature never dropped below 60 degrees at night! Trammel’s point was El Paso simply doesn’t offer “those” same types of things to do that a location like San Diego, San Francisco, or even Dallas offers as a host city for a second tier bowl game.
I know what you mean Berry! I visited Midland, Texas one time and couldn’t wait until it was in my rearview mirror. Texas is a huge state, one could almost call it a country. Frankly, though, you can draw a line down West of Fort Worth and the rest of Texas is nothing but desert wasteland. East Texas is beautiful. I suppose it’s no irony that the majority of Texans live east of Fort Worth. I’ve been throughout West Texas, Pampa to Odessa and I can tell you it’s Diablo country. Nothing but cactus and tumbleweeds! You hit this one on the head Berry! This is “no mans land”!
Berry I’d just like to commend you for telling it like it is. At one time, you would embelish and even play a card of favortism with your alma mater but lately you’ve become a fair and impartial reporter. I’m nominating you for the Howard Cosell Award.
Well, I live in El Paso and have traveled all over the world. El Paso is not the greatest place to visit, I agree. It lacks the quality of life attractions that other cities have like the beach, huge entertainment districts, and major sports attractions. I could go on and tell you a thousand reasons why I love El Paso, but you would probably disagree on most. On thing is for sure, when I’m gone, I miss its people, safety, friendliness, and family atmosphere that no other city in the world enjoys. It’s always good to be home. To Oklahoma fans: thank you for visit and good luck next season.
berry, unfortunately you are way off. we had a great time in and around el paso. the people were super. we went down early and drove to carlsbad caverns. it was only a two hour drive. then we also, went skiing. it was also only a two hour drive. we also thought about going to the white sands national park. i guess it really boils down to what you are looking for in a visit.
I hear you write about sports, and since this is the first time I’ve heard of you I find your sports writing boring, hackneyed, and just plain ornery (and not in a good way either).
But you being from OK I didn’t really expect anything better, and even less from a sports writer.
Hope you never return.
Not good weather? Mediocre Mexican food? Man, you went to the wrong eating joints and probably got caught in a freak winter storm.
Man, don’t accept the graciousness of a city that welcomes you and your football team in and then trash it. That’s not cool. Just be happy that you were able to have the experience that you did. It beats you and your team sitting at home in Oklahoma during bowl season.
This bowl game has been going strong for 76 years…must be doing something right! You can take your analysis and go to hell as far as I am concerned. BOOMER SOONER IN SPITE OF YOU!
When I read this blog entry I knew it would stir up some hateful responses. That always happens when someone’s home town gets criticized. But hey….since Berry is getting paid to give us his opinions, why is it necessary to get so worked up when he does just that? His opinion of El Paso isn’t any more valuable than the next guy’s.
Don’t worry. After all the poor treatment we’ve endured by Oklahoma fans and sports writers, we would rather you not come back. Thanks.
Beth
A Proud El Pasoan
P.S. – The weather’s not great? At least we don’t have tornadoes. And instead of attacking a city, why don’t you attack the team for not playing better? That way all the Oklahoma fans can play in a bowl in a city you’d rather visit.