Remembering 9/11 Commentary By Paul S. Maxwell Six years after… And another Tuesday. Another bright, sunny morning. Easy to remember where you were? What you were doing? Tell us… Very easy for me… but not a bit dangerous. Six years ago today, I’d gone to the opening game at Invesco Field to watch the Denver Broncos beat somebody (as they should) along with my friend John Goddard as a guest of ESPN and ABC… great game, great conversations with George Bodenheimer, Steve Bornstein, Steve Raymond and Carl Vogel and family and lots of others. On my way to Hell Week (that year it wasn’t just Diversity Week), early that Tues, I was in the Red Carpet Club at DIA booting up my computer to check email when the image on the TV caught my attention… Thought it was a movie for a moment. The “Oh, My God!” from the announcer changed my mind quickly. A plane crashing into the World Trade Center? Bad plot line. Bad morning. Too many died. Too many suffered. Too many got that rare opportunity to be a real hero. (Too many took credit, too). Too many cable folks were already in Manhattan… watched it up close and personal. And waited out the week… Normality took a long holiday. Tears, worry and uncertainties took its place. Empty skies. No contrails. Watching that carnage on TV was surreal. So I walked up to the re- booking desk and cancelled everything. Called my wife and told her to turn on the TV. Called my daughter just to be sure (safe at boarding school). Called my parents. Went out and got a cab… And told the Pakistani cab driver he was wrong to say America should shut its borders and arrest anyone who didn’t fit in. Amazing. Even more amazing: America’s long-term reactions. Now we’ve bought Iraq; after all, we broke it. So, why don’t we fix it? Maybe we can sell it then? Or, at least, all that oil. Random Notes:


  • More Terror? Of course. Someday, somewhere. Just like the anarchists at the turn of the last century.
  • Meanwhile, Regulatory Terror! The Federal Confusion Commission meets tomorrow to, most likely, inflict more unconscionable terror on the cable industry. Odd, because the commissioners have yet to actually present rational explanations for the latest Comcast set-top box waiver denials. Nevertheless, the Commission is set to, among other punitive steps, look to enact stealth a la carte, triple must carry and more. Stay tuned for coverage in CableFAX Daily.
  • But, Cable Acts! We probably shouldn’t, but the industry is stepping up to help with the digital transition… maybe we can shame the Commission into paying attention?
  • Nah: They’d just, like Michael Vick, get religion.
  • On the Bright Side! Take a look at this (and laugh at the commercial juxtaposition): http://www.myfoxny.com/myfox/pages/InsideFox/Detail?contentId=4279452&version=1&locale=EN- US&layoutCode=VSTY&pageId=5.2.1. FYI: his well-connected Dad denies any direct involvement. No kidding, this is worth a look; cool kid. (Don’t tell Michael I told you about Matt).
  • NY Tourist: Was in the Big Apple for the taxi “strike.” When I couldn’t find a cab, took a Pedi cab all the way from mid-town to Ground Zero. Expensive, but fun. Also rode the oven known as a subway car on the “7” train out to and back from to the National Tennis Center. Yep, appreciated that NBC Universal schedule Venus v. Jelena and Roger v. Andy just for me for the evening I was in the City. Almost as good as watching the US Open on USA.

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