Stickin' it to the man starts here

Welcome to the chili revolution. The concession stand overlords have decided to take away America's favorite hot dog condiment from hungry, hard-working fans at the New Orleans Arena. The chili-tariat will NOT be silenced. If you're like us, and you want your damn chili back, here's where you can do your part. It's as simple as clicking this link and telling the overlords what you think.

Here, you can even borrow the letter I wrote:

To Whom It May Concern:

I am a Hornets fan and frequent visitor to the New Orleans Arena. At every Hornets game I have ever attended up to and including last season’s playoff run, I have purchased a foot-long hot dog with chili and a large cola beverage at the end of the first quarter. This season, when attending the Hornets’ preseason opener against the Warriors, I was shocked and appalled when the concession workers informed me that chili is no longer being offered at the Arena. The chili dog is a staple of sports fandom, and to refuse to make it available to hungry fans that paid their hard-earned money to attend events at the Arena is unconscionable.

I have racked my brain to come up with a possible explanation for this decision, and have only come up with two – neither of which is legitimate, in my opinion, for the reasons outlined below:

• The almighty dollar. Sure, there was no charge for chili in previous years, so you’re probably taking a hit by paying a supplier for chili then giving it up for free. Here’s the thing – I know the market price on a plain hot dog isn’t $5 apiece, so there’s no way you’re taking enough of a hit to put you in the red on hot dogs. Even if you are, you can pass along the additional cost of chili and preserve your precious margins by charging extra for a dog with chili. I’ve been to countless stadia, arenas, theaters, etc. that do just that at charges ranging from $0.25 up to $0.75 and people – myself included – gladly pay it. So to say that the only way to maximize your margins on hot dogs is to not offer chili at all is preposterous.

• It ‘s messy. Poppycock. Horse feathers, even! Ketchup, mustard, onions, relish, sauerkraut and the barbecue sauce you offer with the chicken finger basket are just as messy. Moreover, I argue that ketchup and barbecue sauce are even messier than chili. Both list sugar in their ingredients and, as such, are not only unsightly when spilled, but sticky as well.

If there is some other explanation that you believe is palatable, I would be thrilled to hear it. In the interim, and until such time as chili is restored to the concession stands at the Arena, I am left with no choice but to cease patronage of the concession stands there or at any other arena operated by SMG or whose concessions purveyed by Centerplate.

Join us. Fight the good fight. Chili for all, and damn those who say otherwise!

NO CHILI, NO PEACE!!!!