Tour of California riders zip through Merced

Maybe, it's just me.

But didn't the Amgen Tour of California come and go in a matter of seconds?

After all the hoopla ... and all the anticipation ... it seemed like the movie ... "Gone in 60 Seconds."

Now ... I guess it's just my knee-jerk reaction ... I haven't really researched anything ... all I did was have a press pass ... and a camera ... and I was there at the starting line.

First things first .... I do think it is pretty obvious that the tour gave Merced a big mental boost ...

Anything to get our minds off the economic depression (did I just say "depression" ... no ... I'm repeating an NBC analyst I listened to on the TV today).

Anyway ... it was a wonderful distraction with all the elements ... a national hero ... international competition ... and great weather.

And then they were gone.

People seemed to have that ... "that's it?" feeling ...

And now I have some doubts ... (and please write in and correct me if they are off the mark).

1. It was a good crowd downtown ... but it didn't seem really, really huge ... like it would make a big difference to the struggling downtown shops that were open for the event. And the crowd didn't seem to stick around after the riders escaped town minutes after the start.

2. I saw a lot of mobile homes and trailers for the cyclists. They didn't seem to be staying in any local hotels. Maybe race organizers did. Maybe some diehard fans did. But I can't see how the event made a significant splash in the budget of our hospitality services. Again ... I'm not looking at any numbers ... just thinking out loud.

3. I saw a lot of cops on duty ... and a lot of city employees at the event ... I wonder if they were volunteering ... they had to be. Probably not the cops ... I'm sure that must have cost the city something. The other officials were probably donating their time.

I don't know ... I think it is safe to say ...

Merced needs events like this ... but I don't think occasional big events are going to save any threatened shops, restaurants or hotels ...

We need to boost our city business strategy with a viable and continuous attraction that keeps them coming back for more and more.

You know.

Think about it.

THIS WEEK'S BUMPER STICKER SIGHTING:

"I've Upped My Standards ... UP YOURS!"

(On a Chevy Half-Ton truck moving down Highway 99 toward Atwater)