Katrina
Posted: August 31, 2005 @ 1:53 am
The images from New Orleans, Eastern Louisiana and Mississippi are spirit crushing, and they get worse by the hour. And while the present is the time for supporting the survivors, though work, donations and prayer, the NFL has a problem it cannot avoid, as much as it would like to:
The season’s first weekend is eleven days away and the New Orleans Saints have lost their city.
While New Orleans will be rebuilt, nobody knows how completely it will resemble its old self, or how long the restoration will take. It is a minor detail in the light of the death and devastation, but one of the many losses could be pro football. The city was already 31st in total revenue and Saints owner Tom Benson was only months away from a battle with the state over a better compensation package. Rumors were emerging during the spring that the Saints might consider San Antonio — where Benson is a major car dealer — or Los Angeles as new destinations.
At some point in the near future, those rumors will re-emerge. For the moment, San Antonio is the Saints’ new headquarters. The league has not decided where the team will play its season opener, but the latest reports suggest longer term thinking will be required. Mayor Ray Nagin said today the city would be uninhabitable for months.
The league has to decide whether it wants to turn the Saints into its version of the Montreal Expos, who spent two seasons in baseball limbo before relocating to Washington this year. San Antonio seems a good bet to get the team for 2005, given that most players want to stay as near New Orleans as possible. If the NFL feels this is the time to settle the Los Angeles issue, it could do so. But new L.A. mayor Antonio Villaraigosa told the league earlier this month the city would not be leveraged into spending public funds to build a new stadium. “My hope is that they are going to realize there are a lot of people who want a football team, but every year they are not here is one more year where people start to forget,” the mayor said. It seems unlikely that L.A. would use Katrina as a pretext for moving the Saints west.
After everything the citizens of New Orleans have already endured, the Saints would be just the type of civic hub a recovering city could rally around. Given the NFL’s appetite for cash, however, it does not appear the city could afford to keep the team. A strong business base is necessary in today’s luxury-box driven world and nobody knows how much of New Orleans’ commercial sector will relocate. Considering the P.R. hit the league would take (and make no mistake, this would be the NFL’s worst move since the original Browns fled Cleveland in a huff) could the NFL contemplate moving the Saints permanently?
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Rafael,
I’m not usually one who reads non “action” related stories but I must say you have done an excellent job on a very interesting concern.
Having been through 5 Hurricanes myself, my prayers are with the people of the area affected.
JV
Great piece Rafeal. I think this could be a bigger black eye for the NFL. I think Art Modell took the brunt of the fans anger not the NFL(they still loved the NFL). On second thought, I don’t think the Saints fans are as passionate or enjoyed the history that the Browns fans had and would let the team go with a bit of a whimper but not the fit that Cleveland had. As for the rest of the NFL fans they could probably care less where the team is located. It would seem a shame to shuffle the divisions again if the went to L.A. but it would be hard to call it the NFC South with a team in LA but we do have a Missouri team in the AFC West.
Raf as i’ve stated before I live in San Antonio and heard much of the same thing you reported and also saw some Saints buses downtown today as i drove home from work…..sad situation,my heart goes out to those poor people.
Indeed, say a prayer for those folks.
My guess is the NFL will solve the Las Angeles issue with this opportunity, but next year. This year San Antonio will probably be the interim solution. As for a stadium in LA and LA not going to pay for it? So what. Benson and the league have money. Let them build it. Benson is a businessman, let him drum up the business support in LA for a stadium; the team will need that business support to operate in any case.
I have lived in Louisiana for most of my life, and Benson is the worst owner by far to have ever owned a franchise. I have been a Cowboy fan since there inception into the league. The Saints ownership has never truly been interested in producing a winner. There will be some diehard fans to complain about losing the team, but as a whole I don’t think many will feel a terrible loss. Financially, it might be another blow to a devastated city, but the rest of the state will not miss them. It is terrible the loss of life and property and I feel for those who have suffered, but the Saints problems are hardly of any interest to me personally. For those that love the Saints they will love them no matter where they go.
Yea, the moment I read the news that the Saints were headed to San Antonio, the first thought I had was that they were never going to return. They’ll be gone at least this season, and the destruction is such in New Orleans that possibly after that as well. Considering the Saints’ situation prior to the hurricane, it’s just a logical conclusion that they’ll end up permanently relocating.
I have no idea if this is true or not, but my hunch is also that it won’t be that big of a deal to the state. Might even be a mutual send off to some degree. Tommy’s post supports that hunch, at least. The state has highr priorities to deal with for years to come.
The Saints will be in San Antonio for the long haul. It will take years to rebuild New Orleans, and they weren’t making money to begin with. San Antonio Saints…….at least for a couple years, then San Antonio River Runners!
Seriously, my heart goes out to the people of New Orleans. It’s a terrible tragedy, and they need all the help we can give to see them through this very difficult time.
Let me add that everybody liked having the Super Bowl in New Orleans. They just had fun there, so there is another reason, in addition to the civic pride rallying point, to keep the team there.
The pictures do look pretty bleak for the city. Let’s all do what we can and hope for the best.
Also…and I am going to ask for Everyone’s indulgence and forgiveness in advance on this one:
In a day of trauma and tragedy, a little humor can do the soul good. As many of you know, the Astrodome is now the new home to many of those stranded in the Superdome where they had survived without much food, water or adequate sanitation facilities. One school bus load of people had to convince the Harris County authorities that while they were not from the Superdome, they were from New Orlenas and needed shelter. Eventurally they were allowed to stay.
For all of you lovers of sports history, the Oiler Troll saw this paragraph in the Houston Chronicle and had to chuckle in the midst of everything else:
Officials were expecting 45,000 cots to be delivered by tomorrow. On the east end of the stadium was a message board that spelled out in lights No Smoking in the Astrodome Please. Hanging from the rafters were reminders of the previous tenants of the cavernous arena, the divisional championship banner of the Houston Oilers and the Houston Astros.
Sad, but glad to see the place being put to good use.
Godspeed, Everybody.
This thread is not about football. I would like to put it to use as intended.
When we examine life, we discover the problem of dying.
When we examine dying, we realize the problem isn’t dying, the problem is - we are most likely going to be here tomorrow - so, what are we going to do now?
The most fulfilling answer to that question is to decide how to make a difference in this world while we’re here.
I’ve been working my butt off and spending my spare time following my team. I knew there was a “hurricane problem,” but I’ve been “BUSY.”
I saw pictures of N.O. for the first time today. It quickly became apparant to me that this is a big problem (yes, call me captain obvious from now on) and there are a good number of people who need SERIOUS help.
Being a New Yorker (Texas transplant) who lived through 9/11, I know first hand what a determined group of people can accomplish when faced with adversity.
As of 9/1/05 I have committed a percentage of my company’s profits to help those affected by the hurricane.
The dollar amount is not important, what’s important is that we all do something. We can make a difference.
I request that everyone who reads this blog commits to donating one dollar (less or more if possible) to any disaster relief fund, and gets three friends to do it too. Just think, if every Cowboy’s fan did that, we could rebuild that city in about an hour!
You don’t have to give today. Just commit to it and do it when you can.
Please do not respond to this posting with a pledge. Whether you can give a dollar, five dollars, or five cents, the amount doesn’t matter. Just do what you can.
Together we can make a difference.
It might give us the right to sit down and watch a football game tonight.
Sincerely,
Big Jim
Big Jim:
A very noble gesture. Kinda puts this little diversion called football into perspective, doesn’t it?
every now and then real life reaches out and bitch slaps all of us.
A whole-hearted AMEN, Big Jim. We should all do what we can with the abilities and capabilities that we’ve been given.
“But for the grace of God, go I”
As for the Saints, they’re not even priority #100 for New Orleans. Next year, we can talk about the permenant relocation, but this is a business…’Nawlins needs a lot more than a symbol and diversion.
S.A. or LA are very real probabilities.
Fighter15:
You mean the City of Angels (Los Angeles) could get a football team called the Saints?
Hmmm …
- Oliver Stone
Great post Big Jim,
I will donate what I can. My thoughts and prayers are with the people affected by this terrible tragedy.
Didn’t even notice the irony, Raul. :-)
Would be way too poetic not cause an uproar on the left coast.
Indeed, what a quandary such a politically incorrect name would cause down there! LOL!
Its only politically incorrect to those that hate religion (the lefties).
Burma,
Thats what I meant. I wonder if it will happen in LA anyway. It is a really crappy football town. Extremely fair-weather fans.
Burmafrd,
As a devout lefty, I’m offended by your remark. Keep your ignorant politcal stereotypes on a political blog and off this one.
Interesting.
Rafael,
You’re a socialist???
Even so, how could you possibly be offended? It’s OK to dream of utopia…we’ve been doing it for years with our beloved ‘Boys.
I’m taken aback.
Fighter 15,
I meant a religious lefty (hence the devout part). It’s not about
any radicalism, I just don’t like my faith being mocked on my
site.
Back to football.
That last post was me, not the Oiler Troll.
Don’t want him to be in the middle of my
food fights.
??????
Wait raf I’ve been posting to you all this time!!!!! I’m so
ashamed!!
So the question is: If Rafael is Oiler Troll and he IS a socialist; did he get laid in the Costa Rican whorehouse and how did he pay? Black market hard currency or was it a state run whorehouse at which he could use his ration card?
God forbid the shortage of penicillin at state run hospitals. LOL! Shades of Viktor Suvorov. ” If you must live in a prison, you might a swell be one of the gaurds.” I won’t even go to my Orwell. GO COWBOYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
James,
That’s funny. I am neither Oiler Troll nor a socialist. I cannot speak to the rest.
Rafael,
Thank you sir! I do believe that I do have a small talent with the shtick.
Hi Everybody!
Hey James - Becker, wha- what happened? Who the hell left salsa and crumbs and shit on my keyboard? This is the last time I am letting the Blogger in Chief watch a game over here.
And wait a second, let me get this straight - I could have been serviced in the Costa Rican whorehouse FOR FREE courtesy of the Costa Rican government? Dammit!
Hi Everybody
Um…Oiler Troll is not sure what is going on - The game was tied 20-20 and Oiler Troll dozed off. He just woke up with a terrific headache in a bathtub full of ice and some sutures around his kidneys. Oiler Trollette is NOT going to be cool with that. There was also some note in the mirror to call a doctor and for the love of God to not check The Cowboys Blog, and especially nothing written by James, Becker or Rafael.
When did Oiler Troll become a socialist and why was his computer on?
More importantly, say, James, tell me about these ration cards - sounds neat.
OT
James…you do have a talent.
Oiler Troll…you’re just twisted.
Rafael, didn’t think you were a card carrying ACLU-loving liberal based on your posts…that’s why I was so surprised. And great site…you can lay down the law anytime.
I love all of you!
OT,
You know, ration cards. Each citizen (er…slave) is allowed so many eggs, rolls of toilet paper, or chunks of nookie per month. Same cards being issued by the citizens (er….slaves) loving government that takes care of you from erection to resurrection. LOL!
It’s just a humorous service we provide free of charge here at Cowboys Blog. No credit or ration cards necessary.
Thank you for stopping by. We know you have options in the football blogging world and we thank you for choosing us today. Have a great holiday weekend.
And you know, it is like what Bill Cosby used to say - if you are not careful, you just might learn something before you are done…
….although I am not sure Albert, Rudy and Mushmouth and the gang covered the same topics as those discussed here.
Goodbye!
Albert, Rudy and Mushmouth discussed Central American brothel ettiquette? Was that on the special HBO version of Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids? Is it the unmarked episode at the end of the boxed set? I’ve GOT to see that one.
I assure you, my material, amatueristic but occasionally good, is all my own. I have been thrown out of comedy clubs before.