AJC > Sports > Hawks > Blog > Archives > 2005 > September > 05 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USHow can Hornets possibly prepare?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Instead of just blabbering on about basketball, I hope you all will allow me to vent about the mind-boggling devastation wrought by Katrina. I feel for all the people who’ve lost, and that includes members of my own family and quite a few friends. Having gone to college in Mississippi and lived and worked there for a number of years, the past week has been tough to stomach. Lives have been shattered. I’ve got friends in New Orleans and on the Mississippi coast who have literally lost everything.
This whole thing hit home for me when I got a call from my younger sister who lives in Jackson, Miss. She was hiding in her closet the night the high winds and rain tore through her neighborhood, claiming the life of one of her neighbors. She had no idea just how bad the damage was in New Orleans or on the coast because she didn’t see any of the video footage of the carnage until Thursday, when she finally was able to get out of her storm-damaged neighborhood to a safe and dry place. I’m just thankful she’s safe.
We’ve donated what we could to the relief effort but it doesn’t feel like enough. So I’m planning to use some of my vacation time to help a devastated colleague return to his hometown (New Orleans) for some volunteer work in a two weeks.
As the days have passed it’s become clear that the city of New Orleans won’t recover — physically or emotionally — from this devastation anytime soon. And it wasn’t until then that I even wondered about the Hornets and how they’re going to approach this season. I understand the Saints have already made alternate plans for their season, moving to San Antonio for the foreseeable future. But how do you focus after something like this happens? I know some people have mixed emotions about how sports should proceed during times like this. I remember all the consternation about whether or not the games should be played the week after 9/11. I was in favor of playing right away, if for no reason other than the message it would send to the rest of the world that we wouldn’t let anything knock us off our stride.
But this is different, in so many ways. Hornets’ beat writer John Reid is a good friend and a Road Dog (translation: someone you hang out with on the road during the season) and I don’t even know if he’s safe.
So I can’t imagine how he or anyone else affiliated with the Hornets is supposed to prepare for something that seems so trivial, given the circumstances.
What would you do?
Comments
Commenting is now closed for this entry.
By doc
September 6, 2005 12:03 AM | Link to this
i dont imagine anyone has been personally left untouched by this tragedy as it slowly unfolded before our eyes. thanks for sharing your concerns and go safely, hopefully, you can blog us in when you go.
the season must go on, as there is hope for the future, though it is hard to appreciate now. i just wish it could be closer to the action. ultimately, there will be a lot of healing that could take a lifetime.
from what is in the news, the n.o. saints may be no longer which doesnt surprise me based on their owner. instead of reaching out hes trying to take. go figure.
By Kaceen
September 6, 2005 12:11 PM | Link to this
I agree with you that this is much different than 9/11 in that we wanted to show the world that we would not be scared out of our way of life. But this was not an attack by someone, group or country trying to take away our freedoms. So there would be no reason to play ball after such a disaster.
I mean don’t get me wrong, I love sports as much as the next fan, but sports is suppose to bring us pleasure. Its almost like going to a carnival after returning from a family members funeral.
By doc
September 6, 2005 02:43 PM | Link to this
sports in the proper context can be dignified even under these circumstances. unfortunately, that is lost in the win at all costs mentality. it is just as important for those affected to see something seemingly irrelevant to others show some stabiltiy to what their lives once were. sports are merely a metaphor to our own lives and for this they can provide some consolation. we are fooling ourselves if anyone outside of the u.s. cared about the fact we were carrying on with sports. this was a display to ourselves to move forward as a nation. it didnt show them anything as i doubt bin laden or any of their followers were deterred in the least by this show. they dont understand the values of our culture anymore than we do theirs.
i think the closer the games can be to the people affected is important as well, if their homes are still there they might need jobs to continue or a job to go to. what would be heartfelt is for the powers that be in the nba world were to assure the product went on and bring the ticket prices down so those affected could consider going. that may be asking too much for the wealthy owners but if offerd it would show their true intent to be part of the rebuilding of new orleans.
By andy
September 6, 2005 08:05 PM | Link to this
My wife and I have friends who moved to Mandeville, on the other side of Lake Ponchartrain, last year. We know they are OK, but we still haven’t received a report on what remains of their home. Being in the south, almost everyone you know has friends or family members who live in that area. Trying to grasp the true scope of the devestation is particularly challenging. George Shinn has many detractors, so it will be interesting, if not relevantly important, to observe how he and the NBA proceed. I think clearly, that as New Orleans is an NBA city, and the NBA is a resource rich entity, there is an obligation for assistance to provided in generous amounts. Just the mention of this tragedy on this page makes my passion for sports (and trading barbs with folks like Ray) seem petty. But our country finds strength and solice in its games, and hopefully there will be positive contributions made to this area and its people by the leagues, owners and players who play games in New Orleans.
By Samuel
September 6, 2005 09:00 PM | Link to this
Cuz,
Great post. I too like everyone else am very much affected by this storm. I am collecting food and clothes at school and am glued to my tv.
My son is in school in Florida and eventhough it did not directly effect him, I am always deeply concerned. I am constantly on the phone with him every time I hear of a storm approaching.
As for basketball and sports, I personally think professional sports should go on. This is a livelyhood for thousands of people and I don’t believe a work stoppage will help anyone. Athletes are in a position to contribute the way many of us cannot and money is very much needed.
Of course,if the player feels that he or she cannot,then they should be given the opportunity to take as much time off as necessary to grieve or take care of their families.
During time of grief, human beings need activities that temporarily take our minds off of the tremendous pain.
By doc
September 6, 2005 09:02 PM | Link to this
nicely put andy. going forward the nba and the nfl need to be responsible to the area as they have gained a great deal from the now flood ravaged area. to leave now is symbolic to what the nation at times has questioned, do we fund the rebuild?
sadly, this tragedy could have been avoided to some degree if leaders had really shown leadership rather than partisonship and listened to the many cautioners rather than dismiss it as a small probability.
it is also tragic to hear the comparisons of mayors in what they did and how they performed in crisis. before we could react it was over in new york and it didnt displace even close to the numbers and those affected had tremendous loss but they had not lost jobs, multiple family members and homes as well. additionally, it affected a higher percentage of wealthy wall streeters with pension plans and life insurance coverage instead of the weakest and the poorest. sadly,we watched many of them perish from dehydration as the simple needs of water couldnt even be provided in a timely manner. its comparing apples to oranges.
the port of new orleans and the other ports in the area are very important to the long term stability of the nation and that if nothing else should have been the emphasis as more and more folks pointed out that the leevee system couldnt be sustained past a cat 3 storm.
you are so correct about the rants that we make on these sites but it is a distraction to what is really going on. it is hard to avoid in times like this.
now to place the blame where it should have been all along, the french really screwed things up by building in a hole and then selling the whole thing to us. maybe the cost is a lot higher than we ever thought possible in history class. now may we all be active in the support to others in need.
By doc
September 6, 2005 09:16 PM | Link to this
for what it is worth benson of the saints is saying all the right things, finally.
By ray
September 7, 2005 12:10 AM | Link to this
This is and has been a most horrific event for the people in New Orleans and the other affected areas. My wife found out that there’s some sort of family rescue program where people can volunteer to take in families who have lost everything. We’ve been making as many donations as we can, but we may get involved with the family rescue program as well. Some of these people are beyond hope.I mean, the government has really dropped the ball. I am so disgusted. I tried to imagine myself in the position some people are in. How do you relate to someone who’s gone through this? You can’t, unless you’ve been there. I understand what Sekou is saying, seems like you can’t do enough, and for those who have lost family and friends, homes, etc, it won’t EVER be enough. I would hope that the professional athletes, not just in the local franchise, but all of them would make significant contributions to help in any way possible. This post has reminded me how fortunate I am to be in a position to sit here in relative comfort and not think constantly about the tragic events a few states away. Of course, I do live in southeast georgia, along the coast. I might be in the same position this year or next. Food for thought, I guess…
By Don Keeballz
September 7, 2005 12:17 PM | Link to this
I hear Eddie Curry wants a sign and trade, do you think the Hawks still have any interest? Why not take a gamble what’s the worst thing that could happen? Give em Delk, Collier and somthing else like a Pete Babcock bobble head doll or Mookie Blaylock ash tray. So what if the owners would be out a couple mil, my wallet will stay the same size.
By ray
September 8, 2005 04:38 PM | Link to this
No.
By Don Keeballz
September 9, 2005 07:48 AM | Link to this
Great response Ray, such depth and insight, thanks.
By doc
September 9, 2005 11:34 AM | Link to this
maybe you missed it but ray said it pretty well in the previous post about jj on 9/8/05 about 4:30 if you want to check it out. it showed clarity as well.
By Don Keeballz
September 9, 2005 12:08 PM | Link to this
I see nothing from Ray on 09/08/05 other than No. Besides who mentioned JJ? I was referring to Eddie Curry boss.
By doc
September 9, 2005 12:40 PM | Link to this
check the previous blog for august 29 that was about jj. he was chatting about why curry was too big a risk to the hawks and made some good points about curry and his makeup that make him a risk at many levels. didnt mean to agravate you my friend. peace
By ray
September 10, 2005 08:04 AM | Link to this
Sorry, Don, it just seemed to me that you were bringing up a subject that had nothing to do with this blog and has been heavily debated in another blog. We were discussing the impact of Hurrican Katrina on the world of sports, and the people affected in general…with a little bit of venting and someone personal thoughts added in. Not picking on you, though.