The Sounds are Coming Back. The Lights are Coming On.
That’s the new slogan of the New Orleans Arena, which was scheduled on Saturday to open its doors to the public for the first time since Hurricane Katrina for “A Night for New Orleans,” a benefit concert starring Placido Domingo.
And basketballs will bounce at the arena again on Wednesday as the New Orleans-Oklahoma City Hornets return for the first time since the hurricane to play the Los Angeles Lakers.
Things are still far from normal at the arena and across the devastated region. But the spirit of the city known for enjoying a good time is slowly returning.
“Wish you were here last week – Mardi Gras was incredible,” New Orleans Arena and Louisiana Superdome spokesman Bill Curl said. “It showed what New Orleans can do. Every person in this city is walking around feeling better because we can still do Mardi Gras.
“It’s important to our economy. It’s our lifestyle. We enjoy our food, whether it’s the most expensive restaurant or a hole in the wall. We enjoy our music. We enjoy our parties. New Orleans is special because of the life we have here.
“We have to go on with life.”
There was a lot of opposition against holding Mardi Gras this year, and the Hornets’ return is facing similar sentiments.
Milwaukee center Ervin Johnson, a New Orleans native, is opposed to the team’s return this season.
“They should wait until next season, when they can get six games that they’ll have on the schedule for New Orleans,” Johnson said. “(NBA commissioner) David Stern and the city think everything is ready. They’re trying to get the fans in there. I hope they have a good turnout.
“A lot of people are still away. The fan base, financially – I don’t think they can support it at this time. Next (season) will be better.”
But there are those with NBA ties to New Orleans who endorse the move.
“It will be good,” said Dallas assistant coach Bernard Griffith, a New Orleans native. “It will be a diversion from some of the madness down there.”
Former Hornet Jamaal Magloire said: “It’s a good move for the city. (Residents) need to find another outlet.”
Mavericks coach Avery Johnson, also a New Orleans native, offered a job to Griffith, his former high school coach, shortly after Katrina forced Griffith to evacuate to Houston from his home in the Gentilly neighborhood of New Orleans. Griffith, who has spent almost 27 years at St. Augustine High School, took the job. He is undecided about whether he wants to return to coach at St. Augustine, which is still closed, or stay with the Mavs.
“After the season we will all sit down and talk,” Griffith said. “I’m enjoying this, but I enjoyed the high school show.”
There was significant water damage to the arena’s locker rooms, dressing rooms and storage areas. Water ruined the basketball court.
Everything seems to be fixed now. A state-of-the-art scoreboard, which was planned before the hurricane, is up and a basketball court was delivered Friday. All that is missing are the Hornets.
“It’s going to be great to hear some noise,” Curl said. “It’s been too quiet for too long. We’re tired of hearing forklifts and erecting stuff. We’re ready to hear people hollering at the refs.”
The Lakers game is expected to sell out. The Nuggets are scheduled to play at the arena March 18 and the Clippers on March 21.
“We are ready to go. They are doing the final touch-up paint,” Curl said. “No doubt, it will be ready for basketball.”
While the New Orleans Arena is back, the city of New Orleans will never be the same.
“The people that left from the Ninth Ward, Gentilly, Pontchartrain Park, they’re not coming back,” Griffith said. “What they’re talking about doing is bulldozing (those neighborhoods). They’ll find jobs in other parts of the country.”
Even so, the NBA is committed to the return of the Hornets to New Orleans for all games in the 2007-08 season. The 2008 All-Star Game is coming to the Big Easy, too.
Yes, the sounds are back and the lights will be on again.
But will anyone be there to support the Hornets when they’re back for good? They weren’t there before in large numbers. And the city has far more pressing issues now than supporting a pro basketball team.
“In five or 10 years, New Orleans economically will be growing,” Johnson said. “But their tourism there is so good that I think they want to tie in the tourists with the team, also.”
Said Curl: “This is a great event city. When the Super Bowl and Sugar Bowl is here, it’s special. When the NBA All-Star Game comes, it will be a great fit in New Orleans. With the Hornets’ first full year back, it all fits in well.”
Nene makes change
Nuggets forward-center Nene, who will be a restricted free agent after this season, has fired agent Michael Coyne and hired agent Dan Fegan. Coyne had represented Nene since he was drafted in 2002. Fegan represents several Nuggets, as well as NBA all-stars Gilbert Arenas and Shawn Marion.
Footnotes
University of Denver center Yemi Nicholson and Nevada-Las Vegas forward Louis Amundson, a Boulder native, were among about 40 college seniors invited to play in the Portsmouth Invitational in front of NBA scouts April 5-8 in Portsmouth, Va. … Invitations to the NBA predraft camp in Orlando, Fla., on June 7-10 go out in May.
Marc J. Spears can be reached at 303-820-5449 or mspears@denverpost.com.
Dice’s Denver dining spots
Former Nuggets forward Antonio McDyess is the franchise’s ninth all-time leading scorer, was an all-star in 2001 and spent six seasons playing here. The following are the Detroit Pistons forward’s top five restaurants in Denver:
1. Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen
2. Ruth’s Chris Steak House
3. Macaroni Grill
4. M & D’s Bar-B-Que and Fish Palace
5. Denver Diner (for breakfast)
EYE ON USA BASKETBALL
What’s up: USA Basketball will announce its training camp roster today. NBA players expected to be invited include Nuggets forward Carmelo Anthony, Washington’s Gilbert Arenas and Antawn Jamison, Memphis’ Shane Battier, Detroit’s Chauncey Billups, Toronto’s Chris Bosh, San Antonio’s Bruce Bowen, the Los Angeles Clippers’ Elton Brand, the Los Angeles Lakers’ Kobe Bryant, Orlando’s Dwight Howard, Cleveland’s LeBron James, Atlanta’s Joe Johnson, Phoenix’s Shawn Marion and Amare Stoudemire, Sacramento’s Brad Miller, New Orleans-Oklahoma City’s Chris Paul, Boston’s Paul Pierce, Seattle’s Luke Ridnour, Miami’s Dwyane Wade and Milwaukee’s Michael Redd.
Despite previous reports, Dallas’ Josh Howard and Seattle’s Rashard Lewis aren’t expected to be on the list. Miami’s Shaquille O’Neal is expected to have an open invitation.
Word is Philadelphia’s Allen Iverson won’t be on the list. The reasoning is the high number of superstars on the team, Iverson’s age come the next Olympics and past problems with USA Basketball coach Larry Brown during the 2004 Olympics. Two college players expected to be invited are Gonzaga’s Adam Morrison and Duke’s J.J. Redick.
What’s next: The invitees will try out in mid-July in Las Vegas for the 2006 world championship team. Only 12 players will be selected to represent Team USA in Japan. The only roster locks appear to be James and Bryant. Stoudemire’s knee injury kept him from a certain spot.
Billups will attend training camp but won’t play in Japan because of his wife’s pregnancy. Mike Krzyzewski is expected to travel to meet with many of his players after Duke’s season ends.
Spears’ take: There is some debate on whether Anthony can make this team. Word is USA Basketball is fond of the third-year Nugget, who has Olympic experience. Considering Anthony should continue to get better before the 2008 Beijing Olympics, it probably wouldn’t be wise to leave a sour taste in his mouth by keeping him off the team. As long as the third pick in the 2003 draft comes into training camp showing he plans on being a team player, he should make it.
