My uncle’s home in New Orleans East looks like a missile hit it. One of his daughters enrolled at a Dallas middle school, and another joined a college in Houston instead of staying home and learning close to Pops. Hurricane Katrina. It forever changed his hometown of 58 years and his life after it touched down a year ago today.
But for a moment, Gale Armant’s daily nightmares took a hiatus when the New Orleans Saints drafted Heisman Trophy winner Reggie Bush.
“This is the greatest day in the history of the Saints!” my uncle screamed on NFL draft day.
At that moment, I concluded that the Big Easy needs sports now more than ever, despite the enormous destruction that is still hard to comprehend.
“I can’t imagine not having (sports) with all the devastation and what’s happened here,” New Orleans Hornets owner George Shinn said.
In March, the now Oklahoma City-based Hornets returned home for three games. It was also my first viewing of the damage that Katrina wrought and led my parents to evacuate to Dallas. But at the Hornets’ March 8 return, I saw Katrina victims and Hornets fans embracing, sharing stories and having fun for a couple of hours, despite Kobe Bryant’s 40 points for the Los Angeles Lakers.
“There was a lot of hugging going on,” Superdome and New Orleans Arena spokesman Bill Curl said. “People saw friends that they didn’t see since the storm. It was the first chance to tell their stories.”
My trip back also included a Nuggets-Hornets game, a benefit event with jazz star Branford Marsalis, Al Jarreau-sound-a- like Kem’s concert and Rickey Smiley’s comedy show. Just more than half of the 450,000 residents of the city are back a year later. Nevertheless, every event I attended was sold out. To me, it was further evidence those living there often need a Katrina break.
“When I talk about it with friends and family, it’s a lot to deal with,” said former NFL star and New Orleans native Marshall Faulk, whose mother’s home in the city still isn’t livable.
At the Superdome, the Saints return to play a regular-season NFL game for the first time Sept. 25 against Atlanta. The Hornets have six games scheduled back home next season, and Shinn said he is committed to a complete return in the 2007-08 season. Tulane football, the Bayou Classic, Sugar Bowl, Louisiana prep football championships and New Orleans Bowl are back, too. Horse racing returns Thanksgiving at the Fair Grounds. Also scheduled: the 2007 NCAA Final Four and the 2008 NBA All-Star Game.
Sporting events help native New Orleanians feel normal for at least a couple of hours.
“People stop me and come up to me on the streets and give me a big hug and thank me,” Shinn said. “It’s extremely gratifying in that regard. But it’s a slow process. It’s going to take time. But I’m optimistic. Things are going to work out.”
Sports also puts money in the city’s wallet not only by filling venues, but also hotels, cabs, restaurants and Bourbon Street. The Dome employs 2,500 on game nights.
And with every mention of the Saints, Hornets or Tulane, attention is directed toward how the city is doing. The answer? Not good. Millions more in aid is needed to help it get back on its feet. But with each sporting event, another free cry for help is given.
“The biggest concern I have is getting the federal government to get these levees improved on,” Shinn said. “A lot of people are fearful of another storm.”
Shame on San Antonio and L.A. for trying to lure the Saints. Shame on Hornets coach Byron Scott for saying the franchise would be better off in Oklahoma City. Shame on Saints owner Tom Benson for being more interested in lining his pockets than keeping a team in a city that for years has supported bad football.
Hey, sports are just as important to New Orleans right now as gumbo and jazz. They have been a supportive friend in this city’s darkest hours.
“Sports gives us an outlet to get away from FEMA, the Small Business Administration, contractors gouging us on prices and insurance carriers messing you around,” Armant said. “You release it. You’re rooting for your team. You feel like it’s back to normal and breaks the trend of fill out this form, fill out that form.”
Staff writer Marc J. Spears can be reached at 303-954-1098 or mspears@denverpost.com.
