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| AP Photo Archive |
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| Smoke rises near the Superdome in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, La., Sept. 2. The roof suffered damage in the storm. |
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Hurricane Katrina has affected every aspect of life for many living in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama, including sports.
The National Football League’s New Orleans Saints announced they will play their first home game against the New York Giants at the Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ. the weekend of Sept. 18. The Superdome, home of the Saints, was damaged during the storm and will not be able to host Saints games for the entire season.
“Our nation has experienced an unprecedented natural disaster and we join everyone now in focusing our attention on the massive relief and recovery needs of the Gulf Coast region,” NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue said according to www.ESPN.com. “…we will move the site of the Saints’ first home game, which had been scheduled for the Louisiana Superdome on September 18 against the New York Giants, to Giants Stadium on that same weekend.”
The National Basketball Association’s New Orleans Hornets have moved their preseason training camp to the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo. The Houston Rockets have temporarily lent the Hornets’ office space until the Hornets can find a home for the 2005-06 season. Baton Rouge, La., is being considered a strong option as a temporary location for the Hornets. The city is home to Louisiana State University’s Pete Maravich Assembly Center, which holds 14,164. Oklahoma City announced it is willing to be home to the Hornets this season. Oklahoma City has an NBA-quality arena in the Ford Center.
At the collegiate level, numerous universities have announced major changes in scheduling including Louisiana State University as well the University of Mississippi.
Southern Mississippi’s football team has relocated to Memphis for about a week after Hattiesburg was ravaged by Hurricane Katrina.
“Thank goodness for the city of Memphis and especially the University of Memphis,” said Southern Mississippi coach Jeff Bower, according to www.ESPN.com. “I don’t know what else we could do. I know our football team is very appreciative of everything Memphis is doing for us.”
They play at Alabama Aug. 10.
Louisiana State University postponed their season opener but the school says this should be the only major change, according to ESPN.com.
Tulane University has vowed that it will play football this fall but says there are still many questions to be answered.
“We’re playing ball,” said Scott Sidwell, Tulane’s associate athletic director according to www.ESPN.com. “Now it’s up to us to make it happen.”
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is examining issues related to transfer situations involving student-athletes who are natives of the affected areas or are enrolled at campuses there.
“We recognize the unique challenges this disaster poses to student-athletes. We believe that by giving increased flexibility to conferences and schools, they can best assess the particular needs of the student-athletes within their campus communities,” said NCAA President Myles Brand.
“The first priority of those schools caught in Katrina’s path is the students, staff and families who have been put in harm’s way. The NCAA will be working with conference offices to deal with reduced or lost athletics schedules, the ability of teams to host or travel for competition, and championship qualification. It is too early to say what the exact solutions will be, but the national office will work to accommodate these unique and unfortunate circumstances,” said Brand.
Professional athletes have made many donations to the relief efforts. NFL quarterbacks Steve McNair and Brett Favre, who are from the affected area, have made generous donations and encouraged others to do the same. Baltimore Ravens cornerback Deion Sanders challenged all professional athletes to donate at least $1,000 apiece through payroll deductions to benefit the victims of Hurricane Katrina.
NFL quarterbacks Peyton and Eli Manning, who grew up in New Orleans, will travel to Baton Rouge, La., to deliver 31,000 pounds of goods to the Red Cross to be distributed.
NBA player Baron Davis, who used to play for the Charlotte Bobcats has pledged $50,000 to the cause. Most professional sports team are helping the relief effort in one way or another.
Chicago Bulls guard Chris Duhon expressed his reason for donating on www.ESPN.com “Many towns are experiencing this devastation and have yet to determine what, if any, buildings will be saved,” said Duhon. “We have to do something to help ease this burden.”
