http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2781381
Union doubts Big Easy ready for NBA All-Star Game
Reports of crime and violence in Las Vegas during All-Star weekend have NBA Players Association executive director Billy Hunter concerned about New Orleans’ ability to host the NBA’s midseason party next season.
Who’s with me?
I’m with you.
Me too.
Dave, why isn’t George Shinn coming to New Orleans’ defense? Oh wait….
You guys shouldn’t believe everything you read. Hunter was asked the question as a hypothetical scenario. If New Orleans doesn’t show the ability to provide adequate police protection, would you consider trying to have the game moved?
Of course, he’s going to say the game should me moved for the safety of the NBA players and fans. He’s not moving the game. Relax.
That said, why are you so offended? Nine murders in one night. New Orleans is what it is.
The journalist has a lot of nerve coming on here and telling us not to believe everything that we read.
What about this sounds hypothetical?
“First of all, their police force is dissipated. They’re probably dealing with half the force they had before,” Hunter told Newsday. “They don’t have all the resources that we will need to properly police the city. They’ve got a serious crime problem as it is. And so what are they going to do?”
Hunter told the newspaper he plans to discuss the matter with NBA Commissioner David Stern in the “immediate future.”
Also, I’m offended that this guy can’t throw a decent All-Star weekend in Las Vegas, and he blames the city? How many events are held at Las Vegas every year that don’t go awry like All-Star weekend. Is the issue the NBA, or is the issue Las Vegas.
I’m also just a huge fan of fear mongering. Especially when it’s used to draw attention away from your own leagues shortcomings. Even more especially when it’s directed towards a city that’s had more than it’s share of abuse in the last two years.
The question he was asked was hypothetical. If New Orleans “isn’t” able to improve its police force, would you consider trying to have the game moved?
Again, of course, he’s going to say if security can’t be provided for fans and players than he would look to have the game moved.
What if LeBron goes down there and ends up getting shot or something? It’s not New Orleans’ fault that the NBA and its entourage is full thugs. But the city also doesn’t need any more negative publicity, if something were to happen.
If Las Vegas wasn’t able to improve its police force, then they shouldn’t have had the all star game there.
Why pick on New Orleans because Las Vegas went badly? If the next All Star game was being held in San Diego, would this guy have made the same comments?
It offended me because the game will be 2 1/2 years after the storm and I think it’s shameful that there’s the possibility that New Orleans wouldn’t be ready. What makes the all-star game so different from the other events that have taken place in New Orleans since Katrina? Also, the crime rate in New Orleans was high prior to the storm and last year in May, when the NBA decided to have the 2008 game in New Orleans, it wasn’t very good considering the depressed population. The FBI says that in New Orleans in 2005 there were 134 murders and 463,072 people. In 2006, there were 56 murders – no idea of the population, but obviously depressed.
I don’t blame Las Vegas or New Orleans. The people are the problem.
But New Orleans and bad people is not a good mix right now. Hopefully, improvements will be made before next year, but if things—like nine murders in one night—stay the same, I don’t want the game there either.
Kent .. .Is your email broken? Why are you not responding to me? Jerk.