“What’s special teams?” What a cute question. Now, if only this girl wasn’t wearing a Reggie Bush jersey. Was this a concious decision by the people over at Electronic Arts? If so, are they saying that young Saints fans don’t know about football (or that their parents are unwilling to properly teach them)? Or are they merely saying that Reggie Bush is so popular even clueless 8-year-old girls wear his jersey?

I’ve made an inquiry to the folks at Madden. Let’s hope they get back to me.

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By now you’ve probably spent half your workday goofing off your coffee break exploring the latest creepy-cool feature of Google Maps: the New Orleans street view. Lieutenant Gov. Mitch Landrieu cut the virtual ribbon this morning:

I recently had the opportunity to visit the Googleplex and I expressed my interest in seeing Street View come to Louisiana, so I’m excited to see the launch of Street View imagery for Greater New Orleans, Baton Rouge and Shreveport. This remarkable tool allows us to share with the world life as we see it, here on the ground in my home state.

In this time of recovery and rebuilding, it is important that we share real images of life in Louisiana and on the Gulf Coast. As you explore the streets of New Orleans, you will discover a city marked by extremes. You will see some areas spared the worst of Katrina’s fury which have quickly recovered, and you will find other neighborhoods that remain flattened by the floodwaters that broke the levees. You will see that our residents call both FEMA trailers and antebellum mansions home.

Here’s what some people have found so far:

- Varg at The Chicory conducts his own personal tour of the town…

- Richard at New Orleans Metblogs says “Based on the view of my house, I’m guessing they’ve been working on this for a while–at least since last year. But whatevs: we’ve arrived.* (* Insofar as a vaguely creepy invasion of privacy counts as “arrived”.)”

- And Jeffrey at Library Chronicles features some festive “virtual disaster tourism”!

Have you found anything funny/good on the maps yet? Some drunk tourist passed out on a stoop in the Lower Quarter? Slipper ladies in curlers and housedresses trudging home from the supermarket?

Angelina Jolie? Drew Brees? Jackie Clarkson? If so, leave the location in the comments…

Perhaps due to the growing concern of fan behavior and that NFL games were no longer “family friendly” or that fans were putting way too much emphasis on getting completely trashed before noon, the NFL has released a fan conduct policy to be implemented this season. Actions that fans are ban from partaking in this season:

– Behavior that is unruly, disruptive, or illegal.

– Drunkenness and signs of alcohol impairment that result in irresponsible behavior.

– Foul or abusive language or obscene gestures.

– Interference with the progress of the game, including throwing objects onto the field.

– Failing to follow instructions of stadium personnel.

– Verbal or physical harassment of fans from the opposing team.

You hear that? The days of dressing up, eating and drinking too much and generally acting like an ass at NFL games are over. The NFL is a family business, you hear? It’s no place for senseless violence or general nihilistic behavior.

Seriously.

“My brother understood how important is was to show young people that they have options and opportunities as they grow up,” writes Nakita Shavers, sister of slain musician and educator Dinerral Shavers. With that simple mission statement, the local nonviolence awareness group SilenceIsViolence and the Dinerral Shavers Educational Fund have teamed to present Speak Up Part III, an annual community event featuring performances and readings by students from the Teen Center for Non-Violence and SilenceIsViolence’s Programs for Peace. Adds Nakita, “We want to make sure that [Dinerral's] legacy continues to provide opportunities to the young people of New Orleans.”

     Speak Up III will be held at 6 p.m. Friday, Aug. 8, at the Sound Café (2700 Chartres St.).

The New Orleans Hornets will open the 2008-09 regular season on the road on Wednesday, Oct. 29, when they take on the Golden State Warriors. The Hornets will battle Shaquille O’Neal, Steve Nash and the Phoenix Suns on the road the following night on Thursday, Oct. 30 in a nationally televised game on TNT. The Hornets first home game comes on Saturday, Nov. 1 against LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers….

Get all the dates and the deets here.