by Sam Winston

The Pope’s upcoming visit to the U.S. is even more highly anticipated by several Catholic parishes that are going through “a time of pain and uncertainty”

Louisiana prosecutors spur review of the 8th amendment with Child Rape punishment.

Time for panic at the Hive? Chris Paul is 16-for-48 in the last four games, in which the Hornets won only once, and the top seed appeared to be slipping away (as well as the MVP for Paul?). Read the rest of this entry »

by Sam Winston

I’m feeling Trent Johnson to be LSU’s new basketball coach. The question is, will the young hoopsters of Louisiana?

The key seems to lie with Collis Temple Jr., the driving force behind LSU basketball in recent years. Based on this report from The Advocate, it seems Johnson’s got the full endorsement of Temple Jr.

I never thought Brady was much of a coach having watched such uneven performance from his teams over the years (and the lack of say, an out of bounds play). While the old Dale Brown/Perry Clark adage might seem to apply, “He can recruit but he can’t coach,” not even that held up for Brady recently. Indeed the word on the street was that it was Temple Jr., and not Brady, that convinced Tyrus Thomas, Big Baby, and the others to play at LSU after having all played with Temple Jr.’s son Garrett in AAU ball. Losing DJ Augustin to Texas certainly didn’t help either.

Johnson doesn’t have a final four appearance yet, but he did just go to the sweet 16 with Stanford. He also made it to the sweet 16 with much less talent at Nevada of all places. That’s a sign of good coaching. Now all he’s got to do is recruit in Louisiana and stay friends with Temple Jr.

by Sam Winston

Apparently we can add wreckless driving to things Senator Vitter would rather us not know about. Or just slightly embarassing mishaps that allows for such pot shots when you take a clumsy silence strategy. More here and here.

by Sam Winston

Will Vitter take the stand in the D.C. Madame Trial, which starts today?

Katrina Fatigue starting to fade in entertainment and tourism media

The Hornets look for the respect they deserve.

Frustration grows among the nation’s Vietnamese community (You must always fight the Communists!)

Garland Robinette scares the crap out of you with a new announcement (make sure you’re sound is on. P.S. did you know he too was “blogging” now?”

So is Fletcher Mackel of WDSU sporadically and in ALL CAPS.

And Mayor Nagin is in China, not punching out Clancy.

by Sam Winston

According to several local blogs, NOLA blogger Ashley Morris has passed away. Judging by the reactions, he was certainly loved and admired.

I never met him personally but I’ve definitely read his blog as did many others. He was critical at times of blogofneworleans and I can honestly say we were better for it.

His most famous post probably captured Post-K frustration better than anywhere.

Most of the local blogosphere that knew him better has this covered, but just wanted to let everyone know that we are very sorry to hear about his passing.

by Sam Winston

“Speaking of Favre, he already has been replaced by Tyler Hansborough as the token “White Athlete That The Media Openly and Embarrassingly Fawns Over Because of His Work Ethic and Love For the Game.” (Note: Steve Nash was the overwhelming favorite here until Hansborough too over during the tournament.) For anyone who doesn’t think there’s a racial component to this, you’re crazy. Just look at David West of the Hornets — like Hansborough, he’s a self-made player and a staunch competitor who plays with an inordinate amount of passion, an undersized forward who routinely scores on bigger bodies, someone who extracted every ounce of his potential and made the most of it. Well, have you ever read a David West feature? Have you ever heard announcers raving about him to the point that you wondered if they were related to him? No and no. I just think it’s a little, um, peculiar. We’ll see if this changes during the NBA playoffs.” Bill Simmons, ESPN columnist.

Simmons maybe onto something about the salivating over Hansborough but D-West doesn’t seem nearly as physical as Hansborough has to be (West’s got a lot more touch to go along with his inside game). He is after all known by CP3 as the 17-foot assassin.

by Sam Winston

HUD Secretary Alphonso Jackson is expected to resign after being investigated over a suspicious Hurricane Katrina contract.

Detailed background info here.

UPDATED STORY here. He made no mention of the criminal investigation and didn’t take any questions from the press according to the AP report.

by Sam Winston

During any other year, having all four number one seeds reach the NCAA final four would have been the end of the world as I know it. It is after all the first time in the history of the tournament that it has ever happened. Nevertheless, America’s perennial underdog showcase will never wither, at least not in my mind.

I’ve been watching and playing basketball since I was old enough to dribble a ball. Before my family moved from Manhattan to New Orleans when I was 7, my father took me to the Big East tournament in Madison Square Garden, one of the great precursors to the Big Dance. My dad said we were rooting for Syracuse, but I was secretly pulling for Georgetown. What a raucous place it was during the Big East glory days of Ewing, Coleman, Mullin, Villanova, and others in the mid 1980s. Read the rest of this entry »

by Sam Winston

Congressman Bill Jefferson has a new book out and you can buy it directly from him.

Check or Money Order -
Mail to: 1922 Marengo Street, New Orleans, Louisiana 70115
Make payable to William J. Jefferson

Wonder what he’ll use the money for?

by Sam Winston

The latest potential wrinkle in Senator Vitter’s sex scandal has drawn interest from some interesting circles.

I spoke with a reporter from Politico who was curious to know more about it, particularly in sorting out what was local blog material and what was newspaper material. He was eager on the story but his editor wanted more hard info before putting anything up.

Additionally, the post I did summarizing the matter also drew the ire of Chad Rogers, editor and publisher of the Drudge Report mimic (Louisiana style) the Dead Pelican. I’ll respond below the fold. Read the rest of this entry »