The All-Star Weekend controversy has started to die down...so now it's time for the consequences. According to Newsday's Ken Berger, Players Association chief Billy Hunter is no longer in favor of New Orleans hosting in '08: "I'm wondering, how will New Orleans accommodate all these people if they elect to come to New Orleans?" Hunter said. "They'll shut the city down."Not sure if he's making a point about logistics, or one about potential death and destruction. I imagine that, when he takes it to Stern "in the immediate" future, he'll convey some of each. If nothing else, it allows him to appeal to The David's corporate streak without pissing off Jermaine O'Neal.
"First of all, their police force is dissipated. They're probably dealing with half the force they had before. 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?"
Speaking of talkative O'Neals, Shaq also had some ambivalent words on the subject.
"I'm not sure if the city of New Orleans is ready for something like that," said O'Neal, who played at LSU. "I would rather see it come to Miami or even New York. I don't know what New Orleans' situation is, but from watching the Spike Lee special and watching the news, it doesn't look like it's ready for something like that."Well put, Big Spin Machine. The city isn't ready for "something like that," which you can take to mean whatever you want.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
2-27-2007 @ 11:49AM
Saia said...
Hunter says later in the article:
"The NBA All-Star Weekend was too big for Vegas," Hunter said. "And if it's too big for Vegas, then what city can accommodate it?"
So lets call the whole thing off. They're acting like the all-star game is a traveling Sodom and Gomorrah. New Orleans has had 2 Mardi Gras since the hurricane. I'm a local. For sure its been scaled back, but its still a massive event. Between it and the Sugar Bowl plus the Bayou Classic etc. the police have done a decent job policing the event.
Reason being that New Orleans is far better designed for an event of this nature than a city like Vegas. In the downtown area of New Orleans everything from hotels, arenas, clubs, and the stadium are walking distance. More importantly, because people are walking during these kinds of events the streets generally feel safer b/c of the sheer number of people. New Orleans has a crime wave and that's unfortunate. However it is no less safe than any other American city.
Billy Hunter is an idiot. Shaq should continue to do what he does best, play only half a season, and shut up b/c sense is not his strongest suit.
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2-27-2007 @ 12:35PM
coach said...
crime problems in new orleans worry the nba ? no problem , said pacman jones !
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2-27-2007 @ 2:21PM
JCN said...
I usually love it when Shaq opens his mouth. But if he's going to speculate on whether NOLA is or is not "ready for" this, he could really do everyone a favor by consulting with the people he knows from Louisiana, rather than relying on a Spike Lee Joint. The city does not need a high-profile cancellation like this.
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2-27-2007 @ 3:03PM
Evan said...
That fact that everything is in walking distance in New Orleans is exactly the problem. Everything is walking distance in Vegas also. People were afraid for their lives (because of shootings)in Vegas and took cabs instead of walking 2 blocks. From what I know about New Orleans, it is much more compact that Vegas.
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2-27-2007 @ 7:12PM
Carlos said...
I think Its crazy to host an event like this in NoLa
they should be more worried about getting the city back together. Are we going to do this everytime there is a major disaster in every city in america.
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2-27-2007 @ 7:19PM
Dave said...
There were a crowd of almost a million people in New Orleans last week for Mardi Gras, how many normally attend the allstar game?
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2-27-2007 @ 9:34PM
fryguy said...
What a crock. It appears both Mr. Hunter and Shaq are mis-informed. Yes, New Orleans has a long way to go on the road to recovery. It is also true crime is as bad as ever, and the police force is reduced. At the same time, the police force did an outstanding job handling Mardi Gras, which surely brings more people to the city than does an all-star event.
As a native New Orleanian, it is extremely disappointing to hear such ridiculous statements. The NBA, along with the Player Association's Mr. Hunter, could use the opportunity to bring lots of positive PR to New Orleans, and assist with the recovery, especially since several NBA players are either from the New Orleans area, or played ball in LA.
Isn't it also just a bit ironic that the head of NBA Player's Association is concerned about crime in New Orleans? Has he looked at the arrest records of his members lately? Gimme a break!
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2-27-2007 @ 10:46PM
rohit said...
this is bull sh*t right now the safest place is to be in the french quarter. most of the businees are open and safe the food is back if we want we could handle the superbowl every year here
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2-28-2007 @ 1:47AM
Marco said...
All I can say is good luck I live in Las Vegas and this was hell, not that it was busy but the type of crowd it atracted if you get the same crowd we got it does not take a million for anything to go wrong. Drugs all over prostitution at its highest, rude and very disrecpecful people is what we had in Las Vegas . I personaly hope we never get this event here ever again. Good Luck NOLO and yes you do a great job for Mardigrass " Its the best party in the world"
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2-28-2007 @ 2:50PM
Thomas said...
How u 2 say New Orleans not ready for something like. U said in your words u just scared to come to New Orleans because the crime just say your scare ass off the sreet. Dont try to say Kartina the reason so we cant host the event. All dat would do is bring us back and people like u trying to hold us down. we already didnt get help through everything and u say dont bring it to New Orleans, it could help us like the SAINTS did.
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3-05-2007 @ 3:13PM
RyanWellness said...
I am going to speak with everyone else here. New Orleans is ready. As for shaq and hunter, they should go to new orleans before opening their trap. Crime is bad in any city. Good thing for the nba is most of the players are worse than their fans. The city is back but some cities 20 miles outside of new orleans are not. Another thing is that we need this event to help rebuild. Do you dummies know how many jobs are created to make an event like that happen? How much money is spent in the city? What future travel can come from it? Stop thinking like a weak kid on the playground and step up to a real city. Las Vegas has legal prostitution and a motto that says what happens here stays here. And you don't think that anything will happen. You must be pretty dumb. New Orleans is the big easy. Laid back not fast paced. Get your head out of your A$$ and come down south for a real party. The NFL is not scared but the prissy NBA skirts around the issue like a scared BITCH!
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3-14-2007 @ 11:03PM
Strongbow said...
What a crock of s**t!!!!! New Orleans just got through with a GREAT Mardi Gras with NO major incidents. Is the NBA All-Star game bigger then Mardi Gras????? I don't think so! New Orleans has already hosted large conventions with no problem. Nearly all the hotels and restuarants are open, the CBD and the French Quarter are safe and the city can handle a simple basketball game. After all March Madness games will be hosted in the city and we all know its a bigger event anyway!
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