Exciting Sports Season Still
Ahead in New Orleans

November and December are the make-it-or-break-it months of the college and professional football seasons, while the pro basketball season is just getting underway and hoopsters are stretching their legs (and arms!) for the long season that lies ahead.

New Orleans has it all: college and professional football teams looking more and more like champions and a basketball team that can go up and down the court with the best of them. Here’s a look at how the rest of the fall sports season is looking in the Crescent City.

New Orleans Saints

The New Orleans Saints head into November fired up and ready to take on the best the NFL can throw at them. With a 8-0 record going into November, a league-leading 238 points on offense (an astounding nearly-40 point per game average), and the league’s #1 passer safely protected behind a rock-solid line of scrimmage, Head Coach Sean Payton continues to have high hopes for a well-balanced team that many experts feel will go all the way and finally bring that elusive championship trophy home to the Crescent City.

Led by All-Pro quarterback Drew Brees, who topped the league in key passing statistics in 2008, the Saints have won all of their regular season games in convincing fashion with 45-27, 48-22, 27-7 and 24-10, 48-27, 46-34 and 35-27 victories over Detroit, Philadelphia, Buffalo, both New York teams, Miami and Atlanta respectively. November’s home schedule at the Louisiana Superdome pits the boys in black and gold against their divisional rival Carolina Panthers on Sunday the 8th. Then, on November 30 the Saints face what may be the toughest test of their season when they go up against Tom Brady and the New England Patriots. (A complete schedule of the season’s remaining home games is below.)

Last season Brees became only the second quarterback in NFL history and the first in the National Football Conference to pass for over 5,000 yards in a season, falling only fifteen yards short of Dan Marino’s 1984 record. He also led the league in passing attempts and completions and tied for the league lead with 34 touchdown passes, en route to being named Associated Press Offensive Player of the Year and selected for his second Pro Bowl appearance. In ten of the sixteen games played in 2008 he passed for over 300 yards.

Backing up Brees, should it become necessary, is veteran quarterback Mark Brunell, a fifteen-year veteran who has started in ten postseason games, including two AFC championship contests. Lining up as Brees’ primary targets are wide receivers Marquis Colston, Devery Henderson, Robert Meachem and tight end Jeremy Shockey. In the backfield is a versatile trio of running backs, each capable of breaking through and scoringat will: Mike Bell, Reggie Bush and Pierre Thomas.

On defense, linebackers Scott Fujita and Jonathan Vilma give an extra boost to a defensive line anchored by Charles Grant and Will Smith. Handling the kicking chores – again! – is 21-year veteran John Carney who returned to the team in ‘09 following an All-Pro season filling in for an injured Lawrence Tynes of the New York Giants.

For tickets and information log on to www.ticketmaster.com or call (504) 731-1700 or (1-800) 666-1700.

The remaining home schedule for the Saints in 2009 is as follows:

Sunday, November 8	Carolina Panters	8:30 p.m.
Monday, November 30	New England Patriots	7:30 p.m.
Saturday, December 19	Dallas Cowboys	7:20 p.m.
Sunday, December 27	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	12 p.m.

Hornet's Buzzing Off to a Flying Start

A year after winning the 2007-08 Southwest Division title of the NBA’s Western Conference, the New Orleans Hornets were a bit of a disappointment in the 2008-09 season, being eliminated early in the first round of the playoffs. Going into 2009-10 Hornets fans have higher hopes for a team that is well-balanced on offense and defense and is even at 1-1 as the first full month of the season began in November.

Short by NBA standards at only 6’0, Guard Chris Paul nonetheless continues to impress with his All-Star credentials. He and teammates 6’10” Center Emeka Okafor, and veteran Forwards Peja Stojakovic and David West represent Head Coach Byron Scott’s best hopes of recapturing the magic that carried them to the ’07-’08 divisional title. As the current season progresses, the Hornets anticipate swarming all over their opponents as they bring their skills and scoring ability to the floor of the New Orleans Arena.

The Hornets home schedule through the rest of 2009-10 looks like this:

The official season runs until April 2010 and playoffs continue into June. Games are held in the New Orleans Arena, a state-of-the-art sports venue adjacent to the Louisiana Superdome in Downtown New Orleans, just minutes away from the French Quarter.

Come cheer the Hornets to victory alongside the team’s spirited dance team, the Honeybees, and Hugo the Hornet, the team’s energetic mascot. Call Ticketmaster for tickets at 504-522-5555 or go to www.ticketmaster.com.

Bayou Classic
Saturday, November 28

There is no guesswork as to who is going to be appearing in this annual college football Thanksgiving weekend contest at the Louisiana Superdome. Every year since 1974 it has been the same two teams: the Southern University Jaguars versus the Grambling State University Tigers.

Sponsored by State Farm, the two longtime rivals will battle it out in the 36th Annual Bayou Classic on Saturday, November 28. Southern has an 18-17 edge in the 35 classics played so far and Grambling, which has contributed many top players to the NFL in recent years, will be looking to get even. Look for a lot of bruising action and a tough contest when the teams take the field that afternoon at 1:00.

Bayou Classic Weekend is also a time of festivity and opportunity. There are live band concerts and special events featuring food, music and art/handicraft exhibits and booths and there are also job fairs and educational seminars. For game tickets and more information about Bayou Classic log on to www.statefarmbayouclassic.com.

New Orleans Bowl
December 20

Pitting the winner of the Sunbelt Conference against the winner of Conference USA in college football, the New Orleans Bowl is set to kick off on Sunday December 20 in the Louisiana Superdome. Begun in 2001, the New Orleans Bowl has had its exciting moments, the latest of which was in last year’s game won by the University of Southern Mississippi against Troy State on a field goal in overtime. Southern Miss, representing Conference USA, has the best record of all New Orleans Bowl competitors at 3-0, while North Texas State has been there the most times – 4 – winning one and losing three.

Who will represent the two conferences in this year’s New Orleans Bowl? The answer will likely be known in early December. For tickets and information log on to www.ticketmaster.com orwww.neworleansbowl.org.

Sugar Bowl
January 1, 2010

One of the great prizes in American college football is the annual Sugar Bowl, which is always held shortly after New Year’s Eve. Many times in recent years the winner of the Sugar Bowl went on to become listed at the #1 top college football team in the nation.

Going into November, local favorite LSU is 6-1 for the season and ranked #9 nationwide. The Tigers have made 11 Sugar Bowl appearances (winning six) and have won three national titles, the most recent of which were in 2003 and 2007. They have also won 13 conference titles and seven divisional crowns.

Before closing out the 2009 season LSU faces some tough opposition from the Alabama Crimson Tide on November 7, Ole Miss on the 21st and the Razorbacks of the University of Arkansas on the 28th. At some point by early or mid-December, after the conference championships are held, it will be decided who goes to the Sugar Bowl.

For tickets and information about the 76th Annual Allstate Sugar Bowl log on to www.allstatesugarbowl.org or www.ticketmaster.com. Kickoff time for the game is 7:30 p.m.

Mardi Gras Rock N’ Roll Marathon
February 28, 2010

Running fans will have their day early next year when the Annual Mardi Gras Rock N’ Roll Marathon hits the streets of the Crescent City. Marathoning’s biggest party is set for Sunday, February 28, 2010 as The Competitor Group and the New Orleans Track Club recently announced a multi-year licensing agreement for the Mardi Gras Marathon, adding the longtime New Orleans-based Marathon to its new parent company’s schedule of races.

Those interested in participating in the race or just spectating and taking part in the blowout party after the race can get more information from the race’s website www.mardi-gras.competitor.com. This is one fun sporting and entertainment event you don’t want to miss! More information will be posted as the date draws closer.