The New Orleans Saints have a colorful past, which only makes sense for one of the most eccentric cities in the country. New Orleans has great food, music, shopping and festivals second only to Chicago (but of course I'm biased). New Orleans is by far the strongest, one serious blow after another, the city continues to rebuild and transform. Being at the bottom of the map has exposed them to hurricanes, none more devastating than Hurricane Katrina. And now the city is back in the spotlight due to a severe oil spill that is paralyzing the seafood industries, wildlife and family-owned businesses. Through it all, the sports world keeps it ticking and even the beloved Superbowl champions have found themselves in an unfavorable light...again.
Over the last few days, reports of drug abuse have come seeping out of the doors of the Saints camp. Former Saints security director and ex-FBI agent, Geoffrey Santini, filed a lawsuit Friday stating he left his position with the Saints because he didn't want to get caught up in a drug scandal involving the team. Santini didn't specifically name individuals, only naming them as "Senior Staff Member A" and "Senior Staff Member B". However, his detailed description of a break into the Saints drug locker pointed towards assistant head coach Joe Vitt. The former security director also insinuated that head coach Sean Payton, who has always been Mr. Good Guy, abuses Vicodin.
For a team and a city still high, no pun intended, off of winning the Lombardi trophy, this scandal is certainly not welcome. Under normal circumstances the adrenaline rush before, during and shortly thereafter the Superbowl tends to wear off by mid February. However, when your team has a history of fans decked out on paper bags and having never been to the Superbowl, the bragging rights clearly last well into the warmer days of spring. Louisiana natives are still wearing championship paraphernalia, and watching highlights of the game. But it seems as though the needle on the record has been scratched, the nails have traced the chalkboard, and the party seems to be over.
These allegations are new to the general public, but the Saints organization has been dealing with this issue since last summer, and turned over all evidence to authorities in June of 2009. After the allegations leaked on Friday, Saints officials said the lawsuit had no merit. The organization also stated Santini shopped the lawsuit to them before filing, seeking $2 million to keep it to himself. Coach Payton came forward Saturday and said, "I have never abused or stolen Vicodin or any other medication."
There are many, many questions and statements have been more than vague. The 13-page lawsuit highlights the existence of videotape showing Vitt stealing Vicodin pills, a possible cover-up by team general manager Mickey Loomis, and coach Payton taking Vicodin without a prescription. Every prescription drug, in every NFL locker room is accounted for and requires a written prescription from a team doctor. Therefore, missing pills ending up in the hands of those not intended would ultimately result in federal charges. Every Saints fan, and really every football fan that has been charmed by the Cinderella team, that rose out of the Katrina waters with a discarded and presumably broken quarterback wants a happy ending. The Saints became America's team, the underdog that everyone found himself of herself rooting for. As a newly inducted passenger on the Saints bandwagon, I certainly hope the allegations turn out to be false.
We, yes I said we, already have to deal with quarterback Drew Brees being voted onto the cover of Madden 2011. Whether you believe in the curse or not, Madden 2010 did effect Troy Polamalu and just barely escaped Larry Fitzgerald. Maybe someone in New Orleans can whip up some voodoo magic and make all of this go away (call it a stereotype if you want, I'm just offering suggestions).
Ladies and gentlemen, I'd like to introduce you to an absolute welcomed addition to the Mets bullpen family, Mr. Hisanori Takahashi of Japan. The 35yr-old pitcher (#47) was signed to a minor league contract by the Mets in February, but his spring training performance quickly earned him a spot as a starter (especially since that knucklehead Oliver Perez got DEEE-moted!).
How many ways can you say goodbye? Hmm, let's see.
Now, if getting rid of Jakey wasn't enough, rumor has it that Mike Vick is interested in rocking the teal and black next season. I've wanted Vick in Carolina every since Roger Goddell reinstated him. Hell, I wanted him before we found out he was fighting dogs. Vick is a damn good QB and I feel like with him, Steve Smith and the Wonder Twins, D'Angelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart, my boys would be in the perfect position to do some regulating next season.
First, let me apologize to any of you who were looking forward to my updates on the Winter Baseball League, which I promised you and never delivered on...my bad! You see, what had happened was...I must confess to not owning a TV; I watch everything via the internet. And well, it's really hard to find baseball games from Latin and South America streaming online unless it's a big match-up. Like the Caribbean Series for example, which I did watch like a big old nerd girl.
These days I've been deleting any and all emails I receive from Mets.com. You could say I'm more than a tad bit bitter about the 2009 season, I don't care.
While baseball enthusiasts like myself await news from spring training and eagerly anticipate open day games, alllllllll the power plays and deals are being made to fix what may (or may not) be broken with teams that didn't make the big show in the fall. Like my precious Mets.
The South African track star was only 18 years old and the entire situation really took a toll on her. Reports that she was on suicide watch saddened me. Imagine living as a woman all your life and then finding out that you're a hermaphrodite in front of the entire world. She has no ovaries but rather internal male testes so at the same time you are now finding out that you will never be able to have children.
There was a lot of controversy with her having to withdraw from a race as well. The only place that probably felt like home to her at this confusing time in her life was being stripped from her as well. I can't imagine starting to come into womanhood and really begin that process of getting to know yourself, and finding out that you really don't know yourself at all. The ultimate identity crisis. The only thing positive that came out of this story was that she wasn't stripped of her medals. Yes having male hormones gives her an advantage but it was determined that it wasn't grounds to disqualify her for cheating.
