Nagin's a bada**, Benson's a turd
 

Nagin blasts Saints owner for trying to move team


NEW ORLEANS -- Mayor Ray Nagin disparaged Saints owner Tom Benson on Wednesday for working with San Antonio officials to permanently keep the NFL team in Texas.

The mayor's comments came after the departures of two top Saints executives who were supportive of keeping the Saints in Louisiana. Nagin is concerned that San Antonio officials said publicly that Benson is working with them to relocate the franchise to Texas.

"We want our Saints, we may not want the owner back," Nagin said while attending the reopening of Cafe Du Monde in the French Quarter.

"I'm ready to go to the NFL and to [commissioner Paul] Tagliabue and say, 'Give us the Cleveland plan,'" Nagin added, referring to the league awarding Cleveland an expansion team almost immediately after the Browns moved to Baltimore after the 1995 season. "Whatever the Saints want to do, you let them leave, but they can't take our logo, they can't take our name, and you give us a promise to give us a franchise when this city's back."

A Saints spokesman did not return a telephone call and e-mail seeking a response to Nagin's comments.

"For them to be openly talking to other cities about moving is disrespectful to the citizens of New Orleans, disrespectful to the Saints fans who have hung in with this franchise through 30-something years under very trying times," Nagin said.

The Saints joined the NFL in 1967. In 1986, Benson was part of an ownership group that bought the team to ensure it would stay in Louisiana. Benson eventually bought out other members of the group.

During Benson's ownership, the state of Louisiana has built him a new headquarters, including spending $6.75 million for an indoor practice field in 2003. The state also has paid for repeated improvements to the Louisiana Superdome at Benson's insistence during the past two decades.

On Monday night, Benson fired Arnold Fielkow, the team's top business executive since 2000. Fielkow had overseen a 36-game sellout streak at the Superdome and negotiated an unprecedented stadium lease that called for the state to pay Benson $187 million in direct subsidies over 10 years.

But Fielkow has said he believed the Saints needed to be leaders in New Orleans' rebuilding process after Hurricane Katrina and repeatedly praised Saints fans in Louisiana as the best and most loyal in the NFL. Fielkow has since said that stance led to his dismissal.

On Tuesday, Conrad Kowal, senior director of marketing and business development, also resigned.

Nagin called Benson's recent actions a "doggone shame."



Thank you Mr. Nagin.... my thoughts exactly

He just got my vote to repeat as mayor. Of course Blanco is history in my mind. I hope Jindal reruns and wins this time.

Nagan mayor again wont happen...

Backwards you said that, didn't you?

Seems like we are getting to the point where the NFL may step in and force Benson to sale the team. I thought it would never come to this but I agree the name and symbol should never EVER leave the state. Its like if told Americans "hey we the government are moving and taking the flag wtih us along with the Eagle..."

You are correct....a bit..
uhh..that would be "sell the team".....
but I feel ya...

This is exactly what i say! The logo is a symbol of our culture. and besides, its a way to get rid of Brooks hehe

Hey Ray.. Got School Bus?

Really, though. What does a fleur-di-lis have to do with San Antonio. Its a symbol of French culture. There is little to no French culture in San Antonio. Why not name the San Antonio team something that has to do with the city. I mean, isn't that what most sports teams do anyways? You don't call San Diego State Univerity's mascot the Ragin' Cajuns. San Antonio has so much history behind it. Be original.

As far as Benson goes, I'm starting to almost completely agree with the mayor on this one. Let Benson, Brooks, and the rest of the misfits go. We'll get a BRAND NEW N'AWLINS and BRAND NEW SAINTS!

First plan of action for the new Saints team, give ol' Arny his job back.

Doesn't San Antonio mean Saint Anthony? I could be wrong.
And isn't the Fleur-de-lis also a catholic symbol 1st and foremost? I could be wrong.
And isn't San Antonio predominantly catholic? I could be wrong.

Actually, the San Antonio Saints fits perfectly. But, you know, I could be wrong.

I, personally would not like a franchise to come to my hometown and keep their same name and logo. When the Hornets came to New Orleans, I thought it was stupid that we kept the same logo, colors, and mascot. Hornets? What the hell do hornets have to do with the city?

I mean, if you were San Antonio and you were getting a garbage football team, wouldn't you want to change the name and logo to atleast attempt to "turn things around" so-to-speak?

I guess its just a matter of pride and sentimentality. I'll tell you one thing, though. If this team moves to San Antonio, they WILL be my most hated team in the national football league.

You are ......

Although it is later adopted by :

The symbol would appear on the crest for the House of Bourbon .

The Saints would adopt it later as the theme connecting them to New Orleans

Yes and for those wondering , this is the same House of Bourbon that Bourbon street is named after .....

On WWL radio last night 2 people from San Antonio called up and said it was wrong. They had no defense for what is happening. One guy wanted everyone to know it's not the people, it's the leaders and our owner over there getting wined and dined while other business leaders are returning to New Orleans to be a part of the rebuilding of it. Kenny Wilkerson said Tom Benson has been going out every night with everyone there, and the newspapers have written how he's a very generous man, a philanthropist. I guess driving around in his golf cart on the practice field like it's a used car lot, with his new wife he married one month after his old one died, makes him a philanthropist.

If you want some hope, watch this clip from WWL TV where our Mayor says what he said eating at Cafe Du Monde, and Jim Henderson, the only journalist allowed to talk to or "hang" with Tom Benson, says what he says.

Click Here

:popcorn:

... the San Antonio Crockettts..
... the San Antonio Wetbacks....
...Los Zorros de San Antonio...
.. the San Antonio Missionaries...

..doubt anyone will hate them outside Saints fans.. after all, we're all for Capitalism, aren't we?

.. the Fleur-de-Lis is mostly a royal symbol shared between the Galls and the Teutons (iris germanica).. it even adorns the British royal crown... so it has nothing to do with San Antonio..

I always understood the Fleur was brought to the southern Louisiana area by Acadians that were banished from Nova Scotia.


I dunno.



8)

From the San Antonio Express...


Nagin's comments triggered an emotional response from another member of the organization.

"Mr. Benson hasn't said he's going to move the franchise to San Antonio, so everyone needs to calm down — Mayor Ray Nagin and everyone — and quit doggin' Mr. Benson," star receiver Joe Horn said.

Horn added that Benson has the right to move the team.

"We can all blow smoke and say this and that," Horn said. "But guess what? When it comes down to the ultimate come-down, it's Mr. Benson's team. ... This is not the Green Bay Packers. New Orleans doesn't own the Saints and, right now, New Orleans isn't suitable for us to go back to. And, from what I'm hearing, Baton Rouge doesn't want us."

A report in the LSU student newspaper would seem to support Horn's claim about Baton Rouge.

According to the Reveille, LSU chancellor Sean O'Keefe expressed at a faculty senate meeting last week his displeasure about the NFL's decision to schedule games at Tiger Stadium.

"We'd rather not have the games here at all," O'Keefe was quoted as saying by the Reveille. "This is going to be a real problem, and we are not excited about the prospect."

O'Keefe called the staging of the games a "huge logistical nightmare" and said "it will not be a windfall for the university."

Nagin said he hoped the NFL would consider solving the Saints' situation through use of what he called the "Cleveland plan."

"Whatever the Saints want to do, you let them leave, but they can't take our logo, they can't take our name, and you give us a promise to give us a franchise when this city's back," Nagin said, referring to the NFL placing an expansion franchise in Cleveland after the Browns relocated to Baltimore after the 1995 season.

NFL spokesman Greg Aiello declined comment.

"There's nothing to say," Aiello said. "Talk to someone else."


http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/f....1835860c.html


8)

Re: Nagin's a bada**, Benson's a turd
 

I love it! Let Benson move the team...but stop him from taking the team name, the logos, etc.!!!!
Then we can get a new team, with new owner(s), new coaches.
This might not be a bad thing afterall.

Exactly what I have been saying over and over and over. It's not the PEOPLE of San Antonio, it's the leaders. Yeah you have people who want a football team to come here by any means necessary, but that's not representative of the majority. It's like saying all New Orleanians are looters, which is flat out untrue. Most people I talk to are either opposed or neutral. But the feeling is it's just flat out wrong the way it is being handled. Blame city leaders and a greedy owner, not the people.

yeah I am on the bandwagon on this let them go move your stupid lazy, excuses filled ass's out. Go, good bye... see ya. Give us a new team same name and logo and all is well. Please Please San Antonio you can have them honest do us a favor take 'em enjoy the mysery.

I could care less if they change the name or not...Give NO a new team when its ready...Call them the New Orleans Hurricanes, Pimps, Bourbons, Cajuns, Creoles, or Coona**es...Just put us in the same division so we can kick Benson's A** twice a year...Give us till 2010 and we will have Charlie Weiss coaching an expansion team that blows up the record books for expansion teams and has more playoff victories in its books than the San Antonio Saints 1 lone playoff victory...

So what you are saying is :

The population base of San Antonio is gutless and spineless and willing to conform to the will of an elected official ???

http://clarionherald.org/20030618/bud01.jpg



The ball is in your court. You want to be considered a responsible owner? Then start acting like one.

Regards,
Buddy D.



8)

Huh? That's a pretty dumb thing to say. Obviously people of San Antonio ARE speaking out against the Saints moving here. What are they gonna do beyond that, burn down the alamodome? It's not like it's up for city vote. If the league approves it, it's done. Do you want someone to shoot the mayor or something? What exactly do you feel they are not doing?

That would be like saying New Orleans Saints fans are gutless and spineless for letting them leave. How would that be fair? I didn't know the moving of an NFL franchise that is privately owned was up for city vote. Color me surprised.

Is that the best you got on this matter ???

Your not actually going to come at me with the " what they gonna do " ( snivel snivel ) defense ????

I do realize we are talking about Texans here , but come on .....

Californians banned together to :nutkick: Gray Davis for raising the DMV fees ......He was the Governor ....

So High school girls shaking their booty is bad

Looting the football team from a state that justed suffered one of the worst natural disasters in U.S. history is good ..... :annoy:

08, I don't know what you are pushing at bro, but that's about the worst idea ever. Somehow the people of San Antonio are supposed to stop a team from moving there? Okay, tell the Saints fans to stop the team from moving. I am on board. Tell me how. How do I keep the owner of a privately owned franchise form moving the team? It's still a dumb idea. Are they supposed to impeach the mayor or something? Okay, kick those asses in the Louisiana legislature out that say the Saints should be on the back burner. Then go kick the LSU Chancellor out of his office for saying it would be a nightmare for the Saints to play games there next year. After you have completed these two tasks, you should be able to stop the Saints from moving. I'll be waiting on a report on your progress at both of these issues. Good luck.

How do you stop a journey ???

Remove the final destination ......

Simply put , those who believe this would be an injustice will protest . The mayor of San Antonio speaks for the people until they say no more . There is a boatload of paper work to be filed before Benson could move the Saints into San Antonio . A group of concerned citizens could approach the city with their concerns and demand a vote .

One lawyer in San Antonio with a conscience , could wreak havoc on the process .

City revenue will be spent
State revenue will be spent

Citizens have the right to say no and if it is not acknowledged , they have the right to recall the elected official .

Louisiana was named after King Louis XIV of France because they discovered it. Orleans, France sets on the Loire River where it curves south... sound familiar? The Crescent city sets on a curve on the Mississippi River. The fleur was the symbol or royalty. English Kings and soldiers began to put it on their shields and emblems because they constantly claimed rights to the throne of France.

Christians believed the white 3 pedels at the top represented the Holy Trinity, hence the Saints and the fact that the team was chartered on All Saints Day.

Everyone was wearing the fleur de lis at one point, Cajuns probably brought it here with them too.

08, again, just a terrible idea. Why is it the people of San Antonio's responsibility to stop the team from moving? Are there no Louisiana lawyers who could wreak havoc on the whole process? As far as I understand, Louisiana has lawyers and citizens just like Texas right? Sell out the games in Baton rouge, PERIOD. That's all that really needs to be done. The state of Louisiana needs to show it's full support for the Saints no matter how badly they play, as they have done for going on 40 years now. That's all the ammo that is needed for the Saints to stay. Trying to take shots at the people of San Antonio is low class IMO. Did Foster get impeached when he agreed to give Benson hunderds of millions of dollars the state doesn't have? Or that the state says they didn't have? What about the education system and roads, are you impeaching the government of Louisiana for never improving that? What about the crime and drug rate in New Orleans, has any mayor been impeached for that? Noone was when I lived there and it was the murder capitol of the world, so you want a city with limited ties to the Saints to rally up and do the job Louisiana is supposed to do? BS.

Thanks HALO, I was begining to worry that some poeple did not know their history. It was apart of the French culture and yes, they brought it with them. Don't know how many of you are from La, but for those of that are not, the Fleur IS apart of Louisianas culture. The "San Antonio-Saint Anthony' comment, I don't recall but "San" is not French. So it would have to be the San Antonio Saint Footbal Team.

I know SPK will be in here later, and I agree with you but, Benson still sucks for even doing this.

A lot of San Antonians I think feel they rather support Dallas whom they share a history with or even the new Texans team.

I don't know much about buissness law but The New Orleans Saints isn't a privately owned 'buisness'. Its a franchise apart of the NFL You have to look at Benson as a shareholder in the NFL and runs the Saints. To me the term private is one person and the government doesn't have a stake in the buisness at all, and that is not true with the NFL. When you have a company that reaches across state lines the the federal governemnt does have a stake in the buisness practice. You have many shareholders in the NFL they all have some say in weather the Saints move stay or whatever.

The Saints are privately owned by Tom Benson. It's his team. If he chooses not to spend money on his team, that's his choice. The league doesn't mandate that. If he says he will not pay for FAs, pay for assistant coaches, etc that would be his choice, since the franchise is privately owned. He can do whatever he wants with it. He just has 31 other individual owners he has to report to, as part of a collective. It's under the business heading of the NFL. Al Davis threatened to sue the league if he couldn't move his team back to Oakland. Where are they now? In Oakland. The federal government has nothing to do with if the Saints move or not. That's Tom Benson's decision. His "partners" in the NFL could say we don't think that's a good idea for the NFL as a whole and block him, but that's it. It has nothing to do with the federal government. Unless it went to court, then the federal government could intervene. Each organization, outside of the Packers, is privately owned. Outside of the limited revenue sharing, every penny they spend or don't spend is theirs. But when it's a matter that effects the entire league, that's when they all get to voice an opinion, as in the case of a team move.

I agree with you but the difference being Al Davis was being strangled in Los Angeles. In LA they tax the sports organization so high, take all consession revenue and you pay high dollar rent for a stadium they can never sell out. A place like LA, the NFL is a third class citizen. Oakland is different and appreciate the team. And he moved and has made more money. The fact that LA is the second largest market in the US doesn't make it profitable for an NFL franchise. If so, why have so many teams left?

A market like New Orleans is a very lucrative deal for the NFL. The state funding probably turns profits over the top. Remember, no one knows exactly how much the Saints make. Not only that, they pay no rent, collect all consessions and revenue, and to make it worse, the State built them the most state of the art facility and indoor practice facility in the NFL. In New Orleans the pendulum is swung so far in the Saints favor it's rediculous.

But what's really going on is, judges make decisions based on what's presented and what they think is justice. Al Davis did have a right to leave, Benson does too... but no court will favor Benson and fight him tooth and nail because of the circumstances. Facts are New Orleans was destroyed by natural disaster, the biggest in recent history of the US, and he will have a hard time getting anyone to have sympathy for him. But you are right he can leave, it will cost him everything he owns probably, and rightfully so.

The fleur de lis

Louisianna

Named by explorer Robert Cavelier de La Salle in 1682 in honour of King Louis XIV

New orleans named after the city of Orleans in the New France .

New Orleans

Thanks all for the info. Interesting. Some of it was probably to counter some San Antonio point. But, interesting nonetheless.

It's likely the Fleur did pre-date the Acadians arrival in the area. They weren't run out of Acadia (Nova Scotia) by the British until the mid- to- late 1700's, me thinks.


Thanks again.



8)

Halo, bro, you know I know that the Saints had the sweetest honeypot of a deal that has ever been offered to an NFL team, by far. I was just disputing the fact Euph felt they were not privately owned. I know for a fact Benson will not find any sympathy in his attempts to move the team should it have to go to court, but I also know no matter what they say, NFL owners are a fraternity, a scratch my back i'll scratch yours bunch if there ever was. They are driven by profit. If Tom Benson can prove to them it would not be profitable to remain in New Orleans, and it would be to move to San Antonio, he could prob get more to bite than not, especially with increased revenue sharing on the table. If he can predict doom and gloom for the New Orleans market, he can get owners on board with the move. But like you said, it will cost him every cent, and damn right it should.

Glad to see someone has some balls in Texas .

Here you go SW , jump on the bandwagon .....