pakowitz

Analyst doubts Saints will stay in N.O.

The South Mississippi Sun Herald
By JOSHUA NORMAN
May 01, 2006
Peter King is one of Sports Illustrated's head football writers, an analyst for HBO's Inside the NFL and a recent addition to NBC's new Sunday Night Football broadcasting crew, where he will also provide analysis and some game-time reporting.

King was in New Orleans last week to talk with Saints coach Sean Payton and General Manager Mickey Loomis ahead of the draft. He decided to swing by the Coast Friday afternoon to get a firsthand look at the devastation from Hurricane Katrina, as his friendship with Packers quarterback Brett Favre had brought him to the Mississippi Gulf Coast before. Here is a conversation with King after his tour of Harrison County along U.S. 90.

When was the last time you were on the Gulf Coast?

'I was here in 1996 at the first Brett Favre benefit golf tournament and Brett Favre himself was not there. He was in rehab. He called me the night before he was going in and said, 'I really want you all to still come.'

'We stayed at the Grand Casino. It was a great event. This place was hopping. I'd never been here and I really had a great time. I've got the tag on my golf bag still.

'The whole area was one of the prettiest places I'd ever been. It was just gorgeous. That's why seeing it today is absolutely stunning. '

That brings me to my next question. What are your impressions after touring the area?

'Just sadness. People have lived their whole lives in one place, in the span of one day had everything taken away from them. I can't imagine if your house disintegrates. I can't imagine what that would feel like. '

What can Saints fans expect from the coming season?

'We went out to dinner with Sean Payton and Mickey Loomis. It's very hard to be in the presence of Sean Payton and not be incredibly optimistic and energized about what this team is going to be. Sean Payton is a really bright handler of quarterbacks and they got Drew Brees. Now, Drew Brees has major health issues, but, to me, I think the Dolphins are going to regret not signing him. Brilliant move by the Saints to get him and I think it's a good risk to take.'

What do you think about the long-term outlook for the organization?

'I'm not optimistic. The Saints have an incredibly eager-beaver staff of 16 ticket sellers who I saw on the phone today making cold calls trying to sell season tickets. The Saints know and I think the people of New Orleans know that if the Superdome is not sold out eight times this year and sold out again next year, that team is moving.

'They've got over 100 suites and half the business community is not back. Who's going to buy those suites?

'If you're a business somewhere on the Gulf Coast and if you value the Saints and you want the Saints to be the team on the Gulf Coast, you better sell out that building for the next two years. If you don't, you give Tom Benson every reason to say, 'Well, you know, I can't stay here because there isn't the economic base to support an NFL team.'

'As almost unimportant as it seems talking about a football team, you've got to buy tickets. Look, I have no understanding of what it takes to get your life back together. However, if you have a love of this team and feel they're important to the area, it's time to put your money where your mouth is.'


http://www.topix.net/content/kri/272...98551193448081

I Live In Beastmode!

FatiusJeebs

The analysts can kiss my ass.

thib82

I 100% agree!!!

gandhi1007

Peter King is an a**hole!!! And for the record.... I doubt that ticket sales B.S. considering we just drafted Reggie Bush. New Orleans may have taken a beating & lost alot of it's population, but the Saints are not just New Orleans' team. Their fan base covers the entire state of Louisiana & most of the state of Mississippi.

Crusader

You heard reports even before the draft that they were selling tickets like crazy and were on pace for a new record. The suits however is a different story.

thib82

One thing I don't understand is with all the great news and good things that are happening to the Saints right now and the State of Louisiana, why would you write such a negative article. Let us be happy and proud of the Saints for a little while.

It sounds to me like someone is a Jets fan, and is a little mad that the saints wouldn't trade the second pick to them.

LongTimeFan

I never liked Peter King..
The Dome will be ROCKING so they better not come a knocking

Cassady37

Like the rest of you I was a little steamed that this article was posted. But then I realized that maybe he posted it to appeal to any business owner that might read this, or someone who has a connection to a business owner. Awareness of the situation only helps to find ways to prevent it from happening. Pak is a diehard Saint's fan through and through, so I know he didn't post this to ruffle feathers.

Crusader

Talking about tickets, do you know how hard/easy it is to get a ticket lat in the season? I'm gonna graduate in June and start orking pretty much right away. I'm thinking about saving up enough money for the trip, maybe watch my old Highschool play and then go see the Saints.

Saintsfan66

Was this made before or after we got Reggie Bush?.... because right now the Saints are probably pulling in some cha-ching.