FOR PETE'S SAKE, SOUTHERN, LOUD-HA-MUCY!!!

BATON ROUGE, La. -- Never mind the fact that Southern University lost to Prairie View A&M College 2 weeks ago and then laid an egg against North Carolina A&T, the Jags are still the team the beat, and Pete Richardson is the coach to beat.
At Southern, Richardson has won 4 HBCU national titles in 12 years and five Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) titles. He has never had a losing season. Prairie View beat the Jags for the first time in 35 years, even Richardson had hair back then.
Each of the last 3 seasons, Richardson has led an injury-plagued Jaguar squad to a winning record and has won SWAC Western Division almost every other year on average.
To be honest Prarie View, or "PV" as the locals say, is not the doormat it used to be. This year they have scholarships and the like and have turned around the program. Southern committed 4 turnovers and only rushed for 59 yards on 33 carries against Prairie View (The Jaguars are ranked 115th of 116 teams in Division I-AA with only 39 rushing yards a game) in the 26-23 overtime loss to PV. A week before they played Southern PV held Edward Waters College (I know, I know, WHO?!) to 31 yards while PV gained 475 yards. Against Southern the PV Panthers popped for 251 on the ground. But, hey, the Jags have been unable to stop the run all year. (The previous high under Richardson was 279 in the 2004 Bayou Classic to Grambling).
PV won 3 games in 2004, then went 5-6 last year. Now, they are 2-1 in the SWAC. Things are definitely bananas in the SWAC this year, with good teams being whupped by bad teams, and sad teams getting gangsta and whupping up on good teams. Don't believe me? Click
here to see it.

Saints face 'Dem Cats' on Sunday

When the Saints and Panthers renew their rivalry Sunday at 1 p.m. EDT in Charlotte, the hottest player will be kicker John Kasay, who set an NFL record last week with 4 field goals of 46 yards or longer. His Panthers escaped with a 24-23 win over Tampa Bay. But the 16-year veteran will find it tough going up against the special teams play of the Saints.
Carolina linebacker Dan Morgan and tight end Mike Seidman are both listed as questionable against New Orleans. So is safety Shaun Williams. Pro Bowl receiver Steve Smith is a go though and the Panthers figure to need him. Last week Smith had 7 catches for 112 yards against the Buccaneers after missing the first two games with a strained right hamstring. He might get a buck-fiddy Sunday. That's not dissing the Saints secondary, that's just stating the facts. if it wasn't for the feel-good homecoming and some generous officiating (picking up a pass interference flag?), the score could have been drastically different.
Reggie Bush is 30th in the league in rushing, but defenses know they have to stop him. The Cleveland Browns defense had a plan to box him in and not let him get to the outside; the Packers gameplanned to not let him catch the ball; the Falcons tried to not let him run the ball. Eventually he will break one passing or rushing and defenses realize this too.
Last year N.O. beat Carolina 23-20 in week 1 after the emotional turmoil of Katrina.
Aaron Brooks was still a Saint back then. Brooks was 18-of-24 for 192 yards for the Saints while Deuce McAllister got 64 yards, including two touchdowns.
Jake Delhomme threw 2 picks but finished with 212 yards with a touchdown. Steve Smith caught eight passes for 138 yards.
For the second game between the two, Carolina soundly whipped tail 27-10. It was the first week the Saints benched Brooks. Todd Bouman threw 4 picks and fumbled.
This year, it'll be different. Can you say 'Bush?"

FAMOUS LOUISIANIANS

People always tell me, "Hey why aint there any FAMOUS people from your state?" Well, there's a ton of famous people from Louisiana. You'd be surprised actually at all the people that are from there, and as a matter of fact, if all the famous people went BACK to La it'd be DA BOMB. I mean, you'd walk across the street and here sweet-playing jazz only to see the Marsalis brothers going through a dizzying around of tunes; you'd walk one block from there and here Fats Domino with those thick fingers dancing on the piano. As for potent musicians, there's not a place on Earth that can match the wizardry of the Bayou. The pianists, the guitarists, the horn blowers. Louisiana has it all. Can you imagine Mahalia Jackson wailing to a jazz standard with Louis Armstrong on trumpet? Awesome. Below is a partial list:
Geoffrey Beene fashion designer, Haynesville
Truman Capote writer, New Orleans
Kitty Carlisle singer, actress, New Orleans
Van Cliburn concert pianist, Shreveport
Michael De Bakey heart surgeon, Lake Charles
Fats Domino musician, New Orleans
Louis Moreau Gottschalk pianist, composer, New Orleans
Bryant Gumbel TV newscaster, New Orleans
Lillian Hellman playwright, New Orleans
Al Hirt trumpeter, New Orleans
Mahalia Jackson gospel singer, New Orleans
Dorothy Lamour actress, New Orleans
Jerry Lee Lewis singer, Ferriday
Huey P. Long politician, Winnfield
Wynton Marsalis musician, New Orleans
Jelly Roll Morton jazz musician, composer, New Orleans
Huey Newton black activist, New Orleans
Paul Prudhomme chef, Opelousas
Cokie Roberts journalist, New Orleans
Kordell Stewart football player, Marrero
Ray Walston actor, New Orleans
Edward Douglas White jurist, Lafourche Parish

Are you from Louisiana? If so, leave a comment.

Angola Gumbo

Thought you guys could use a little homemade Louisiana recipe. I call this De La Angola Gumbo.


* 2 gallons water
* 4 Tablespoons roux (more if you want it thicker and richer, and vice versa)
* 1 bell pepper, chopped
* 6 cloves garlic, minced
* 1 whole chicken cut up
* 2 large onions, chopped
* 2 pounds sausage (We use garlic pork sausage from LeJeune's Sausage Kitchen in Eunice and all who have tried it are willing to argue that it s the best. I truly recommend you treat yourself and your friends to this. Otherwise use whatever good firm sausage you can find. Many people use deer sausage or andouille when these are available.)
* 1 bunch scallions, chopped, tops only
* 1 bunch parsley, chopped
* salt, black pepper, cayenne

T.O. TRIES TO DO ... WHAT?!

Gnarls Barkley: "I think you're craaaazaay ... I think you're craaaaazAAAY ... I think you're craaaazaay.... probablyyyyy."

Say it aint so, T.O. Reports this morning are that the volatile Dallas Cowboys wide reciever tried to off himself yesterday after practice. T.O. had been taking pain medication for his injured hand. He appeared in good spirits at the Cowboys practice facility yesterday and the media reported that he was his regular self. The official police report says T.O. was admitted to the hospital late Tuesday and that doctors treated him for drug overdose. The police report states that he was "depressed." It also says that dude emptied the pain pills into his mouth, apparently trying to commit suicide.
Let's see, T.O.'s new contract with the Cowboys is like such:
$25 million for 3 years
That's roughly $8.3 million a season
That's roughly $500,000 a game per season
That's roughly $8,000 an hour (a game is 60 minutes)
In an actual game, roughly 35 minutes is actually spent playing football (the rest is clock wasting before and after each play)
T.O. is probably on the field roughly 30 minutes a game; that's $1600 per minute.
Now, I'm depressed!
Seriously, (no, I am depressed now, for real). T.O. is second on the team in receptions with 9 for 99 yards while Terry Glenn has 10 receptions for 175 yards. Each have a touchdown.

SAINTS, NEW ORLEANS BRING THE LOVE

I could scream 'I told cha! I told cha," but ... Well, you knew it was going to happen. The NFL Gods saw fit to sacrafice a lamb to the city of New Orleans, and that lamb was the Atlanta Falcons. Riding a feel-good story and a staunch defense, the Saints finally solved Michael Vick and the visiting Dirty Birds before 70,000 screaming fans and a national TV audience in the millions. The Falcons played the part of villian this night, but they did it with class and honor. Even Vick was in awe of the fan support. "I never in my life heard a crowd roar so loud," Vick said. "They deserve it."
"As tough as it is to lose a game, I'd be lying if I said there isn't a little, little, little piece of me that didn't appreciate what this game meant to this city," said Falcons coach Jim Mora. Mora worked in New Orleans under his dad during the late 1980s and early 1990s. The elder Mora is the winningest coach in Saints history and no doubt they still have some peeps in the city, so it was all good. GO SAINTS!

Monday Night Football: Introducing da 'TriggaMan'

Tonight is the night. The SuperDome will be ON FIYAH, ya understand me? ON FIYAH!! Reggie Bush will make a believer out of America tonight. Watch my words! He will score at least twice and leave the Falcons dumbfounded. Tonight, I just might pull out the old "Triggaman" for this one. For all you non-Louisianans, Triggaman is the musical soundtrack to the streets down in the dirty. I wonder if Reggie Bush be bumpin' Triggaman? He prolly don't know what that is yet; he's a SoCal dude yaknow. Anyway, this game will put New Orleans back in the hearts and minds of the people and get it the help it needs. Kick off is 8:30 EDT. GO SAINTS!!!!

WEEK 3 IN DA NFL: FREAK-SHIZZLE

WEEK 3 in the NFL was a laugher. My predictions were pretty good, a brotha went 9-4 (I'll be 10-4 when you count the Saints whupping da mess out dem Dirty Birds tonight!). John, where ya at? I still don't see what you predicted, nicca. Highlights:

W Panthers 26, Buccaneers 24: No way would I think Tampa woud score this many points. Well, Chris Simms finally threw a touchdown, and, hey, it only cost him a spleen! The 26-year-old QB was rushed to the hospital after the game and operated on after a game of punishing blows. He'll be alright but the Bucs say he'll be out about 6 weeks. For Carolina, Steve Smith returned and got 112 yards on 7 catches, while Keyshawn Johnson beat his former team with 7 catches for 97 yards, including a 31-yard touchdown reception.

W Colts 21, Jaguars 14: Peyton Manning was an ordinary 14-of-31 for 219 yards and the Colts needed an 82-yard punt return to score one of their 3 touchdowns. Still it was enough to beat the hard-hitting Jaguars, who outrushed Indianapolis 191 yards to 63 yards.

W Ravens 15, Browns 14: the Browns were up 14-3 and driving for the clincher when Ravens cornerback Chris McAlister (my early vote for MVP) snatched one in the end zone. Steve McNair then guided the Ravens down to set up the game-winning kick by 17-year veteran Matt Stover.

L Packers 31, Lions 24: "We're not good enough to overcome a lot of mistakes," Brett Favre said in an after-the-game news conference. Neither are the Detroit Lions, who I picked to win this game. Favre tossed 3 TDs Sunday, one of them a 75-yarder to rookie Greg Jennings.

W Bears 19, Vikings 16: Da Bears Rex Grossman has amassed 829 yards in 3 games this season to guide Chicago to 3-0. But they needed 4 field goals and a late fumble to squeak by the Vikes.

W Dolphins 13, Titans 10: Nick Saban told his boys to just "have fun," after an 0-2 start. Looks like they finally did. What's up with Dante Culpepper? No touchdowns and he got beat down with 5 sacks. Still the Fins win.

L Redskins 31, Texans 15: Mark Brunell broke the NFL record for most consecutive passes in an NFL game with 22 straight. The Texans' No. 1 pick Mario Williams didn't eeb much sniff Brunell, complaining after the game that he was being "triple-teamed". A rookie being triple-team? NIKKAplease!

L Seahawks 42, Giants 30: If you would have told me that the Seahawks would be up 42-3 in the fourth quarter, I'd have laughed in your face. If you would have told me that Eli Manning would engineer 27 straight points in the fourth I would have laughed and pointed. Seattle came out the gate with 4-reciever formations, something the Giants evidently had never seen before. Add some N.Y. turnovers, and it got ugly quick.

W Eagles 31, 49ers 24:
38-24. I was close on this one. Donovan McNabb threw for 296 and two touchdowns, building a 21-point lead at the half and driving a new nail in the coffin with each touchdown the Niners would score. Former Saints wideout Donte Stallworth watched in street clothes after a late hamstring injury before the game.

W Broncos 20, Patriots 16: The Pats should have lost both of their games yet they escaped to be 2-0. Not this time. The Branch trade finally catches up with them, big-time. Jake Plummer, after a horrible start, finally shows his gut.
New Orleans native Javon Walker scored two touchdowns (32 and 82 yards) as the Broncos nearly shut out the Pats. The Broncos hadn't allowed a TD all season until Tom Brady's toss in the endzone midway through the fourth quarter. Corey Dillon hurt his arm in the first half and did not return.

W Bengals 28, Steelers 20: This didn't exactly make up for the Bengals 31-17 defeat in last year's playoffs, but it just about did. In pre-game warmups, Steelers linebacker Joey Porter and Bengals wideout Chad Johnson was about to straight scrap before teammates separated the two. The Bengals now are tied atop first place with Baltimore.

L Jets 28, Bills 20: The Bills churned out 475 yards of offense and could only muster 20 points. The Jets' longest rush this season is 12 yards and it happened on a trick play: an end-around in the season opener. Somebody had to win. Right?

W Rams 21, Cardinals 13: This was the one that I said nobody cared about — and I was right! Kurt Warner continued to prove to his critics that his SuperBowl win with the Rams was a fluke. Dude tossed 3 picks and STILL Arizona had a last gasp at victory, driving inside the 20 yard line of the Rams with less than 2 minutes to play. But ... Warner fumbles the snap. The Cards lose. Coach Dennis Green goes ballistic in the locker room. Edgerrin James starts calling out names and saying he wants more carries. It's crazy. See, told cha nobody care.

ARE YOU READY FOR MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL?

Thanks to my boi Ras for the pic. Well, tomorrow, the NFL returns to the New Orleans Superdome in a big way. Reports say the NFL has spent more than $20 million in marketing for the SuperDome's return to center stage. The city is abuzz with Saintsmania and everybody's geeked. All that's missing is a Saints victory. But the Atlanta Falcons are a formidable foe. They've rushed for almost 600 yards in two games. Micheal Vick and Warrick Dunn (from Baton Rouge) are the league's most dangerous running duo. So, can the Saints stop them?
No. The Saints can't stop the Falcons running the ball. I'm sorry. It worked against the Tampa Bay Bucs; it worked against the Carolina Panthers; it'll work against the Saints.
But, the Bucs and Carolina scored a combined 3 points against the Panthers. I don't think the Saints will be held to 3 points, not even in the first half. Saints will actually be leading at the half by one touchdown. MARK MY WORDS!!!

What's wrong with Aaron Brooks?

Aaron Brooks, bro, what happened?
The love all started in New Orleans in 2000 when the injured Jeff Blake in Week 11 vs. Oakland, 11/19/00). The dude had a rifle arm and young legs. But his inconsistency over the years turned all Saints lovers sour on him. Did he get his just due in N.O.? Was he made a scapegoat of the Jim Haslett era?
First, let's start with the good:
Brooks in New Orleans was one of the NFL's leaders in game-winning drives in the fourth quarter or overtime with 16 (behind only Tom Brady), including five in 2004.
He had 441 passing yards against Denver (12/3/00). That's the highest single-game total in franchise history.
Brooks rushed for over 100 yards in a contest (108 vs. San Francisco, 12/10/00). He's the only Saints quarterback to do that.
Brooks is only QB to win a playoff game for the Saints.Ever.He'll always be remembered for that.
The other team members did'nt help his cause over the years. One particularly painful low was when Brooks and the Saints lost to the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2003. On the last play, the Saints did 5 laterals for the touchdown, a miracle play dubbed "The River City Relay." Kicker John Carney then missed extra point. Game over.
NOW THE BAD:

The infamous backwards pass to an offensive lineman in 2004.
The numerous times cameras caught him smiling after an interception. JOhn Elway, Brett Favre, none of the great quarterbacks, smile after throwing an interception. Brooks did. Often.
Now, he can smile in Oakland as the fans boo. Well, I aint mad atcha, Brooks. It's just sad it had to end this way.

YOU THINK VICK WILL DO THIS MONDAY NIGHT? — NOT!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vg5tYnNDZYc

WHOOOOAAA, NELLYYY: NFL PREDICTIONS, PREDICTIONS

Saints 36, Falcons 30: With former President Bush in town for the coin flip; the 'Other' Bush drops bombs (no, not George Bush, the OTHER one. Named Reggie? Yeah.) New Orleans Rookie of the Year finally gets into the end zone for his first NFL touchdown; thing is he scores 3 of them. Receiving, rushing and punt return. GEEYYEAHHH!!!

Panthers 24, Buccaneers 6: Keyshawn Johnson faces his nemesis and old-coach Jon Gruden. Now THAT's a contest! Panthers got too much for the nonquarterback-having Bucs. So what, they don't have Steve Smith, ever heard O' Julius Peppers? He'll single-handedly beat the Bucs if he has to. Watch!

Colts 38, Jaguars 17: Proving that the Steelers game was a fluke, Peyton Manning goes bananas on a hapless secondary that thought they could hit him before he spotted Marvin Harrison making a zig-zag.

Ravens 28, Browns 0: Ray Lewis and Co. will hit somebody so hard that the ball will pop into a defensive lineman's hands and he'll run 70 yards before running out of gas and Steve McNair punch it in from the 10 yard line (It happens EVERY GAME!). Thing is, they won't even need the points.

Lions 40, Packers 28: Brett Favre is back to his cottonpickin' ways, as in ... INTERCEPTION. Lions will steal the game, and Mike Martz's offense will ring 40 on a unit that gave the Saints 34 last week.

Bears 16, Vikings 9: Da Bears will lower da boom and have the Vikes seeing purple. Urlacher and Co. will not give up a touchdown, but a turnover in Bears territory will surrender more field goals than advertised.

Dolphins 28, Titans 10: Dante Culpepper finally faces a quarterback sadder than him and the Fins roll, Nick Saban rejoices and South Florida takes down those 'Pullpepper' billboards.

Texans 13, Redskins 9: Joe Gibbs has the 'Skins playing so-so against their division; so what makes you think he can fire them up against dem dere Texas boyz? Texans drop dem Fifth Ward beads on 'em.

Giants 28, Seahawks 27, Old man Archie had an arm, Eli, Eli Oh ... guess the rest. When two equals face off, sometimes the bigger heart edges the bigger sword.

Eagles 31, 49ers 24: Both teams used to have T.O. now they have no O. Donte Stallworth will have a buck-fiddy in receiving yards, but so will a Niners receiver. Birds in a shootout.

Broncos 20, Patriots 16: The Pats should have lost both of their games yet they escaped to be 2-0. Not this time. The Branch trade finally catches up with them, big-time. Jake Plummer, after a horrible start, finally shows his gut.


Bengals 35, Steelers 17: Steelers coach Bill Cowher wakes up from a weeklong binge of drinking, only to resume sipping at halftime as Chad Johnson square-dances in the end zone on the way to a laugher. "Wake up, Bill, the ride is over."

Bills 19, Jets 13: The Bills, who should be 3-0, take it out on the Jets, the team that Time Forgot.

Rams 21, Cardinals 13: There's always one game that nobody cares about; this is it. Rams may win, Cards may win, Who cares?

SAINTS WILL GET DEY SHINE ON VS. FALCONS

AAHHHHHHH! N.O. LOVE, baby. N.O. LOVE. Check out the GRILL, baby! L.O.U.I.S.I.A.N.A!!!!!

Enter the Reggie Bush era!!!!

Well, the New Orleans Saints made short work of an opponent for the second time in a row in this young 2006 National Football League season. First, it was the Cleveland Browns, now the Green Bay Packers. A gold and black swath has run through the Midwest in September.
The only question that Saints fans are wondering now is, 'When will Reggie Bush score a touchdown?' Dude is fast as lightning, and has shown he can take a hit (something Ricky Williams couldn't even do in his early days with the Saints.
But anyway, the Saints will finally make some noise in the NFC SOUTH this year.