Checking in from New Orleans
I just got back from touring several communities outside of downtown New Orleans. No TV, radio or newspaper accounts can actually tell what has transpired, what is happening or what needs to happen here. It's unbelievable. You run the full gamut of emotions from total disbelief to being overwhelmed by sadness to depression and then finally encouragement because the citizens here are staging a valiant comeback. It might take some time, but people here will persevere.
I've been to downtown New Orleans numerous times since my first visit here to cover the Sugar Bowl in 1987. That was my first major assignment, and what an exciting town, even in late January. But there are no bristling crowds here today on a sunny afternoon where the temperatures have reached the 70s. If I didn't know better, I'd think I was in downtown Cincinnati where everything closes at noon. This is a skeleton city compared to what New Orleans should be like on a gorgeous day like today. You travel to communities outside New Orleans, and there is so much devastation. A lot of the houses are still vacant. There are still numbers and letters spray painted on doors and homes where rescue workers went in to find any survivors of Hurricane Katrina. The numbers indicate the date the property was searched, how many people were rescued, and sometimes how many died. You see whole shopping centers abandoned and destroyed, and blocks of stores boarded up. You still see a lot of debris in the streets and homes where roofs and siding were blown off. In some of these areas, you don't see a lot of kids or pets on the streets. When you do see children playing, they're usually on streets littered with debris and glass. But at the same time, you see some families have come back to the neighborhoods. They are wearing work clothes, and you can hear the saws and see the electrical cords running from trees to generators as they try to get their lives and homes back together. Somewhere, there is always the constant sound of at least one hammer. In some areas, there are trailers where people live as they wait to get their homes repaired. One thing I noticed as I drove around, there weren't a lot of long faces. There was still a sense of pride, and you could see the resiliency. It's going to take some time, but they'll rebuild New Orleans.
Things get put in perspective here. Fans that are obsessed with their pro teams often amaze me. Their lives are shaped by if the Ravens win or lose on Sundays. I've always treated sports, especially on the pro level, as a game. It's a great escape from real life, and it's fun, but it's not life or death. It's not even close. After seeing some of the things I've seen in New Orleans today, I'm convinced even more to never change my mind.
Comments
Well put Mike ..
Posted by: F Smith | October 28, 2006 7:54 PM
Mike - I'm a big fan of yours, and appreciate your candor when it comes to the Ravens...I'm also one of those crazy fans that groups a win or loss on Sunday to life and death...thank you for the reality check this morning...fans need more perspective at times, including me.
Go Ravens.
Thanks, Mike James
Towson State Alum - '95
Posted by: Mike James | October 29, 2006 8:20 AM
The last time I watched a saints game, I found myself wanting to turn it off every five minutes because of the commentary. They just kept blathering on about how people need to understand that it was worth it to spend 185 million to repair the stadium even though houses were not rebuilt yet, in order to restore hope to the community. I'm sure there are lots of people out there who lost their homes, family members, and friends, people still waiting for aid, who are just filled with hope now that the superdome is back to par and ready to take in millions.
Posted by: Skeptical | October 29, 2006 9:42 AM
Mike,
Thanx for the great reminder of the devastion of Katrina. I am a Glen Burnie native and Orioles/Ravens fan who was transferred to New Orleans by my job (Coast Guard) about 3 weeks before Katrina. My family and I were even at the Ravens/Saints game 3 days before Katrina decked out in our Ray Lewis jerseys! And of course, I read the Sun almost daily online.
Anyway, it would not be surprising to see all the sights you saw if this was a few weeks after a disaster. It is stunning (and sad) when you realize it is now 14 months later!!
Thank you for reminding the nation that lots of help and work is still needed here!
Posted by: Tim Castle | October 29, 2006 10:01 AM
Hey Mike -
Great thoughts on New Orleans, but next time how about leaving out the self-serving, sanctimonious drivel.
If it weren't for fans - those passionate and those not so passionate - you wouldn't have a job.
Posted by: brian | October 29, 2006 10:15 AM
Preston,
You gave the team a C+ average after we dominated a 5-1 team in their own stadium. Would anything short of a 50-0 win over the Bears or Colts, on their home field, with all of our guys playing with one arm behind their back, result in you giving this team an A average?
Posted by: Marty | October 29, 2006 10:07 PM
Mike,
Thank you for reminding America that a large chunk of this country is STILL very much hurting. I am a native New Orleanian and I had to answer Skeptical. I don't know one New Orleanian that wasn't thrilled the Dome was re-opened. You may have a hard time comprehending this, but probably 80% of the people attending the game itself had heavy damage from the flood, many being homeless. New Orleans is a convention town. The Superdome (and the Convention Center) are at the heart of the convention industry. This is a sign of progress for us. Also the superdome is the major building of the skyline. To have it repaired uplifts our spirit. The MNF game will forever be one of the most emotional days of my life. Somebody that is not from the city cannot EVER understand what we felt. I don't expect you to. The loss to the Ravens doesn't even bother me because the Saints gave us such a gift that night. As to rebuilding homes, the money used on the dome was a FEMA designated fund to be used on restoring state property only. This is a federal agency and a federal ruling. If you want to get disgusted, turn your disgust to them.
Posted by: doctorj | October 30, 2006 9:18 AM
I can't imagine what the residents in New Orleans are feeling. I do have a problem, however, with the fact that so much money went into the DOME. People need hope understandibly but the team could have played somewhere else while that money went to the residents to rebuild their homes.
All this money went into the dome to help build hope but what about the people who can't afford to go to a game and also have no home?
Posted by: Cheryl Ragsdale | November 1, 2006 2:11 PM
Cheryl,
Of course I would like to see ALL the people helped. Housing is what is needed. In truth, no one has been helped. The Dome and the return of the Saints is the ONLY positive sign that there is government that is trying to bring the city back. The lack of leadership of ANY kind is unbelievable. EVERYTHING is left to the citizens. Check out this article by the LA Times to understand.
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-orleansrisk4dec04,0,7970585,full.story?coll=la-home-headlines
The complete abandonment, incompetence, and absence of governmental support on the local, state or national level is a disgrace. Lesson learned: We are on our own. We have lived that way for over a year. It makes for very long down days. In this context, hope Is everything. Many mistakes have been made, but rebuilding the dome is not one of them.
Posted by: doctorj | November 4, 2006 9:32 AM