Last night on ESPN, Who Dat Nation had a chance to re-live this moment…
cut 30 10 “….crowd cheering”
That’s Steve Gleason’s famous punt block in the first game back in the Dome following Hurricane Katrina. The Saints went on to beat their biggest rival 23-3 in the 2006 home opener. Gleason tweeted it was surreal to re-watch. He also joked that Coach Payton looked like he was 12-years-old.

Hopefully, Payton’s internet will work during the draft. The NFL has told teams they must draft virtually, so general managers, coaches, and scouts will have to work out of their own homes from April 23rd to 26th.

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver says he will not make a decision on re-starting the league until at least May.

I don’t think azaleas bloom in November but we’ll find out as the Masters’ Golf Championship has been re-scheduled for November 12th to the 15th at the famed Augusta National Golf club. Also, the U-S Open will be played in September from September 14th to the 20th at Winged Foot in Westchester County New York. The following week, it will be the Ryder’s Cup in Wisconsin. The British Open Championship has been canceled.

ESPN is reporting that Major League Baseball is looking at starting its season in the greater Phoenix, Arizona area in May. They would play games at the Diamondbacks home park and spring training sites in the area without fans. According to the report, the teams would live in isolation, there would be regular testing and the plan has the backing of federal public health officials. Obviously, there is still a lot to work out, but players have expressed interest in playing games as soon as possible.

College basketball news, LSU guard James Bishop is reportedly transferring to George Washington. ULM three-year starter Michael Ertel has entered the transfer portal.

Tonight at 7 PM, ESPN will re-air the iconic 2006 Monday night football game between the Saints and Falcons. It was the Black and Gold’s first game in the Dome after Hurricane Katrina.

Starting tonight Cox Sports Television will re-air games from LSU’s 2003 and 2007 national championship seasons. Tonight the regional sports network will re-broadcast the 2003 season opener against ULM.

The Saints will not be able to set up at Dixie Brewing Company during the draft. That’s because NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has told all teams club personnel can not gather at one place and must work out of their own homes.

Caretakers of LSU’s live mascot are avoiding direct contact with Mike the Seventh and have done so for the last three weeks. A tiger at the Bronx Zoo in New York has tested postive for COVID-19.

Former Saints kicker Tom Dempsey, who once held the NFL record for the longest made field goal, has died at the age of 73 from complications of the coronavirus. Demspey spent eleven seasons in the NFL and kicked 159 field goals, even though he was born without toes on his right foot. His former teammate and ex-Saints quarterback Billy Kilmer…
cut 9 (11) “…he was”
In 1970 at old Tulane Stadium, Dempsey booted a 63-yard field goal as the Saints beat the Detroit Lions on the record breaking kick. NFL analyst Mike Detillier says Dempsey told him he never saw the ball go through the up rights…
cut 10 (13) “…the field”

Saints fans are mourning the death of legendary kicker Tom Dempsey, who for over four decades held the NFL record for longest made field goal. Dempsey booted a 63-yard field goal in 1970 despite missing toes and fingers on his right foot and hand. Dempsey tested positive for coronavirus over a week ago and late last week was transferred to hospice care. The 73-year-old also battled Alzheimer’s and dementia and lived at the Lambeth House senior living center in New Orleans, which has had dozens of COVID-19 cases.

Tonight Who Dat nation can re-live the Saints historic return to the Superdome following Hurricane Katrina as ESPN will re-air the iconic Monday night football game that saw the Saints beat the hated Atlanta Falcons in 2006. The game will be forever remembered for Steve Gleason’s blocked punt. But it was also the Superdome debut for Sean Payton, Drew Brees and Reggie Bush with the Black and Gold.

Louisiana native Kim Mukley will be enshrined into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in August. The Tickfaw native won a national championship as a player and an assistant coach with the Louisiana Tech Lady Techsters. Mulkey has also won three national championships as the head coach at Baylor. She’s the first person in NCAA women’s basketball history to win a national title as a player, assistant coach and head coach.

Alexandria’s Lance Brasher has been named the Class 5A Boys Basketball Coach of the Year. Brasher led the Trojans to their first boys’ basketball championship. The girls’ 5A Coach of the year is Mary Lowry Ward. Under Ward’s direction, Benton went 29-5 and won the 5A title.

Over the weekend, President Trump held a conference call with the commissioners for the major sports leagues and said afterward he believes the NFL season should start on time in September, but the governors in California and New York are skeptical.

New Orleans might not be able to host the Super Bowl in 2024 because a 17-game schedule would push the game back one week later to February 11th that year, which would then impact Mardi Gras. It’s possible New Orleans might have to host the Super Bowl in 2025 or 2026.

LSU Coach Paul Mainieri is hoping the NCAA gives college baseball programs more flexibility when it comes to roster restrictions because seniors are allowed to come back next season and fewer players will be selected in the Major League Baseball draft this summer.
cut 17 (20) “…couple years”

Louisiana has lost a legendary high school football coach to COVID-19. McDonogh 35 coach Wayne Reese Senior passed away yesterday at the age of 74. He was a coach for over four decades in his life and won 255 games. In 2011, he was the recipient of the Eddie Robinson Award and also coached pro football hall of Famer Marshall Faulk.

The LHSAA released a memo today that said they still hope member schools can complete their spring sports seasons. Executive Director Eddie Bonine says the length of the seasons and when championships would be held would be based on when schools can re-open. Based on the governor’s new order, schools are closed through April 30th.

NFL’s chief medical officer, Doctor Allen Sills, says widespread testing for the coronavirus will need to occur in order for the regular season to begin in September. Sills says the restrictions on gatherings will also have to be eased.

National columnist Nancy Armour wrote it’s dumb and dangerous for the Saints to have their draft headquarters at Dixie Brewery in New Orleans East. But Coach Sean Payton wrote a harsh response to Armour and said she only had eight-percent of her facts correct with the piece.

NFL’s chief medical officer, Doctor Allen Sills, says widespread testing for the coronavirus will need to occur in order for the regular season to begin in September. Sills says the restrictions on gatherings will also have to be eased.

Veteran cornerback P-J Williams has signed a one-year deal to return to the Saints. Former New Orleans cornerback Eli Apple remains a free agent after a deal fell through with the Raiders.

One of the top graduate linebackers available is heading to LSU as North Dakota State’s Jabril Cox has committed to the Tigers. The two-time first-team All-American had 258 tackles and 14 sacks during his career with the F-C-S power.

LSU baseball coach Paul Mainieri is not sure what his roster will look like in 2021. Mainieri says senior pitchers Matthew Beck and Aaron George can return because the NCAA is giving them another year of eligibility. But he does not know how many players or recruits he’ll lose to the draft, because Major League Baseball has yet to decide how many rounds the draft will be…
Cut 16 (18) “…definitive answers”

And the coronavirus has claimed the life of a legendary high school football coach in Louisiana. McDonogh 35 coach Wayne Reese Senior has passed away at the age of 74. He was a head coach for over 40 years and won 255 games. He coached NFL Hall of Famer Marshall Faulk.

It’s unique times and that’s no different for the Saints who are preparing for this month’s NFL draft with a small group of coaches and front office personnel at the Dixie Brewery in New Orleans East. Coach Sean Payton says they are practicing social distancing in their draft war room…
cut 18 (19) “….six or seven”
Payton says he feels good after testing positive last month from the coronavirus. He says he never had the respiratory issues that many patients suffer from.

And the Saints have announced they’ve re-signed cornerback P-J Williams. 44 tackles and one interception for the veterans with the Black and Gold.

Court records show LSU Football Coach Ed Orgeron filed for divorce from his wife Kelly on February 26th after 23 years of marriage. In the filing, Coach O is living at the former couple’s home in Baton Rouge, while Kelly has been granted exclusive use and occupancy of their Mandeville home.

The family for former Saints kicker Tom Dempsey says the 73-year-old is receiving hospice care. Dempsey is one of several residents at the Lambeth House Senior living center in Uptown New Orleans to test positive for coronavirus. According to Dempsey’s daughter, her father’s fever has gone away, but his oxygen levels are low and he’s lost his appetite.

Legendary Peabody high school basketball coach Charles Smith has been named the Class Four-A Boys Basketball Coach of the Year after leading the Warhorses to a state championship for an eighth time. One of his talented seniors. Melvion Flanagan was named player of the year. He averaged close to 22 points a game this past season.

The Saints are preparing for the NFL draft at Dixie Brewery in New Orleans east, an establishment owned by Gayle Benson. Teams are forced to find alternative locations for their draft war rooms, because they are not allowed in their own facilities. Coach Sean Payton says since they are not allowed to bring draft prospects in or go visit them, it will impact their decisions on who they pick…
cut 17 (30) “…looking for”

Payton says he feels good after testing positive last month from the coronavirus.

Court records show LSU Football Coach Ed Orgeron filed for divorce from his wife Kelly on February 26th after 23 years of marriage. In the filing, Coach O says he’ll live at the former couple’s home in Baton Rouge, while Kelly has been granted exclusive use and occupancy of their Mandeville home.

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is warning folks not to fall for fake news about bans on fishing or other outdoor activities during the coronavirus shutdown. LDWF spokesperson Renee LeBreton says outside of the seizure of three state parks as isolation areas for COVID-19 patients, nothing has changed when it comes to what you can do outdoors.
Cut 10 (11) “…fake.”
LeBreton says LDWF is encouraging people to explore nature, by fishing or hunting during this time of social distancing.

Golf Digest is reporting the 2020 Open Championship scheduled at Royal St. George’s in July will be canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Saints Coach Sean Payton calls himself a big dummy for saying 2020 will be Drew Brees’ final season. Payton said on ESPN’s “Get Up” that Brees has announced he’s coming back for his final season. But yesterday Payton told reporters on a conference call that he misspoke…
cut 19 (20) “…mentally”
Meanwhile, Payton, scouts and the rest of the front office are preparing for the upcoming draft working out of Dixie Brewery in New Orleans east. Teams are not allowed to use their own facilities because of the COVID-19 outbreak. Payton says they only have a handful of people at the brewery and they communicating with many others through video conferencing.

Court records show LSU Football Coach Ed Orgeron filed for divorce from his wife Kelly on February 26th. Orgeron says that he and his wife separated on February 24th. Ed and Kelly have been married for 23 years and have twin boys who were born in 1998.

The NCAA has extended the recruiting dead period through May 31st. So that means no unofficial or official visits for high school or transfer prospects. So a lot of the players in the transfer portal might have to make a decision on a school without ever physically visiting the school.

LSU A-D Scott Woodward says nothing has changed with basketball coach Will Wade’s employment. The H-B-O documentary the Scheme aired the FBI wiretap of Wade talking with a federally convicted middleman about the strong offer to get guard Javonte Smart to sign with LSU.

Golf Digest is reporting the 2020 Open Championship scheduled for Royal St. George’s in July will be canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Saints Coach Sean Payton called himself a big dummy today when speaking to reporters on a conference call. Payton said he misspoke when he said on ESPN that Quarterback Drew Brees would be playing in his final season in 2020. The coach says nothing has changed with Brees, and that the 41-year-old is taking it year-by-year.

LSU Athletics Director Scott Woodward says nothing has changed with basketball coach Will Wade’s employment. The H-B-O documentary the Scheme aired the FBI wiretap of Wade talking with a federally convicted middleman about the strong offer to get guard Javonte Smart to sign with LSU. Woodward says they are aware of the documentary and they’ll continue to cooperate with all reviews into the matter. A Sports Illustrated report says NCAA investigators watched the documentary and took notes.

You will not be able to watch Wimbledon this year. The big tennis event at the All England Club has been canceled for the first time since 1945.

Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban said previously that he hoped the NBA could re-start its season in mid-May. But Cuban said today on ESPN’s Get Up he has no idea on when teams can return to the court. Cuban says the only thing he knows is that they’ll put safety first and they will not take any chances.

In college sports. the NCAA has extended the recruiting dead period through May 31st. So that means no unofficial or official visits for high school or transfer prospects. So a lot of the players in the transfer portal might have to make a decision on a school without ever physically visiting the school.

And here’s a nice gesture, Texas Rangers outfielder Shin-Soo Choo will give each minor leaguer in the Rangers organization one-thousand dollars during this shutdown. Major League Baseball ahs said that minor-league players will get 400-dollars a week through May 31st.

Also, the London Series, between the Cubs and Cardinals in mid-June has been canceled.

Based on the comments Saints Coach Sean Payton gave during an appearance on the ESPN show “Get Up,” 2020 will be the final season for quarterback Drew Brees. The future Hall of Famer signed a two-year contract last month, but that second year is voidable. Payton said on the ESPN show that Brees is coming back for his final season.

There will be 14 playoff teams instead of 12 next season as the owners voted to add another team from each league to the postseason. Only the number one seed will receive a bye and there will be three games on Saturday and three more on Sunday during wild-card weekend. The league also says a 2020 schedule will be released before May 9th. It usually comes out in mid-April.

LSU Football Coach Ed Orgeron told an ESPN Baton Rouge radio station that he doesn’t think the season will be delayed. Coach O believes the curve in cases will flatten by summer.

LHSAA executive director Eddie Bonine says a decision to cancel spring sports seasons has not been made, but with the governor extending the stay at home order through April, it means no games could be played until May at the earliest. The association’s executive committee meets next week and a decision could be made then.

NCAA President Mark Emmert announces that he and his top executives will take a 20-percent pay cut as a result of lost revenues. Last week the NCAA announced that its distribution to Division One schools this year will go from 600 million dollars to 225 million dollars.

ESPN reports the NBA and its players’ association are discussing scenarios for withholding up to 25-percent of players remaining salaries in a league escrow if regular-season games eventually are canceled. The association is looking at various options to re-start the regular season, possibly playing all games in Las Vegas or another location.