Zion Williamson’s stepfather ended speculation today the Duke superstar could return to college, because he doesn’t want to play in New Orleans. The Pelicans are expected to take Williamson with the top overall pick in next month’s NBA draft. Lee Anderson said on ESPN Radio in Baton Rouge that Williamson will not go back to school and they are excited about living in New Orleans.

Bourbon Street Shots writer Jesse Brooks says the rumor of returning to school can be attributed to salty fans and media personalities…
Cut 11 (11)“…sense.”

In the NFL, former LSU star and Arizona Pro Bowl cornerback Patrick Peterson has been suspended for the first six games of the 2019 season violating the league’s ban against performance enhancing drugs.

The final regular season SEC series is tonight as LSU hosts Auburn. Left fielder Daniel Cabrera is swinging a hot bat with five home runs in his last 10 games. Coach Paul Mainieri says Cabrera has changed his approach at the plate…
cut 18 (18) “….lately”
In the first two games of the series, Auburn will start two left-handed pitchers against the Tigers. Tonight its Elliot Anderson, who is 5-1 with a 3.70 ERA. LSU will counter with Eric Walker.

The Ragin Cajuns, who have won 25 straight against ULM, begin a series tonight against the Warhawks. La Tech is at F-I-U. Northwestern State is at Southland leader Sam Houston State. Nicholls currently occupies the final spot in the Southland Tourney and the Colonels are at Abilene Christian.

Zion Williamson’s stepfather put to rest speculation that Zion may return to Duke, because the Pelicans own the first pick in the NBA Draft. Lee Anderson appeared on Off the Bench with Jordy Culotta and T-Bob Hebert on ESPN Radio in Baton Rouge and Alexandria. Anderson says the family is in contact with New Orleans officials and Zion looks forward to playing for the Pelicans, if they select Williamson with the first overall pick…
cut 30 (12) “…even considered”
A lot of national talking heads who seem upset the Pelicans won the NBA Draft lottery have suggested Williamson return to Duke and enter the draft next year in the hopes of playing for a better organization.

Southern and Grambling have advanced into the winner’s bracket of the SWAC Tournament. They’ll play again today in New Orleans.

LSU baseball hosts Auburn tonight to start the final regular season series of the year. The Tigers are looking to lock down a spot as an NCAA Regional Host. LSU can help its case if they finish in fifth place in the SEC Standings. They are currently in sixth place. Coach Paul Mainieri says he’s NOT talking with his team about postseason scenarios…
cut 17 (14) “…to be”
Eric Walker will start on the mound tonight, he’ll be opposed by junior left hander Elliot Anderson.

The Ragin Cajuns and ULM complete their regular season by facing each other in Monroe for a three-game series that starts tonight. UL-Lafayette has won 25 straight over the Warhawks and need one more win to clinch a spot in the Sun Belt Tournament. ULM needs two wins.

Louisiana Tech opens a series at F-I-U tonight. The Bulldogs will send Matt Miller to the mound tonight.

LSU hosts Auburn tonight to begin the final regular season series of the year. Coach Paul Mainieri is changing up his starting rotation again as Eric Walker will start tonight’s game
Cut 16 (20) “…right around the corner”
Mainieri hinted Walker would also pitch next Wednesday or Thursday in the SEC Tournament, if LSU can win on Tuesday in a single elimination game.

At the SWAC Tournament in New Orleans, both Grambling and Southern advanced into the winner’s bracket. Grambling defeated Alcorn State 14-4 as Warren Laster and Garrett Smith combined to drive in seven runs. Southern outlasted Arkansas Pine Bluff 11-7 thanks to a three-run homer from Johnny Johnson. The tournament continues today.

Pelicans executive vice president David Griffin still would like to keep Anthony Davis in New Orleans now that the franchise owns the top overall pick in the 2019 NBA draft. But Jake Madison, publisher of Locked on Pelicans, says A-D will still likely be traded and there are assets other teams can offer…
cut 25 (12) “….OFFERS UP”

In college football, ESPN announces that LSU’s highly anticipated nonconference matchup with Texas on September 7th in Austin will ckick off at 6:30. A-B-C will televise the game.

ULM’s game at Florida State on September seventh will kick off at 4 PM.

In major league baseball, the Astros remained hot with a 5-1 win over Detroit. Former LSU star Alex Bregman hit his 14th home run on the year, the second most in the American League.

Duke superstar Zion Williamson will almost certainly be a Pelican after the franchise lucked into the first pick in the NBA draft lottery last night. Matt Doyle has the story…
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”

It will be a night kick off when LSU and Texas meet on the football field in Austin Saturday, September 7th. ESPN announced a 6:30 kick-off for the game and it will be televised by ABC as part of the network’s Saturday Night Football package. LSU opens the season a week before when they host Georgia Southern.

Antoine Duplantis homered for the 10th time this season and Daniel Cabrera hit his fifth home run in his last nine games as the Fighting Tigers defeated UNO seven to five last night.

LSU, who is fighting for an NCAA Regional host site, will host Auburn for a three-game series beginning tomorrow night. Coach Paul Mainieri announced today that Eric Walker will start on the mound tomorrow, Landon Marceaux on Friday and the starter for the regular season finale on Saturday is to be announced.

The Southern Jaguars begin play in the SWAC Tournament tonight as they’ll face Arkansas Pine-Bluff at 6 PM tonight in New Orleans at Wesley Barrow Stadium. Grambling won earlier today, beating Alcorn State 14-4 in eight innings. The Tigers will play tomorrow, against either Alabama State or Prairie View A-and-M.

In a series that starts tomorrow, Louisiana Tech is at FIU. The Bulldogs are looking to finish in third place in the Conference USA standings.

It’s been a rough year in sports for Louisiana with the no call in the NFC Championship game, the drama surrounding Anthony Davis, the Will Wade FBI wire tap scandal, so the state was due for some good luck. And they got it last night with the Pelicans winning the NBA Draft Lottery, which gives them the right to draft Duke superstar Zion Williamson next month. In the hours since the news broke, over 25-hundred season tickets have been sold. Williamson is widely regarded the most promising prospect to enter the NBA draft since Lebron James.

ESPN announces the highly-anticipated non-conference contest between LSU and Texas on the gridiron will kick off at 6:30 on Saturday, September seventh in Austin. ABC will televise the game as part of the network’s Saturday Night Football package.

LSU quarterback Joe Burrow will work at the Manning Passing Academy as a camp counselor. The camp runs from June 26th to the 30th on the Nicholls State campus in Thibodaux.

20th ranked LSU used a four-run third inning to defeat UNO seven to five on the baseball diamond last night. Daniel Cabrera hit a two-run homer in that third inning and later in the game Antoine Duplantis hit his 10th dinger of the season. LSU now has back-to-back victories heading into the final regular season series of the year on Thursday when they host Auburn.

5th ranked Mississippi State defeated Louisiana Tech seven to three. Hunter Wells and Parker Bates each had three hits in the loss. The Bulldogs finish the regular season in Miami against F-I-U in a series that starts tomorrow.

The 2018-19 high school sports season ended yesterday with the conclusion of the state baseball tournament. For the first time since 1987, Tioga is state champs in baseball. The Indians defeated Breaux Bridge four to three. Sterlington won its first Class 3A title as the Panthers doubled up South Beauregard four to two. And Barbe beat district rival Sam Houston eight to two for the Bucs 10th state championship in school history.

cut 30 “…loud cheers”
That’s the reaction of the Pelicans ticket office as they watched the results of the NBA lottery last night which revealed that New Orleans has the number one pick in next month’s NBA draft which gives them the opportunity to select one of the top college players in recent memory, Duke’s Zion Williamson.

So what does this mean for disgruntled superstar Anthony Davis. Pelicans Executive vice president of basketball operations David Griffin says the goal is still to convince A-D that New Orleans is the place for him…
cut 29 (11) “….what we can offer”
Or they can still trade Davis to the Knicks, Lakers or Celtics and in return receive young players and high draft picks. The NBA draft is June 20th.

A big four run third inning helped the LSU baseball team defeat UNO seven to five last night. Daniel Cabrera hit a two-run homer in that four-run third. Antoine Duplantis hit his 10th home run of the season. Zack Hess earned the save, but also gave up a two-run homer.

Tulane crushed South Alabama 11 to 1. Louisiana Tech fell seven to three to fifth ranked Mississippi State in Starkville.

The SWAC baseball tournament gets underway today at Wesley Barrow Stadium in New Orleans. Grambling faces Alcorn State at 9 AM, while Southern battles Arkansas Pine-Bluff tonight at 6 PM.

At the state baseball championships, here are your championship teams from yesterday, Oberlin, St. Charles Catholic, Sterlington, St. Paul’s, Tioga and Barbe defeated Sam Houston eight to two.

Legislation allowing medical marijuana patients to use an inhaler to get the therapeutic cannabis in their system passes on a 73-3vote in the House and is headed to the Senate. Baton Rouge Representative Ted James says his bill does not legalize smoking medical marijuana for those who get a prescription…
cut 13 (09) “….inhalation”
Doctors say inhaling medical marijuana allows patients to get quicker relief from their symptoms.

Today marks the deadline for Louisiana taxpayers to file their 2018 state income tax return. If a taxpayer needs more time to prepare and file their paper work, Louisiana Department of Revenue spokesperson Byron Henderson says an extension needs to be filed today.
Cut 7 (09) “…late filing penalties.”
Henderson says an extension to file does not mean an extension to pay, your payment to the state is still due today.

Republican Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain has picked up another challenger for this fall’s election. It’s LSU graduate and New Orleans flower and vegetable farmer Margee Green who says Strain has been putting up red tape in the state’s effort to provide patients with medical marijuana and that’s hurting the ag industry…
cut 5 (11) “….more economically viable”
Strain has said he’s following state law when it comes to the testing requirements for medical marijuana produced in Louisiana.

And what a night for the New Orleans Pelicans has they won the lottery. The Pels now own the number one pick in next month’s NBA draft which gives them the opportunity to draft Duke superstar Zion Williamson.

The 19th ranked LSU baseball team is back home tonight to host UNO. The Tigers are coming off a much needed win over fourth ranked Arkansas on Saturday. LSU got a big boost out of the bullpen from Todd Peterson, who threw four scoreless innings of one-hit ball. The junior from Florida has had his struggles this season, but Coach Paul Mainieri still believes in him…
Cut 18 (20) with him”
Mainieri has hope that injured pitchers Cole Henry and Jaden Hill will return for next week’s SEC Tournament.

Other action tonight, Louisiana Tech is at 5th ranked Mississippi State. ULM’s game against Northwestern State has been cancelled because of wet field conditions. Tulane hosts South Alabama.

The NBA Draft Lottery is tonight and the Pelicans have a six-percent chance of landing the top overall pick, 26-percent chance at earning a top four selection. There’s a report that says if the Knicks get the number one pick, they’ll make a trade with New Orleans to acquire Anthony Davis. The lottery is at 7:30 tonight.

LSU strength and conditioning coach Tommy Moffitt says the plan is for starting quarterback Joe Burrow to bulk up this offseason. Moffitt says Burrow wants to put on more weight, because he lost weight during last season. Moffit wouldn’t say how many pounds Burrow is looking to add.

At the state baseball tournament in Sulphur, sixth-seeded Oberlin won the Class One-A Championship with a nine to one victory over fourth seeded Kentwood today. St. Charles Catholic won the Division Two title game as the Comets defeated U-High 7-4. Later on today, it’s the Four-A state championship game as top seeded Tioga takes on Breaux Bridge. The Five-A title game is Barbe versus Sam Houston.

LSU baseball is falling in the polls, but Coach Paul Mainieri believes they can still host an NCAA Regional. Mainieri says for that to occur, the Tigers need a win tonight against UNO and then they must play well against Auburn in a series that starts on Thursday
cut 17 (22) “a regional”
First pitch is at 6:30.

Elsewhere, Louisiana Tech visits 5th ranked Mississippi State at Dudy Noble Field. Senior left-hander logan Robbins starts on the mound. Last week, he held LSU to just one unearned run over 6.2 innings. Northwestern State’s game at ULM has been cancelled because of wet field conditions.

Tonight is the NBA draft Lottery and the Pelicans have a six-percent chance of landing the top overall pick. If they get the number one pick, New Orleans or any other team will draft Duke phenom Zion Williamson. The Pels also have a six-percent chance at the second pick. Murray State’s JA Morant is the projected number two overall pick.

The LSU Foootball Coaches Caravan stopped in Houma last night and strength and conditioning coach Tommy Moffitt says the plan is for starting quarterback Joe Burrow to bulk up during this offseason. Moffitt says Burrow wants to put on more weight heading into the season, because he lost weight during last season. Also special teams coordinator Greg McMahon seems confident that freshman kicker Cade York can replace Cole Tracy, who had a tryout with the Saints last weekend.

At the state baseball tournament, The Class Three-A title game is at 2:30 in Sulphur as top seeded Sterlington takes on third seeded South Beauregard. The Four-A title game is top seeded Tioga facing third seeded Breaux Bridge.

The 19th ranked LSU baseball team looks to start building momentum heading into next week’s SEC Tournament when they host UNO tonight. The Tigers are coming off a 3-2 win over 4th ranked Arkansas. Antoine Duplantis’ three-run homer on Saturday was the only offense for the Tigers that day. Duplantis says it was a huge win…
cut 19 (16) “…postseason”
Devin Fontenot will start on the hill tonight for the Tigers, since he didn’t pitch in the Arkansas series. First pitch is at 6:30.

At 7:30 it’s the NBA Draft Lottery. The Pelicans have a six percent chance of winning the top overall pick. They also have a six-percent chance of getting the second pick. The most likely scenario is that the Pelicans get the 8th pick. They have a 37-percent chance of doing that.

The LSU Foootball Coaches Caravan stopped in Houma last night and strength and conditioning coach Tommy Moffitt says the plan is for starting quarterback Joe Burrow to bulk up during this offseason. Moffitt says Burrow wants to put on more weight heading into the season, because he lost weight during last season. Also special teams coordinator Greg McMahon seems confident that freshman kicker Cade York can replace Cole Tracy, who had a tryout with the Saints last weekend.

At the high school baseball tournament, winning state championships yesterday, Simpson, Northside Christian, Ouachita Christian, Calvary Baptist, Pitkin and Kinder.

Today, six more championships will be handed out. At 2:30, it’s the 3A title game as Sterlington faces South Beauregard, the Class 4A title game is Tioga versus Breaux Bridge and in the 5A title game is Sam Houston versus Barbe.