The NBA has reportedly made the decision to hold the 2017 NBA All-Star game in New Orleans. The game was set to be held in Charlotte, but the league took the game away from them, because North Carolina passed a law that limits anti-discrimination protections for L-G-B-T people. It would be the third time New Orleans has hosted the game since 2008.

When it comes to flood relief efforts, LSU Coach Les Miles and dozens of football players visit a shelter in Baton Rouge where hundreds of flood victims have used as a temporary home. Running back Leonard Fournette told reporters his sprained ankle will be fine for the season opener against Wisconsin.

Also two trucks of flood relief items are headed to Baton Rouge from South Carolina University. Alabama men’s basketball coach and former Southern University star Avery Johnson has sent semi-truck full of supplies from Tuscaloosa.

The Saints hold another joint practice with the Houston Texans today and then they’ll play the Texans in a preseason game on Saturday night in NRG Stadium.

LSU football players and Coach Les Miles visited the Celtic Media Center in Baton Rouge Thursday, where many flood victims who lost everything are taking shelter. The team did not practice but instead signed autographs and posed for pictures with the evacuees.

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Former Tigers Sylvia Fowles and Seimone Augustes helped lead the women’s basketball team to an 86-67 victory over France Thursday, and now head to finals to take on Spain.

Former LSU track and field athletes are going for the gold tonight. All Americans Richard Thompson and Kelly-Ann Baptiste will compete in the finals for the men’s and women’s 4×100 meter relays at the Olympic Games.

Former LSU soccer star Allysha Champman, who plays for Canada, will compete in the bronze medal game today against Brazil.

The US still leads in the medal count in Rio with 100 total, including 35 gold.

LSU’s biggest SEC rival is urging its fans to donate to South Louisiana flood relief efforts. In a report on the Alabama athletics website, Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban says rivalries take a back seat to those in need. He says so many people came to the aid of Tuscaloosa following the tornadoes, and they want to do something to give back.

The hits keep on coming for the Saints. New Orleans cornerback Delvin Breaux was carted off the practice field in Houston Thursday after limping to the sideline. Then offensive tackle Zach Streif and cornerback PJ Williams also took a ride in the cart off the field. The good news is that all three players reportedly had cramping issues due to the Houston heat. New Orleans takes on the Texans in preseason action tomorrow night.

In the MLB, former Tiger Alex Bregman and the Astros fell to former LSU Baseball star Kevin Gausman and the Orioles 13-5 and Houston has now lost 5 straight. Bregman homered for the Astros in Thursday’s game. Gausman struck out 8 in 6.2 innings in the win.

The LSU football team did not practice today, which gave them an opportunity to visit flood victims at a Baton Rouge shelter. Coach Les Miles brought about 50 players to the Celtic Movie Studios, where hundred of people without a home are staying. Many players, including running back Leonard Fournette, signed autographs and took pictures with the evacuees.

LSU kicker Colby Delahoussaye has spoken with reporters for the first time since he survived a fatal wreck in Wisconsin. Two other people were killed in the single-vehicle crash. Delahoussaye understands how thankful he is to be alive…
cut 30 (23) “…right now”
Delahoussaye has a chance to be LSU’s starting kicker when they face Wisconsin in the season opener in Green Bay.

Three Saints players were carted off the field today as the team had a joint practice with the Texans. But none of the injuries are serious, in fact Zach Streif, Delvin Breaux and PJ Williams all went down because of cramping issues practicing in the Houston Heat. New Orleans will face the Texans in the second preseason game of the year on Saturday night.

Former-Saints player Darren Sharper was sentenced to 18 years in a federal prison today for drugging and raping 9 women in four states. Legal analyst Tim Meche says Sharper’s sentence is not that long, considering the charges against him….
cut 9 (10) “…incredible deal”
The maximum sentence he was facing was around 20 years.

In major league baseball…former LSU baseball stars Kevin Gausman and Alex Bregman will face off against each other tonight in Baltimore. Gausman will get the start for the Orioles, who will take on Bregman’s Astros at 6:05.

Former NFL star and member of the Saints Super Bowl team Darren Sharper was sentenced to 18 years in prison today after pleading guilty to drugging and raping women. Before the sentencing was handed down, Sharper said he apologizes a thousand times to the victims and doesn’t know why he lived his life right for 38 years and then took this path. Originally, Sharper had worked out an agreement with prosecutors that would have led to a nine-year prison sentence, but the judge rejected it because it was too lenient.

The 2016 Saints are practicing against the Texans, leading up to Saturday night’s preseason game in Houston. Three Saints players had to be carted off the field during today’s morning practice, offensive tackle Zach Streif, and cornerbacks PJ Williams and Delvin Breaux.

About 15 LSU players spent Wednesday helping out the mother-in-law of former LSU pitcher Ben McDonald. Her Denham Springs house was destroyed by the historic flooding and the baseball players went to the home to take out water-logged furniture and floors to the front yard.

LSU Quarterback Brandon Harris spoke with reporters last night for the first time since fall camp started. Harris says he feels really comfortable as he enters his junior season…
cut 30 (24) “…key positions”
Harris says the flooding has impacted several players. His car and some of his teammates were flooded when parked on the north side of campus.

It’s still unclear who will start at quarterback for Louisiana Tech when they open the regular season against Arkansas. Redshirt freshman J’mar Smith and sophomore Price Wilson have good and bad days according to the coaches. Ryan Higgins was expected to start at QB, but he will not, because of a DWI arrest.

We’re 16 days away from the start of the LSU football season when they take on Wisconsin at Lambeau Field. ESPN announced Wednesday that it will have its College Gameday Crew in Green Bay for that game.

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The US men’s basketball team advanced to the semifinals after jumping past Argentina 105-78 last night. Kevin Durant scored 27 points for the Americans. The US eliminated Argentina for the 3rd straight Olympics.

The United States women swept the medals in the 100-meter hurdles last night. Domination like never before.

Locally, LSU Tiger junior Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake of Great Britain and former Lady Tigers national champion Nickiesha Wilson of Jamaica each lined up in the semifinal rounds of their respective events.

Local Olympians on TV today include Kelly Ann Baptiste in the women’s 4×100 meter relay prelims. Seimone Augustus, Syliva Fowles, former LSU women’s basketball stars, take part in the semi-finals, USA vs France at 5pm on NBC.

The New Orleans Saints are ranked No.22 in ESPN’s NFL Power Rankings. The Seattle Seahawks are No. 1 followed by Arizona, New England, Green Bay and Carolina.

Even though it’s a hectic week in south Louisiana, LSU is expected to start school on Monday as usual and accommodate local students affected by the flood. Emelie Gunn has more…:
Cut 2 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

Today in the MLB, Baltimore will open with former LSU standout Kevin Gausman. Alex Bregman and the Houston Astros take on the Orioles.

We’re 17 days away from the start of the LSU football season when they take on Wisconsin at Lambeau Field. ESPN announced today that it will have its College Gameday Crew in Green Bay for that game.

LSU fans are hoping running back Leonard Fournette will be healthy for the Badgers. Coach Les Miles says his star running back suffered a slight ankle sprain during Tuesday’s scrimmage.

In Ruston, Louisiana Tech football coach Skip Holtz announced today that offensive and defensive lineman Hakim Gray will transfer from the team and they wish him the best of luck.

Saints Coach Sean Payton said that rookie defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins will be back this season, despite fracturing his fibula during a goal-line drill at practice on Monday. With Rankins and veteran Jon Jenkins both hurt, it’s likely Nick Fairley and Ashaad Mabry will start at defensive tackle when New Orleans faces Houston on Saturday night.

The Pelicans say their six-game preseason schedule will begin with a contest at the Century Link Center in Bossier City on October 1st against Dallas. New Orleans will also host the Pacers at the Smoothie King Center on October 4th. The Pels will have two games in China against Houston and they’ll wrap up the preseason with road contests against Atlanta and Orlando.

In major league baseball…the Phillies have announced that Aaron Nola’s season is over, because of an elbow injury. The former LSU star will not need surgery at this time. Nola’s season ends with a 6-9 record and a 4.78 ERA.

Former LSU star Alex Bregman is starting to heat up at the plate. The Astros third baseman hit his first major league home last night and today, he picked up a couple more hits and drove in a run, to raise his average to .198. But Bregman couldn’t help Houston beat St. Louis as the Cardinals won 8-2 for their fourth straight win.

Based on preliminary estimates, a vast majority of homeowners who flooded did not have flood insurance. Michael Barry with the Insurance Information Institute says these flood victims will seek help from FEMA, but typical FEMA direct assistance payments are around 10-thousand dollars. Barry says there is good news for motorists whose cars were damaged in the flood, if they have comprehensive coverage…
cut 6 (07) “….flood waters”

Attorney General Jeff Landry says if residents see any cases of possible price gouging, they should call their consumer protection hotline. Landry says his office is also working with the online donation website, GoFundMe, to make sure contributions really go to flood victims…
cut 14 (10) “…with them”

While tens of thousands of people have lost everything in the deadly flood, many are coming together to assist in recovery efforts throughout south Louisiana. Halen Doughty has more…
voicer 2 (30) “…I’m Halen Doughty”

The Red Cross says the flooding in Louisiana is the worst natural disaster to strike the US since Superstorm Sandy in 2012. They anitcipate that the relief operation will cost at least 30-million dollars. The Red Cross is mobilizing dozens of disaster response vehicles, filled with ready to eat meals.

Star LSU running back Leonard Fournette is in a walking boot after suffering a “slight” ankle sprain in a scrimmage Tuesday, coach Les Miles told reporters after practice. Fournette is the fourth reported injury to hit LSU through the first two weeks of fall camp.

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Sprinter Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake of LSU and former Lady Tiger hurdler Nickiesha Wilson both advanced to the semi-finals Tuesday.

Seimone Augustus, Sylvia Fowles and the US women’s basketball team advance to the semifinals after defeating Japa 110-64.

The US still leads the medal count with 84 total, including 28 gold.

Gymnast Simone Biles leaves Rio with 5 medals — four gold and one bronze. It was the first Olympic games for the 19-year-old. Her four golds tie an Olympic record shared by 4 others.

The University of South Carolina is coordinating a collection of items that will be sent to flood victims in south Louisiana. Gamecock fans have been asked to bring items today through Friday. USC leaders say LSU was so gracious to assist them in their time of need, it’s their turn to help fellow SEC friends.

In the MLB, Former LSU star Alex Bregman belted his first big-league home run for the Astros against the Cardinals on Tuesday. The hit tied the game 2-2 in the first inning.

In Saints news, rookie defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins will reportedly miss 4-8 weeks after breaking a bone in his leg and undergoing surgery on Tuesday.

Former Tiger Tyrann Mathieu has been activated from the phsycailly unable to perform list by the Arizona Cardinals. Mathieu is recovering from surgety to repair a torn ACL.

The New Orleans Pelicans will open the preseason against the Dallas Mavericks on October 1st at the Century Link Center in Bossier City.

The LHSAA says their office took on about 18 inches of water, but officials still say they plan to return to work tomorrow in a meeting where a major topic will be how scrimmages will be handled, and whether or not the flooding means the start of fall season would have to be pushed back.

LSU Football Coach Les Miles says star running back Leonard Fournette is in a walking boot. Miles says Fournette suffered a slight ankle sprain in Tuesday’s scrimmage. Miles said the injury is not terrible.

The flooding in south Louisiana is terrible, but there’s an SEC school reaching out to provide its assistance and that’s South Carolina. You may recall, LSU and Louisiana did what it could last year, when there was significant flooding near the South Carolina campus. So South Carolina is asking its fans to donate items that will be delivered in the Gamecocks equipment truck.

In Ruston, Louisiana Tech defensive tackle Courtney Wallace could miss the first game of the season, because of a foot injury. The Bulldogs open the year at Arkansas on September 3rd.

Saints first round pick and defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins reportedly had surgery to repair a broken fibula today. It’s expected Rankins will need at least six to eight weeks of recovery, which means he could miss the first couple of games of the regular season.

Offensive tackle Terron Armstead missed the first two weeks of training camp with a soft tissue injury, but he’s been practicing this week and hopes to play Saturday night in the preseason game against the Houston Texans. Amstead’s return moves last year’s first round pick Andrus Peat to right guard, where he’ll have a chance to start.

The Cowboys like what they see from former Haughton star Dak Prescott and owner Jerry Jones says the team is no longer looking for a veteran quarterback. Prescott was 10-of-12 for 139 yards and two touchdowns in the Cowboys preseason opener against the Rams.

And the Pelicans announce they’ll play a preseason game against the Mavericks on October 1st at the Century Tel Center in Bossier City.

Saints first round pick and defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins will reportedly undergo surgery to repair a broken fibula today. It’s expected Rankins will need at least six to eight weeks of recovery, which means he could miss the first couple of games of the regular season.

Offensive tackle Terron Armstead missed the first two weeks of training camp with a soft tissue injury, but he’s been practicing this week and hopes to play Saturday night in the preseason game against the Houston Texans. Amstead’s return moves last year’s first round pick Andrus Peat to right guard, where he’ll have a chance to start.

The Cowboys like what they see from former Haughton star Dak Prescott and owner Jerry Jones says the team is no longer looking for a veteran quarterback. Prescott was 10-of-12 for 139 yards and two touchdowns in the Cowboys preseason opener against the Rams.

And the Pelicans announce they’ll play a preaseason game against the Mavericks on October 1st at the Century Tel Center in Bossier City.