The NBA is looking for a new host for the 2017 All-Star game and New Orleans is in the running. The league decided to look for a new site for the All-Star game because of a controversial law signed by the governor that does not protect LGBT people from workplace and other public discrimination.

Governor John Bel Edwards released a statement says Louisiana would be proud to host the 2017 NBA All-Star game if the oppportunity presents itself. New Orleans has hosted the All-Star game on two previous occassions in 2008 and 2014.

There’s sad news to report out of the NFL. Former Head Coach Dennis Green has passed away. Green led the Vikings to 8 playoff appearances and his 1998 Vikings team went 15-and-1. He was the fifth winningest coach in the 1990s. Green reportedly died from cardiac arrest. He was 67 years old.

The media covering Conference USA believes Louisiana Tech will finish second in the West Division this season, behind Southern Miss. The Bulldogs are 13-and-3 in the league the last two seasons and have seven players that were named to the Conference USA preseason all-conference team. Southern Miss is led by quarterback Nick Mullens, who threw for 44-hundred yards and 38 touchdowns last season. Both were school records. Middle Tennessee is the preseason favorite in the East. The Blue Raiders were six and two last season.

Could the NBA All-Star game be returning to New Orleans next year? The league wants to move out of Charlotte because of its objections to a North Carolina law that limits anti-discrimination protections for the LGBT community. Governor John Bel Edwards issued a statement saying Louisiana would be proud to host the 2017 NBA All-Star Game if the opportunity presents itself. New Orleans’ Smoothie King Center is reported to be the NBA’s top choice as a replacement site. League officials say they will make an announcement on the new location of the 2017 NBA All-Star Game in the coming weeks.

The NBA signing period began Thursday, and the first three free agents to sign on the dotted line for the New Orleans Pelicans were forward Solomon Hill and guards E’Twaun Moore and Langston Galloway.

The Conference USA media has chosen the Louisiana Tech football team to finish second as the C-USA West Division champs in the upcoming season. The Bulldogs are behind Southern Miss.

In the Sun Belt coaches poll, UL-Lafayette came it at number five on the rankings, and ULM NO. 11. The list was released ahead of Monday’s Sun Belt Media Day activities in New Orleans.

The McNeese baseball team has been named one of 32 Division I programs to receive the inaugural American Baseball Coaches Association Team Academic Excellence Award. The recognition honors programs that post a grade-point average over 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. McNeese was the only program in the Southland Conference as well as in Louisiana to earn the distinction.

The Atlantic Coast Conference is getting its own network channel. League officials announced Thursday that the ACC Network will launch in August 2019 as part of an extended deal with ESPN that runs through 2035-36. The ACC would become the fourth major conference with its own network, along with the Big Ten, Pac-12 and Southeastern Conference.

The NBA has moved the 2017 All- Star game from Charlotte, North Carolina and New Orleans has reportedly emerged as a favorite to host the game in February. The league is unhappy the North Carolina legislature passed a law that’s considered anti-L-G-B-T. The NBA says they will announce a new location for the 2017 All-Star game in the coming weeks.

The Pelicans finally announced their free agent signings today. Solomon Hill, E’Twaun Moore and Langston Galloway are the players added to the roster.

The media has picked Louisiana Tech to finish second in Conference USA’s West division. Southern Miss is the preseason favorite to win the West, followed by Tech, Rice and UTEP. Middle Tennessee is the media’s favorite in the East.

Appalachian State has been picked to win the Sun Belt, based on a vote of the league’s coaches. UL Lafayette is expected to finish in fifth place, ULM in last.

LHSAA President Vic Bonnaffee says Monday’s special meeting of the association’s executive committee is a chance for executive director Eddie Bonine to explain the controversial statement he made at the NFHS convention, where he referred to high school sports in Louisiana as a proverbial dumpster fire, because of the public-private school split playoff format. There’s been reports the executive committee may seek to buy out the remaining years of Bonine’s contract, but Bonnaffee says he’s not sure if a motion can be made at the meeting to buyout Bonine’s contract…
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Bonnaffee says Bonine recently received a postive evaluation from the committee.

With the Big 12 looking at expansion, Tulane athletic director Troy Dannen says they would be interested in joining the league.

A special meeting of the LHSAA executive committee is set for Monday and there’s speculation that committee members will seek to buyout executive director Eddie Bonine from his contract. Bonine is expected to discuss a report he presented to the NFHS convention last month, where he described high school sports in Louisiana as a “dumpster fire” because of the growing split of public and private schools. LHSAA President Vic Bonnaffee admits that statement rubbed some committee members the wrong way…
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Bonnafee says he’s not sure if a motion can be made at the meeting to buyout Bonine’s contract.

The Pelicans have officially announced the free agent signings of Solomon Hill, E’Twaun Moore and Langston Galloway. Galloway, who is from Baton Rouge, averaged eight points a game last year with the Knicks. Hill has averaged six points a game in his career with the Pacers and Moore averaged 8 points and shot 45-percent from three-point range with the Chicago Bulls last season.

With the Big 12 looking at expansion, Tulane athletic director Troy Dannen says they would be interested in joining the league. It’s not clear if the Big 12 is interested. Some of the rumored schools include Houston, Connecticut, Central Florida and Cincinnati.

Earlier this week former Ragin Cajuns standout Charles Tillman announced his retirement from the NFL and it didn’t take long for him to find a new job. Fox Sports has announced that the ex-cornerback will be an analyst on Fox NFL Kickoff which airs on Sunday mornings during the NFL season.

Rumors are swirling the LHSAA executive committee is seeking to buyout or terminate the contract of executive director Eddie Bonine. LHSAA President Vic Bonnafee says Bonine received a positive evaluation a couple of months ago from the executive committee, but…:
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Bonnafee has called a special meeting of the LHSAA executive committee for Monday. Bonine is expected to discuss a report he presented to the NFHS convention last month, where he described high school sports in Louisiana as a “dumpster fire” because of the growing split of public and private schools. — The meeting will give him a chance to explain his words.

Tiger Rag has obtained a letter written by Shaquille O’ Neal that says LSU should retire the jersey of former basketball star Chris Jackson. The letter was written to the LSU Basketball Jersey Retirement Nomination Committee.

Six LSU baseball players have been named this month to their respective summer collegiate league All-Star teams. They are senior infielder Cole Freeman and junior infielder Bryce Jordan, senior pitcher Collin Strall, sophomore infielder Trey Dawson, and incoming freshmen infielders Josh Smith and Jake Slaughter.

LSU Coach Les Miles did not hold back his feelings on the gunman responsible for taking the lives of three officers in an ambush in Baton Rouge. He made the comments to coaches at the annual Louisiana High School Coaches Association meeting…:
CUT 1 (19) “other than a show”
He said the men that were lost this past week were giants. They were community servants.

Gannett newspapers are reporting the LHSAA executive committee will seek to buy out the contract of Executive Director Eddie Bonine during a special meeting on Monday. Bonine signed a four-year contract last year, but there are some who are apparently unhappy with Bonine, who referred to the LHSAA as a “dumpster fire” in a memo intended for colleagues at an NFHS meeting. Since arriving in Louisiana from Nevada, Bonine has attempted to look for solutions to end the public-priviate school split that’s been voted on by a majority of the principals within the LHSAA.

Louisiana Tech has a league-best seven football players on the Preseason Conference USA team. Junior kicker Jonathan Barnes received Special Teams Player of the Year honors. Also making the team, Xavier Woods, Jaylon Ferguson, Darrell Brown, David Mahaffey, Trent Taylor and long snapper Darrell Travis.

Tiger Rag has obtained a letter written by Shaquille O’ Neal that says LSU should retire the jersey of former basketball star Chris Jackson. The letter was written to the LSU Basketball Jersey Retirement Nomination Committee. Jackson was a two-time SEC Player of the Year and averaged 30 points a game as a freshman, 28 points as a sophomore.

In NBA news…the Pelicans are reportedly close to reaching a one-year deal with swingman Alonzo Gee. The 29-year-old averaged almost five points a game in 73 contests last season.

LSU Sports Information Director Michael Bonnette says Coach Les Miles had private meetings with members of the East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s office and the Baton Rouge Police department. Bonnette says the head coach wanted to express his support to the law enforcement agencies that lost three officers in an ambush attack by a lone gunman on Sunday.

Starting tonight on the SEC Network, 24 hours of LSU programming will begin as 12 different games from the past in six different sports will begin airing at 11 PM. You’ll be able to see the football team’s 2011 season opening win over Oregon, the historic 1990 basketball game between LSU and Loyola Marymount and it concludes tomorrow night at 8 Pm when they replay the game featuring Warren Morris’ historic home run to win the 1996 national championship game.

The 2016 preseason All-Southland Conference football teams were released today. McNeese State landed three players on the first-team on offense, tight end Zach Hetrick, wide receiver Kent Shelby and offensive lineman Mason Martin. On defense, McNeese has three more representatives. Defensive lineman Isaiah Golden, linebacker Ashari Goins, defensive back Dominique Hill. Also on the first team…Southeastern’s Antreon Bennett and Nicholls defensive back BT Sanders.

The LSU Tigers will stage its SEC Network takeover beginning late tonight and into tomorrow. The athletics department has picked 12 events in 6 different sports from the archives to relive with fans on the network for 24 straight hours. The coverage will begin at 11pm tonight with the football team’s resounding victory over Oregon in the 2011 Cowboys Classic at Arlington, Texas.

Former LSU baseball star and Astros prospect Alex Bregman started at third base for the first time Tuesday since being promoted to Triple-A Fresno. It’s likely Bregman’s clearest path to the majors.

According to sources, the Atlantic Coast Conference will launch a television network in August of 2019. It’s said that ESPN and the ACC will also start a digital channel next month that will be available online. The ACC would become the fourth major conference with its own network, along with the Big Ten, Pac-12 and Southeastern Conference.

The LSU baseball team will be facing TCU in next season’s Houston College Classic at Minute Maid Park. The Horned Frogs and the Tigers will face off at 7pm on Friday March 3rd.

The LHSAA has called a special meeting of its executive committee for Monday at the organization’s office. There were rumors circling that the gathering will be held for a discussion on the termination of the LHSAA executive director Eddie Bonine, but its President, Vic Bonnaffee, said that is not true. Bonine had recently expressed frustration with the select/non-select controversy at the NFHS convention. He closed in a report that the matter is a “proverbial dumpster fire” — a statement he later said was a joke for colleagues.

New Northwestern State Baseball Coach Bobby Barbier has named Chris Bertrand as his new pitching coach. For the past four seasons, Bertrand has been the head coach at Texas-Tyler, and he led UT Tyler to three American Southwest Conference Championships. Bertrand played collegiately at Louisiana College and Bossier Parish Community College.

LSU football coach Les Miles is optimistic Baton Rouge can unite after the tragic events that have taken place the last two weeks. During an interview on ESPN’s Sportscenter, Miles said he knew one of the fallen officers, 32-year-old Montrell Jackson. Miles says Officer Jackson was a joy to be around…
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Miles says he would like to be involved in the conversations that will lead to a stronger Baton Rouge.

In other football news…former Ragin Cajuns Charles Tillman has announced his retirment after a 13-year career in the NFL. He forced 44 fumbles in his 12 seasons with the Chicago Bears.

Louisiana Tech’s Director of recruiting Chance Trickett is leaving for a job with the Los Angeles Rams.

The LHSAA’s executive committee has called for a special meeting on Monday. According to the agenda, they will discuss Executive Director Eddie Bonine’s NFHS Report. It was that report where Bonine referred to the LHSAA as a “proverbial dumpster fire.” WWL is reporting the members of the LHSAA are not happy with Bonine’s comment and it’s possible he could be terminated. Bonine released a statement after the report became public and said the term “dumpster fire” was meant for his constitutents to make light of multiple serious situations facing the LHSAA.

New Northwestern State Baseball Coach Bobby Barbier has named Chris Bertrand as his new pitching coach. For the past four seasons, Bertrand has been the head coach at Texas-Tyler, and he led UT Tyler to three American Southwest Conference Championships. Bertrand played collegiately at Louisiana College and Bossier Parish Community College.

During an appearance on ESPN’s Sportscenter, LSU Football Coach Les Miles says Baton Rouge is heartsick over the three law enforcement officers who were fatally shot in the line of duty on Sunday. Miles says he knew one of the fallen officers, Montrell Jackson, and said he was a joy to be around…
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Jackson’s uncle is Fred Jackson, a standout quarterback at Jackson state from 1968-71. Fred Jackson was an All-SWAC player as he led the league in passing his senior season.

Former LSU star and Baltimore Orioles pitcher Kevin Gausman is now 1-and-7 after allowing two runs in 6.2 innings in a two to one defeat to the Yankees.

Former Ragin Cajuns football player Charles Tillman has announced his retirement from the NFL after 13 seasons. Tillman forced 44 career fumbles, made two Pro Bowls and was named the Walter Payton Man of the Year in 2013.

Former St. Thomas More standout and walk-on punter for LSU, Bailey Raborn, was arrested in Lafayette for suspicion of driving a vehicle while impaired and careless operation, according to authorities. Coach Les Miles says he’s aware of what happened and is trying to gather more information.

According to a report released by the legislative auditor, Grambling’s athletic program has several discrepancies in the way money, expenses and revenues are reported. It says the school wasn’t able to reconcile ticket sales, account for complimentary tickets and there are money problems as it relates to student aid and salaries and benefits for coaches. A spokesman for the program told The News Star that this doesn’t mean they’ll face NCAA penalties, but corrective action will be taken.