ional title, OHanlon said with a laug from corse178's blog
NEW ORLEANS -- The NBA has decided to hold the 2017 All-Star Game in New Orleans after taking the midseason event out of North Carolina because of a state law that limits anti-discrimination protections for lesbian, gay and transgender people. Black Air Max 2018 Outlet .New Orleans, announced Friday as the new location of the game, replaces Charlotte, which was set to host the game until the NBA decided last month to move it elsewhere.Unlike several other Southern states, Louisiana has not been swept up in legislative efforts to pass laws similar to that in North Carolina -- a fact Gov. John Bel Edwards has touted while lobbying the NBA to bring its All-Star weekend to New Orleans.We embrace our rich cultural heritage and see our diversity as a virtue, Edwards wrote in a letter to NBA Commissioner Adam Silver in late July. Should the NBA choose to bring the All-Star Game back to New Orleans in 2017, it will strongly reaffirm its commitment to communities that value fairness and inclusion.The NBAs decision -- and the economic boost it will bring -- provides a timely dose of good news following disastrous flooding across large swaths of southeast Louisiana that has killed at least 13 people and damaged an estimated 40,000 homes, mostly around Baton Rouge. Much of the New Orleans metropolitan area has been spared from the flooding.While we move into the recovery phase of this disaster, I want to thank the NBA for the vote of confidence in our state to host this event and their support of the relief efforts currently underway, Edwards said.This marks the third time New Orleans, which became an NBA city for the second time in 2002, has been selected to host the leagues All-Star Game.When the All-Star Game first came in 2008, the NBA spearheaded numerous community service projects aimed at helping neighborhoods hard hit by Hurricane Katrina in August 2005. The NBA will be presented with similar opportunities next year to assist flooded communities within an hours drive of New Orleans.Indeed, the New Orleans Pelicans and the NFLs Saints, both owned by Tom Benson, already have begun deploying administrative staff to assist flood relief efforts while opening the teams headquarters as a collection point for donations of basic supplies for flood victims.As we know, the NBA will engage thousands of local children and charities during this weekend, Benson said in written comments thanking the NBA for choosing New Orleans.All-Star weekend also came to the Big Easy in 2014, when Pelicans forward and center Anthony Davis made his All-Star debut. Davis would play the All-Star Game in his home arena again if he is named to the Western Conference squad for a fourth straight season.New Orleans, which has a history of hosting major sporting events, has seen its last two bids to host a Super Bowl come up short. It also bid unsuccessfully to host one of the NCAA Final Fours between 2017 and 2021. Those disappointments provided even more motivation for state and city officials to act decisively to lure the NBA All-Star Game after the leagues decision to take it away from the initially designated host city.A number of entertainment acts, including a Bruce Springsteen concert, have canceled North Carolina events because of its so-called HB2 law.Louisiana hasnt enacted -- or debated -- a bathroom bill of the type passed in North Carolina. Edwards earlier this year issued an LGBT rights anti-discrimination order.In the April order, the Democratic governor banned discrimination in state government based on sexual orientation and gender identity. State contracts also were required to comply, except contractors that are religious organizations. Edwards anti-discrimination order was similar to orders enacted by two former Louisiana Democratic governors -- but he added language protecting against discrimination based on gender identity, a provision that protects transgender people.Republican Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landrys office has issued an opinion claiming that Edwards order has no binding legal effect and exceeds the governors authority. But the order hasnt been challenged in court, and Edwards has vowed to follow it. Landrys office also has joined 10 other states in a lawsuit filed in May against President Barack Obamas administration over its directive to U.S. public schools to let transgender students use the bathrooms and locker rooms that match their gender identity.The Human Rights Campaign, a national civil rights group working on behalf of lesbian, gay and transgender people, applauded the NBAs decision to choose New Orleans.The NBA and Commissioner Adam Silver have sent a clear message to lawmakers in North Carolina and across the country that discrimination against LGBTQ people has consequences and will not be tolerated, HRC President Chad Griffin said in a statement. New Orleans explicit LGBTQ non-discrimination protections will ensure all NBA employees, players, and fans who participate in the All-Star Game are protected from discrimination.The All-star Game is scheduled for Feb. 19, which falls during the first weekend of Mardi Gras parades. That weekend presents some logistical challenges for New Orleans in terms of policing and traffic control, but considerably less so than the following weekend, when the largest parades roll in the days leading up to Fat Tuesday, which is Feb. 28.The combination of NBA All-Star with the first weekend of Mardi Gras will provide our residents, visitors and NBA fans an even more special experience, Mayor Mitch Landrieu said.---Associated Press writers Melinda Deslatte in Baton Rouge and Brian Mahoney in Rio de Janeiro contributed to this report. Mens Air Max 2018 Grey .Y. - Free agent outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury, fresh off winning the World Series with Boston, reached agreement with the rival New York Yankees on a seven-year contract worth about $153 million, a person familiar with the negotiations said Tuesday night. Wholesale Air Max 2018 Free Shipping .ca! Hi Kerry, Heres an interesting one. I know its common knowledge that all players are responsible for their sticks. We witnessed that when Zack Kassian hit Edmontons Sam Gagner in the face after a missed check. http://www.wholesaleairmaxsale.com/ . -- Bobby Ryan helped the U. VILLANOVA, Pa. -- Kris Jenkins hit a 3-pointer without much hoopla.He wasnt mobbed by his Villanova teammates and confetti didnt rain from the rafters. No streamers, no hysterical fans. Jenkins simply hustled back for a routine defensive assignment.His first 3 of the game simply helped the Wildcats open the season the same way they ended the last one -- with a win.Jalen Brunson scored 17 points, Jenkins had 16 and No. 4 Villanova opened defense of its national championship with an 88-48 victory over Lafayette on Friday night.Playing a game is probably the best thing we can do to get past last season, coach Jay Wright said.Jenkins hit a buzzer-beating 3 in the title game to lift the Wildcats to a 77-74 win over North Carolina. With a national championship banner hanging in the rafters, Jenkins naturally scored Villanovas 3-pointer of the season. Jenkins scored his first basket of the season off a turnover he forced at midcourt, hit his first 3 to make it 10-2 and helped the Wildcats storm to a 49-17 lead.Wright had said he wanted the Wildcats to put the White House visit, a parade, numerous awards shows and banquets, and other honors behind them as they opened the season. Villanova looked every bit like a team that could become the first repeat national champ since Florida in 2006 and 2007.Jenkins, who flirted with leaving for the NBA, said the Wildcats had moved forward.Its pretty easy to do because we have a team thats hungry, he said.The Wildcats, the three-time defending Big East champs, also have a team thats deep and versatile. Josh Hart, a preseason All-America, scored 13 points for the Wildcats. Reserve Mikal Bridges had 16 points and eight rebounds.Thats what a top team has, Lafayette coach Fran OHanlon said. It has a number of guys fighting for a lot of playing time and getting a lot of playing time.Brunson and Jenkins each hit foour of Villanovas 15 3-pointers. Cheap Air Max 2018 Sale. Nick Lindner led the Leopards with 10 points. LafayetteBIG PICTURELafayette: The Leopards continue to play Villanova, even with just one win in 10 career matchups. The Leopards missed 12 of 13 3-point attempts in the first half and scored only two points on their first 20 possessions. The Leopards, out of the Patriot League, wont play another team in the regular season close to a program such as Villanova. Lafayette does return to Philadelphia on Dec. 22 to play at Saint Josephs.Villanova: The Wildcats could use an easy one before they play at No. 15 Purdue on Monday. The Wildcats won their 40th straight game at the Pavilion and sold out the gym for the 170th straight time. Villanova is a whopping 98-13 there since the start of the 2013-14 season.THANKS FOR NOTHINGOHanlon played point guard for three seasons (1967-70) for the Wildcats. He had just one small problem opening the season at VillanovaJay didnt say he was going to win the national title, OHanlon said with a laugh.The Wildcats make a return trip next season and play Lafayette at the PPL Center in Allentown. OHanlon said the original pitch to his program was that the game in Allentown would be this season. When that fell through, the Wildcats offered Lafayette to come to campus this season.Yeah, thats some favor, Jay, OHanlon said. Im going to play the national champs twice. They may be twice (two-time champs) by that time.POLL IMPLICATIONSVillanova will remain ranked inside the top five.UP NEXTLafayette plays Monday night at Saint Peters.Villanova tries for a 3-0 career mark against the Boilermakers on Monday. 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