LITTLE ROCK — Ex-Saint thankful for bounty
A statue of Steve Gleason blocking a punt in the New Orleans Saints’ first game at the Superdome after Hurricane Katrina in 2006 was unveiled Friday afternoon.
“That statue is not about football,” Gleason, straining to speak because of the effects of ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, said moments before the formal unveiling. “It’s a symbol of the commitment and perseverance that this community took on before that game.
“There were 75,000 people in that stadium and a few hundred thousand others outside the stadium who had already committed themselves to coming back and rebuilding this community. So that statue is a symbol of what they did. And I think that moment was the moment when we as a team gotto share that commitment and perseverance with the rest of the world.”
Gleason blocked the ball off the foot of then-Atlanta Falcons punter Michael Koenen and into the end zone for a Saints touchdown Sept. 25, 2006, the night the rebuilt Superdome opened after Hurricane Katrina.
The statue, titled “Rebirth,” depicts Gleason fully outstretched in a dive, his hands smothering the ball as it leaves Koenen’s foot.
No tweeting
Cincinnati Bengals CoachMarvin Lewis has banned players from using Twitter during training camp.
He imposed the ban after consulting team leaders about the crackdown.
Lewis said the ban is “part of being selfless” as a player.
He is wary of players talking about injuries on Twitter. Rookie cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick confirmed his knee injury with a tweet earlier this week before camp began.
It’s a good thing Lewis doesn’t have to worry about what former Bengals receiver Chad Johnson thinks about the Twitter ban.
Goin’ South
New Houston Rockets guard Toney Douglas is happy that he’s no longer in New York.
“When I was in New York, my apartment cost almost $4,000 a month,” Douglas told KGOW-AM in Houston. “That doesn’t include parking. ... When I got here, I was so excited.
“I didn’t really appreciate the South until I was in New York.”
Douglas, who made $1.1 million last season with the New York Knicks, was part of a sign-andtrade deal earlier this month for Marcus Camby.
Thank you
Former Seattle Mariners pitcher Randy Johnson and catcher Dan Wilson were inducted into the team’s Hall of Fame on Saturday afternoon at Safeco Field.
During a luncheon Friday, former Philadelphia Phillies first baseman John Kruk, who was brushed back by a pitch from Johnson in the 1993 All-Star Game in Baltimore, congratulated the 6-10 left-hander in a video message.
“Thanks,” Kruk told Johnson in the video. “Thanks for not hitting me in the head.”Quote of the day “This is my year. I know
it and I feel it, because
I’ve put in hard work.” U.S. swimmer Ryan Lochte , after easily defeating teammate Michael Phelps on the way to winning the 400-meter individual medley
Sports, Pages 24 on 07/29/2012