In the Lane With Licht: The Return to the Big Easy

Bob Licht

For a franchise that comes from a city nicknamed “The Big Easy,” it’s ironic that this Hornets team has endured perhaps the most difficult 11 months in the history of major league sports.

Following 12 consecutive non-losing seasons, the Hornets won a franchise-worst 18 games in 2004-2005. Attendance fell to the bottom of the league. Optimism was not a word used much around the team’s offices across from the Superdome on Poydras Street in New Orleans.

But its off-season was, in fact, filled with optimism as New Orleans selected point guard Chris Paul fourth overall in the June draft, re-signed free agents Chris Andersen and “Boki” Nachbar in July, traded for guard Kirk Snyder and forward Rasual Butler in an NBA-record 13-player transaction in August, and sold more tickets than in any previous summer in New Orleans.

Then August 29 arrived and optimism turned to devastation.

Hurricane Katrina struck with such force that worries about wins, losses, and ticket sales became irrelevant in the days and weeks following the storm. As with so many companies along the Gulf Coast, the Hornets had to set up a special web site just to locate their employees, many of who had evacuated the region. There was no power. Phones were non-functional. Cell phone towers were down. Many were homeless. Some lost family, friends and neighbors to the storm. For the survivors, normal life as we knew it had disappeared.

Since the New Orleans Arena sustained damage, and the city had significantly larger issues to contend with than its two major league sports teams, both the Saints and Hornets needed new, temporary homes. In late September the NBA announced that the team would temporarily relocate to Oklahoma City for the 2005-2006 season.

While the players, coaches and staff slowly situated themselves in their new “hometown,” Oklahoma City fans yearned to prove they were a major league sports city. Twenty-six games, 18 victories and 14 sellouts later, their point was made. Today, players and coaches around the league regularly comment on the atmosphere in “Loud City,” the nickname given to the upper deck fans for their passion and commitment to the team.

On the court the team has reversed its misfortunes of a season ago and stayed in the Western Conference playoff race. Point guard Chris Paul will be the NBA’s Rookie of the Year, not only capturing four consecutive Western Conference Rookie of the Month awards, but also proving that a 20-year-old can lead his team on the court. David West leads the team in scoring, rebounding, field goal and free-throw shooting and appears headed to Most Improved player honors. Speedy Claxton is having a career season and is angling for the league’s Sixth Man award. Byron Scott is a leading candidate for Coach of the Year after turning a multi-year rebuilding process into one of the quickest turnarounds in recent league history.

This franchise has endured more than you remember this season. General Manager Allan Bristow resigned for health reasons in September. In January, center Chris “Birdman” Andersen was dismissed from the league for violating the NBA’s anti-drug policy. In February, the Hornets tried to replace Andersen with Steven Hunter, but rescinded the trade when Hunter failed the team’s physical. Plus, when the Hornets play the Lakers in New Orleans on March 8 it will become the fourth different “home” court the team will have played on this season.

Even though March 8 falls on Wednesday, it will be a different sort of Mardi Gras in New Orleans. It marks the first professional sports event in the Crescent City since the infamous hurricane turned the region and our lives upside down. Usually when we discuss “statement” games we’re referring to their impact on the team, the division, the conference and the league. On March 8 the statement is simple: New Orleans continues to recover.

The fact that the Hornets host the much talked-about Kobe Bryant, Phil Jackson and the Lakers makes it even more interesting. The fact that the game could have playoff implications intensifies its meaning for both teams.

But none of the facts outweigh the overwhelming hope that this game, in this city, at this time, gives all of us.

Katrina won on August 29.

New Orleans has the ball back, with spirit on its side.