The Power of Sports on a City a Community

[MetryCajun]

_ It always amazes me to read the typical opinions "instate people" express towards New Orleans versus those I read from around the country and even the world. Truly sad stuff. _

I get the hatred. New Orleans is poorly run city, who squanders its opportunites for advancement. That said, there are very few places in the US like it. Drop a person off on Ambassador Caffery and he could guess any number of US cites he was in. They all look the same! Target, Lowes, Chili's & Wallgreens on every corner. New Orleans is truly a unique American city. In my book,that make it a special place and something to be proud of.

[cajunhawk]

_ I get the hatred. New Orleans is poorly run city, who squanders its opportunites for advancement. That said, there are very few places in the US like it. Drop a person off on Ambassador Caffery and he could guess any number of US cites he was in. They all look the same! Target, Lowes, Chili's & Wallgreens on every corner. New Orleans is truly a unique American city. In my book,that make it a special place and something to be proud of. _

I agree that New Orleans is a truly unique american city. And yes it has its problems. But when you look at New Orleans its a microcosm of the entire state of Louisiana. There is no place like it in the world, people love to come here, but being a resident and watching everything that goes on, Im just sick and tired of the political machines ruining this state the way they ruined New Orleans. Super Bowl or better roads. You choose. Saints staying in New Orleans or better education including more funds for higher education. You choose. Maybe my anger over how the state wastes money on frivilous things when our entire infrastructure is equal to Florida and Texas in the 60's made me lash out at New Orleans, I dont hate the nolia that much, I just wish they would get their act together just like the state. New Orleans was my whipping boy, if I offended anyone Im sorry, my opinion of the Saints and the oil industry remain. Sorry I just dont have any give on those subjects.

[DestinCajun]

I get the hatred. New Orleans is poorly run city, who squanders its opportunites for advancement. That said, there are very few places in the US like it. Drop a person off on Ambassador Caffery and he could guess any number of US cites he was in. They all look the same! Target, Lowes, Chili's & Wallgreens on every corner. New Orleans is truly a unique American city. In my book,that make it a special place and something to be proud of. _

I cannot argue that but it is certainly not alone or terribly unusual.

I'm not a native but both my sons were born there and my years there were great fun. I got to see and do a lot. I have many relatives and old friends in NO.

Many of the best Cajun fans outside Lafayette are from NO (refer to this forum for examples).

A couple of months ago I played the newly renovated Lakewood Golf Course. The pricey renovation was funded by the local fire firefighters union. As we pulled up to the 18th tee box a fire truck just happened to be coming by on Gen DeGaulle. The driver blew the truck's horn several times and all on board gave us big "thumbs up's" in thanks for coming out and playing their course. They touched me.

If you are curious about the renovation - A FANTASTIC JOB!!!

Mardi Gras, the Jazz Festivals, Suger Bowls, the list is endless.

And then for NO to get the 2013 Super Bowl, well it just shows you what those out of state folks see.

[Cajunsmike]

_ I agree that New Orleans is a truly unique american city. And yes it has its problems. But when you look at New Orleans its a microcosm of the entire state of Louisiana. There is no place like it in the world, people love to come here, but being a resident and watching everything that goes on, Im just sick and tired of the political machines ruining this state the way they ruined New Orleans. Super Bowl or better roads. You choose. Saints staying in New Orleans or better education including more funds for higher education. You choose. Maybe my anger over how the state wastes money on frivilous things when our entire infrastructure is equal to Florida and Texas in the 60's made me lash out at New Orleans, I dont hate the nolia that much, I just wish they would get their act together just like the state. New Orleans was my whipping boy, if I offended anyone Im sorry, my opinion of the Saints and the oil industry remain. Sorry I just dont have any give on those subjects. _

Your opinion of the oil industry remains but you have no facts to back up your view, simply emotion.

[4LSU]

....Mardi Gras, the Jazz Festivals, Suger Bowls, the list is endless.

And then for NO to get the 2013 Super Bowl, well it just shows you what those out of state folks see.

_

The National World War II Museum on Magazine Street is very nicely done. Anyone into that kinda stuff would enjoy spending 1/2 a day there.

I'm not wild bout some of its leadership, but the city/people is/are trying to recover from a belly blow and doing a pretty good job of it. imo

http://www.nationalww2museum.org/plan-a-visit/

[BeauCajun]

_ The National World War II Museum on Magazine Street is very nicely done. Anyone into that kinda stuff would enjoy spending 1/2 a day there.

I'm not wild bout some of its leadership, but the city/people is/are trying to recover from a belly blow and doing a pretty good job of it. imo

http://www.nationalww2museum.org/plan-a-visit/ _

I've visited the musuem a few times. Very impressive. And now my niece is helping to design the new theater addition across the street. I'll be back.

And I'll be back to visit NOLA as many times as I can squeeze in. The most unique city in America.

Perhaps our friends should learn some history of the "Crescent City" before they condemn her.

[RaginCajun77]

New Orleans is a city rich in culture and history. Granted the city has faults but I love spending time there soaking in the culture, history, and architecture.

[cajunhawk]

_ Your opinion of the oil industry remains but you have no facts to back up your view, simply emotion. _

Name another industry that price fixes on a routine basis only to generate "windfall" profits. I cant.

[MetryCajun]

_ Name another industry that price fixes on a routine basis only to generate "windfall" profits. I cant. _

Microsoft?

Seriously, Do you even follow this industry. From 84 to 03 oil prices were incredibly low. Household names like Texaco, Gulf, Amoco, Mobil disappeared. If they could fix prices why did they let so many companies fold and let 100's of thousands of people lose their jobs? Please don't say it was all a plan to get rid of competition so the remaining companies could reap the profits. I have worked for several large oil companies and I can tell you we were dying when oil was $10/barrel. If we could have raised prices we would have done it in a heartbeat.
One last point. Congress has convened hearings countless times on price fixing. Can you guess what was found? Nothing!

[Cajunsmike]

Name another industry that price fixes on a routine basis only to generate "windfall" profits. I cant.

Your comment about price fixing indicates you don't understand how the business works. Can you guess what % of earnings most major companies would make if they sold to the government all their refineries and interests in businesses which sell gasoline (downstream side)? I will make it easy for you, about 80%. Companies make their money from the upstream side, exploring for and producing oil and gas, not selling gasoline and their is a huge difference. That is why most wells are drilled by independents, not majors. They don't want the hassle of the public relations problems in educating the public that comes with the downstream aspect. Personally, I wish my company got out of the downstream part. I have my doubts that you would see a reduced price at the pump if this occurred simply because of the inefficiency of government. Yes, large profits occur at times due to the cyclical aspect. The other part of the cycle is when things go the other way. My company actually lost money in our Gulf of Mexico operations in the first quarter and we are one of the largest corporations in the world. Internationally we did OK so we probably won't have layoffs. Quite a few layoffs have occurred in the business this year, particularly in the service side. That is another thing people don't have an appreciation for, that is the difference between producing companies and service companies. When producing companies cut budgets, service companies have little choice but to cut staff. Do you realize how many oil jobs were lost domestically in the late 80's/early 90's,-it was more than what occurred in the auto and steel industries combined. Now despite all this, I agree that Louisiana should do more to diversify the economy and reforming the business tax structure may attract other industries.