http://www.nj.com/printer/printer.ssf?/base/columns-0/1126160744123470.xml&coll=1

NFL needs to come to the rescue
Thursday, September 08, 2005

Imagine the solace New Orleans Saints season ticket holders received this week, as they waited for news about their wrecked homes and contemplated their shattered lives, when they heard they would have first crack at buying tickets for the relocated Saints-Giants game at the Meadowlands.

All they have to do today is log on to Ticketmaster.com with their waterlogged computers, or dial the 1-800 number on their nonfunctioning phones, to shell out money to buy tickets they thought they had already purchased for a game scheduled for their home city before it was destroyed by a hurricane.

This is a suggestion for the NFL: If Saints season ticket holders want to come to New Jersey on Sept. 19 to see a football game, please, find a way to give them as many tickets as they need.

In fact, do more than that. League officials are still trying to decide how to divide the revenues from this game. Usually, the home team takes 60 percent, after an initial 15 percent covers costs. The correct formula is not exactly complicated, under the circumstances. Give everything to the relief efforts.

This is an incredibly stressful time for our country. The images we still see on television are almost too painful to watch; the news stories too disturbing to read.

Sports are irrelevant right now. We know that. And still, sports figures and teams have a huge role in the recovery process. In the past, athletes and their teams helped distract us from wars and disasters with the games they play. Now, we count on them to rally people and set an example.

Will anyone see Stephon Marbury in the same light again? It was enough that the Knicks guard said he would donate between $500,000 and $1 million to the relief efforts -- a remarkably generous gesture, even for an NBA millionaire, that should inspire others to give.

But the powerful image of this member of the tough-guy world of professional athletes standing behind a podium and weeping uncontrollably, that's what we'll remember.

"You see little babies floating in the river ..." Marbury said between sobs. "I mean, it's like, my kids. You don't think about nothing else. You just hold them so tight and look at them. And they don't even know why you're looking at them like that."

Marbury gave with his wallet and emotions, others have chipped in with their time and sweat.

NFL quarterbacks Peyton and Eli Manning flew to Louisiana with supplies, while Steve McNair and Brett Favre loaded dozens of trailers and sent them to Mississippi.

Joe Horn, the Saints receiver once maligned for his cell-phone-call celebration after a touchdown, should collect Man of the Year awards for helping and commiserating with his displaced neighbors in New Orleans.

George Steinbrenner, as he almost always does in situations like this, is giving $1 million -- which is as much as the NFL, a league worth billions, has donated so far. (The Giants, like many other teams, have said they are planning to make a significant donation soon.)

These are not token displays, gestures aimed at some good public relations, like some athletes and teams have done.

Then again, any gesture of support is good and more than the Saints owner has done for his own city. State officials are concerned Tom Benson will relocate the team permanently, speculation the owner has done little to eliminate. Benson said in a statement he wanted the Saints games to be played in Baton Rouge "to the extent that circumstances allow" -- hardly the reassuring words fans were hoping to hear.

He may own the Saints, but they do not belong to him. They belong to that devastated city and its citizens, which needs to know its football team will be part of the rebuilding process -- just like the Saints fans need to be a part of this season.

That includes the "home opener" at the Meadowlands a week from Monday night. Giants executive vice president John Mara said it was up to the Saints, and not the Giants, to decide how to distribute tickets for this game. "They're going to need this gate to be able to operate," Mara said.

Then the NFL should step in and make sure the team can allow its displaced season-ticket holders to attend this game, and do it for free. Charter buses. Provide airfare. Do anything possible to get them here. This is still their game.

It's amazing how much a gesture -- when done properly -- can mean during a crisis.



Steve Politi appears regularly in The Star-Ledger.

I am extremely impressed wit marbury, Joe horn has been great, he went to the dome and was with the people, the manning brothers, and not to take away from their generosity looked corny taking a few boxes off of a plane while they posed for cameramen taking pictures, but hey I don't want to spit on their generosity...

I am ashamed of some people, both vlad Guerro and Ortiz(from boston) gave 50k each and said they wanted to give back to a country that helped them and their families enjoy the life they have now... HA!!!!
50k each from two guys making mega bucks, vlad guerro makes 14 mil a year, I am sorry but that is cheap as hell, call me out on this if you want but you got guys like chris duhon who make about 400k a year on a rookie second round pick contract and he gave 30k!!! what is up with that? Some people still just don't get it!!

Posted by Marv:

Actually I think it would be better if they didn't mention money amounts at all. it would be great if everyone gave what they wanted and felt they could. i wouldn't want anyone who could give to feel reluctant to do so becuase it's not up to someone else's amount.

Of course the second component of this is exactly what is going to be done with this money? Just this morning, 4 years later, there are new headlines about monies having been misappropriated from 9/11 donations.

I understand what you are saying but I think I have to disagree especially when it comes to these corporations. If you read some the mission statements that these corporations have they go into excess about how much they look to give back to the community and people first type of stuff. The NFL donation is horrible. The Commissioner seem more concerned about getting Saint games in on time rather than the fact that most of their fans are either displaced or dead. As far as I am concern NFL officals should be down there helping out. I guess he thought that giving them the 2010 Superbowl is a real big deal. Where were they going to have it, Dolan shot down the Jet Stadium idea. Watching those NFL UNICEF commercials now, I just have to laugh.

While I apprciate Marbs public gesture, I do think its better if kept private.

I would not berate Vlad and Big Poppy as they might very much give back to their native homes.

Mean while, has everyone contributed? Even $10 helps!

I see children giving allowances, collecting stuff, local benefits, ets.

Not just rappers or NFL unions! Just give, and KEEP GIVING!

I said yesterday I am doing my per month. They have a ton of money coming in now, but it won't last!

And remember, other charities need help too! Can't give up one for another!

ANd when Disaster strikes Venezuala and where ever big poppy is from, Im sure they will be right there in a big way!

We need to just thank them for what ever they do!

One more thing, Vlad and Big Poppy pay some huge U.S taxes! Much of that money goes to things they will never participate in, nor their families! Tax money will go towards rebuilding also. I think every state they play in gets a piece of these guys!

As always, here's one cool dude:

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2005/basketball/nba/09/10/shaq.katrina.ap/index.html

'This is the right thing to do'
Shaq urges others to help out victims of Katrina
Posted: Saturday September 10, 2005 5:47PM; Updated: Saturday September 10, 2005 5:47PM

Shaquille O'Neal
Shaquille O'Neal (right) and his family hired tractor-trailers to take donations from Miami to Baton Rouge, La.
AP


MIAMI (AP) -- Sweat dripping from his head as he worked in the midday South Florida sun, Shaquille O'Neal loaded the last item into a cavernous 18-wheel trailer and pointed to the generous stranger.

"Give the man a hug," he urged his children, who quickly obliged. "Tell him thank you."

For the last week, O'Neal and his wife have coordinated efforts to help those in Louisiana and Mississippi whose lives were ripped apart by Hurricane Katrina. And Saturday, O'Neal was on the front line, personally accepting medical items, toiletries, clothes and other items from those inclined to help.

The tractor-trailers hired by the O'Neal family are expected to begin rolling Tuesday toward Baton Rouge, La. -- where O'Neal, the Miami Heat center, attended LSU.

"I commend everybody who's helping out in some way," O'Neal said. "Whether it's monetarily or going to the stores and buying cases of water, bundles of ice ... there's a lot of people chipping in, and my hat goes off to every American and non-American that's helping."

O'Neal spent two days in Louisiana shortly after the storm struck, returning home deeply moved by what he saw. And donating money, he said, simply wouldn't be enough.

So for several days, he and his wife Shaunie have teamed with the El Dorado furniture stores in South Florida and urged people to give whatever was possible. The response, Shaunie O'Neal said, has been overwhelming.

A warehouse commandeered to store the donations is nearly filled to capacity. There's 10,000 gallons of water, piles of diapers, peroxide, personal items and clothing, plus even some donations of refrigerators and beds -- which will be used to help furnish 400 apartments the O'Neal's plan to rent for refugees in Dallas and other areas.

"The refrigerators and beds weren't expected," Shaunie O'Neal said. "But they definitely can be used. They'll definitely come in handy."

The O'Neal's are unclear what will exactly happen once the trucks leave South Florida. They're finding that the process of distributing items throughout the ravaged region is perhaps the most difficult part of the plan.

Shaunie O'Neal said she's been told that the trucks, when they arrive in Louisiana, will be emptied for inspection and the items will be sent to various locations -- depending on what is needed where, and logistics in place for the distribution. She fears it could be a lengthy process.

"It's just frustrating," Shaunie O'Neal said. "All you're trying to do is help and get help to people in need and you see these people on TV just begging for help and whoever, I'm not going to point any fingers, but ... it's very, very, very difficult."

While the 12-time All-Star was manning the dropoff location, Edesio Biffoni, a Swiss man who works in finance and now lives in the Miami suburb of Coconut Grove, came with his sports-utility vehicle loaded with car seats, baby strollers, clothing, toys and other items.

Other citizens -- all unknowing they were about to meet O'Neal -- brought cases of soap and deodorant, plus toothbrushes, toothpaste, baby wipes and numerous other items.

"Everybody should be helping out. ... There's people who need these things more now," Biffoni said, moments after O'Neal gave the man a firm handshake and whispered appreciative words.

O'Neal said the damage he saw during his visit to Louisiana was unimaginable. So he returned home "to devise a plan," he said, and urged his friends and corporations he works with to provide immediate help.

"I'm just doing what I've been taught by my parents to do," O'Neal said. "This is the right thing to do, and I'm trying to urge other people to do it."

Copyright 2005 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.