CONTACT SPORTS: Teams tee it up

Published 12:00 am Friday, August 30, 2002

By GEORGE MAHL

It’s the final weekend in August. If you are a sports fan, there is plenty of action to witness, whether on television or in person.

Thursday kicks off the high school football season with the annual River Parishes Jamboree in Hahnville. It is important to come out and support the players because this is the only time of year where all the top teams the in area come together for some excellent football.

Games involving teams from Destrehan, East St. John, Lutcher, and Riverside will play Friday. While West St. John, St. Charles, and St. James tee it up the night before in Hahnville.

If you’re tired of paying outrageous prices for an exhibition NFL football game, then come out to watch young men give it their all for an affordable price. However, the die-hard Saints fan may be turned on by the return of Peyton Manning to New Orleans. Manning leads the Indianapolis Colts and new head coach Tony Dungy into the Superdome Friday night in what will be the final pre-season tune-up. Let us hope a victory will give the Saints momentum heading into the season opener Sept. 8 at Tampa Bay.

I didn’t forget about all you LSU and Tulane fans out there. Coming off a successful 2001 campaign, the LSU Tigers figure to be in the thick of things in the Southeastern Conference this season. Right off the bat, LSU has a tough opponent in Virginia Tech. The Hokies looked good in dismantling Arkansas State.

In an amazing feat, the Hokies scored 56 points before halftime. For a minute, I thought I was watching a team directed by former University of Florida coach Steve Spurrier.

Tulane fans can look forward to a big crowd Saturday for the team’s home opener against Southern. This may be head coach Chris Scelfo’s most important year for the Green Wave. It’s win or else.

Oh, by the way, there may be a baseball strike on Friday. If there is a strike commissioner Bud Selig may have to worry about contracting several teams, in addition to the Montreal Expos.

It is such a shame when a team like the Minnesota Twins, who were virtually extinct after last season, is having a successful season only to see it get cut short. Greedy owners and greedy players are leading fans to flock to minor league ballparks at record levels. I hope for everyone’s sake the strike will be called off and the games will be played on the day America needs it most: Sept. 11.

GEORGE MAHL is a staff reporter who primarily covers sports in the River Parishes. To contact him call 985-652-9545 or send an e-mail to lobnews@bellsouth.net.