Yesterday, famed chef Paul Prudhomme was grazed by a falling bullet while cooking for players and sponsors at the Zurich Classic at the TPC Louisiana. Chef Paul was cooking on a practice tee when he was hit by a .22-caliber bullet.
According to the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office, the bullet could have come from anywhere within a 1.5 mile radius of the course. They estimated the chances of being hit at one in 500 million.
Despite the odds, the accident occurred and now it is national news. It is a horrible message that is being sent across the country. Certainly there have been very few, in any, incidents of spectators or participants being hit by falling bullets at any other PGA event in the history of the tour. What does this incident say about New Orleans? Obviously, it says the wrong things to people everywhere.
The story has made CNN and will undoubted by picked up by other national news outlets. It will probably frighten people from coming to New Orleans and possibly discourage people from attending the tournament. Hopefully, people will put aside their fears and support this tournament which is so important to the economy of New Orleans.
In the meantime, the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office and the New Orleans Police Department would be wise to increase patrols in the area to make sure that this incident is not replicated. It would have been a true tragedy if Chef Paul or one of the professional golfers had been seriously injured by a falling bullet. This nightmare of a public relations incident would have been magnified one hundred times.
Fortunately, Chef Paul was only grazed and showed true Louisiana courage and spirit by continuing to cook for the Zurich Classic. He displayed the type of attitude that many people have in Louisiana. Despite the incident, Chef Paul was determined to do his job.
This accident should be a wake-up call for local officials to do more to crackdown on the criminal element that is running wild in our metropolitan area. It is a problem that is not confined to New Orleans and the surrounding parishes, for Louisiana was just ranked as the second most dangerous state in the nation.
Until crime is brought under control, the New Orleans area and the entire State of Louisiana will continue to suffer from negative publicity whether it is a falling bullet hitting one of our most famous chefs or a gang member being killed in a drug deal.
Jeff Crouere is a native of New Orleans, LA and he is the host of a Louisiana based program, “Ringside Politics,” which airs at 7:30 p.m. Fri. and 10:00 p.m. Sun. on WLAE-TV 32, a PBS station, and 7 till 11 a.m. weekdays on WGSO 990 AM in New Orleans and the Northshore. For more information, visit his web site at www.ringsidepolitics.com. E-mail him at jeff@ringsidepolitics.com.
And, there you go Anthony. The reason why you will probably never amount to much. Resorting to violent threats because of a perceived insult. So, I think that I'll decline your offer to go down to the Seventh Ward and insult the anything to anyone's face. Instead, I believe that I'll use my little pseudonym, look at my computer, and aggrivate the bejesus out of you. Why? Well, sometimes it's just fun to poke a hornet's nest if you know you can't be stung! Written by Professor
on 3/28/2008
REPORT SPAM OR ABUSE
Oh that was soooooooooo inspirational Anthoney............. (Ant honey, ha-ha-ha-ha) Written by Read betwixt da lines (the lions, ho-ho-ho)
on 3/27/2008
REPORT SPAM OR ABUSE
As the Professor says, that bullet more than likely came from a nearby hunter who missed his (or her) target, than it did from someone firing at another person. There's a good chance that no one will be charged with any crime. Whoever fired the gun hopefully read the news report(s) or saw the report on TV, and realized how much worse this could have turned out. Thank goodness Chef Paul kept his cool, and went on with his cooking. Written by Wendy King
on 3/27/2008
REPORT SPAM OR ABUSE
Any of you round eyes out there - black or white - come on out to New Orleans East and tell any oriental you meet that new orleans sucks you imperialist Yankee running dog. The bigger you are, the more hot & sour soup we'll make out of your carcass. Written by BANZAI!!!
on 3/26/2008
REPORT SPAM OR ABUSE
Jeff from my understanding this tournament is near the huey p long bridge so how new orleans get the charge. Why not the countryass people in baton rouge or jefferson parish who allow hunting near a golf course.And to the guy who says new orleans sucks be man enough to come in person to the seventh ward and tell any black you meet that new orleans suck you coward. You hide behind your computer, and the other half use fictious names cause they scared to stand behind what they say using their real names. Written by anthony
on 3/26/2008
REPORT SPAM OR ABUSE
Thank you professor.......... Jeffery, is that all you can do is sensastionalize on news you saw on Channel 2 last night? (Or is it WGN?) Written by Get some journalistic prowess to ya self
on 3/26/2008
REPORT SPAM OR ABUSE
The news report I heard this morning on the radio said that the bullet was most likely from a hunter in the woods nearby. Simply a stray shot that happened to not hit any trees on its way out of the woods. Written by Professor
on 3/26/2008
REPORT SPAM OR ABUSE
Actually even with this city’s less-than-desirable aspects, it is a unique and wonderful place (particularly in the springtime). If you enjoy great food, music, dancing, fascinating history and architecture and the "let's have a party we don't need no reason" attitude with regard to our existence between our birth and death, there is just no other place like it. Laissez les bons temps rouler! (Which, according to the Baablefish French-to-English translation means: "Leave good times to roll!") Written by betta find anotha site to translate stuff
on 3/26/2008
REPORT SPAM OR ABUSE
While in no way trying to promote discharging firearms within the city limits, one should be aware that firing a gun at an angle greater than 45° to the horizontal will result in the projectile falling to earth at a speed considerably less than if it were fired at an angle less than 45° horizontal. Those who would discharge firearms in densely populated areas do not read, so be sure to pass this on. Written by what your mom-en-nem didn't tell ya
on 3/26/2008
REPORT SPAM OR ABUSE
The odds of him being hit are probably much higher than that of a person of average size. New Orleans sucks and always has, it will always be a disgusting city that no one wants to travel to, except for overrated food and an overrated celebration of, something. They should have just scrapped the city and moved on, its a cesspool of low class people who dont want to move up in life, but enjoy their place at the bottom. Written by Dumbass McGee
on 3/26/2008
REPORT SPAM OR ABUSE
Yesterday, famed chef Paul Prudhomme was grazed by a falling bullet while cooking for players and sponsors at the Zurich Classic at the TPC Louisiana. Chef Paul was cooking on a practice tee when he was hit by a .22-caliber bullet. 
