Cox Sports Television, the exclusive regional sports network of the Hornets, and Dish Network have agreed on a multilayer deal that will make CST's Hornets game telecasts available to fans throughout the New Orleans area.
The arrangement not only gives local fans an opportunity to watch the playoff-contending team in action, but it also markets another significant milestone in the recent revival of the franchise.
The Hornets have sold out five of their past eight home games since the All-Star break. Hornets attendance has increased by 24 per cent. The team currently has six total sellouts this season -- and filling the Arena at 92 per cent capacity for its last 10 games -- and will likely far surpass the 8 sellout from the previous two full seasons in New Orleans.
The games will be available here on NBA TV and on Dish Network's channel 421 -- the channel CST will occupy The NBA expressed its thanks to Cox and Dish for their flexibility and cooperation in reaching this agreement.
The CST and Charter were unable to reach an agreement to televise the games on the Northshore and it the Houma area.
Hornets owner George Shinn has told state officials that he is interested in negotiating for a long-term deal that would ensure the franchise remains in New Orleans for the next 10 years without any exit clauses or attendance benchmarks. He said he thinks something will be worked out.
The team will being contract negotiations with Chris Paul this summer, and he likely will be extended an offer that would total more than $70 million over five years.
The Hornets lost to Houston last Saturday night 106-96 as the Rockets continued to march to the top of the Western Conference. Houston, 13-15 in mid-December, is within a game of San Antonio in the Southwest Division. The Hornets host San Antonio on Wednesday night. The Rockets stretched their winning streak to 18 behind Tracy McGrady's 42 points. Paul had 37 points and 11 assists. The Hornets had won five of their six games.
SAINTS DEFENSE TAKING SHAPE
The Saints' defense could have a new and improved look this season if the linebackers they are getting cheap can overcome injuries and regain productivity.
In the opening week of free agency, the Saints traded a conditional 2009 draft choice to the Jets for middle linebacker Jonathan Vilma and signed free agent linebacker Dan Morgan, former Panther, as well as signing defensive end Bobby NcCray, former Jaguar.
The big move for the Saints was acquiring Vilma, who could help the Saints take a significant step forward if he's sufficiently recovered from last fall's knee surgery. Vilma is back in a 4-3 defense which should provide a comfort zone for the former defensive rookie of the year. He's a 25-year-old who brings both an aggressive playing style and great leadership to the field. Vilma was available for a cheap price because he didn't fit the Jets' 3-4 defense and he is coming off surgery. While his prognosis on the recovery is good, the Saints decided to add another linebacker in Morgan, a first-round draft choice choice out of the University of Miami. Vilma also played at Miami.
Morgan is intelligent, instinctive, a super productive player. His shortcomings the past few seasons have not been about talent, but about injuries. Morgan was a Pro Bowl middle linebacker in 2004 but then injuries began taking away his skills. He suffered a serious of concussions in 2006 that limited him to just one game, and last season, he played in only several games before suffering a torn Achilles tendon.
Signing McCray wasn't the biggest headline, but the ex Florida Gator isn't too far removed form a 10-sack season. More important, his presence allows the Saints to line up Charles Grant inside at tackle, which allows the Saints in essence, to play three defensive ends and become a much more athletic front four. That's a similar approach to what worked so well for the pass rush of the Super Bowl champs Giants last season. The Saints also upgraded their depth at their No. 1 need position, cornerback, signing Randall Gay, ex LSU and Patriot, to compete for a starting job.
The Saints took a calculated risk when they signed Drew Brees two years ago, and are taking risks with Vilma and Morgan, but they are well worth the look-see because if they come in and stay healthy (an that's a big if) they would be a huge upgrade at linebacker.
With Morgan, Vilma, Scott Fujita, Scott Shanlee, Mark Simoneau Sean Evans and Marvin Mitchell on the current roster, don't look for the Saints to draft a linebacker in the first two rounds of the draft.
Mike Detillier, NFL analyst from Raceland, offers his thoughts on drafting linebackers: "The real value for a linebacker is much better in the middle to late rounds. Who knows, with the way the Saints have looked at linebackers lately, keep a close eye on where Tavares Gooden falls on the second day of the draft. Gooden, who has started at both middle and weakside linebacker for Miami, may just be the ideal pick in the third round, or Vanderbilt inside linebacker Jonathan Goff in the fourth round.. With the top three picks in the draft, the Saints look as though they have set themselves up to pick a defensive tackle, halfback and cornerback, in no particular order."
The Saints didn't want to lose center Jeff Faine, but the Bucs were willing to over-pay to get him away from their divisional rival. That's a loss, but the Saints have an abundance of talent on offense and losing Faine shouldn’ be a back-breaker. The Saints retained receivers Devery Henderson and David Patten as well as running back Aaron Stecker. Henderson has inconsistent hands, but gettingh him back for 2008 at a reasonable $2 million was a smart move.
Patten signed a new two=year contract rather than test the free agent market and said the reason he wanted to stay was, "Anytime you've got a top-flight quarterback like Drew Brees, you don't get in a hurry to leave."
Chris Paul
Sekou Smith, ajc.com, on why Paul is a viable candidate for NBA MVP honors: "He's the most diminutive of the league's '20-10' guys and is doing his in a totally different fashion. Steve Nash won back-to-back MVPs doing what Paul is doing now, serving as the best player on one of the best teams in the league during the regular season.
Paul, however, is doing it with a supporting cast that doesn't come close to comparing with the crew Nash had during his MVP seasons. Already among the league's elite at any position in just his third season, Paul's posting career numbers in every statistical category, including field goal shooting (.485) and three-point shooting (.365). If the numbers don't do it for you, just tune in and watch Paul control the game on both ends of the floor for a Hornets team that wouldn't be anywhere near as good without him. Few players his size have ever been dominant so early in their careers.
LSU FRESHMAN MAY BE NBA BOUND
LSU freshman Anthony Randolph may be bound for the NBA after the upcoming SEC Tournament.
A 2008 mock draft by ESPN insider Chad Ford has the 6-foot-10 candidate for SEC Freshman of the Year as the No. 10 pick of the first round of the NBA draft. The NBADraft.net web site has him going as the No. 18 selection.
"If he enter the draft, I think he could be picked between the fourth and seventeenth picks," said former LSU and NBA player Collis Temple II, who correctly predicted that redshirt freshman forward Tyrus Thomas would go that high in the 2006 draft. Thomas, now with the Bulls, was he No. 4 selection that year. "If he could go that high, he's got to go," said Temple. "But if he was my son, I would tell he needs another year."
Tigers coach Butch Pierre, who may not be at LSU next season, is advising Randolph to stay for another year.
Reeve Marine's TigerIsland is attracting LSU fans to the BoosierCity specialty store by having former LSU football players there to sign autographs. Matt Flynn was there last Saturday and Jacob Hester will be there on March 22.
There is a $25 charge for autographs. "We have to go through these sports agents," said TigerIsland owner Rodney Reeves. "That's why that it's a a $25 charge.We're telling fans to bring their goods to have them signed. They don't have to buy anything. We have 8X10 pictures that we're giving away."
Billy Cannon made an appearance at the store in August and he will probably appear again this August. "It's done tremendous because there is no major LSU store between here and Batpn Rouge," said Reeves. "We went to Baton Rouge last weekend and the only thing bigger is the bookstore on campus. But anything else, we've got the biggest LSU store in the country."
Cox Sports Television, the exclusive regional sports network of the Hornets, and Dish Network have agreed on a multilayer deal that will make CST's Hornets game telecasts available to fans throughout the 
