Filming "Patriots" in New Orleans will end in mid-June and is set for release around Thanksgiving.
"Patriots" is based on a true story of how John Ehret High of Marrero won the Class 5-A state basketball over Woodlawn 62-57 in 2006. It is an inspirational sports film set in the aftermath of Katrina, where Al Collins, the Ehret coach, assembles a team of players who had previously attended five different schools and leads them on the path to the state championship.
The began shooting here in May. Forest Whitaker, an Oscar winning actor, plays Collins, and others in the film include Taraji P. Henson, Isaiah Washington, Robbie Jones, Eric Hill, Bow Wow, Lil; Wayne, Irma Hall, Jared Einsohn, J.B. Smoovem and Chyna McClain,
"It's got all the elements," said Mike Fisher, who is basketball coordinator for the film. :"Unfortunately for New Orleans, it's got disaster, and it's got a bunch of kids that overcome a lot of obstacles, and it's got the aspect of the underdog."
The isn't all being shot at Ehret because the studio wanted smaller gyms. We filmed all day long in the old Behrman High gym in Algiers on Tuesday. The gym was built in 1931. Today the school is MartinBehrmanCharterSchool for grades kindergarten to eighth. Painted on the front of the school for this movie is "JohnEhretHigh School."
During Tuesday's filming, an elderly Ehret booster was watching he game when a high school girl rushed up to her and grabbed her and yelled, "Momma, you've gotta go, the bulldozer is taking your house away."
Washington was playing Ehret's assistant coach.
I was viewing the action from behind a 350-pound ex coach and a blind booster, who was waving a Patriots banner. To my right were the Ehret cheerleders and behind me was the Patriots band.
Fisher is no stranger to sports movies. He was the basketball coordinator for "Glory Road," mostly filmed here, and the football coordinator for "Remember the Titans."
"I think the whole aspect of Katrina makes it unlike any other movie,: said Fisher, "The hardships the coach and these kids faced is unlike anything you've seen before. My major responsibility is to make the basketball authentic and make the audience feel like they're seeing the real deal.
"I think Forest has a great challenge. He's a great actor and he'll bring the coach to light, and I think that's what really going to drive the film."
In 2006, Ehret won the Espy award, given to the team for special recognition in "overcoming great obstacles to achieve sports excellence."
The real 2006 championship game was contested in Lafayette, but for this movie, it we be played at the Chalmette gym. Ehret still wins.
Scott signs extension
Off the typewriter...
The Hornets and coach Byron Scott have agreed to a two-year contract extension that could pay the NBA coach of the year $5 million a year and with incentives that would pay him $6 million a season. "I'm very happy to sign an extension for Byron to stay here in New Orleans," said owner George Shinn. "We are really growing something special and there is no place I'd rather be. I have get assistant coaches, wonderful players, an intelligent general manager and an owner willing what is necessary to build a terrific franchise, and I'm looking forward to next season. We are fortunate to have Coach Scott leading our team. I wanted the contract done as soon as we could do it. I told Coach Scott when he became head coach four years ago that I wanted him to retire as a Hornet and we're taking a step in that direction.." Scott has compiled a 151-177 record in four seasons as head coach.
Junior right-hander Jordan Brown (3-0) will start the opening game for LSU on Friday against Texas Southern in the opening game of the Baton Rouge Regional at Alex Box Stadium. Tigers coach Paul Mainieri is saving his best arms for later games. If LSU wins on Friday, it meets the winner out of No. 2 seed USM (40-20) and No. 3 UNO (42-19) at 6 p.m. on Saturday. If the Tigers are upset y Texas Southern, it will play the UNO-USM loser a\on Saturday. Brown did not pitch in the SEC Tournament last week, but the coach said he might pitch again in the Regional's title game on Sunday. Should the Tigers get by Texas Southern, winners of the SWAC, the Tigers will have top starters Ralph Verdugo (8-2) and Bill Martin (5-3) available for the potential semifinal and championship games on Saturday and Sunday...The Tigers will not wear their gold tops in the Baton Rouge Regional. "We don't want to feel like we have to wear gold to win," said Mainieri. "I think we can win in any color." If LSU wins the Baton Rouge Regional with three wins, it will have 23 straight wins and will break the SEC record for consecutive wins held by the 2000 South Carolina team with 22.
Texas Southern coach Candy Robinson and his players were happy when they learned they were going to the Baton Rouge Regional. "My kids were happy because they wanted to go somewhere other than Rice," said the coach. "We thought we were going to Rice because of the proximity of the regional. I feel confident about going to LSU because we've got to play in a Regional somewhere. From a mental standpoint, I think my kids are ready to play A lot of people are talking about my record (16-32), but it is what it is. I'm very optimistic."...UNO coach Tom Walker is saving his ace for a possible matchup with LSU at 6 p.m. on Saturday, provided both LSU and UNO win on Friday. Walter has named senior right-hander Juston Garcia (6-1) as his starter against USM. The UNO ace is senior right-hander Bryan Cryer (12-1).
The Yankees netted $65.3 million in concessions last season in Yankee Stadium. That should come as no surprise with prices like this:
$9.50 for Budweiser on tap.
$10.50 for Fosters beer of tap.
$5.75 for a box of Cracker Jacks.
$ for Italian sausage.
$5 for hot dog.
Since the Yankees have a player payroll of $208 million, they need to be one of the top-earning teams.
