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notoriousjtb's post regarding the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina well reflected the thoughts of many sports fans across the country as of late. Though it is difficult to bring a sporting event to the level of importance such as the travesty in our Gulf States, it bears mentioning further though an article I read moments ago on Yahoo! Sports.

An entire city and culture could be lost: from the famous Bourbon Street and the festive Mardi Gras to the infamous Ninth Ward and its breeding ground for southern rap. Even more important than what is lost is who. Thousands feared dead in Lousiana, Alabama, Mississippi and Florida. Millions more unable to return home. New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin fears that the entire city, which sits below sea level, will be sumberged under water. This great fear can somewhat be alieviated by his western neighbors. Trapped inside sweltering heat and heavy dampness while surrounded by water, people in the Superdome could very well die from the conditions inside after staving off Katrina's powerful winds and rains. There is no longer the concern of when the Saints can return... they likely won't.

With a state in ruin and under siege from Katrina, Louisiana has found helping hands across the continent, even a publish report of some assistance from Venezuela in South America. However, what stands out to me for the moment is the assistance being offered from neighboring Texas. The city of Houston will open the Astrodome for many displaced residents in the Gulf area, including some 23, 000 people who suffered in the Louisiana Superdome. For the next two days, buses will attempt to sift through the flood waters and damaged roads just to leave southern Louisiana before driving some 350 miles to Houston.

Now known as the Reliant Astrodome, the "Eighth Wonder of the World" has not been occupied for professional sports since October 9, 1999 by the Astros before they moved into Minute Maid Park in 2000. Another former tenant, the NFL Oilers left Houston for Memphis and Nasville after the 1996 season. Why is this significant? The Texan icon has hosted two MLB All-Star games, world-renowned rodeos and ushered in the dome phenomenon in sports. Though it had constantly competed with the Superdome for the Super Bowl for nearly thirty years, it will now shelter New Orleans' displaced and for good reason.

It's called humanity.

This morning, the New York Daily News' front page caught my eye, and as usual, not in a good way. The caption read in large print "NO HOPE!". Alas, this is a poor way to capture attention because proven by Houston, it's far from true. To continue on notorious' point, sports has its way of healing people through tough times. It reaches where even the most personable music in the world cannot by reaching to thousands at once every game. Beyond what we experienced immediately after 9/11, beyond what we have learned in the country after the World Wars or though our own personal trials, it's been there before. As a society, it isn't that we take the games too seriously, it's how. Throwing beer cups at players or trying to get on camera by falling over the upper deck is not how to do it. Neither is screaming and ranting about how athletes make too much money. You take sports seriously through congregation. It may be a stretch to say this, but due to sports, there are insanely large mutipurpose facilities that whether filled to the brim or filled with echoes of ten fans, can bring a mass public together for a purpose. Nearly 100% of the time, the purpose is to cheer on the home team. Today, it is for the greater good of giving nearly thirty thousand people hope.

Say What?!?!: I didn't want to dwell so much on this, but what the hell is up with the looting down there? Are we this starved of a society that we have to steal from abandoned homes and businesses? Are we this sick and cruel? Even in some of the worst moments in our nation's history (and on a local perspective, cities) in the last decade+, the criminal element was not as evident as it is today. Even your local bank robber won't think of raiding Bank of America after a tornado touched down on Main Street... at least he'll show humanity. To call this a disgrace and appaling act of evil is to be nice.

Move (Defensive)

Since football is not a one-sided sport, you have to give equal credence to the defensive side of the ball as you do the offense.

This offseason, one of the moves that I liked the most (and will be discussed in greater detail in a future post about resignings during this series) was Jacksonville's resigning of Donovan Darius. Say what you will about the hit he laid out on Green Bay's Robert Ferguson last season, but you will defintely hear that name more often this season. As the last line of defense, his key plays had kept a flighty Jaguar offense in more contests last season. As for the crux of this post, pick one.

Chad Brown may not be the Chad Brown of his Steeler days, nor replace Tedy Brusci or Ted Johnson, but do not be surprised if he fits seamlessly into the New England defensive scheme. Kansas City made a flurry of moves on defense by adding four free agents: shut-down CB Patrick Surtain (Miami), LB Kendrell Bell (Pittsburgh), S Sammy Knight (New Orleans) and DE Carlos Hall (Tennessee) , plus drafting Texas LB Derrick Johnson. Minnesota also decided to revamp their defense via trade and free agency: LB Napolean Harris comes in from Oakland via the Randy Moss trade, they signed DE Pat Williams (Buffalo) and CB Fred Smoot (Washington) and also traded for LB Sam Cowart (New York Jets) to give a Bills-like defense in the NFC North. Edgerton Hartwell could give Keith Brooking and Patrick Kerney help in stopping the run, especially with the run-heavy offenses in the NFC South. Yet, the best two moves on defense involve corners.

Gary Baxter (now with the new Browns) was one of the most underrated corners in the league, but did not get the recognition as other former and current Ravens over his career. Yet, it's hard to argue that Samari Rolle can't hold down that position. The addition of Rolle gives the Ravens two top-flight corners on both sides of the ball. Rolle, Chris McAlister, FS Will Demps, veteran safety Chad Williams and last year's Defensive Player of the Year, Ed Reed... that's kinda sick. Even with future Hall of Famer Deion Sanders and four-time Pro Bowler Dale Carter splitting time as a nickelback, Rolle no longer has to be the team's number one defensive player (though the Titans have some pretty good ones). I dare someone to throw deep with what is still a formidable run defense in front of them.

There was a similar move made in the Meadowlands a short time ago as Ty Law finally found a new home. His signing to Gang Green makes an emerging and tough young defense that much better. Led by rookie LB Jonathan Vilma and veteran DE Shaun Ellis, the Jets defense was tough to run on last season, but still suspect to the deep threat. Not only does Law bring those three Super Bowl rings, but he also brings 36 INTs, 122 pass defenses and some fuel to the fire when the Jets play the Patriots this season. I'll boldly say that the Pats may have trouble getting the AFC East title with a fast Jets defense, an athletic Dolphins unit and the complete package in Buffalo's defense. The Jets have added a piece to the puzzle to contend for the conference.

Truly, I am looking forward to this upcoming season just on these moves alone. I'm also looking forward to the country being reminded that T.O. isn't the only player in the league.

The next part of this series will be handed off to the "newest" member of the squad. It's a little more appropo to let him introduce himself.Holla @ me.

Say What?!?!: With the NHL back in business, I would personally like to see Jarome Igilna introduced to the ESPN world. I'm not as ardent of a NHL fan as I was in the early nineties, but if you want to see a player with Peyton Manning's vision, Mike Vick's quickness and LeBron James' strength, here's your man. He's black, charismatic and damn good at what he does (media's dream if they care to notice). Just take a look when you get the chance.

Move (Offense)

Well, well, well, if it isn't the UPT back on IDB. It's been waaaaaaaay too long since I last blessed the blogging world with my presence. Let's just say that when change comes your way, you have to embrace it... Slowly. The past two months since my last post has presented good and bad. From the continual slide of the Yankees to the Dancing of the Stars to the revival of the Batman franchise, the summer has thus far reminded me of something: that I should go out more often. Not to say that I don't like to see the Yankees struggle, in fact, it's quite lovely.

So for my first post in an internet millennium, I want to start discussing the upcoming NFL season. Now, I must be the first to admit, I was rooting hard for a Patriots blowout of the Iggles in that so-called Super Bowl back in February (which just like the promise of an exciting game, didn't happen), but no one was more excited than me at the end of the season. As an ardent pigskin fan, I was very disappointed at with the entire season, heck, it was the first time I ever (and did not regret) missing most of Opening Weekend. Much like the 1998 regular season, I was happy to write off the 2004 regular season as something that did not happen. It was like watching a Wes Craven movie; the only horror is that the movie itself is horrible. No worries since the NFL wouldn't dare punish us with a second straight bad year. There won't be a Kickoff Weekend starring the Ying Yang Twins, that's for damn sure.

While spending near two weeks in sunny California, I discovered a new phenomenon. It had engulfed the Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica, shook the mountains of the central valley and even took hold of San Francisco. Yet, this began in a little town called Oakland. It's called "#18, Randy Moss". I don't know about you, but how much more dangerous is the former Viking now? Well, I'll break that down along with what I think were the three most significant moves of this past offseason. Continuing with the Silver and Black, Oakland has in its war chest the most explosive offensive player in the league, a number two receiver (Jerry Porter) who can easily be a number one for half of the league, an emerging third receiver in Ronald Curry, a revamped running game (LaMont Jordan), a strong-armed veteran QB in Kerry Collins and an underrated offensive line. If the defense can stop teams (allowing 30 pass TDs and 21 rushing TD last season, second worst in the league), Oakland can actually challenge the San Diego Chargers for the AFC West crown. Considering also that none of the teams in that division have any shut-down secondaries, despite Champ Bailey's presence in Denver, Moss will think he's still in the weak NFC North. Yet is this the best move in the offseason? Maybe...

It depends on what you are looking for. If you want offense, Oakland made two superb moves by adding Moss and Jordan, who with starter minutes should be able to give the Raiders 1,200 yards on the ground. Yet, there were also two other moves that I thought were great. Though it may not put them in the playoffs this season, the additions of Marcus Pollard (via free agency) and Mike Williams (via draft) are going to make Detroit a potentially dangerous offensive team. Roy Williams is the real deal and Charles Rodgers can play some ball, but health is the concern more than skill. Kevin Jones may not be Barry Sanders, but the Lions found themselves their next great RB. Adding Pollard will give either Joey Harrington or Jeff Garcia a veteran option where it counts in the Black-and-Blue division, up the middle. Pollard and Jones also allow for less threats to the health of their young receiver corp, especially Rodgers, who has only played five games in two seasons.

As great of a signing Pollard is, you have to travel about 550 miles southeast to Baltimore for what I think is the best move this offseason. Of all the number one receivers in the NFL these past five years, Derrick Mason is the most underrated of them all. Though Kevin Dyson was Steve McNair's no. 1 option in the playoff years of the Tennessee Titans, Mason's possession receiver skills were enhanced with his deep play abilities. Over the past two seasons, Mason has 191 receptions, second to Torry Holt's 211. This is despite more targets for McNair in 2002-3 as complimentary receivers such as Drew Bennett, Justin McCareins (now with the NY Jets) and Tyrone Calico helped Tennessee transform their offense from run-heavy to balanced. Mason now joins Jamal Lewis (the 2003 Offensive Player of the Year), a healthy Todd Heap, rookie Mark Clayton out of Oklahoma, another underrated offensive line and an improving Kyle Boller. Add the seond best takeaway defense in the league lazy year... And some guy named Ray Lewis, and Baltimore will contend for another title run.

Travis Henry gives Tennessee a healthy top RB, Laverneus Coles will make his return to the Jets as good as his first go-round and the additions of Santana Moss and David Patten will give Washington's opponents fits. Yet, somewhere in Philadelphia, Terrell Ownes just might regret spurning the Ravens before joining the Media Champion Philly Eagles.

It feels great to be back on the grind, but there is much to do. Tomorrow, the best defensive moves. The next in this "preview" will be about the best, worst and up-and-coming units in the league: from the best running combo to the worst linebacker unit to the reasons you should actually look out for the 49ers' defensively.


Say What?!?!: I had prepared a SW for this post immediately after writing for that bizarre White Sox/Yankees game Tuesday night, but I wanted to say something about the passing of Peter Jennings. Most folks our age (twenty-somethings) may or may not be well-versed on the world, I am the first to admit my ignorance on the genocides in Rwanda and the Chinese economy. However, it is hard to overlook the impact of arguably the greatest anchorperson and possible media figure ever. Jennings' candor and passion for informing the audience was evident to me from a young age, even as one of the few kids around the block who grew up on network, not cable, television. I remember each tragic event in our country because he provided a means for the events, not the broadcasters, to speak for themselves. I also remember hearing about the truth about AIDS, the deities of Hinduism and the worldwide celebrations for Y2K from Jennings. As it had been said, in a world of insanity (especially the USA), he was the sane guy in the room, trying to put opposing points of view together in an objective form, even as a native Canadian without a high school degree. Unfortunately, even in sports media, there is no Peter Jennings to speak of.