To Memphis Mayor Willie Herenton:
Bring the New Orleans Saints to Memphis and the Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium.
Would it work?
I have no clue, but it would be perfect for a city that is waiting for football almost more than it’s waiting for gas prices to fall.
After the debacle with the Tennessee Oilers, now the Tennessee Titans, in 1997 and ‘98, football fans in Memphis deserve to actually have a team that may actually want to play here, albeit just for a limited amount of time.
Call Saints owner Tom Benson and tell him to come up from San Antonio, where they will practice, to play their games in Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium.
Tell him Deuce McAllister has fans here. Mike McKenzie does, too. Probably more.
There are no scheduling conflicts and unlike Reliant Stadium in Houston, where the Saints are considering playing, there is no chance of two games in one day.
Mayor, look at the Liberty Bowl’s field. It’s practically begging to be played on. And it’s certainly in good enough shape to take the abuse.
On Sept. 18, Eli Manning would come to town with the New York Giants to play the Saints in the first home game for New Orleans.
Wade Smith, a former Memphis lineman with the Miami Dolphins, could be here too.
And, of course, it’s a great gesture to help out people in need. So why not bring some enjoyment to Memphis football fans while you’re at it?
If people from the Gulf Coast stay in Memphis for the long haul while New Orleans is pieced back together, give them something enjoyable to do and take their minds off the storm that stole their lives.
League officials have said they would like the Saints to play their home games as close to New Orleans as possible. The best candidate besides Memphis seems to be LSU’s Tiger Stadium, which was undergoing improvements until Katrina delayed the progress, but should be ready in time for the season.
