It's absolutely great for the city. It will be one of the craziest weekends that this city has ever had. And the international exposure you get is incredible. It puts the international spotlight on this city. |
It's been absolutely incredible. We've set standards for the entire NBA and Oklahoma City has proven it is a major league city. |
It's not even real. It's unreal what they're going through. I want to try to give them hope and to let them know our goal is to come back. |
It's not just about if the arena is in playing condition. Will there be any fans? I don't know how many fans will come back, or how quickly they'll come back. I'm convinced New Orleans will rebuild. I can see maybe even being stronger. But how long it's going to take, I'm not going to touch that. This option was just a cushion, just to make sure if it got to this point. |
It's not just the arena (being) in playing condition, but will there be any fans there. I don't know how many will come back, how quickly they'll come back. I'm convinced New Orleans will rebuild. With the dollars that the federal government is putting in, I can see it rebuilding and even being stronger. But how long is it going to take? This option (for a possible second year in Oklahoma City) was just a cushion just to make sure if it got to that point. |
Like so many businesses and families uprooted by Hurricane Katrina, the Hornets were forced to leave New Orleans while the city recovers from this tragedy, |
My exact words were, 'Oklahoma where?' ... I said, 'You've got to be kidding me, David. Do they have an arena?' I knew nothing about Oklahoma City. |
My personal thanks go to Governor Blanco, officials in Louisiana and the NBA for their assistance in agreeing to a good solution for the upcoming season. |
New Orleans is our home, and we are committed to rebuilding that great city and playing there again. But at the same time, we feel that it's important to acknowledge the way Oklahoma has embraced this team. Wearing an Oklahoma City jersey is the biggest way we can say thank you for a very special season. |
On behalf of his teammates, coaches and the entire organization, we wish him well and hope he learns from this experience. |
Our goal is very clear, to go back to New Orleans. Does that make good business sense? We have got to use obviously good judgment. |
Our impressive start is not based on the power of our offense, rather the strength of the defense. [Hanna] is probably one of the better defenders in the Greater Boston League. It's only his second year playing, but he's a great athlete. He's very strong and very fast. |
Our objective is not to abandon ship here or to get out of dodge, ... Our plan is to hope and pray New Orleans rebuilds. And I think it will with everyone's support and the federal money that's coming in there. I think it will be stronger. |
Right now, I think everybody's got to accept the fact that New Orleans is not ready for this coming season. They're not ready, so we should play in Oklahoma City next year, and then start working and putting everything together to come back. |
Rod said that (Scott) had a problem with one of the players for something Byron said to the media. |