One of football’s greats retires
Rice started out his career in San Francisco where he was the sixteenth overall pick in the 1985 draft. He has played with only three teams in his career, the 49ers, Raiders and the Seahawks, the bulk of his years with the Niners. He holds 38 NFL records that include career receptions (1,549) and career touchdowns (197). Rice will be 43 in October.
One of hockey’s greats throws in the towel
Mark Messier decided last week that his time was done in the NHL. On Monday, September 12, Messier announced that he would be leaving the New York Rangers. He is ending his career just before his 26 season in the NHL. “There was nothing left for me to really acheive. It was time for me to move aside and go into something else.”
He began his hockey career playing in the World Hockey Association (WHA). He was drafted in 1979 by the Edmonton Oilers as their 48th overall pick. Messier was just 18 years old. He started out their fourth string left wing and worked his way up the ladder to captain of the Oilers. After teammate Wayne Gretzky left the Oilers, Messier soon decided he wanted to move on. He went to New York where the Rangers had not won a Stanley Cup since 1940. Messier led the Rangers to a Stanley Cup victory in 1994. The Rangers will be retiring Messier’s number, 11, along with Rod Gilbert 7, Ed Giacomin 1 and Mike Richter 35. In his career, Messier has won six Stanley Cups and is the second all-time leading scorer, behind his former teammate, Wayne Gretzky.
The Saints are going to do some renovations
Due to the catastrophic devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, the Saints are going to have to play their home games somewhere else this upcoming season. The Superdome has been damaged so badly that it may have to be torn down. Reports say that 70 percent of the Superdome’s roof had been ruined and there are three gaping holes to reinforce. The Superdome did hold up well enough to save thousands of citizens of New Orleans. There have been no discussions about a possible new stadium. There is only talk of the upcoming season and the Super Bowl hopes that flood the players’ and coaches’ minds.
Out of their seven home games, four will be played at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, LSU’s home field and the three others will be played in San Antonio at the Alamodome.
Lynn Swann: Governor of Pennsylvania?
Hall of Fame wide receiver, Lynn Swann, has been tossing around the idea of running for governor of Pennsylvania. Swann, a resident of Pennsylvania, says that he wants to see a change: “I think we can be much better than we have been in recent years. I believe Pennsylvania needs leadership from outside the box.” Swann is not the first candidate who wanted to bring help from outside the box. Not too long ago, Jesse “The Body” Ventura and Arnold Schwarzenegger were elected governors of Minnesota and California, respectively.
