Hunter: NOLA Can't Handle All-Star Weekend

The All-Star Weekend controversy has started to die down...so now it's time for the consequences. According to Newsday's Ken Berger, Players Association chief Billy Hunter is no longer in favor of New Orleans hosting in '08:

"I'm wondering, how will New Orleans accommodate all these people if they elect to come to New Orleans?" Hunter said. "They'll shut the city down."

"First of all, their police force is dissipated. They're probably dealing with half the force they had before. They don't have all the resources that we will need to properly police the city. They've got a serious crime problem as it is. And so what are they going to do?"

Not sure if he's making a point about logistics, or one about potential death and destruction. I imagine that, when he takes it to Stern "in the immediate" future, he'll convey some of each. If nothing else, it allows him to appeal to The David's corporate streak without pissing off Jermaine O'Neal.

Speaking of talkative O'Neals, Shaq also had some ambivalent words on the subject.

"I'm not sure if the city of New Orleans is ready for something like that," said O'Neal, who played at LSU. "I would rather see it come to Miami or even New York. I don't know what New Orleans' situation is, but from watching the Spike Lee special and watching the news, it doesn't look like it's ready for something like that."

Well put, Big Spin Machine. The city isn't ready for "something like that," which you can take to mean whatever you want.