Hornets file application to move to New Orleans
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The Charlotte Hornets filed an application with the NBA on Thursday to move to New Orleans, and Louisiana Gov. Mike Foster said he was certain league owners will approve the move.

“The whole deal is complete. We’ve worked out all the details. We have no reason to believe that the last stage of this, which is approval of the league, won’t be in place,” Foster said on his weekly radio show.

The relocation must be approved by a majority of the 29 NBA owners, who have 10 days to appoint a committee to examine the proposed move. The committee would then have up to 120 days to issue a recommendation, and the league’s Board of Governors would have 30 days to vote.

“Our preference would be for the team to stay in Charlotte in a beautiful new arena, but the reality is that may not be possible,” NBA deputy commissioner Russ Granik said, adding that he hopes the vote will take place by late April.

Local political figures joined Hornets officials for a news conference at the 2 1/2-year-old New Orleans Arena, which would be the team’s new home if the deal goes through.

Charlotte voters have turned down referendums for a new publicly funded arena, and Hornets owners Ray Wooldridge and George Shinn believe their team can prosper in a smaller, less-affluent market than Charlotte.

It is the city’s third attempt to land an NBA team since 1979, when the Jazz moved to Utah. The NBA blocked an attempt to bring the Minnesota Timberwolves to New Orleans in 1994, and the city made a major effort last year to land the Vancouver Grizzlies, who moved to Memphis instead.

Aside from the NBA, the deal also needs approval in the state Legislature, and state Senate president John Hainkel predicted success.

Faulk beats Warner for The Associated Press NFL Offensive Player award
The contributions of Marshall Faulk and Kurt Warner to the St. Louis Rams’ overpowering offense are barely distinguishable. Appropriately, Faulk edged Warner by just one vote Thursday for The Associated Press NFL Offensive Player award.

Faulk won the honor for the third straight year with a typically spectacular season: rushing for 1,382 yards, gaining 765 yards receiving on 83 catches — best among NFL running backs — scoring 21 touchdowns and going over 2,000 yards from scrimmage (2,147) for the fourth consecutive season, an NFL record.

Those numbers and his versatility and leadership for the Rams earned Faulk 23 votes from a nationwide panel of 50 media members who regularly cover the NFL.

Last week, Warner beat Faulk for the Most Valuable Player award.

Both were voted to the All-Pro Team, with Faulk a unanimous choice.

Green Bay quarterback Brett Favre, whose team plays the Rams on Sunday in St. Louis, drew three votes. Kansas City running back Priest Holmes, the league leader in rushing and total yards from scrimmage, got two votes.

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