Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Written by The Independent Staff
C'EST BON
It pains us Saints fans to say it, but kudos to Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Brandon Stokley.
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PAS BON**
Bath salts? Now we're snorting bath salts? Louisiana isn't shy about getting its buzz on...
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COUILLON**
In shopping a potential television show about a savvy "street" attorney who goes to bat for the bad guys...
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Written by The Independent Staff
C'EST BON
It pains us Saints fans to say it, but kudos to Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Brandon Stokley. A former stand-out pass catcher at Comeaux High School and USL, Stokley had four receptions for 73 yards and a touchdown in Seattle's 41-36 upset victory Saturday in the wildcard round of the playoffs. Stokley lost his father, former Ragin' Cajuns head football coach and LSU quarterback Nelson Stokley, to Alzheimer's Disease last year, and the wideout's production has dropped precipitously since his stellar 2004 season (68 receptions, 1077 yards, 10 TDs catching passes from Indianapolis Colts QB Peyton Manning) due to nagging injuries. He's bounced around the league since then, with a stopover in Denver before being signed off the street by the Seahawks in late September. Stokley clearly has the Saints' number: He gashed the Black & Gold for 76 yards on six receptions in the teams' regular season game on Nov. 21. We hate you, Brandon Stokley!
PAS BON
Bath salts? Now we're snorting bath salts? Louisiana isn't shy about getting its buzz on, but this latest terror for parents and threat to the young and foolhardy - products sold in convenience stores and over the Internet under names such as "White Dove" and "Ivory Wave" - reaches a new low. Remember salvia? How about the faux marijuana "incense" banned last year by the Legislature? They have nothing on "bath salts." Gov. Bobby Jindal's office ordered the removal of these products from store shelves last week after learning that poison control hotlines had logged more than 167 distress calls from people suffering hallucinations and suicidal thoughts after ingesting the products. What's more, 57 percent of the poisoning calls nationwide originated in Louisiana; the second-highest number, 23, occurred in Kentucky.
COUILLON
In shopping a potential television show about a savvy "street" attorney who goes to bat for the bad guys, Baton Rouge defense lawyer Peter Q. John, aka P'Ta Mon (not to be confused with pita bread, the Mediterranean staple), delivered a black eye to Lafayette's legal community. In a three and half minute "trailer" on YouTube titled "Thug Law," during which John enumerates the means by which he can get accused drug dealers off the hook, Lafayette Assistant District Attorney Patrick Magee and 15th Judicial District Judge Jules Edwards appear in the video in a less-than-flattering light. Magee's cameo is highlighted by the quote, "My job obviously is to put your ass in jail; P'Ta's job is to keep you out." Edwards' gem: "I absolutely believe in second chances. Uh ... I absolutely believe in third chances and fourth chances." Both Magee and Edwards told The Advocate they were duped by John and the production company, which led them to believe they were filming a serious documentary about alternative programs in the judicial system. Context is everything. P'Ta Mon is the couillon here, but this sure doesn't look good for Lafayette.