Brian Downing being booked at Central Lockup in New Orleans

What Russell County Sheriff and Downing’s second cousin, Heath Taylor, described as a “minute of misconduct” following Alabama’s National Championship victory on January 9 will likely haunt Mr. Brian Downing for the rest of his life.

32-year-old Downing faces a felony charge of sexual battery for allegedly putting his genitals on an unconscious LSU fan’s face at the Krystal on Bourbon St. following the game. The incident was videotaped and went viral across the internet within days. If convicted, he will have to register as a sex offender nationally and notify authorities whenever he changes his home address.

To make matters worse, Downing was fired from his job at Hibbett Sports shortly after it became public that police had identified him in the video. He is also married and has a newborn daughter. Surely, Downing’s severe consequences illustrate how a brief episode of irresponsibility can damage someone’s life for a very long time.

If you or anyone you know has been arrested, call Bloom Legal at 504-599-9997 for immediate help and a free case evaluation.

Saints' safety Roman Harper tackles 49ers quarterback Alex Smith

The Saints ended the Lions’ season Saturday night with a scintillating 45 to 28 victory. Their next stop on the road to the Superbowl are the San Francisco 49ers, who hold the #2 seed in the NFC and arguably boast the league’s best defense. This will be an extremely close game, for sure. Here are three key things the Saints need to do to come out on top:

1. Keep the pressure off Brees. The 49ers have an excellent defensive line in Aldon and Justin Smith, so Saints’ center Brian De La Puente needs to step up and protect the pocket so Brees has time to throw.

2. Score in the red zone. The Saints are only 7 for 22 on touchdowns scored in the red zone on grass this year. They will have to make the most of their opportunities in this game because the Niners allow red zone TDs only 25% of the time.

3. Maintain the run game. Much of the reason why Brees has been so deadly this season is that the Saints’ offensive attack is multidimensional with the addition of Darren Sproles and the strong play from both Pierre Thomas and Chris Ivory. The Niners have the league’s best run defense. To win this game, the Saints must be a threat on the ground to create more opportunities to score.

The game kicks off at 4:30 PM Eastern time this Saturday, January 14th.

After the BCS Championship and the NFL Playoffs, New Orleans can look forward to the 2012 NCAA Final Four Tournament, the War of 1812 Bicentennial celebration, and the 2013 Super Bowl – not to mention Jazzfest or Mardi Gras.

“A friend called and wanted to book a table for 11 Saturday night,” said Ti Marten of Commander’s Palace. “I told him I couldn’t get my mother a four-top, let alone him an 11-top.”

New Orleans' Mayor Mitch Landrieu

“It’s really important that this event be successful, that it be safe and that it works very, very well. We expect almost 250,000 visitors to be with us between now and Monday … All of these events, in total, are going to approximate a 500-million dollar economic impact, which is in excess of what the economic impact is from a Super Bowl,” said Landrieu.

The mayor said 740 police officers will be deployed around the Superdome, in the French Quarter and downtown areas to keep everyone safe. State troopers will augment the force, particularly along major thoroughfares leading into the city.

Make sure to be smart and stay safe this weekend, whether participating in the festivities or not. Police officers and state troopers will be extra vigilant regarding suspicious or reckless behavior. If you or anyone you know requires legal assistance, do not hesitate to call Bloom Legal 24/7 at 504-599-9997.

Photo Courtesy of Zimbio.com

It finally looks like the 150-day NBA lockout will be coming to an end, after both owners and players tentatively agreed to a deal early Saturday morning that would split basketball-related income roughly 50/50 among both sides – and raises hopes for new Hornets ownership that is dedicated to keeping the franchise in New Orleans. The new revenue sharing model, which decreases the portion that players receive of so-called basketball-related income, or “BRI,” from 57 percent to between 49 to 51 percent, means that it is more attractive for a new owner to come forward and invest in the New Orleans franchise. If the deal is ratified, the season would start on Christmas day and would be reduced to 66 games as opposed to the regular 82.

Tulane sports law expert Gabe Feldman said the deal was not perfect for owners of smaller teams, citing that big-market teams would still be able to exploit loopholes to sign away top players, but was still an improvement because of increased revenue sharing and limits on bigger teams’ spending. “I think there’s no question [it helps the ownership search]. I think it makes it more attractive for all owners, but particularly an owner for the Hornets. I think, first of all, the fact that the lockout is now almost over and revenues will start coming in. And there is a system that does make it easier for a team like the Hornets to compete on and off the court,” said Feldman in an interview on Saturday.

However, even with light at the end of the tunnel, significant doubt remains over whether All-Star New Orleans’ point guard Chris Paul will remain with the Hornets. Ironically, under the new proposed CBA, which the NBA is heralding as a fairer approach to contract negotiation, a bigger market team like the New York Knicks could still leverage its larger cap room to attract a big-name player like Paul. Paul has said the new agreement hasn’t effected his decision of whether or not to remain in New Orleans. “I haven’t had an opportunity to do any of that,” he said. “Right now, I’m more worried about packing up so I can get back to the city.”

Bloom Legal LLC is a full service law firm in New Orleans, LA handling matters of Criminal Defense, Personal Injury, Traffic Tickets, and DWI.

Bloom Legal is available 24/7 at 504-599-9997 or online at http://www.bloomlegal.com.

Bloom Legal is located at 700 Camp St in the Warehouse District and at 3501 N Causeway Blvd in Metairie (by appointment only).

Photo Courtesy of nola.com

Chicagoans started trickling in on Thursday and Friday. Now in WHO DAT nation, the bear’s fans may see revenge from the taunting Katrina-related insults. In 2007, in Chicago, some Saint’s fans encountered an experience so abusive and threatening they have vowed to never return to Chicago (blog.nola.com).


The game begins at 12:00 PM CDT Sunday, 09/18
TV: FOX
Radio: WWL 870AM, 105.3FM & WWL.COM
DirecTV: 712
Sirius: 86

Enjoy 1 of the 5 pre-game brunches in New Orleans, bestofneworleans.com

WHO DAT!

What a game it will be, and change has come to the NFL this season, kickoffs have been moved from the 30-yard line to the 35-yard line. Reggie Bush is gone, but Pierre Thomas returns and Coach Sean Payton will be with The New Orleans Saints til 2015!

Jordin Sparks will sing the National Anthem, Kid Rock will perform the opening show, and be sure to pre-game with a speech from Pres. Obama about job creations. However the question most people are asking is how will The Saints use first-round rookie RB Mark Ingram?
Watch tonight at 730pm (central) on National Television and feel free to post any comments during the game.

The game will be taking place tonight at 7pm EST on NBC.