The New Orleans Pelicans traveled to Florida for a game against the Miami Heat on New Year’s Day, but the entire franchise was reeling from a local tragedy that had occurred the night prior. An Army veteran driving a pickup truck bearing the flag of the Islamic State group killed 15 people and injured at least 30 others early Wednesday when he slammed the vehicle into revelers in the city’s Bourbon Street.
Pelicans head coach Willie Green condemned the attack by calling it a senseless act of violence.
“I’m devastated. A senseless act of violence. We’ve discussed it a bit with our players. But we’re just living in times and in a world where you just don’t know where you’re safe. Schools, churches, people should be able to go out and have a good time and walk the streets. It’s devastating. And I can only imagine what those families are going through, what they have to deal with now for the rest of their lives.”
Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra shared his thoughts as well.
“It’s terrifying. It’s horrific. Until we all find out more details, you pray for all the families and everybody that’s experiencing loss. The unknown, also, is terrifying.”
Former player and current Pelicans commentator Antonio Daniels shared an emotional reaction to the event.
“If you think about what Bourbon Street represents, it’s a place of joy. It’s a place of laughter. It’s a place of marriages, of bachelorette parties, bachelor parties, a place where people come together. And as Coach Green said, a senseless act of violence comes to try and tear this city apart? My heart hurts. My heart hurts for this city. It’s unfortunate. It’s unfortunate that this is the dark world that we live in today.”
A moment of silence in remembrance of the victims of this attack was held at the Kaseya Center in Miami before tip-off between the Pelicans and the Heat. Spoelstra had also mentioned that the Heat roster got the news of the attack while lifting weights and that the entire roster was stunned into silence by the horrific act.
The New Year spirit in the vibrant city of New Orleans has been heavily dampened by this act, as multiple sporting events and other public gatherings were canceled in the wake of the attack. The Pelicans are scheduled to host the Washington Wizards for a game on Friday.
The ‘Sugar Bowl,’ a college football quarter-final between Notre Dame and Georgia was scheduled to be held in the City on New Year’s Day but had to be postponed to tomorrow in wake of the terror attack.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to everyone affected by this horrific tragedy.
Thank you for being a valued reader of Fadeaway World. If you liked this article, please consider following us on Google News. We appreciate your support.
