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Posted by: Bradley McDonald

We interrupt your regularly scheduled hurricane coverage to bring you actual sports news!

I almost felt guilty even thinking about sports during the aftermath of Katrina, but the truth is that sports can serve as much needed relief. After donating time and money and seeing so much negativity on TV, I finally had to shut myself off and relax a few nights ago. What'd I do? I watched an Astros game. Call it silly if you want, but it was very therapeutic and after the game, I felt much better.

Speaking of the Astros, they now lead the NL Wild Card race after sweeping the Phillies! The Marlins are hanging right with them, though. They are only one game back.

Football goes into full force this weekend. The NFL opens it's season tonight with the Patriots vs. the Raiders and the rest of the teams spring into action on Sunday. I had two fantasy football drafts before Katrina hit and I'm anxious to see how easy it is going to be to win both leagues. :)

LSU will also open it's season this weekend but it won't be a home game, as scheduled. Due to Katrina, the game last week was called off and the Tigers will travel to Tempe to take on Arizona St. on Saturday. As much as I hate to not be in Tiger Stadium, I understand under the circumstances.

Check out this touching story in the upcoming Sports Illustrated about how coaches, players, and students at LSU helped out hurricane victims. It includes this interesting anecdote about the Tigers' starting QB:

It was a week none will forget, much as they would like to. The Tigers' starting quarterback, sophomore JaMarcus Russell, had a lot on his mind too -- the team's game this Saturday night against Arizona State and the 22 displaced people in his three-bedroom apartment. The guy sleeping on his couch? Fats Domino.

Domino, the R&B icon who'd been listed in the papers as missing for two days, is the granddad of Russell's girlfriend, Chantel Brimmer. After the levees gave way in New Orleans, Domino was trapped on the second floor of his house. He was rescued by boat and taken to the makeshift hospital at the Maravich Center. Russell happened to be volunteering there that night -- as so many LSU athletes were -- bumped into Domino and took him home.

Before I go, I'd like to welcome my buddy Lee Ann to the blogging world at 90&9. She's taking over for the departing Just a Little Bit Odd author, Wendy, who will be missed. Since I personally know Lee Ann, I'm offering a money back guarantee if you do not find her entertaining! There's also a new blogger over at A Month In My Life, too. Check 'em out!