Hornets Believe: Hornets Refurbish Evans Playground Court
By: Jim Eichenhofer, Hornets.com
The pressure may not have been comparable to Game 7 of an NBA playoff series, or firing a last-second jump shot in a close game, but Hornets forward Ryan Bowen was still a bit anxious Wednesday afternoon. With a large group of spectators watching, Bowen was handed a ball and asked to score the ceremonial first basket on Evans Playground’s Hornets-themed court. The La Salle Street court was recently refurbished by the Hornets, part of the organization’s efforts to rebuild the city of New Orleans.
“I was a little nervous,” said a laughing Bowen, who was relieved after dribbling in for a right-handed layup that officially marked the re-opening of Evans Playground’s outdoor hoops court. “I didn’t realize I was going to be put on the spot like that. I wanted to get a couple practice shots in beforehand. But (the layup) went in, so that’s all that matters.”
Bowen was joined Wednesday by Hornets owner George Shinn, son and Hornets executive of the board Chad Shinn, Hornets president Hugh Weber, team mascot Hugo the Hornet and members of the Honeybees in re-opening the uptown New Orleans facility. The court is a replica of the team’s floor in the New Orleans Arena, complete with a Fleur de Bee logo at center court and the new NOLA trumpet emblem at each end.
“This is the first of five playgrounds that we will be working on and opening this year,” George Shinn said. “We’re very grateful to this community, and committed to doing everything we can to help lift up this city and get it back on its feet.”
Bowen, who hosts a basketball camp in his home state of Iowa each summer, participated in a ribbon-cutting ceremony along with Hornets personnel and New Orleans political and school leaders. The 6-foot-9, eight-year veteran later instructed children in layup drills and shooting form. After Bowen demonstrated the proper form for executing a layup, some of the kids wanted to see him dunk, so he obliged by throwing down the remodeled Evans Playground’s first slam.
“I think recreation is so important,” Bowen explained of the significance of facilities like Evans. “In a day when some kids would rather go inside and play video games than play sports, if they can look outside and see a court like this, they know they can get outside and burn some energy. There is a growing problem in this country of kids not getting enough exercise, but basketball is great exercise. “For kids to be able to come and play on a court that has the real Hornets symbols like this, it’s really special. It’s not just a playground, but one that the Hornets had a part in (creating). I think that adds a little more to it.”
By: Jim Eichenhofer, Hornets.com
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“I was a little nervous,” said a laughing Bowen, who was relieved after dribbling in for a right-handed layup that officially marked the re-opening of Evans Playground’s outdoor hoops court. “I didn’t realize I was going to be put on the spot like that. I wanted to get a couple practice shots in beforehand. But (the layup) went in, so that’s all that matters.”
Bowen was joined Wednesday by Hornets owner George Shinn, son and Hornets executive of the board Chad Shinn, Hornets president Hugh Weber, team mascot Hugo the Hornet and members of the Honeybees in re-opening the uptown New Orleans facility. The court is a replica of the team’s floor in the New Orleans Arena, complete with a Fleur de Bee logo at center court and the new NOLA trumpet emblem at each end.
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Click Here for Photos from the Evans Playground Court Refurbishment |
Bowen, who hosts a basketball camp in his home state of Iowa each summer, participated in a ribbon-cutting ceremony along with Hornets personnel and New Orleans political and school leaders. The 6-foot-9, eight-year veteran later instructed children in layup drills and shooting form. After Bowen demonstrated the proper form for executing a layup, some of the kids wanted to see him dunk, so he obliged by throwing down the remodeled Evans Playground’s first slam.
“I think recreation is so important,” Bowen explained of the significance of facilities like Evans. “In a day when some kids would rather go inside and play video games than play sports, if they can look outside and see a court like this, they know they can get outside and burn some energy. There is a growing problem in this country of kids not getting enough exercise, but basketball is great exercise. “For kids to be able to come and play on a court that has the real Hornets symbols like this, it’s really special. It’s not just a playground, but one that the Hornets had a part in (creating). I think that adds a little more to it.”
