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NEW ORLEANS -- The NBA has decided to hold the 2017 All-Star Game in New Orleans after taking the midseason event out of North Carolina because of a state law that limits anti-discrimination protections for lesbian, gay and transgender people.New Orleans, announced Friday as the new location of the game, replaces Charlotte, which was set to host the game until the NBA decided last month to move it elsewhere.Unlike several other Southern states, Louisiana has not been swept up in legislative efforts to pass laws similar to that in North Carolina -- a fact Gov. John Bel Edwards has touted while lobbying the NBA to bring its All-Star weekend to New Orleans.We embrace our rich cultural heritage and see our diversity as a virtue, Edwards wrote in a letter to NBA Commissioner Adam Silver in late July. Should the NBA choose to bring the All-Star Game back to New Orleans in 2017, it will strongly reaffirm its commitment to communities that value fairness and inclusion.The NBAs decision -- and the economic boost it will bring -- provides a timely dose of good news following disastrous flooding across large swaths of southeast Louisiana that has killed at least 13 people and damaged an estimated 40,000 homes, mostly around Baton Rouge. Much of the New Orleans metropolitan area has been spared from the flooding.While we move into the recovery phase of this disaster, I want to thank the NBA for the vote of confidence in our state to host this event and their support of the relief efforts currently underway, Edwards said.This marks the third time New Orleans, which became an NBA city for the second time in 2002, has been selected to host the leagues All-Star Game.When the All-Star Game first came in 2008, the NBA spearheaded numerous community service projects aimed at helping neighborhoods hard hit by Hurricane Katrina in August 2005. The NBA will be presented with similar opportunities next year to assist flooded communities within an hours drive of New Orleans.Indeed, the New Orleans Pelicans and the NFLs Saints, both owned by Tom Benson, already have begun deploying administrative staff to assist flood relief efforts while opening the teams headquarters as a collection point for donations of basic supplies for flood victims.As we know, the NBA will engage thousands of local children and charities during this weekend, Benson said in written comments thanking the NBA for choosing New Orleans.All-Star weekend also came to the Big Easy in 2014, when Pelicans forward and center Anthony Davis made his All-Star debut. Davis would play the All-Star Game in his home arena again if he is named to the Western Conference squad for a fourth straight season.New Orleans, which has a history of hosting major sporting events, has seen its last two bids to host a Super Bowl come up short. It also bid unsuccessfully to host one of the NCAA Final Fours between 2017 and 2021. Those disappointments provided even more motivation for state and city officials to act decisively to lure the NBA All-Star Game after the leagues decision to take it away from the initially designated host city.A number of entertainment acts, including a Bruce Springsteen concert, have canceled North Carolina events because of its so-called HB2 law.Louisiana hasnt enacted -- or debated -- a bathroom bill of the type passed in North Carolina. Edwards earlier this year issued an LGBT rights anti-discrimination order.In the April order, the Democratic governor banned discrimination in state government based on sexual orientation and gender identity. State contracts also were required to comply, except contractors that are religious organizations. Edwards anti-discrimination order was similar to orders enacted by two former Louisiana Democratic governors -- but he added language protecting against discrimination based on gender identity, a provision that protects transgender people.Republican Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landrys office has issued an opinion claiming that Edwards order has no binding legal effect and exceeds the governors authority. But the order hasnt been challenged in court, and Edwards has vowed to follow it. Landrys office also has joined 10 other states in a lawsuit filed in May against President Barack Obamas administration over its directive to U.S. public schools to let transgender students use the bathrooms and locker rooms that match their gender identity.The Human Rights Campaign, a national civil rights group working on behalf of lesbian, gay and transgender people, applauded the NBAs decision to choose New Orleans.The NBA and Commissioner Adam Silver have sent a clear message to lawmakers in North Carolina and across the country that discrimination against LGBTQ people has consequences and will not be tolerated, HRC President Chad Griffin said in a statement. New Orleans explicit LGBTQ non-discrimination protections will ensure all NBA employees, players, and fans who participate in the All-Star Game are protected from discrimination.The All-star Game is scheduled for Feb. 19, which falls during the first weekend of Mardi Gras parades. That weekend presents some logistical challenges for New Orleans in terms of policing and traffic control, but considerably less so than the following weekend, when the largest parades roll in the days leading up to Fat Tuesday, which is Feb. 28.The combination of NBA All-Star with the first weekend of Mardi Gras will provide our residents, visitors and NBA fans an even more special experience, Mayor Mitch Landrieu said.---Associated Press writers Melinda Deslatte in Baton Rouge and Brian Mahoney in Rio de Janeiro contributed to this report. Jason Williams Magic Jersey . Ronaldo produced a spectacular individual performance on Tuesday, scoring all three goals and guiding Portugal into the next years World Cup in Brazil with a 3-2 victory in Sweden. The Real Madrid forward has scored 66 goals in 2013, but the last three may be the boost he needs to upstage Messi after FIFA unexpectedly extended the voting period for the Ballon dOr to Nov. Grant Hill Magic Jersey . 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He logged on to the Major League Baseball database, typed the word deceased next to Fernandezs name and removed him from the teams active roster.The seven weeks since have been a blur of emptiness and obligation for Hill and Miamis front office. The Marlins still grieve daily over the loss of Fernandez, who died Sept. 25 with two companions in a boat crash off the south Florida coast. But Hill and the executives and scouts on his watch are also conscious of their mandate to put the best possible team they can on the field for 2017. The task is exponentially more difficult without Fernandez, who was yanked from their presence without a semblance of a warning.Hills office at Marlins Park overlooks the West Plaza where the team painted a stadium pillar orange and fans lined up by the hundreds to inscribe messages of love and remembrance in the days after Fernandezs death. Every now and then, a passerby stops to pay respects or take a photo. Then the fan moves on, and Hill is left with a swirl of emotions and the gravity of his mission.You never forget the human [side] or what happened, but you know you have a job to do, Hill said. Were never going to replace Jose, but we have to try to move forward. The memory of him will always be with us and be a part of who we are. Thats a bond well all have forever.Fernandezs death came during a time of promise and hope for the Miami organization. A young Marlins roster improved from 71 to 79 victories under first-year manager Don Mattingly, and the pieces were in place to bring continued growth. Right fielder Giancarlo Stanton is one of the games elite power hitters. Left fielder Christian Yelich just won a Silver Slugger Award at age 24. And the foursome of catcher J.T. Realmuto, shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria, second baseman Dee Gordon and center fielder Marcell Ozuna combine to give the Marlins a strong up-the-middle presence.Starting pitching was the tenuous link in the teams chain, with the exception of the stability Fernandez provided every fifth day.In 29 starts in 2016, Fernandez logged a 2.86 ERA with a 1.12 WHIP and 12.5 strikeouts per nine innings. In comparison, Miamis other 12 starters combined for a 4.70 ERA, a 1.44 WHIP and 7.2 strikeouts per nine.The Marlins arent even entertaining the possibility of trying to replace Fernandez, because his impact was so profound. If spring training began today, Miamis rotation would consist of Wei-Yin Chen, Adam Conley, Tom Koehler, Justin Nicolino and Jose Urena. Even if the Marlins wanted to sign a big name -- which is typically a foreign proposition for them -- the free-agent market is bereft of front-of-the-rotation arms. The other alternative is a trade, and they lack the talent in their farm system to make a run at Chris Sale, Sonny Gray, Chris Archer or other commonly mentioned alternatives.Miamis top pitching prospects are a ways away. Tyler Kolek, a former first-round pick with a 100 mph fastball, underwent Tommy John surgery in April. Lefty Braxton Garrett, selected out of an Alabama high school with the seventh pick of the 2016 draft, will begin his journey through the minors in the spring. During the Arizona Fall League, the Marlins have been monitoring the progress of starter Jarlin Garcia and reliever Drew Steckenrider. Scouts regard both as future big leaguers, but neither is the type to anchor a staff.With few alternatives, the Marlins have discussed fortifying their staff at the back end to help compensate for the loss of Fernandezs 182 innings. Relievers A.J. Ramos, David Phelps, Kyle Barraclough and Brian Ellington combined for 332 strikeouts in 256? innings this season. If the Marlins can add a power arm or two this winter, theyll have a bullpen that will take some heat off the rotation and allow Mattingly to pick his spots.We leaned on our bullpen a lot last year because it was a strength for us, and our starting pitching on the whole wasnt as strong, Hill said.dddddddddddd To build that way is another route we can take. Get versatile, multi-inning pieces in the bullpen and try to shorten a game. Weve seen the trends of late with Kansas City and [Cleveland] in the postseason. We have the pieces in place already, so that might be a way to ease the blow.If Hill is looking for a current road map on how to move past Fernandez on and off the field, none exist. The closest comparable came two years ago in St. Louis, when star outfield prospect Oscar Taveras died in a car accident in his native Dominican Republic at age 22.Taveras death marked the third encounter with tragedy for St. Louis general manager John Mozeliak in 20 years with the organization. Mozeliak was assistant GM under Walt Jocketty when veteran starter Darryl Kile died of a heart ailment in 2002, and was in the same role when pitcher Josh Hancock was killed in a car accident in 2007.Mozeliak reached out to Hill immediately after Fernandezs death, and the two have spoken several times since. Among the insights Mozeliak has shared: Work can be therapeutic.You want to be respectful to the parents and siblings and people in that inner circle who are going to grieve for a long time, Mozeliak said. But going back to business actually helps with the healing. Its hard to get your hands around a tragedy when youre [forcing yourself] not to think about it. When you have something to focus on -- like getting the club going again from an organizational standpoint -- it makes it a lot easier.At the time of Taveras death, he was regarded as an elite prospect still trying to get over the hump. Taveras had just hit .239 with a .590 OPS in 80 games as a rookie, and the Cardinals knew he had some maturing to do and adjustments to make to take his game to another level.The Cardinals were coming off a 90-win season and a National League Central title in 2014, and Mozeliak couldnt afford to stand pat and let things sort themselves out in the spring. So he made a bold offseason move, acquiring right fielder Jason Heyward and reliever Jordan Walden from the Atlanta Braves for pitchers Shelby Miller and Tyrell Jenkins before Thanksgiving. Heyward logged a .293/.359/.439 slash line and won a Gold Glove to help the Cardinals win 100 games in 2015 before leaving to sign a $184 million contract with the Chicago Cubs.What the Marlins are doing, and specifically Mike Hill, is a little different than what we were dealing with, Mozeliak said. He was dealing with the rumors: Do we trade Jose Fernandez or try to sign him long term? Jose had already established himself as one of the elite players at the major league level.Not to sound callous or coldhearted, but I remember shortly after Oscars passing I was reflecting and I said to a few people, Were not going to miss him next year from a baseball standpoint. Its going to be two or three or four years down the road, when we dont have the No. 3 hitter we thought wed have.Left without their ace, the Marlins try to take solace in positive signs. Stanton, Miamis quiet superstar, assumed more of a vocal leadership role in the days after Fernandezs death, and the players and staff grew closer amid painful circumstances. But Fernandezs absence wont truly hit home until the first day of spring training in Jupiter, Florida, when the clubhouse will be a much quieter place.You felt Jose every fifth day on the mound, and the energy he brought, Hill said. But this was also a young man who loved life and lived it to the fullest. He had a pure energy and passion for the game that was infectious. I dont think you can separate the two.As the Marlins go down an uncharted path this offseason, the memories of Fernandez will simultaneously haunt and sustain them. Theyre still trying to process the unimaginable, while doing their best to make it through another day. ' ' '