Columnists hunt for perspective

It was a bad week for me to be traveling with an extremely slow lap top that doesn't blog well. I'm sure I missed countess poinant stories connected to the Gulf Coast. I'm sure you've read some of these already, but here goes:

Wilbon says having the games will do some good.

Richard Justice agrees, talking to some displaced New Orleans natives that took advantage of the University of Houston's offer of free tickets to its football game with Oregon.

Whitlock says sports is an escape, but we can't overlook the victims.
"Katrina washed them to our surface, put them in our line of sight, and rather than focus on their tragic circumstance, we’ve escaped by turning the spotlight on looters. Poor women, children and elderly are dying in the streets — lives, in the eyes of God, just as valuable as Natalee Holloway’s and Terri Schiavo’s — and somehow stolen TVs, clothes, food and water are a bigger story, a more important priority."

Carl Dubois says LSU isn't ready to host a football game

Richard Justice has the Astros fearing for the safety of loved ones in New Orleans

The New York Daily News has a look at the role arenas are playing in the recovery efforts.

Wetzel hopes the NFL doesn't bolt New Orleans for good.