Graham plans foundation
After taking part in a USA Network show called “NFL Characters Unite” last week, New Orleans Saints tight end Jimmy Graham plans on starting his own foundation to aid foster children.
Graham was featured in the show as one of four NFL celebrities who overcame long odds off the field to excel on it.
Graham, a third-round draft pick of the Saints in 2010, was left at a foster care home by his mother when he was 11 years old.
In the special, Graham, whose background as an abandoned child has been well-documented since joining the Saints, helps mentor a 14-year-old New Orleans boy named Ashton Randall who comes from a broken home.
As a result, Graham is looking to help others who have faced similar obstacles by starting a foundation for foster children or partner with a foundation that already does.
“I don’t want to just put my name on something, or just write a check,” Graham told NewOrleansSaints.com. “I want to make it count and see the results. I want to know it changes peoples’ lives.”
Tickets don’t increase
Renewal notices for 2012 season tickets were mailed out by the Saints last week, and there was good news as prices for most of the 73,000 seats in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome will remain the same as in 2011.
Some tickets in the upper reaches (Rows 29 to 36) of 12 corner sections of the Plaza level have been reduced by $20 per game because of construction changes and now sell for $80 per game.
The Saints will play 10 home games this season.
The eight regular-season contests are against Atlanta, Carolina, Tampa Bay, Washington, Philadelphia, San Francisco, San Diego and Kansas City.
Saint Brees
The third race on the Feb. 11 card at the Fair Grounds was won by Saint Brees, a 4-year-old Kentucky-bred colt owned by longtime New Orleans horseman Louie Roussel III and car dealer Ronnie Lamarque.
Saint Brees, who came on in the stretch to take the race, paid $7.20 to win with jockey James Graham — not Jimmy Graham the tight end — aboard.
Sired by 1992 Belmont Stakes winner A.P. Indy, Saint Brees is also a grandson of 1977 Triple Crown winner Seattle Slew.
Monica honored
The Saints honored the team’s NFL High School Coach of the Week recipients and Coach of the Year for 2011 during a banquet last week.
St. Charles Catholic’s Frank Monica, who has coached for 40 years at New Orleans-area college and high schools, was named Coach of the Year after leading his team to a 15-0 record and the Class 3A state title.
Saints special teams coordinator Greg McMahon presented Monica with a certificate and crystal trophy as this year’s winner.
Saintsations auditions
Preliminary auditions for the 2012 Saintsations dancing/cheerleading squad will be held Sunday, April 15 at the UNO Human Performance Center.
The audition consists of a preliminary dance audition, an interview and football test, and a dance/speaking audition. Two optional workshops, including one in Baton Rouge on April 1, will also be held to prepare candidates for the tryout process.
Applicants must be at least 18 years old. For more information, visit http://www.saintsations.net.