Football
Associated Press 18y

Saints owner Benson strikes at TV

BATON ROUGE, La. -- New Orleans Saints owner Tom Benson
swatted at a New Orleans television station's camera on Sunday and
got into an argument with a fan.

The WWL-TV camera crew said Benson lunged at them when they
filmed him leaving the Saints game and that the owner then got into
a shouting match with a fan. Video of the confrontation shows
Benson bringing a raised hand down on the top of the camera before
he is eased away from the camera crew, which continued filming.

Benson could not be reached for comment and Saints officials did
not immediately return a call seeking comment.

The team owner is going through a very rough patch with fans and
Louisiana officials. The anger toward Benson stems from talks he
apparently had with the San Antonio mayor about relocating the team
to San Antonio.

The Saints are under contract to play at the Louisiana Superdome
through 2010, but certain provisions allow them to opt out before a
Nov. 29 deadline.

The Saints played their first game this season in Louisiana on
Sunday, at LSU's stadium in Baton Rouge, and the home team lost
21-6 to the Miami Dolphins.

On Sunday, NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue met with Benson, Gov.
Kathleen Blanco and other officials. Tagliabue said he wanted to
keep the team in New Orleans.

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