The “youngest” event during this weekend’s Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame Induction Celebration is the most exclusive, yet casual, opportunity for the public to enjoy hearing from the Class of 2022 inductees.
It’s the LSHOF Roundtable Luncheon on Saturday at noon in the ballroom of the Chateau Saint Denis Hotel at 751 Second Street in Natchitoches. There’s still time to be among the 200 guests for the fourth-ever Roundtable Luncheon presented by the Tiger Athletic Foundation.
Registration is available for that event and all other activities during the Induction Celebration beginning Thursday by visiting LaSportsHall.com, or by calling 238-4255.
Festivities begin Thursday evening at 5 with the free of charge La Capitol Federal Credit Union Welcome Reception open to all at the Hall of Fame museum facing the traffic circle on Front Street.
The Roundtable Luncheon starts with tremendous New Orleans-style cuisine and quickly kicks into gear with Fox Sports announcer (and 2020 LSHOF inductee) Tim Brando interviewing small groups of inductees on stage in a very informal and fast-moving setting.
While there are some logical pairings for the interviews, such as six-time Pro Bowl NFL linemen Jahri Evans (Saints) and Kyle Williams (Bills), and LSU All-Americans Susan Jackson (gymnastics) and Britni Sneed Newman (softball) in the 50th anniversary year of Title IX, other groups will fall together in fun and unpredictable fashion.
Among the other 2022 inductees is Journal columnist Teddy Allen, whose folksy sense of humor and long-time friendship with Timmy B. should produce some hysterical exchanges.
Pro Rodeo Hall of Famer Steve Duhon has his own brand of homespun wit and figures to be an entertaining interview for Brando. Duhon is an Opelousas while high school track and cross country coach Claney Duplechin is a proud native of nearby Mamou, which could result in some Cajun humor and insight.
A poignant scene at the 2019 luncheon unfolded before the program when Peyton Manning stopped by to greet LSU legend Johnny Robinson, who was inducted in the Pro Football Hall of Fame two months later. Manning got in his wisecracks with Brando talking about growing up rooting for the then perennially unsuccessful New Orleans Saints, whose quarterback was his dad, Archie.
It all combines to provide a memorable 90 minutes with guests in close proximity to the legends.
The Hall of Fame Roundtable Luncheon shapes up as a highly entertaining opportunity for guests to have a up-close-and-personal experience and be entertained and well fed.
