On July 12 of this year, a mere eleven days after the start of the NBA’s free agency period, New Orleans Pelicans owner Tom Benson will celebrate his 89th birthday. And while I’m sure there is some 89-year-old triathlete who might beg to differ, the number 89, when used next to or near the word “age”, draws to mind a pixelated image of an overripe banana.
In 1985, when Benson was 58, he purchased the New Orleans Saints football franchise, saving it from a possible move to Jacksonville. For the next twenty-five years, the team ran in place as Benson’s personality rose above the team’s popularity.