Chabot Spectator

Issue date: 12/14/06 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Uyen Vo Devin Joseph (left) and Jason Jones (right) contributed to Chabot's football team this season.

Seven football and basketball players from Louisiana have joined the Gladiators after escaping Hurricane Katrina.

Most came to Chabot to find a better education and more opportunities. Devin Joseph, he said, "After the hurricane I couldn't concentrate on school. Now it's like I get a second chance."

Basketball player Antonio Duplessis said his school was in ruins so he fled in less than a week.

Dervin Davis was preparing for finals this week and cold not be interviewed.

Hurricane Katrina served as a life-changing experience for the players. "It was a messed up experience not only for people from New Orleans," said Jalvin Fluence, who joined the basketball team after the football season wrapped up. "Curfews were in effect and stores wouldn't open because of robbery. It took a long time for electricity, many things… gas, help."

Louisanas Kendrick Fobb, Carlous Brown and Joseph, all said they saw "dead animals, sharks, crocodiles, alligators… mostly swamp."

None of them lost any loved ones. "First thing I felt was anger… a lot of people didn't make it," Fluence said, "(and) a lot still don't know if relatives are missing or if they're in other states." Feeling fortunate, he said, "We were supposed to evacuate but we didn't." Sharing his sympathy for others, he said, "It was sad hearing stories on the radio; heartbreaking."

Now that they're here, they face some financial difficulties. "I haven't found a job yet and I've been really looking," said Fluence, who used to be a blaster painter in LA. Because they're out of state, Jason Jones and Joseph have a hard time with financial aid.

"I'm living off of FEMA checks," said Joseph. For Fobb, he receives assistance from his mother. For the holidays, they are visiting home. Fobb is anxious to see his daughter. "I'm worried about her," he said.

What they miss most, aside from family and friends, is food. Jones and Joseph listed gumbo, crawfish, seafood, southern fried chicken and particularly the spices.

"I miss spicy food; there's too much fast food here," said Fluence, "We've gotta do something about that. The environment is different. "The weather; it's cooler," said Joseph, "it's not humid so you don't feel wet and dirty." Jones also noted that California. is relatively "cleaner."

Continued...

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