New Orleans, Louisiana-  Pacers  President-elect Tony Mozingo and close aide/ National Security Agency Director-designee Antha Estridge made a historic journey to New Orleans to forge ties and spread good will with the New Orleans Track Club.  They were hosted by legendary sports psychologist and coach Joe Tramontana at his villa near the lakefront, and were joined by his friends Frank and Chris for a pre-summit pasta meal at Vienzi’s on Saturday night.  Mozingo, who is to be inaugurated as President at ceremonies later in the week unless another coup attempt is successful, joined the Legend for some “scenery and wildlife fun” in the Big Easy this weekend, hoping that his visit will defuse tensions between the N.O.T.C. and the Pacers organization.  The visit was classified since both clubs have argued over issues such as border control and hazing ever since Ironman Raymond Miller of Poplarville refused to pay his dues to the Pacers, opting instead to pledge allegiance to the N.O.T.C.  Cameras were not allowed.

            Hopes for better relations between the two clubs were foiled as Mozingo politely asked Southern Runner President “Mike” to pick up his race t-shirt and send it to him so that he wouldn’t be late for church;

Mike simply replied, “Tell John (Pendergrass) I said ‘Hello’”.

 Conditions were perfect at the start of the race, which begins at the Spanish Fort on Bayou St. John, and ends at Jackson Square in the Quarter.  For runners familiar with the course of the Mardi Gras Marathon, the race spends its first three miles on the same course as the marathon, and ends with great finale in a chute on Jackson Square, where several Tarot card readers and street people are waiting to give runners a look as they cross the finish line.

            Red Beans, Elmer’s Chee-Weez, Coors Light, and Kentwood water were served on the veranda of the old Jax Brewery after the race.  It was a glorious day, finished with a safe trip home.

            When questioned about whether an official Pacers vehicle was used for the trip, a solemn Estridge replied that, “A slip of the lip will sink a ship… I ain’t sayin’ nothin’…”

            Relations between the two clubs have cooled since Mozingo’s election because one of the planks in his campaign was to reduce the influence of politics in racing.

            “Take today, for instance,” Mozingo said, “I was on pace to set a course record at the start.  Then the pace vehicle took off in front of me and I was forced to slow my running because of the pollution.  I want to go on record as saying that it was intentional; Chuck George would never let me win because it would undermine his regime…”

            Estridge, who is training for an Ultra-Marathon in March, ran a comfortable 55ish-minute time, along side the Legend, who finished with great fanfare.  Mozingo finished 44^th overall, easily averaging less than seven minutes per mile in the 95^th annual Jackson Day Run.