THESE DAYS THE HORNET FANS ARE ABOUT AS EXCITABLE ABOUT A HORNET'S GAME AS THE SAINTS FANS ARE ABOUT FOOTBALL SEASON! HALF-TIME MUSIC BY LOCALS HAS ALWAYS BEEN A NICE TREAT FOR FANS TOO. THUS, LOCAL SPORTS FANS WERE PARTICULARLY SADDENED BY HORNET OWNER GEORGE SHINN'S ANNOUNCEMENT TODAY THAT HE HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH PROSTATE CANCER. HOWEVER, REPORTS ARE THAT MR. SHINN IS QUITE OPTIMISTIC AND HAS A POSITIVE ATTITUDE. HE IS BENT ON TAKING THE HORNETS TO THE TOP! ARMAND ST. MARTIN AND I JUST SAW HIM AND HIS SON-IN-LAW LAST WEEK, WHEN WE WERE DINING AT HUSTON'S WITH A DOCUMENTARY PRODUCER FRIEND OF OURS, ON ST. CHARLES AVENUE IN NEW ORLEANS. THE TWO SHINNS WERE BUT TWO TABLES DOWN FROM US AND WERE ENGAGED IN PRETTY SERIOUS, FOCUSED CONVERSATION. WE WISH MR. SHINN THE BEST AND HOPE FOR A SPEEDY RECOVERY BACK TO FULL HEALTH SO HE CAN BE RIGHT THERE CHEERING ON HIS TEAM TO THE CHAMPIONSHIPS! - PATTY LEE