NEW YORK (AP) – The New York Yankees and the NFL are each donating $1 million to the American Red Cross to assist victims of Hurricane Katrina in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama.

Yankees owner George Steinbrenner said Wednesday the franchise was “heeding the President’s call to help the people devastated by this hurricane in the affected areas.

“This is one of America’s greatest natural disasters and tragedies and it is the responsibility of the American public to step up and help those in need.”

Commissioner Paul Tagliabue said the NFL is also working on other ways to aid the relief effort.

Among other making efforts to help those affected by the storm were: the NBA players’ association which will help deliver supplies to the hardest hit areas; Chicago Bulls guard Chris Duhon, a native of Slidell, La., who will with the Federal Emergency Management Agency to try to get financial support, clothing and food; the University of Florida will give proceeds from its pay-per-view telecast against Wyoming on Saturday night – $75,000 – to the American Red Cross; and Golden State Warriors guard Baron Davis, who played for the New Orleans Hornets for three years, donated $50,000 to the Red Cross’ disaster relief fund.

The Green Bay Packers flew to Nashville, Tenn., on Wednesday for their final preseason game – but only after loading the team airplane with generators and other emergency supplies to help the victims of the hurricane.

AP-ES-08-31-05 2041EDT