From the time I was a young boy until now I have watched almost every Super Bowl. Believe it or not, I missed a few back in the day because when the earliest Super Bowls were in New Orleans, the games were blacked out on TV. Then there was the years that I traveled for the Jaycees and actually missed a Super Bowl or two as I drove home from various locations in north or central Louisiana. Most of the games I watched with passing interest; some I enjoyed immensly; ironically cheering on both Peyton and Eli Manning in 2007 and 2008 back to back.
But today is Super Bowl euphoria! Something that I wondered if I would ever witness is about to come true: New Orleans Saints in the Super Bowl!!!
The lovable but laughable New Orleans Saints of the sixties, seventies and early eighties; the dominant defenses of the late eighties and early nineties, the experiment that was Mike Ditka and the excitement of playoff victory #1 under Jim Haslett and then Katrina almost costing us the Saints forever have all culminated to this historic date: February 7, 2010; the day the announcers will declare the NFC champion New Orleans Saints take the field at the 44th Super Bowl.
How big is this? New Orleans just had a mayors election that will change the political landscape for years to come and it is a back page story this morning in New Orleans. Mardi Gras parades are rolling and the crowds are not lined up on the neutral grounds. The LSU Tigers just completed another top 10 recruiting class and it barely made the sports stories. And Catholic Churches across Louisinana, with the proper permissions, have cancelled or rescheduled Masses so the faithful could celebrate the Saints. We Catholics already know how to celebrate Saints!
The French Quarter is bursting at the seems. Every sports bar in the city is already packed with fans, hours before kickoff. Neighborhoods are decorated in black & gold, even cemeteries are covered in Saints ballons and flowers at the gravesites of dearly departed Saints fans. Schools in some areas are closed tomorrow and businesses are bracing for a rush of sick calls early Monday morning.
The Saints have indeed brought such excitement and joy not just to the fans but to the wider community. Why? Because the Saints are as much about New Orleans as gumbo, jazz, Mardi Gras and how's ya momma and dem! It might not be something the rest of the nation can understand but it is our New Orleans reality. And who can not relate to the story of how the New Orleans Saints have been the fabric that has kept New Orleans on the grow in these recovery years after Hurricane Katrina.
Later today we may focus on the X's and O's of the actual game. After all, it is still about playing football and wanting a Saints victory over the Colts. But we are still just celebrating the happiness and joy at watching a sports crazed nation focus on two teams in the Super Bowl and one of them is indeed the New Orleans Saints.
Happy Super Bowl Sunday everyone! Enjoy the game. And for all the Saints fans who have waited patiently for this day; Celebrate your team, your city, your region and state because today, Febraury 7, 2010 the Saints are Marching In...all the way to the Super Bowl.
Yes, the Saints are Coming!!! and they have arrived!
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