Well here we go again. It's football season and the NFL has brought it's opening night celebration to the city of New Orleans. Why? Because for the first time ever we all can say: reigning Super Bowl Champions the New Orleans Saints! Since last year was a year of many firsts for our beloved boys in black & gold so too is this night. Never before have the Saints played an opening game as World Champions and never before have the devoted Saints fans had the opportunity to watch the Super Bowl banner unfurl before their eyes in the Louisiana Super Dome.
Once again a football starved nation will watch the game and try to figure out the bigger picture taking place in New Orleans. Tonight is more than a game. Like that amazing dome opener in 2006 against the Atlanta Falcons, that stunning playoff win in early 2007 against Philadelphia, the dizzying 2009 season resulting in 13 wins including huge national TV games against the likes of the Jets, Giants and Patriots, a playoff blowout against the Cardinals, that iconic game vs. Minnesota that in overtime propelled the Saints to their 1st Super Bowl, tonight is an event and a testimony to the people of and around the city of New Orleans!
No other city in America could have had the day this has been in the Crescent City. For an opening day game it has been a raucous and joyous celebration! Just 5 years removed from Hurricane Katrina she is coming back strong and we have the Saints, in large measure, to thank. From the amazing stories of Coach Payton, Drew Brees, Reggie Bush and others who said YES, we will plant our flag in a city battered and broken and we will help bring it back. And they have; both in their football successes, giving us the Lombardi Trophy, and in their amazing works of charity and service.
Don't get me wrong; there is a game and I and everyone else down this way is cheering for a Saints victory. Just like we won 16 games last year including the big one; we want to win tonight! And we are blessed to have a great team that is at least capable of doing it all over again. But as is always the case, a football game is won on the field. But tonight, just before kickoff, we all will marvel as that championship banner is unveiled in the same building that has been the city's symbol of despair turned to hope; death turned to new life.
No matter what the season brings, we will always have the Saints, their Super Bowl victory and their resolve to bring hope and joy to a city and region in such dire need of both. God Bless you all New Orleans Saints! Thanks for what you have done and go out and do it again for us!
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