PARTY with the LOMBARDI!!

The SAINTS have won the SUPER BOWL!!!!

Elation. Excitement. Shock. Celebration. Just a few words to describe the night of Sunday, February 7, 2010, in New Orleans. What an unbelievable victory as it soaks in with the sunrise that the Saints have won the Super Bowl!! Finally, after all these years! I cannot even begin to describe the atmosphere in New Orleans. But, let me back up a little...

Sunday morning began at my home church which is outside of LA, on outer periphery of Who Dat Nation. So, needless to say, there were a few Saints fans speckled amongst the crowd. But being in the Deep South, we were, shall I say, "conservatively festive". My day began bright and early (as every Sunday does for me). Here I am with two friends and fellow co-corkers, Margaret and Bro. Claude as we all sport our black and gold...(Don't know why the picture is so small)

But, down in the Big Easy at my parents' church, the dress was slightly, uh, less "formal". The pastor, who is a HUGE football fan, tied the Super Bowl and more specifically Drew Brees, into his sermon since he knew what was on everybody's mind that morning. He would probably have looked more conspicuous had he NOT worn black and gold. We weren't there (yet!!), but I loved the picture my sister took and decided to include it.

Ah, we rolled into town just in time for the tailgating party. And, yes, we left Kendall with Gabe's parents. I know, such a horrible thing for a Mommy Who Dat to do, but, y'all, I was serious about watching me a football game and though Kendall is a little Who Dat, she can't concentrate on the game yet like her Who Dat parents. Here we are with my family.

I'm not sure why I didn't take pictures of all the food and decorations upstairs. New Orleans knows how to eat so there was no shortage whatsoever.

When it was time for kickoff, Who Dats dispersed all over the church where there were TVs turned on and up. We found our way downstairs into the sanctuary where the serious fans gathered. Don't distract us with non-relevant chatter or even food. We had a team to cheer on!

The Saints got off to a slow start, but the game could not have been more excellently coached or called. We were a little nervous at times, though, and the mood was a little low key.

OK, fast forward to the fourth quarter. Well, here's the proof that Gabe has been converted to a Who Dat. (We tend to do that to those around us.) The Saints had just scored and made a two point conversion. Things are looking up. We just knew they would pull it out!

Who Dats get nervous and uncomfortable easily. We've had much practice at this over the years and are all too familiar with the feeling...They just HAVE to stop the Colts on this drive. The Lombardi is close, yet so far away!

INTERCEPTION by Tracy Porter and a 70 yard return for a TOUCHDOWN, almost solidifying a win!!! NO WAY!! UNBELIEVABLE! -sniff sniff-, I smell a Lombardi!! Mom and I are celebrating in Who Dat style. (I guess Manning threw the game winning throw after all just as the "sports experts" predicted. Sorry, Manning. I have loved 'ya the other 364 days of the year. Just not tonight.)

Now all that's left to do is hurry the time off the clock. Oooh, another feeling we all know too well. I recall turning to Mom and incredulously uttering the words that seemed so foreign, "Oh my gosh...we are about to win the Super Bowl!"

Countdown...9..8..7..6..5..4.... This is not for real!!! Un-STINKIN-believable!!
..3..2..1...........................

Jim Henderson calls it, "Party with the Lombardi, Saints fans!!! Your Saints have won the Superbowl!!"

Yes, I shed a few tears. All I could think about was all the years my dad and I went to games. Every season started with high hopes that this season would be different. And every year would end with semi-optimistic hopes for "next year". Well "THIS season" arrived. No more "next year". We DID IT! Well, actually, there is a "Just wait 'til next year, but it now takes on a whole new meaning in the Who Dat Nation.

We all went nuts!! 43 years we have waited (well, some of us a little less, but still a long time) for this moment! Some Who Dats ran out into the lobby and into the streets as was the practice all over town. Some stood still in utter shock. And a couple fans were hanging out by the food. So what did the rest of us do?? Well, what we have done in New Orleans for years. What we do anytime there's a reason to celebrate. We stuck up the music, grabbed our towels and scarfs and we second lined and cheered.

To clarify, yes we are celebrating...and dancing...in a church...all cuz the Saints won the Super Bowl. I know I'm setting myself up for some jeers and jabs from my non-Saints fans who just don't get the way we celebrate in New Orleans. It's weird, but it's just part of our heritage. (And remember, this has been pent up in us for 43 years.)

We settled down back in our seats, or at least in a stand still position, to revel in the trophy presentation. As the trophy was carried up onto the stand (the victory stand that is-just for clarification-OUR victory stand, thank you. Move over. New Orleans, this is your moment!), passing through a swarm of Saints reaching out for a touch of it, this win still had not sunk all the way in for us. Is that the SAINTS with a LOMBARDI?? Are you kidding me? And are they really wearing hats that say CHAMPION? THE S.A.I.N.T.S??? Seriously. OUR Saints? The used-to-be Aints, the bottom of the barrel and laughing stock of the league? REALLY?? Is that Sean Peyton pumping a Lombardi over his head as all the Who Dats who were in attendance went nuts?! (We outnumbered Colts fans by almost 10-1)

Seems to me that all the talk of Aints is HISTORY! After all, that's the Saints on the platform, excuse me, the victory stand, in front of the nation pumping the coveted Lombardi over their heads in celebration.

As we left the church for the ride to the house, we witnessed just a portion of how the city has absolutely erupted. Horns were honking everywhere. People were yelling out their windows. Fireworks were blasting in all directions. Euphoria was spilling out into the streets all over town. We just announced to the nation that, indeed New Orleans is back: our economy, our tourism, our team, our residents, our pride. We have been through so much since Katrina, and we have come so far. Football itself may not be a big deal, but it accomplished a big deal. It brought life back to this stricken-down city. The Saints are an avenue, a channel, a visual to our city that we are once again well down the road of recovery. We are made stronger through trials and devastation. The team brought unity and a boost or moral to a city that so desperately needed it. Plus, we're always looking for a good reason to celebrate, whether in football or in life!

Now, will my life change because of this? Pish. Nonsense. It's, after all, a football game. (And to anyone who considers it life altering by any means, needs to re-evaluate priorities.) Life will very suddenly be back to normal (with a glimmer of a smile as we reflect all year long that we are champs). But it's a fun ride. And a fun time was had by all. We'll always look back and remember how special the Saints are to New Orleans. And we'll ask each other, "So, where were YOU when the Saints won the Super Bowl?" And we'll talk about the monkey off our back, what a legend and leader Drew Brees is, how smart of a coach Sean Peyton is, and how awesome it was to revel in our first ever championship. Some will talk about destiny, promised land and stuff like that. Others will argue that the Saints have never been respected, are the stepchild of the NFL, and the butt of jokes and comparisons, all the while whining about the slanted, biased media coverage (of which I agree). Still others will claim that pigs have flown and hell has frozen over. But I'll just stick to the sheer excitement. I'll let it sink in that the Who Dat Nation and the New Orleans Saints are champions and we will celebrate it all year long. Now dats incredible!

Way to go, boys. And we look forward to next year...We are more than just a good story. We are a winning team. And we, your fans, could not be more proud. You have shown true heart of a champion. And you knocked off 3 legendary quarterbacks in the post season to do it, Warner, Favre and Manning. Way to go! You FINISHED STRONG for all of us. And we're so stinkin' elated that we can't stand it. We know well how to deal with disappointment, but winning just brings us to tears.

Oh, there may be ONE little life changing moment in it all...Drew Brees sharing the moment with his son, Baylen. Now that brought tears to this mama's eyes. What a special moment in time that this daddy will always remember as he instills in his son what a true champion is made of. It's not the glitz and glam, rings or trophies. It's the legacy we leave for our children, the example that they one day will follow. And knowing that we are making a difference in the hearts and lives of our children who long to follow in our footsteps holds its own glory long after the stadium lights are turned out, the rings tarnish and the names are forgotten. (Except Brees' name will continued to be uttered in the same sentences as "legend" and "fame" for a long time!)

Hmmm...Kendall Brees...kinda has a nice ring, doesn't it??? So, it COULD POSSIBLY ONE DAY change our lives after all... hee hee! Let's just give it a few more years and see, huh? After all, the Saints have just proven that anything is possible.

WHO DAT, BABY!