Part of the reason we started this blog was because us Yoders are passionate sports fans. It gives us a chance to chronicle what we watch on a daily basis, share our thoughts with the blogosphere, celebrate our love for sports, make fun of others, and most of all - have some fun. As some of our regular readers might know, I am a huuuuuuuge Saints fan. In fact, it borders on a threat to my health. As far as sports goes, it's Saints first and everything else second. So, this week, I'll take you into my mind (a dangerous place) with a daily diary of what could be going through the mind of a Saints fan heading into the biggest game of my lifetime. Today, a look back at Saturday's game and where we sit the morning after Divisional weekend...
You'll have to understand first of all, that Saints fans always feel like 2nd class citizens. So, I wasn't surprised to see Kenny Albert welcome me to the Superdome and not Joe Buck. But, hey, at least it wasn't Chris "Terrorist Jokes" Myers and Trent Green. The greatest thing about the pregame was Deuce McAllister able to lead the team on the field as a part of the Saints. Signing him provided an enormous emotional and intangible boost, and don't discount those at this time of the year. Deuce is universally loved by teammates and fans, perhaps as only a handful of players in the NFL are.
Of course, when the actual game started, I wasn't feeling all warm and fuzzy on the inside. Tim Hightower's TD run on the first play from scrimmage was unsettling - but I was conscious of the several teams who have gotten off to fast starts in recent years before being blown out (see Ohio State circa 2006/2007). The unending question was this - could the Saints turn it on? Thankfully for my sanity, they did.
3 drives in the 1st quarter and 3 TDs. Whew. Yes, it was a near perfect start. Although, you never relax when you're a Saints fan. Heck, I remember when the Saints allowed 26 4th quarter points to the Eagles in 1992 in a home Wild Card Game to lose. I was 6. But, the most exciting play of the first quarter was Reggie Bush's best run as a Saint.
Wow. Is this the guy that won the Heisman at USC? The guy we've seen flashes of, but never the real thing? The master plan of limiting Bush's touches to have him healthy for the postseason seems like it is working perfectly. The Saints answered a Beanie Wells TD with the big offensive pass play that had been missing in the last 3 weeks of the season. Time for a little Showtime!
I managed to surprise the bro by letting out a YYYYEEEEESSSSSS in an annoying Max Bretos tone. Soccer fans should appreciate that one. Things were going well, but it was this hit by Bobby McCray that brought me to my feet and KO'ed the Cardinals. Kurt Warner threw a pick to DE Will Smith, but that was the least of his worries...
Kurt Warner got JACKED UP! The ensuing TD drive put the Saints up 35-14 at the half. And then, Reggie Bush officially started the party with this electrifying punt return TD in the 3rd quarter. Time for the King Kong beat my chest mercilessly celebration!
Wow. And just like that, the Saints were on their way to a 45-14 blowout win over the Arizona Cardinals. And I barely broke a sweat! This was much easier than the Divisional game 4 years ago when the Saints battled the Eagles to the very end. For Saints fans, this night was about proving ourselves to the sports world. A close, shootout win wouldn't be enough for Who Dat Nation (Drew Brees' terminology - yes, this nation stuff has officially reached a breaking point). The Saints had to remind the country that they were that team that started 13-0. That a healthy Jabari Greer could make a huge difference to the defense. That Darren Sharper still had it. That Gregg Williams hadn't lost the master touch. And, that Drew Brees and the offense was back in gear. The team that shut down the Jets, blew out the Giants, had heroic comebacks against the Dolphins and Redskins, and pulverized the Patriots was back.
Of course, do I expect any respect coming the Saints way? Of course not, are you kidding? Did you know that there is this Favre guy that beat the Cowboys yesterday? And a jolly green giant coaching up a team of refreshing underdogs from Gotham? And that Manning fellow? When you play on Saturday, and Favre vs the Cowboys and another Chargers choke happens on Sunday - you know any news about the Saints game is going to be buried somewhere between the Australian Open and Duke basketball.
But, then again, maybe that's the perfect place for this team and its fans. We're not a glamour team. We don't have history on our side. People aren't going to make excuses for us like Tony Romo. Nobody is going to have wet dreams about us being in the Super Bowl like Favre. (Did you know that Favre is in Minnesota... to win a Super Bowl?? OMG... don't worry, I'll get to that this week). We're not loved by the masses like Manning. We're not going to be the main storyline on Championship Sunday. Shoot, we weren't even supposed to win against the Cardinals, and we're sure as heck never supposed to make it to the Super Bowl.
But this season has been all about rewriting the history books. The Brees-Payton Era has taken a franchise that looked bound for Los Angeles and built it up just as New Orleans has come back from Katrina. Maybe all of those years of the missed opportunities, terrible seasons, voodoo curses, and the pain and misery are worth it for this season. Maybe, just maybe now is the time. Or, maybe this will be the most painful season yet. C'est la vie for the Saints fan...
No comments:
Post a Comment