Top 10 Stories of the Decade - #10 Saints Katrina Comeback

It's time to start our last entry of the Decade Series. This time, we count down the Top 10 Stories of the Decade. These are the 10 defining moments, images, and memories from the 2000's that we will remember. We start our countdown with one of the most traumatic events in US History, and a team that symbolizes a community. It's the story of tragedy, redemption, and hope. It's the story of the New Orleans Saints Katrina Comeback.

I'll be honest and fully disclosed from the start, I am a lifelong, diehard Saints fan (weird for a kid who grew up in Central Ohio, but I've never been easily explained). I've been a fan for as long as I can remember. I dressed up as Bobby Hebert for Halloween for crying out loud. I was there for the days of the Dome Patrol, through the diddly-poo press conferences, through Ricky Williams and the wedding dress. I was there for the good and bad of Aaron Brooks and when Hakim dropped the ball. I was there for the River City Relay and John Carney's missed PAT. I was there for the lost season and the comeback, and I'm glad to say I'm here now for 13-0.

I also had an urge to try to help the city after seeing what Hurricane Katrina did to New Orleans. Hurricane Katrina is to date the single worst natural disaster to ever affect the United States. You can check out the Wikipedia page for the facts if you're interested. My brother and I have been to New Orleans twice to help with Katrina relief, in 2005 and 2006. These trips were life changing experiences for us. Especially in the months after the storm, the pictures and video could not do justice to what happened. But, even in the destruction, the spirit of the city and its people remained as strong as ever.

The people of New Orleans have an indomitable spirit. Just being in the presence of the people of New Orleans is enough to inspire a person for a lifetime. Even though most of them lost everything, they still had hope. I'll never understand how someone could come through a tragedy on that scale, but New Orleans is proving that it is possible. I'm firmly convinced that it is the most special city that we have in this country. There is nothing like New Orleans anywhere else on the globe, and the Saints are an integral part of the city.

One thing I'll never forget in my second trip to New Orleans in the Spring of 2006 was a sign that hung from the Superdome with the date of the Saints return home in a Monday Night game against the Atlanta Falcons. It was more than a sports team coming back, it was a statement that New Orleans was coming back. The Saints mean more to New Orleans than perhaps any franchise in any city. To someone who hasn't been there, or hasn't followed the team, that's impossible to believe, but it's true. Sure, they've been awful for 97% of their existence, but that doesn't take away from the affection of the fans.

In conversations in New Orleans, I heard stories of folks who would walk to Tulane Stadium to see the Saints play in the 60s and 70s. I heard from people that prayed the team wouldn't abandon the city and relocate. I heard about the hope that Drew Brees and Sean Payton brought to the team. I heard about the reminiscing to the days of the Dome Patrol and even Archie Manning. I heard about the opening of the Superdome. I heard just how much that team meant to that community. If the Saints just came back, and could play in the Superdome, then maybe that could be one piece of normalcy that could come back to New Orleans. Maybe that could show the nation and the world that New Orleans was going to fight, and beat Hurricane Katrina.

The Saints did come back to New Orleans on September 25, 2006.

When you look at that night on its own, it may be one of the most magical sporting events to ever take place. The atmosphere in the building was unbelievable. The Saints of course beat the Falcons 23-3 in what was a special night for the team and the city of New Orleans. Here are some videos from the Superdome that night including the pregame concert by Green Day and U2, the MNF intros, and finally the legendary blocked punt by Steve Gleason in the 1st Quarter that told you maybe New Orleans and the Saints would be able to make it after all...

That night in the Superdome was so much more than a football game, or the reopening of a building. In fact, it may be one of the most meaningful and memorable sporting events in American sports history, and it had absolutely nothing to do with the action on the field. Now that Katrina is more than 4 years in the past, it's tough to remember how awful and traumatic it was. How crippled the city of New Orleans was. How some people said that we shouldn't bother to rebuild the city. How the Saints were going to move to Los Angeles or San Antonio. How the city would never recover.

But, on September 25, 2006, the Saints and the city of New Orleans showed the world that they would recover. There is still a lot of work that needs to be done to recover from Katrina. There are many homes and neighborhoods that will never be rebuilt, and some scars from Katrina will always remain. But, slowly the city is on its way back. New Orleans still needs the attention and care of the nation even in these years after Katrina to continue to rebuild and make the city a better place. Amazingly, a lot of people never thought those words possible in the wake of the worst natural disaster to hit the United States.

On the field, the Saints would ride the wave of emotion to their best ever season. After the vagabond season of 2005 saw them finish 3-13, their 2006 return home saw them win the NFC South and finish 10-6. New stars like Brees, Bush, and Colston along with Coach of the Year Sean Payton rejuvenated the franchise. The Saints won only their 2nd playoff game in franchise history beating the Eagles in the divisional round before losing in Chicago to the Bears in the NFC Title Game. It was the first Championship game appearance for the franchise. Here's a season highlight package, the first 7 minutes are the 2006 season...

Sure, the success on the field for the Saints was a great story. But just the fact that they were playing football in New Orleans was even more beautiful. Now, three years later, the Saints sit at a historic 13-0, pursuing an undefeated season. Saints fans will tell you that this season is the one that they have waited their whole lives for. That one day their beloved team would maybe be able to bring New Orleans a championship. That a team who has been a laughing stock for their entire existence could rise up and be winners, and represent the city of New Orleans.

The greatness of the 2009 season is only made more sweeter knowing where the city and the team have come from in the days since Hurricane Katrina. Regardless of which team you root for, save a place in your heart for the Saints and New Orleans. If anyone deserves a championship team, it's the people of that great city. Those people who refused to give in, who said yes we can and will rebuild, and who continue to this day to make New Orleans a better place... those people of New Orleans, who are champions of the human spirit.

Top 10 Games Of The Decade - Olympics 4x100m Freestyle Relay

Our next installment of the Top 10 Games of the Decade takes us to Beijing 2008. This Olympics was particularly memorable for several reasons. The US Redeem Team won back the Gold, the US Volleyball team overcame tragedy to triumph, and the Chinese gymnasts... well, we won't go there. However, the drama and intensity (see half man, half condor above) of this event stood out above the rest. The Olympics of the 2000s will be remembered for one thing, Phelps' 8 Gold Medals. And this race might be the biggest reason why...

Who: 8 Countries (US, France, Australia, Italy, Sweden, Canada, RSA, UK)

What: Gold Medal 4x100 Freestyle Swimming Relay

Where: Beijing National Aquatics Center - aka The Water Cube

When: August 11, 2008

How: This was the 2nd race in 8 for Michael Phelps' quest to become the first human being to win 8 Gold Medals in a single Olympiad. However, the 4x100m Freestyle was going to be perhaps the toughest race for Phelps and the Americans to win. They had to go up against a powerhouse French team which included anchor man Alain Bernard who offered up this bulletin board material for everyone to soak in:

"The Americans? We're going to smash them. That's what we came here for."

For the first 3 legs, it looked like Bernard was prophetic. Even with Phelps swimming the first leg at record pace, the French had a commanding lead going into the last swimmer. Bernard would have the chance to be the hero and it was up to American veteran Jason Lezak to swim down the snooty Frenchman. The rest as they say, is history...

Lezak, the oldest swimmer on the US team at 32, proceeded to swim the fastest 100 meters in the history of the 100m relay at 46.06 seconds. Lezak's comeback, and the Gold Medal win, will always be remembered as one of the most remarkable moments in Olympic history.

Why: The significance of this race isn't just in the thrilling comeback by the Americans. This was swimming taking center stage in the national landscape. In the States, it was shown on primetime network television. Everyone, and I mean everyone, was tuned in to watch this race. Heck, people were even excited about being able to shut up the French, that's always cool! Most of all though, the people wanted to see if Phelps could break the record. We all knew that this was his one of his biggest stumbling blocks.

But, a funny thing happened, Phelps wasn't the hero... Lezak was. This was about athletics in the purest form (aside from the high-tech suits) and a hero rising up from out of nowhere. The next day, all of America and the world was talking about that race. Do you ever remember another time when swimming captivated the masses? That 4x1oom relay will go down in the history books as not only one of the most exciting swimming races of all-time, but one of the most exciting moments in the history of the Olympics, period. Ironically, this race was matched in drama by Phelps' win in the 100m Butterfly days later:

That race was cool too, and Phelps went on to his 8 Gold Medals and accolades all around the world... but he owes a huge debt of gratitude to Jason Lezak, Garrett Weber-Gale, and Cullen Jones: the 4x100m US Freestyle Team.

Others Considered:

2000 Summer - Rulon Gardner d. Alexander Karelin Gold Medal Wrestling

2002 Winter - Sarah Hughes wins Gold Figure Skating

2004 Summer - Argentina d. USA Basketball Semifinal

2008 Summer - USA d. Spain Basketball Gold Medal Game

2008 Summer - Phelps Wins Gold in 100m Butterfly

2008 Summer - USA d. Brazil Volleyball Gold Medal Game

Next up, we'll stay on the world stage again and go to Wimbydon with the Tennis Match of the Decade. I'll give you a hint, it involves that Federer dude. Until next time, bye for now.

Top 10 Games Of The Decade - Soccer: Liverpool v Milan

The Decade Series Is Back! It's time for us to begin the countdown of the Top 10 Games of the Decade. Y2 and I deliberated the best way to do this countdown, and after months of tough negotiations we have decided to pick our Game of the Decade in 10 different sports. We'll go from the NFL to the NBA to College Sports to the Olympics. For each game we'll profile the facts and go with the old fashioned Who, What, Where, When, Why and How. But we start our countdown with the beautiful game... and that night in Istanbul.

Who: Liverpool vs AC Milan

What: Champions League Final

Where: Ataturk Olympic Stadium, Istanbul

When: May 25, 2005

How: This game featured two of the most successful teams in European club football. Milan were in their 2nd final in 3 years, having won the Champions League 6 times. Liverpool, 4 time champions, were in their first CL final since the Heysel Stadium Disaster of 1985. The significance of their first appearance since that tragedy can't be underestimated. Milan were a substantial favorite coming into the game. The Rossoneri were 2nd in Serie A and had advanced to the final by beating PSV in the semis. Liverpool had struggled all season (they finished outside the Top 4 in the EPL) and a win in the final might have been their only ticket to appearing in the Champions League the following year. In fact, they only made the knockout round thanks to heroics from captain Steven Gerrard in their last group game against Olympiacos. Needing a goal in the final minutes, this happened...

And that was leading up to a final regarded as The Miracle in Istanbul. AC Milan started quickly with a goal from captain Paolo Maldini in the 1st minute, and they kept scoring. Striker Hernan Crespo then scored 2 more to give Milan a 3-0 lead going into the break. No team had ever come back from such a margin to win a European Cup Final. Liverpool were left for dead. And then, the comeback started. Gerrard, the inspirational leader, got it going with a 54' goal off of a header. Then 2 minutes later Vladimir Smicer scored and the drama was on. 4 minutes later, Gerrard won a penalty. Xabi Alonso (wow, is he missed) took the penalty and somehow scored after his own rebound. Liverpool amazingly scored 3 goals in 6 minutes after being completely left for dead.

The game seemed destined for a penalty shootout. Reds GK Jerzy Dudek made a huge double save on mega-striker Andriy Shevchenko and after extra-time, PKs would decide the winner of the greatest final in European club soccer history. Destiny was now firmly entrenched in the Liverpool camp. Dudek's bizarre wacky waving inflatable arm-flailing tube man tactics (cheap Family Guy reference) led to a miss and a save on 2 of the first 3 penalties. After 3 successes for Liverpool, Dudek saved Shevchenko's penalty and won the Champions League Trophy for Liverpool. Here's the highlights...

Why: Well, if you're considered by many to be the greatest game in the history of the world's most popular sport... that's saying something. This one has some personal significance for me though. It was this game that made me a fan of soccer. I had watched a few World Cup games, but never more than that. Soccer was for sissies and was boring, I mean come on! Where were all the goals? Where's the action? I was a typical meatheaded American sports fan where the beautiful game was concerned.

But, soccer was a big hit where we went to school at Ohio Wesleyan. There's a large international community and the men's soccer team (which we'll cover in the NCAA D3 Tournament on Sunday) was the school's athletic centerpiece. I watched a little Champions League on ESPN2 just to check it out (European soccer on ESPN?? treasonous!) and sat down to watch a full club soccer game for the first time for the Final. Good choice, eh? Even as it was 3-0 at halftime, there was something about that Liverpool team and their captain that interested me, I was hoping Liverpool could at least make a game of it, although I knew that a comeback would never happen. Let's face it, Frank Reich wasn't in red that day and this was soccer, but Stevie G was.

And then, the comeback happened... and I was completely enthralled with a soccer game, and the heroics of Steven Gerrard. What was happening to me?? By the end of the penalty shootout I was jumping for joy that Liverpool had done the impossible and completed one of the most remarkable comebacks in the history of sports. Everything about that game seemed right for me, and I became a soccer fan that day. My love for soccer, and for Liverpool was only enhanced in next year's FA Cup Final when Gerrard produced more heroics in a Liverpool PK win after a 3-3 draw with the greatest goal I have ever seen...

Ever since, I've been converted to a soccer fan, and I have Liverpool and the 2005 Champions League Final to thank.

Others Considered:

2006 World Cup Final - Italy 1 France 1 (Italy wins 5-3 on penalties)

2006 FA Cup Final - Liverpool 3 West Ham 3 (Liverpool wins 3-1 on penalties)

2008 Euro Semifinal - Germany 3 Turkey 2

2009 EPL - Arsenal 4 Liverpool 4

Next up, we'll stay on the world stage with our Olympic Event of the Decade, and we'll take a look at some less happier times for Liverpool at the moment... maybe I should have done the bad news first... oh well, see you next time!