Many cities in the U.S. are crazy about their football teams, but the Saints are extra special to New Orleanians.
Most everyone in the region considers football another religion and they accept the Saints as their saviors. In fact, so much so, that the Archbishop wore a Drew Brees Saints jersey under his robe while performing a “black & gold mass” the day after the Saints won the Super Bowl in 2009. The Archbishop was so moved by the Saints’ victory, that he even got the Vatican’s approval to fly the Saints Super Bowl championship flag from St. Louis Cathedral in place of the papal flag that day! Since then, flying the Saints flag from St. Louis Cathedral, in the heart of the French Quarter, for one day, has become an annual tradition.
The 2009 Super Bowl game brought all New Orleanians together as they watched a history making event….for the first time in 44 years the Saints claimed the Super Bowl! The Saint’s organization used that momentum & national recognition in countless charitable ways to support the city of New Orleans’ continued struggle to rebuild after Hurricane Katrina. All recognize & appreciate how much our home team has done for our city & that gratitude will always remain.
So, it’s that time of the year again and everyone’s got Saint fever! I have to admit that I am a newly recruited football fan……I honestly never knew that it could be so much fun. It’s so bad that I am actually reading the sports section of the paper! I think the turning point was when I entered the Superdome for the first and only game I have ever attended. You see it on TV and you hear people talk about it………but, you just have to experience it! There’s black and gold EVERYWHERE and the dome is rockin’ . The fans chant “Who dat say dey gonna beat dem Saints?!” ; once the crowd gets going, there’s no stopping them. The crowd’s energy is infectious, even for those of us that are clueless when it comes to the intricate plays of football. Only minutes in, I found myself jumping up & down while chanting & yelling along with the rest of the crowd, “Who dat?!”, rocking out to “The Saints are Coming”…and LOVING every second of it! At that moment I knew I was hooked!
The Saints aren’t just a football team, they are part of the soul of the city. They have helped to restore our hope & remind us to enjoy life each day, because that’s what being a New Orleanian is all about. So, why not come join the Saints’ fans while staying at your Garden District Bed & Breakfast & see what all the fuss is about?! Although the tickets are sold out for the entire 2011 season, if you want to experience a game firsthand in the Superdome, you can visit the NFL Ticket Exchange online & buy spare tickets from season ticket holders. Or, we’re happy to point you in the direction of numerous local bars & restaurants where locals congregate on Sundays to watch the games together. Just make sure to wear your black & gold! Soon, you’ll be saying it with us… “Who dat, who dat, who dat say dey gonna beat dem Saints?!”.
The city is abuzz with predictions and dreams of a “TWO DAT” season……now, wouldn’t that be something?
