Life 2.1

I can’t even begin to describe the atmosphere in the City of New Orleans yesterday and today (and probably tomorrow, right on through til Mardi Gras!) Since the Saints win over the Colts yesterday, there’s been a sense of euphoria throughout the city. The general consensus is that this tops even Mardi Gras as far as crowds and celebrating goes.

Me and the girls from work

I spent the Super Bowl in the French Quarter, which was a wise choice. I work with Blond Colleen (I’m Brunette Colleen obvi) and her boyf and his buddies rented out the entire second story of Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville for a huge Super Bowl party. We all threw in and that got us all we can eat, along with an open bar. It was, by far, the way to go. Not too crowded but definitely full and Blond Colleen’s mom and step dad staked out a table front and center of one of the huge flat screen TVs so we all had a great view of the win.

Mid-Who Dat chant

The game was so fun to watch with everyone. It’s easy to make friends when everyone is a Saint’s fan! It was clear (in our minds) after the pick-six that the Saints had won the Super Bowl and the place erupted in hugs, fist pumps, and in some cases, tears of joy. I don’t think I have ever hugged so many strangers in all my life! People were just hugging anyone near them and jumping up and down!

I met these people at the party

When it became clear that the Saints were going to emerge victorious, I took a little video (after I did my fair share of jumping up and down and high-fiving, that is)

New Orleans Saints win Super Bowl XLIV

Celebratory fist pumps

Blond Colleen and her step dad celebrate the win

After the hugging wound down, we headed to the balcony to see the celebrations going on below. Margaritaville is actually on Decatur so I wasn’t technically on Bourbon (I was about 3 blocks from it). There were cars parading down the street blasting music, horns honking, good-spirited mayhem and everyone was celebrating.

New Orleans Saints win Super Bowl XLIV

Brooke and me on the balcony

It gave new meaning to the song "Dancin' In the Streets"

We did end up heading to Bourbon and the walk among everyone was worth putting up with the crowds. The scene was something I won’t ever forget…walking past people and they want to high-five you at random. People cheering and screaming at random, pockets of people starting Who Dat chants…it was most definitely an experience! The city was full on Black and Gold…as illustrated in the picture of the statue below:

Getting up on the statue was the easy part but I have no idea how they were getting down

Brooke and me heading to the madness that was Bourbon

And now might also be the appropriate time to tell you that on Facebook, there are people who have listed “Drew Breesus” as their religious affiliation. They are hardcore fans.

They call him Drew Breesus

THIS was Bourbon!

I have to say, the Saints win was truly an amazing moment.

My dad used to tape newspaper articles to our refrigerator when my brothers and I were growing up. Articles would appear in the mornings, if he read the paper prior to our getting up for school, or in the evenings, if it was something that crossed his desk while at he was at work. The content of the articles varied from sports tips to social commentary that served as food for thought to those that were meant to entertain. Sometimes there was highlighted text, of which we knew to take special note.

If I had someone who saw my fridge besides myself, I would totally post this article on it. Since I don’t, I’m posting here.

I was appalled today. I was appalled to learn that small business owners (particularly t-shirt shops and the like) in New Orleans have been receiving cease and desist letters from the NFL. Why you ask? Oh please. Let me enlighten you.

Apparently, the NFL says that the use of the words “Who Dat” and the black and gold fleur de lis are trademark infringements. I’m sorry, but are you kidding me?

I haven’t even been living here that long and this makes me so angry. I can’t even imagine the anger swirling around inside those who have been New Orleans Saints fans since the team’s inception in the late 1960s.

I will go ahead and let everyone know that I AM a Saints fan and not just because they are headed to Miami. I never paid much attention to the NFL teams when I lived in California. Growing up, I watched games but never felt akin to any particular team–certainly not the Oakland Raiders, as I’m still bitter about not getting to play certain PE games during gym in middle school because they were using the field for a practice facility. My family, for the most part, were San Francisco 49er fans (there were multiple Halloweens in which my brother donned a red #16 jersey and a gold helmet) but I never followed them closely.

Then I moved to New Orleans in the middle of the season last year and quickly learned that New Orleans (and I think it safe to say the South in general) takes their football very seriously. I went to my first Saints game on December 7, 2008 when they played the Atlanta Falcons in the Superdome and I admit it. I was hooked. The atmosphere was astounding. People who had never met bonded over this team. My last day of work at the winery, I received a black t-shirt with a gold fleur de lis on it and was informed it was mandatory attire and I quickly learned this to be true and anyone wearing black and gold was a friend.

I sat on the edge of my seat (when I was even sitting at all) at the neck-and-neck contest. NFC Championship hero Garrett Hartley knocked down a field goal just as the first half was ending to put the Saints up 16-14. Atlanta went up again on a FG of their own before the teams traded touchdowns and the Falcons were up 25-22 late in the game. Reggie Bush returned a kickoff to the Falcons 15-yard line and then Pierre Thomas found the end zone from five yards out to give New Orleans the eventual win and it was exhilarating. But more than that, I watched, almost as though watching threw a window, the entire city celebrate. It was like watching proud parents revel in their child’s victory. I am a fan of the New Orleans Saints because of the passion that they ignite in their fans and how a single sports team can unify a city. I am a fan of any team that can do that, though the Saints are the only team to which I have been exposed that have mastered the art.

And now. The NFL is trying to dampen the celebration and break the spirit of the loyal Saints fans? I’m thoroughly disgusted by them. This article was posted on a local news website this afternoon and gives a little more news weight than just my rant. (Which, fair warning, I’m about to continue below.)

You do not own the rights to the words “Who Dat”, National Football League. Nor do you own the rights to the fleur de lis. It’s a symbol of the entire city and, I’m going out on a limb here, but I’m guessing France might have a bone to pick with you for suggesting such a thing, seeing as how it’s a symbol of the French monarchy that *I’m pretty sure* was established before you.

Not to mention the fact that if this was something of a subject of concern to the NFL, they should have taken it up with the Who Dat Nation years ago (read: when the Saints weren’t winning). Just where exactly do they get off claiming it belongs to the NFL now?

Ugh.

At the time of this post, the Facebook group ‘Hey NFL! Keep your hands off of WHO DAT & the Fleur de Lis!’ already had 5,895 members and counting. And I will tell you one other thing I have learned about living in New Orleans: the more you try and break them, the more strength the city finds and the more united the people become. I know this to be true and I’m not even from around here.

I love football season. I mean, I love baseball season but the two are different. There is something about the smell of football (shoulder pads, mixed with sweat, mixed with grass) that I love. I especially love it under the lights. I love baseball just as much, but in a different way. (I’m not sure why I needed to justify that but I felt the need.)

At any rate, tonight is Monday Night Football. And not just any Monday Night Football. This is the Saints taking on Atlanta. The UNDEFEATED SAINTS against the Falcons. It’s huge in this town. New Orleans is a football city. I mean, after the huge win over Miami last week, I actually got a text message on Sunday at 9pm that said something like, “Saints land at 10pm. See you at the airport.” Like that is totally normal to go to the airport. I didn’t go (obvi, I like sleep) but word on the street was that cars were lined up for miles outside the private airport.

This was the scene (taken from nola.com) at the airport. And the best part? The Saints players stopped to sign autographs. For a long time. Nice.

New Orleans has no pro baseball team so I can’t compare how they would be for a World Series event but I have to say, today….today, ladies and gentlemen, I was impressed.

It was Monday. No one likes Monday. Except the Monday where you get to wear Saints/black & gold clothing to work in place of a suit and tie. I went to work today (not in Saints gear because I literally didn’t get the memo) and I’m pretty sure everyone that I came in contact with today didn’t want to/was not working. (Not me though, I work all the time. Double on Saturdays. Triple on Sundays. All the time, in case you’re reading this Mike.) Why? Because they were all.getting.ready.for.The.Game.

Please note that The Game is capitalized. Because it is that important.

To illustrate my point, I took these pics from my car (when I was working) today at approximately 1:30pm near the Superdome.

Yes that is a Saints blowup man

The tailgating started early. As in 7 hours early.

And these pics don’t even do it justice but I was getting ready to merge onto a major interstate and value my life so it’s the best I could do.

As I walked between accounts today, I was amazed at the buzz of activity. Oddly, the first thought that popped into my head was hmm, this sure is going to stimulate the local economy. This is also how I know I’m an adult. I think of adult things like the economy.

Everyone was in Saints jerseys, women donned black and gold boas and fleur-de-lis. It was really impressive. That’s really the only word I can use to describe such passion. And believe me, it is passion.

I know him. Seriously.

For my CA readers who haven’t experienced quite such a thing, don’t be alarmed. He is actually a very nice person.

But I just thought I would attempt to capture such a day/emotion/passion because, really, there is nothing like it. So I guess there really is just one thing left to say.

Who Dat???

I went to my first Saints game today and got to see the Saints win 29-25 in the Superdome! And had a total blast. It’s safe to say that I never had followed an NFL team religiously before but people in the boot take their New Orleans Saints football very seriously, so I donned a black t-shirt with a gold fleur-de-lis that I had received from my former boss at the winery. Since B-Dub, as he shall be called, grew up in New Orleans, he knew what I needed to fit in!

I had been given a couple tickets so I asked My Favorite Florida Gator Fan to come with. He agreed and we arrived at the Dome around 11am for a noon kickoff. As we parked (kudos to my favorite Gator Fan for knowing where to park for free a coo, I think, for a major sporting event, such as the Saints game) we passed all the fellow Saints fans who were enjoying massive amounts of food. I was immediately impressed with the tailgating efforts. I have learned that they take food very seriously as well. And I can appreciate that.

So it was no surprise that we headed to find something to eat once we were inside. And find food we did. We each indulged in a 20-pound (ok, maybe not really 20 pounds but it was definitely bioengineer-sized) baked potato that came complete with the following toppings:
butter
sour cream
cheese
chives
bacon bits
shredded brisket and topped with bbq sauce

It was also delicious-flavored.

Following stuffing myself to capacity, we headed to our seats which were in the end zone on the first level and pretty darn good. Being in row 36, we didn’t have to worry about the people behind us and I sat next to the cutest little old lady who was the best fan. She was screaming right along with everyone else.

The Saints offense from our seats

She also made me giggle when she announced that she considered the man who dresses up and dances at the end of the 3rd quarter as ‘ugly’ which I couldn’t really contest since he was dressed as Santa from the waist up and a ‘SaintsSation’ cheerleader with a metallic gold cheerleader skirt from the waist down. She did have a point, he was not attractive in the skirt but he did have some sweet moves!

At the end of the 3rd quarter this guy dresses up and shakes what his momma gave him-it is hilarious and slightly alarming

This cute little old Saints fan had also never seen a two-point conversion attempt before and was very nervous that the failed attempt meant the Saints would lose all the points scored during the drive. I hope my husband takes me on dates to football games when I’m old(er).

After the failed PAT attempt, the Saints were only up 22-17 towards the beginning of the fourth quarter. Naturally, the Falcons scored because Atlanta quarterback Matt Ryan had all the time in the world and his pick of receivers. Then they did convert the 2-point PAT so they were up 25-22 with 8 minutes or so left. Some of the energy was sucked right out of the Dome after that. (Although, unfortunately for my favorite Gator fan, the loud and slightly intoxicated girl next to him didn’t miss a beat and continued to vocalize her support for ‘her boys’.)

But lucky for us and by us, I mean the Saints and their fans Reggie Bush is a stud and he returned the kickoff right into the redzone and the Saints were about 15 yards out. They put it in the end zone on the drive and the PAT kick was good– thus, the final 29-25.

It was at this point that I heard the following:

Who dat say dey gonna beat dem Saints?
Who dat? (Who dat)
Who dat say dey gonna beat dem Saints?
Who dat? (Who dat)
Who dat say dey gonna beat dem Saints?
Who dat? (Who dat)
Who dat say dey gonna beat dem Saints?

If you have never heard this, it sounds a little something like:

It was such a good time. I just kept smiling the whole time, enjoying the whole afternoon. And it was also kinda neat not to freeze like one might at Candlestick. I’m just sayin… But it truly was a fun atmosphere…I enjoyed all my company and I can’t wait to go back!

My favorite Gator fan and me. See that tie? I have been told that those are the colors of champions

Other items of note: during the excitement of the 4th quarter drive, someone managed to steal the purse of the lady sitting on the other side of the cute older couple. Who does that? I mean honestly. We’re all there, having an enjoyable time, relishing in the fact that the Saints offense was carrying the load and some jerkface reaches under the seat in front of him and takes a purse, knowing no one will see since they are excited that the Saints scored. That is some seriously bad karma.

I, on the other hand, am no longer feeling like a jinx at the Superdome, since today was the first win I had seen there. Woot woot!