Super Bowl Bayou - Chris "Preach" Smith

Like a lot of people, I jumped for joy as the football sailed
through the uprights in the Louisiana Superdome guaranteeing
the New Orleans Saints their first ever Super Bowl Berth. It was
especially sweet considering that it came over the Minnesota
Vikings and 40 year old Brett Farve, who has more NFL lives than
Crash Bandicoot these days. They're not going to admit it, but I
believe there were some Saints fans who had a hidden feeling of
''it's too good to be true" and dread even though their team at
one point was undefeated deep into the regular season. Their team
after all had years of futility under their belt. Fans with brown
paper bags over their heads. Nuns invited to break the 'curse'.
Mike Ditka virtually giving up the franchise one year to draft the
only Heisman Trophy winning hemp afficianado ever, Ricky
Williams. Not that it's been entirely bad. Archie Manning had a
strong career with losing teams. Tom Dempsey had the longest
successful field goal kick in NFL history. There were contending
teams in the early 1990's built on the arms of Steve Walsh and
Bobby Joe Hebert and the one-two punch of Dalton Hilliard and
Craig 'Ironhead' Heyward. And who can forget Rickey Jackson
on defense? But this season has been truly magical. And New
Orleans is a town that needs some of that magic these days.

It was close to five years ago when Hurricane Katrina swept in
and tragically impacted the Gulf Coast, New Orleans primarily,
during the sweltering month of August. The entire world was
riveted to news from the bayou, and the Superdome became a
symbol of hope and resilience as people camped out on the field
and the bleachers...and bodies were stored in the catering freezers.
In the midst of the Mississippi's swollen floodwaters, it stood out
as a beacon of faith. Afterwards, football didn't seem all that
important. The owner, Tom Benson even mulled an offer to move
the team to San Antonio. This couple with the possibility of the
other sport team in town, the Hornets looking to bail would've
killed a lot of spirit in this town, a city rich in history and culture
outside of those cliche pictures of Bourbon Street. Thankfully,
Benson chose to stay. And the Saints have done their part in
helping New Orleans rebuild on and off the field.

A touchdown doesn't take away the feeling of feeling
abandoned.

The question is, as much as sports matter in this country, how
much can that feeling carry the city of New Orleans? Katrina
and its aftermath opened up that deep seated wound of racial
disparity that sits in the body of America with the cold efficiency
of a machete. I took part in organizing a benefit for a group in
the Lower Ninth Ward which is still, years later recovering. A
great deal of the people there were scattered across this
country, and some have yet to return. Houses still sit damaged.
On some level, the success of a football team doesn't mean
squat to a family who's lost their home and may not be able to
get back. A touchdown doesn't take away the feeling of feeling
abandoned. But these Saints have become a rallying cry. A cry
that is heard in Congo Square. A source of pride every time you
see a fleur-de-lis in black and gold. A friend of mine has family
down there and is a die-hard fan...which she trumpeted after
the Saints beat my Giants in week 5. (See Ms.Stackhouse, I
have not forgotten.)


And you can't help but think that there's a divine script being written.
The Indianapolis Colts are the second half of this Super Bowl, led
by Peyton Manning, Archie's boy. Archie's on record as rooting for
the Colts. But somehow, someway,  I think that this man who played
for New Orleans, who still calls it his home wouldn't be too upset
if the Saints won. And I think that he and a lot of other people
would hope that this means that more good fortune falls upon
this city in the form of upward progress in rebuilding. And more
businesses investing there. More jobs. Long after the cheering
stops, that is what the city of New Orleans will need the most
these days. Because while America loves a winner, more than anything,
they love a comeback. And the New Orleans Saints and their city can
definitely attest to that.