Sweetness for the Saints

After winning the biggest game of his professional career by downing the Indianapolis Colts 31-17, I thought this image of Saints quarterback Drew Brees holding his son was wonderful. Brees was talking to his kid and and kissing his cheeks on national television. And the sportscasters on CBS were praising this moment of father-son bonding, something I found a tad surprising. Usually, if a guy, especially an athlete, shows sensitivity, people are quick to question their manliness... as if being a loving father is a "bad thing". So, it would seem, we had two firsts this evening: a first Super Bowl victory for the one-time hapless and hopeless New Orleans Saints, and a first moment of sports announcers praising a male athlete for showing tender affection.

It was a great game by the way. Very exciting and suspenseful. It wasn't clear that the Saints were going to pull this thing off. They started out down by ten points early on, and showing absolutely no "oomph" in their offense. But when the Saints began the second half of the game by using a bit of trickery, doing an on-side kick and recovering the ball, the momentum definitely shifted to their side. Then Tracy Porter's pick-off of a Peyton Manning pass that Porter ran in for a touch down, sealed the game for the Saints.

No doubt, the city of New Orleans is partying even more this evening... and they well deserve it. Even Grandmere Mimi at WOUNDED BIRD, who last Super Bowl was listening to opera, is feeling pretty good about Who Dat Nation tonight. After getting crushed so cruely by Hurricane Katrina, and the neglect of governmental leaders, New Orleans and the Gulf Coast of Louisiana needed something to bring them cheer. And that's really what sports is about. It's a business, but it's an entertainment business which, when the team is a winner, can make the mood of a city a little lighter and brighter.

Who Dat? Dem Saints who are marching in with a Super Bowl trophy! Congratulations, y'all. Well done!