New Orleans Saints: the greatest sports story ever?

By Randy  |   Wednesday, January 17, 2007  |  Comments( 16 )

New Orleans Saints
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About an hour before sunrise in New Orleans on Monday morning, ESPN Radio analyst Mike Greenberg is proclaiming that if the New Orleans Saints finish the deal and win the Super Bowl, it will be "the greatest sports story in history."

Maybe the late Herb Brooks, who led the United States hockey team to an improbable victory over the Soviet Union and a subsequent Gold Medal in the 1980 Olympics at Lake Placid, would have argued with that conclusion.

Boise State cheerleader Chrissy Popadics may raise an objection, too. She received a marriage proposal from her boyfriend, Broncos running back Ian Johnson, shortly after he scored the winning touchdown in dramatic fashion in Boise's come-from-behind, 43-42 win over Oklahoma in this year's Fiesta Bowl. Some are saying it was the most exciting game ever played. Actually, it was. Had a scriptwriter proposed this story to a Hollywood producer, he or she would have been laughed out of that producer's office.

If the Saints do defeat the Chicago Bears on Sunday and, then, win the Super Bowl in Miami, it's doubtful any wordsmith will be able to do the story full justice. Too many elements. Too many storylines. Too complex a tale. This writer certainly lacks the skill for the task.

Consider that only one year ago, the Saints were playing a "home" game at the Meadowlands in New York. Rumors were swirling that team owner Tom Benson was in negotiations with the mayor of San Antonio to relocate the Saints to Texas following the dismissal of a top team executive and the resignation of another. Vitriol spewed over New Orleans radio airwaves as talk show callers likened Benson to Ebenezer Scrooge with a hangover.

Fingers were being pointed from every direction concerning the Saints' relationship with the state of Louisiana. Benson had pressed Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco for the construction of a new stadium or else, arguing that the Superdome is antiquated by current NFL standards. Louisiana officials said the venue was just fine. All it needed was a major renovation. A little spit and shine.

There were questions regarding whether the community would support a football team given more serious issues facing denizens of New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina. Who would go to a football game when they had to worry about rebuilding their leveled houses while battling with insurance adjusters and FEMA? Some politicians and national commentators maintained that New Orleans should be razed and rebuilt elsewhere.

And, then, it all began to turn in a bizarre chain of events. Serendipity. The Saints hired Dallas offensive assistant Sean Payton to replace the fired Jim Haslett. San Diego chose not to re-sign Drew Brees following off-season shoulder surgery. Brees selected the Saints after Miami had spurned him, saying he needed to be a part of the devastated city's comeback.

Inexplicably and unbelievably, Reggie Bush fell into the Saints' lap with the No. 2 overall selection in the 2006 draft when Houston Texans GM Charley Casserly selected defensive end Mario Williams over the USC Heisman Trophy winner. Soon, Casserly would be seeking employment elsewhere. Bush would finish the
season with over 1,500 total yards via ground and air.

A nondescript Saints defense - quick, name three starters on the New Orleans defense - yielded big plays but improved with each passing game. Rejects like Scott Fujita, Mark Simoneau and Scott Shanle formed a new starting linebacking corps and quietly accounted for seven-plus tackles each every game.

Fujita spearheaded the Saints' defensive effort in Sunday night's win over the Eagles with big plays in the red zone. Just ask Brian Westbrook about that one.

Finally, Saints fans became the No. 1 star of the team's defense. The proverbial 12th man. Choose your adjective. Loud. Obnoxious. Raucous. Boisterous. With names like the Bearded Nun and Abdul the Tentmaker, they were loyal, noisy and passionate all season.

The people of New Orleans have been to Hell and back following Katrina, and their underdog Saints became a rallying point as they defeated the Falcons, Cowboys and Eagles in front of national audiences, proving that sports can play an important role in the human psyche. Indeed, for four hours on Saturday night, no one in New Orleans thought about hurricane problems or the city's rising murder rate.

"We're hoping to be out in front in a leadership role in this community," said Payton following the game. " We have high goals. I couldn't be happier for the people in this town. They have been through thick and thin. Mostly thin. Hopefully, we can give them a kick in their step."

The French have a word for it. It's called savoir-faire - the perfect mixture of style and substance. Savoir-faire aptly describes the play of Brees, Deuce McAllister, Bush, Charles Grant, Fujita and the other nondescript players who comprise the 2006 edition of the Saints. Almost all are unlikely heroes.

America's new team, perhaps destiny's darlings, will attempt to keep the dream alive Sunday in Chicago. The world will be watching. No pressure. After all New Orleans and the team have been through together, the pressure of an NFC Championship game undoubtedly pales in comparison.

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