Die hard Saints fan since I was a wee boy in the 1980s. Born and raised in New Orleans. I remember those early Mora years when we were scrapping for wins with a great defense and a mediocre offense. The good ol' days. I stood by the Saints all those years: the shortcomings in the early 90s; the Wade Wilson and "Chris" Everett (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nlksqIm3xvI) project; the Ditka years with the Billy Joes and no name receivers; the Haslett years; the Aaron Brooks years (see 2013 Tampa Bay Bucs. I see them as a mirror of the early 2000 Saints); the Katrina year; the post Katrina years. It's been a long road between the early Mora years and Sean Payton. My thoughts:
Why we don't suck:
- Saints got Sean Payton. One of the best coaches in the NFL right now. He's a great coach, and knows what the fuck he's doing when it comes down to the 4th quarter in a close game. The Saints have never had that type of coach before Payton. They usually loved to punt and hope the defense would give the ball back. Not this time.
- Saints got Drew Brees. One of the best quarterbacks in the NFL right now. Grateful he has agreed to stay in New Orleans. Sure the Saints signed him to the current amount of the New Orleans GNI, but he is worth it. The fact the Saints have enough in the payroll to keep Jimmy Graham and Mark Ingram in the payroll shocks me.
- Saints got Darren Sproles. He is a mighty mouse in a football uniform. Everyone loves to talk about Brees and Graham being the best at their positions, but Sproles is very underrated. He does everything for the Saints. Run. Catch. Return. Too bad he's too small to play defense. We can throw him in as a nickel back. Saints need all the help they can get.
- Saints have good fans. We stick to the end of the game even when we lose. Everytime I go to the dome, a good group of fans are out there cheering and celebrating. We don't care about the outcome. We love our Saints. One of the best fan bases in my opinion.
- Close vicinity to the CBD (Central Business District). I am a fan of stadiums in walking distance of the hotel. I don't want to have to worry about parking in some 100 square foot lot and have to pay $40 to get my car sardined with 100 other cars. I can walk out of the hotel, enjoy a nice breakfast at the Ruby Slipper. Get a nice plate of shrimp and grits or eggs... Whatever you prefer. Order a nice cup of mimosa. Walk out and enjoy the nice downtown scenery for another hour or so until you take a nice 15-20 minute stroll to the dome. If not the Ruby Slipper, Mother's the place to be for a nice home cooked breakfast.
Why we suck:
- Mercedes-Benz Superdome. I have to complain about this. After all these years, we have grown up and known the building as the Louisiana Superdome. It is a proud trademark of New Orleans. What do they do? Fuckin' change the name to Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Why the fuck would you want to change the building name to that? It's also not like the stadium seats are made of leather like a Mercedes car. Not the best seats compared to other stadiums. Also the Mardi Gras lights at night? I hate it. I blame Tom Benson for this, which leads to .....
- Tom Benson. Fuck Tom Benson. He's the one who broke up the Dome Patrol, brought in Ditka thinking he can change the team, let Randy Mueller go after that upstart 2000 season, and didn't have the balls to fire Haslett. On top of that, I can count numerous times he has wanted to move the team out of New Orleans. LA? San Antonio? Fuck Tom Benson. Him and his terrible boogie dance.
- Saints history. I am OK with letting the 70s slide since they were still a young team. I am somewhat OK with letting the 80s slide before Mora and Jim Finks came aboard. However, I will not let it slide how many times the Saints have been the butt of sports history before Sean Payton came along. The only thing worse being a Saints fan was being a Cubs fan. Everyone knew the Saints would never win a critical game. We knew they would somehow choke at the last minute. Good example of Saints history (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DOeocX2D9Ks).
- Saints paid Brees too much money. Sure the Saints kept one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL, but what does this cost? Guys like Grubbs, De La Puente, and Streif protecting him. Sure the Saints have protected Brees well the past couple of years, but eventually something is going to give. They can barely develop the running game. Ingram looks overrated. Which leads to..
- Saints defense. Worst defense in NFL history in 2012. What do they do? Hire Rob motherfuckin' Ryan. What? Did the Saints not see what he did in Dallas? Come on. He isn't going to help this defense. On top of that, they barely upgraded the defense after that disastrous year. No name nickel and dime backs. I see their defense struggling again in 2013.
- Saints have horrible fans. Terrible flip floppers. One week they are claiming they're going to the Super Bowl. Next week they are going after everyone's heads. No clear vision of what's really wrong. Go to any barber shop on North Rampart or Magazine, and there are true tell tale signs of flip flopper fans.
- Terrible location. It right next to the Poydras and Howard exits. No wonder the traffic is at a standstill backed up 10 miles 1 1/2 hours before game time. If you want to get to the Crescent City Connection bridge going east on a Sunday on gameday? Forget about it. You might as well take the long way through the suicidal Huey P Long bridge to get to the Westbank, Algiers, or Chalmette. On top of that, it's right across the street from the ghetto. Cross under the I-10 bridge outside the Superdome, and you just reduced your life risk level.
- Self-entitlement. Fans feel they "deserve" a football team after all they been through. What the fuck is that all about? You're lucky to have two professional sports teams in your city. A lot of thriving cities wish to have a professional sports team. What? New Orleans needs the Saints because the city will die if the team leaves? Don't pin this blame on the football franchise. Blame your city's shortcomings on yourself.
- Saints chants. I am ok with the "who dat". Sure it makes us fans look illiterate and drunk bellands. I am proud to be a Saints fan. However, what I don't agree with is the constant "who dat" shouts everywhere you go. It destroys the meaning of what it is. What does it mean? Don't ask me. It is a broken version of "Who dat going to beat dem Saints?". Also the "black and gold. super bowl" and "geaux saints". Stop it.
- People who put "who dat" as their middle name on facebook. her (https://www.facebook.com/dwannalb), him (https://www.facebook.com/druptonogood), definately him (https://www.facebook.com/steveironmcgee), him (https://www.facebook.com/turbosupra), her (https://www.facebook.com/heartay), and her (https://www.facebook.com/stephanie.w.veron). Stop it.
- This: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SHIFLNWZBfA
