If you haven’t noticed, Saints fans have been tailgating downtown since 8am today – seriously, it’s like Mardi Gras day or something and I’m the only one wearing hot pink.
Quite frankly, I don’t have the time to be excited for the Saints. Nor was any found to watch the Packers beat Detroit this past weekend, if it makes you feel any better. I did, however, manage to eke out a moment to announce, “That’s what Michigan gets for their Wolverines beating our Badgers the day before.” Yeah. Punks.
“So, I hear the Superbowl’s reopening on Monday,” my mother started our harried Saturday conversation. Superbowl? Superbowl … “Ohhh, you mean the Superdome, mom, it is indeed reopening this Monday” I replied. My mother shot back, “Bowl, dome, whatever; are you excited?” Fair enough. Understand that my mother’s verbal acknowledgment of sports is a momentous occasion unto itself.
“Am I excited? Yes and no. To see a place re-emerge into its NFL glory, that was the symbol of New Orleanian misery during the flood, is a great thing. But, the undue attention given one small aspect of New Orleans, when there are miles and miles to go before we sleep, is nuts. Even life-long New Orleanians have told me they’re sick of hearing about the Saints. And, if we talk about anything Saints-related on our blogs, all kinds of commenters crawl out of the ether to make their voices and knowledge of football stats heard. Where are all of these people when we invite discussion on The Great Government Letdown and Rebuilding Debrisville? It’s bread and circuses all over again, I tell you!”
Not missing a beat, my mother shut me down (but sweetly), “You can’t be like that, Maitri. Give them a break. Do you know what this means for city business? It sends a message inviting people to come to your city – that it is safer – and the money and cheer that comes in from game attendance will be such a boost. Then, more and more people will come and see what New Orleans is really all about today. You have to start bringing them in somewhere.”
Maitri’s mother, the Indian-American Saints’ Ambassador to Ohio. I am … proudly stunned. She is such a surprising woman.
Mom also reminds me of the hurt I felt each time I drove into the city from Houston last fall and saw the torn-up facade of the big alien spaceship. So, in the spirit of craic, Gemütlichkeit and Green Bay Packer goodwill, I wish the Saints and their fans a joyous return to the Superdome. Here’s hoping you beat the dirty birds!
I agree, this doesn’t mean that NOLA is back, but it is a step closer. I’ll take every step in the right direction that I can get!