10-7 (and that's cool...)

No tight pic today guys, I'm not into it.

My New Orleans Saints are 10-7, they got knocked the heck out, smacked, pw3nd. 10-7 is a police code for "out of order". So if you ever hear me say 10-7, it means done, finished, 86'd. I've enjoyed the term 10-7 for a long long time. It's old school for me. And it's about as handy a phrase yall is down here in the south.

That's one thing about sports, unless you win it all, EVERY season comes to a crashing hault, hard and fast.

So, anyways, after a night of sulking in my own misery, I picked myself up out of a pool of my own vomit and drool and went to bed...after a shower. The next day I began to reflect on the truly momumental season my team had. My boys kicked a lot of tail this year, when they weren't expected to, and that's cool.

Maybe I/we got greedy as Saints fans. We wanted more and more and more. A strong showing in a season after 3-13 wasn't good enough, just making the playoffs wasn't good enough, the NFC championship game, WASN'T GOOD ENOUGH. But such is human nature. And I'm not different, I was disappointed because they didn't make it to the big dance and that's cool.

The sense of urgency for the fans was there because, I guess, we have a lot of making up to do in the world of professional football.

Whatever.

The bottom line for me...I had a great time, I now hold memories I'll have for the rest of my life and we have the makings of a GREAT team and that's cool.

They always say "Maybe Next Year", next year finally made it and it was great. To tell you the truth, the future is bright with this bunch, and I can't wait for next season!

People ask if something as seemingly insignificant as a football team can have such a big impact on a community that has been utterly devestated by a disaster like Katrina, after what I experienced this season, hail yeah...

And that's cool...

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NFL 2006 NFC Championship - Saints Vs Bears

Believe it!

So, why do I hesitate to write about my New Orleans Saints just 3 days before they play the absolute BIGGEST and MOST IMPORTANT game in the history of the organization and for that matter, the biggest game and most important game for the City of New Orleans and surrounding areas?

My initial feeling is that if I write about them it'll jinx them and they'll lose to the Bears in Chicago. But if I've learned anything over the past 4 1/2 months is that "Dis ain't y'mama's Saints". Many times during the season when they were down a touchdown or two, me and my pops would be at or watching the games saying, this doesn't look good, that may be it and in the past, we would have been right on the money, they would have collapsed like the French in 1940.

BLOG BONUS: Speaking of the French in 1940 - Why did the French plant trees along the Champs Elysees? So the Germans could march in the shade.

But this is a new team, a new coach and a different mindset from ANY Saints team we've fielded before. So, I now can take my Ricky Williams jersey's out of my closet and wear them with pride (after i peel off the letters on the back) and I can say things without fear and be confident in my team. It's very liberating all this success our boys have had!

I can't tell you what this season has meant to me personally. I've been a Saints fan for a LONG LONG TIME. And I've been through hell with this team. I was there through all of it, just me. I can't believe that a football team has this much impact on me personally. I was pretty emotional when they beat the Eagles last week. I didn't expect it. I feel like I'm dreaming right now.

I can't tell you what's going to happen on Sunday but I've never been more confident in a team in my life. I actually trust our coach and players to plan, prepare and execute on Sunday and may the best team win!

When the Saints win and go to the Super Bowl (I can't believe I just wrote that)please don't be offended if I can't attend your Super Bowl party, cause I've already been invited to about 3. And I can't tell you why I'd rather watch it by myself, maybe I don't want to make a fool of myself, maybe I don't want to kick someone's cat by mistake or scare little children half to death when I cheer or maybe I don't want people to see me cry when they win. It's nothing personal but you see, I'm a basket case when it comes to my team.

I believe in this team and have for a long time. I'm not stopping now, and neither is the New Orleans Saints. No one is going to stop this team, NO ONE. The Bears are going down in Chicago! And the Saints are going to the SUPER BOWL!!

BELIEVE IT

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Fear and Firepower

Excellent article here by TP writer Chris Rose and what he's going through with the crime in our city lately.

The more I think about the steadily climbing killing rate in our city, the more pessimistic I get. I think about the scores of talented and dedicated people who make up our community who are essential to the recovery of this area after Katrina and are choosing to leave our city and head for a safer environment for themselves and their families.

But who can blame them, really?

It saddens me to no end but what can be done? Better schools or better parenting? Sure these are long term solutions but practially speaking, WHAT CAN BE DONE NOW?

Arming the public? Maybe national guardsman from all over the country, one posted at every door in every neighborhood 24 hrs a day for a generation until they grow out of it?

I'm up for ideas, anyone?

My suggestive plan:
Short term - Force (guns and ammo, military and air raid sirens)
Long term - Hearts and Minds (parents, schools, community)

Half joking there people but it's hard to be optimistic about the crime lately.

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