The Saints vs the Colts Super Bowl Followup

There was a great HIGHPOINTS column by Paul E. Anna entitled "Super Saints" in the 02/12/2010 Aspen Times that I'd like to share with you so you don't have to go elsewhere to read it at this time.

I'm going to tell you about the highlights of the column instead of reprinting it word for word here.

First of all, the New Orleans Saints' 31-17 victory over the Indianapolis Colts was viewed by the largest audience in the history of television. The giant snow storm that hit the mid-Atlantic states during the game helped to set the record, being that it was a lot more comfortable to be inside watching the tube than outside in a blizzard. About a third of the people in the U.S. watched the Saints come from behind by 10 points to win their first Super Bowl game in 42 years, even though the Colts were a 5 point favorite. I guess that meant if you bet $10 on the Saints you won $50.

If you watched the game (as you probably did) you saw the turning point in the game when the Colts were moving the ball toward a tying touchdown. They needed a 5 yard first down when the Colt's Payton Manning, who was born and raised in New Oleans, threw a pass to his top receiver, Reggie Wayne. Reading the play perfectly, Saints' cornerback, Terry Porter jumped past Wayne and picked off the pass and sprinted 74 yards down the field for enough points to seal the victory!

Porter's story is a great one in itself. He was raised in Lousiana, but went to Indiana University, so he had roots in both teams' home states. Like the city of New Orleans, he too had come back from adversity, having injured his knee during the regular season, he had been pronounced out for the year before his return for the playoffs. When it mattered the most, he made the critical aggresive move that won the game.

Or was it Manning who was the key? Anyone who knows anything about Payton Manning knows that he is an intense competitor who has an extremely strong sense of determination to win; that he could never be accused of making such a mistake at such a critical time as he did with that pass. But... it is possible that being a son of the city that raised him; if you think about it, in that brief moment, the soul of New Orleans that resides in him rose up and took just this much off that pass... The pass was slighty inside... Maybe he couldn't help himself and, as a result, gave one up for the City of New Orleans.

I guess we'll never know, will we?  It's just something we can ponder.

By the way, Drew Brees (Saints' QB) is another great story, but I don't have time to get into it now. so...

Catch you later, Don V the Jazzman

PS: It looks like Leslie and I will be visiting New Orleans in April for a few days.