Since I promised myself I’d be in the Dome if our beloved Saints make it to the NFC final (please ignore my signature), I have been shopping around the net for tickets. Regardless of the ridiculous prices already advertised, I couldn’t help noticing how every web sites don’t have the same tickets up for sale, but always have those in section 637. Considering the kind of money it will take just to get in, even WAY up there, I dont want to get screwed over bad seatings. Furthermore, I don’t want to disappoint my guest . Any of you season ticket holders know what’s up with that?

 Any advice on which web site to buy tickets from or lodging are also more than welcome.

 Who Dat say dey’ll keep me away on Game Day!?!?!?

I know the BEST memories are being made right now, but we all have great memories about the Saints.  I am thinking of putting together a book of these.  Anything goes.  A few come to mind right off the bat for me.  Of course, Jim Hendersen(SP) screaming "Hakim(sp) dropped the ball, Hakim dropped the ball" still gives me goosebumps, but one funny one to get things started:

I had a buddy in college (USM) who was a BIG Bucs fan back when Testeverde was their QB.  Well, we got tickets in the nosebleed section.  After a significant amount of schaeffer light was consumed in the parking lot, we made our way up to the seats.  I hade my favorite Saints shirt and my buddy had his Lerooy Selmon creamsickle Bucs jersey.  Well we were in a section of the WhoDat Nation that was particularly festive.  After a little smak talk between my friend and the surrounding 300-400 Saints fans, the Bucs took the kickoff and marched down the field through our D like a hot knife through butter - or to borrow from the commercial, "Like a ball pene hammer through a porcelin doll's face"! 

Well needless to say, my buddy took the opportunity to declare in no uncertain terms that the Bucs would kick our tails all day long...etc, etc, explative, etc...

The final score was something like 45-7 Saints.  My poor friend had cooked himself up a big pot of crow and was eating it all the way home 

via www.fastweb.com

"Gamesmanship" is the term most used to describe how NFL coaches try to withhold information and deceive opposing coaching staffs in the run-up before any big game. Bill Belichik is one of the most notorious at this. He tends to treat the press like mushrooms--feed them sh*t and keep them in the dark. Our own fearless leader is a well-known follower of this philosophy as well. Sean Payton would rather release his bank account numbers than allow player participation information out before the league forces him to. I think we can expect Payton to try and beat Belichik at his own game during the next seven days.

We know this is a huge game for our team. It's like an in-season playoff game in some regards because the Patriots are arguably the team of the decade and the Saints now aspire to be the team of the next decade. Players, coaches, management, waterboys will all be pumped for this one.

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Eleven years ago in 1998, with major league baseball struggling, two players captured America’s attention with a chase at an historic record; 61 home runs set by Roger Maris in 1961. In a time when we didn’t care about who’s juiced, Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa fed off of each other, and they both eclipsed the total that stood for almost 40 years. They overcame media attention that had previously stressed great players into mediocrity for decades.

This year’s NFL season has a similar feel to it, although admittedly there is no concern of pro football losing its fans even with the ongoing labor/owner tension regarding a season without a salary cap.

Unless you’ve been under a rock (or living in another country), you already know that the Indianapolis Colts and the New Orleans Saints have both started the season 10-0. This is fairly familiar territory for the Colts, who have won 19 consecutive regular season games and routinely win at least 8 in a row to start a season. It’s a completely new experience for the Saints, however. New Orleans is renowned for a laissez-faire attitude, so long as the natives could ‘laissez les bon temps rouller’, or let the good times roll. They are much like the Cubs; loveable losers with a fan base that is completely devoted to them, win or lose. So could this organization really be two-thirds of the way through a perfect season? More importantly, is it possible that they could complete the season unblemished on the road to their first Lombardi trophy?

Peyton Manning is generally considered to be the best quarterback of our generation; perhaps of all time. He has a perfect build for an elite quarterback, with size, speed, and the intelligence needed to run such an efficient passing attack. Even against staggering odds, he controls the line of scrimmage as a lieutenant would; commanding his troops to victory more often than not. The Colts remind me of Mark McGwire, who was a mountain of a man, crushing baseball out of parks as if they were fireworks on New Year’s Eve. When McGwire walked up to the plate, you expected a home run every time, despite the fact that his batting average predicted only one hit in every 4 at bats.

Drew Brees is rapidly gaining respect and is being talked about in the same breath as Peyton. This is very similar to the Sammy Sosa that left the White Sox as a scrawny base stealer but quickly developed the power to match McGwire. He was a fan favorite, and the media’s darling. The Saints are supplying that feel-good story this year.

The Colts have made the playoffs in 9 of the past 10 seasons, but they never had that perfect season. Often, the spotlight shines brightly on this team in December, when their playoff spot has been secured. The stress levels intensify and they usually struggle to finish off a perfect season. Only once in the Peyton Manning era have they won a Superbowl; in 2006, they went 9-0 before losing their first of 4 games.  This year, however, they have the Saints going stride for stride with them each week, matching their win total.

The Colts and the Saints are sharing a spotlight. Both teams are playing well enough and getting enough breaks to continue to win. It could be that there is interdependence for them to continue their success. Both teams should be favorites to win their remaining games; the only reason to fear a loss would be from self-destruction. But much like the Sosa/McGwire rivalry, there seems to be something beyond the weekly wins. It seems that these teams are meant to meet in the Superbowl. Despite great storylines involving the Patriots and Brady’s recovery, or Favre’s return from retirement, the primary story remains about the league’s two undefeated teams.  If New Orleans beats New England this week in Monday Night Football, they will affirm what most fans and players already know: these New Orleans Saints are a special group, and they may have it in them to make history.

And wouldn’t it be fun if two undefeated teams arrived to the Superbowl, patting each other on the back while acknowledging each others’ greatness, ready for a showdown that would match the 1998 baseball season? Yes, it seems like a stretch, but then again, so did 70 home runs in a season.

I’m ready.

Hi as you likely noticed this my first post please leave a comment

      Who dat! how does it feel to be 10-0? If your like me then your extremly excited and you think the only way it can get better is if you see a the lambardi trophy in Sean Peyton's hands. It feels nice when your team is soarin. And even better is the fact that with either a Saints win or a Facons loss in week 12 would mean we clinched the division and can focus on home-field advantage the rest of the way.

In the light of what I consider more good news the Saints have made the rumors true and have signed Mike Mckenzie and if your like me that sould make the already good Saints defense that much better.

I am excited about the Monday Night game this week for three reasons:

1. I live in Georiga so all I here and see about is Falcons. Bleh!

2. The Pats are a good team and therefore should make a good game.

3. My brother is a Saints fan turned Patriot because they were better than the Saints so whoever's team wins has bragging rights for years.

As you have seen over the years the Saints can finish the season strong or weak so I left a poll here on where you think the Saints will be at the end of the year so vote without to much bias and remember, WHO DAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I hope this is kosher.  I can't see why not.  If anyone is looking for tickets, season tickets, or luxury suites, I would suggest you talk to this person: Rechonda.Hadley@saints.nfl.com.  I tried contacting multiple people at the ticket site with no joy.  Rechonda resonds almost immediately.  Actually, not totally sure about the weekly tickets.  I made the biiiig mistake of skipping over some season tickets last year because I had too many chnages going on and she's been very helpful in fixing a few goof-ups on my part.

So uh, hey. Remember me? I'm a Falcons fan. Don't all shudder at once, now.

Obviously we're clinging to our playoff hopes by a thread and I certainly don't want the &@#$ing Tampa Bay Bucs standing in the way of that. I was hoping y'all could give me a sense of what kind of game the Bucs played, how best to stop them (since you did) and how best to score gobs of points on them (since you did). I'd be much obliged if you could share those golden nuggets of wisdom.

Thanks!

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PRETTY DAMN GOOD !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 Aaaah, i feel so free! i found the rules for the site and the fact that Dave will just trash me if i deserve it! Yay! That means i can talk trash as long as i don't get trashed!!!

Well, all i can say is i hope that y'all enjoy this as much as i enjoyed writing it.

I'm telling ya, these guys are gonna outclass every opponent they meet this season, and the next decade or two. It's truly, truly time for them to win and us to rah-rah! I may not be one of the best fans. But, I can tell ya, I'm one of the best cheerleaders though, my hairy legs would look bad in a skirt.

Did you notice?
The real Saints finally stood up,
now they'll step up. Rock 'em!!
Saints 48, Pats 28 (and I may very well be under-estimating our defense. I mean they've got 2 (count 'em!) important receivers!).

Aaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrrgggggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (Okay, I'll try to stick with WHO DAT!!! from now on but, dang! sometimes.....!).

Do you feel it?
The pressure's off. I'm not kidding, they've given me the best season I've ever experienced. I'll know I'll get trashed for that, but I just don't think analyzing every little move is what this is supposed to be about. If it had been any more fun, I would have had a coronary.

Do you feel it?
I think everyone is still underestimating the Saints
key stat: net points

Yeah, that is the Pats in 2nd place with ~40 less net points, but that's not really close. And, yes, on any given day in the NFL...

164 net points after game 10!  Now, that's just ridiculous! WHO DAT!!!!!!!!!!!!

Do you feel it?
remember those numbers...and that's only game 10!
I think they may be ready to turn on the afterburner...

Do you feel it?
The only real trick could be the playoffs, but it should be a cakewalk, right through the superbowl. because all of the teams leaders are so coooool on the draw. Yikes!

Do you feel it?
I mean, I mean.....like what does NOLA do for you that no other city in the world does better? ROCK You (well, maybe it's jazz you, but you get the point)!!!! Same with the Saints! They're playing to the music! Yes, I like exclamation points alot!!!

Do you feel it?
Well! I think it's clear I'm having waaaaaay too much fun, waaaay too much coffee and have waaaaaayyyyy toooooo muuuch time on my hands and vowels in my artillery.

Do you feel it?
Man, if Our Saints come out unscathed from this road ahead (i.e. put SB44 in the win column), after looking at some stats and figuring who we have to go through to get there, we are going to deserve it. Yow!

Yeah, it's this really dark, dark, dark black coffee that could be used for jet fuel. Ruined, at least one, ex's stomach.

Ahhhh, sometimes I just want to sigh! The team really has to stay so, so mentally disciplined with a laser focus throughout the time of play both during a game and during a season (including things like SB44) but, you know what? That's the advantage of being a fan!  I don't!!! During bad years (decades?), you just had to sigh a whole lot. But, for the next decade or two? Oh man, I get to go so crazy and let loose. Sorry, team. Wish I could sit here and sternly think, "next week, next week, next week." But, I do have the NOLA spirit which just doesn't know what it means to be so danged serious all the time! That's probably why it has been so hard for the Saints to win for such a long time. Trying to win with lunatics like these fans (that's meant in a good way!). That's tough! Did you ever hear Tom Landry's quote that he dreaded playing in NOLA most of all. Waaaaayyyy too much fun! But, this team, bless their indominatable, mighty hearts, can seem to look at these goggling, googling, gaggling fans and just sorta laugh. We're so silly,but we're so lovin' it! Aaaarrrrggghhhh!!!

Ok, so I'm maybe not the best analyst, but I'll root with the best of them!!!!!!  WHO DAT!!!!!

I knew our boys would be fine.  I knew it and then I knew it more when, before the Tampa game started,  they showed Brees' rankings overall in pass completion %, yds per pass, red zone stats, etc.  He was like #1 or #2 before the Tampa game and everyone was wondering "what's going on with Brees?" Well, I think there were 2 things going on with Brees.  1) He's in the NFL!!!  For goodness sakes, he was ranked #1-2 in so many stats- he can't be perfect.  and 2) his Mom died and I am sure he was getting wind of the investigation and all that stuff that I am sure could be quite distracting.   

Now about The Patriots... we will win that game.  But, it doesn't really matter.  If we lose, we learn and we're better prepared if we meet them in the Super Bowl.  But, I think we will win.  They have a lot more at stake.  If they go 6-4, AFC home field is looking a little bleaker.  And they still have to deal with the Colts somewhere along the line.  No, they have a lot more pressue on them. We have more offensive weapons and our defense forces more takeaways.

They are good, but we should be better than them if we play well. We're fine win or lose, but I have officially changed my approach.  Previously actually wanted the Saints to lose a game to take any potential "monkey" off their backs.  Now, I want them to win out, and I don't want to see them lose a game,  but I am okay if they lose a game.  And, for the record, this is the way I knew this team could play and expected them to play.  This next game will be a lot of Payton/GW vs. Belicheck and I see Belicheck getting exposed.  I also see the Dome Crowd playing a big role in The Perfect Storm playing havok with The Patriots

One last point.  Our X-factor in our first 5-6 games was Heath Evans.  He was phenomenal.  We kind of forgot that, wondering why our offense was not so explosive after he got injured.  Then along comes Dave Thomas and after a couple of games he settles in and becomes a new X-factor. But not quite at first.   Much different than Evans.  And Eckel is getting more comfortable,too.  But just as Deuce Mc Allister would have had a little bit of a transition if he didn't have  Mike Karney, I think our offense had a little transition period without Evans and now we have adjusted.  We can't do the exact same things we used to do with Evans, but we have found other things that work.  I think that was a big factor we overlooked.  Kudos to Payton in that respect.  He's coaching his best year ever.   And obviously there is a transition without Moore a lot of these games, but overall we are adjusting and I like how we have done so.