Article An Unbreakable Bond: For the Saints and their fans, it’s about more than football (2 Viewers)

[VPCajun]

A tad convoluted but please read on...

Here's a link to a post of mine from from 2022 referencing a post of mine from 2015 about "dearly departed Saints fans esp in regards to the Saints going to the Super Bowl": https://saintsreport.com/threads/12-years-ago-today-pigs-have-flown.469887/post-8716072

(The main thrust is referencing an article from Jan 29, 2010 at Nola.com. Sadly the original article doesn't seem to exist. I did find the updated article but you need to subscribe to read it!)

ETA: I finally found my file of that article. It's 3.45 MB (175 pages of comments in a MS Word rtf file). How would I make that available?

ETA2: Here's a sample comment -

iotaman402
Friday, January 29, 2010, 5:05:01 PM
This message is for my Grandmother Rosemary Lewis...SHe had 2 bottles of champagne that was given to her as a gift. One of them said WHO DAT and the other said BLESS YOU BOYS...she had both of them blessed and said they were to not be opened until the Saints reached the superbowl, even though Katrina took them..Gram its time to pop the cork.


My Grandmother was dying of cancer in 2004 and through her pain managed to make the statement: I gues the bugs are going to have to come and deliver the news to me that the Saints are going to the superbowl" When that kick went through that was all I can think about while the tears rolled down my face if only Gram was here to see this. She purchased season tickets proudly every year from when they first started selling season tickets. Section 124 row 31 seat 7 I will never forget. Even when fans were wearing paper bags to not show there face. She sat there with her face showing and her brown cow bell with a saints shaker inside because she was always proud of her Saints. Well Gram I am here to tell you we made it. Your boys are finally in the Superbowl and I know if you were here we would be on our way to Miami...What am I talking about your already there. I love You and Miss You alot. GEAUX SAINTS and WHO DAT.......
...

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[Scorpius the Allfather]

My brother was in the Bless You Boys Club in the 1980s. My family would gather and watch games at home together. Later, he wanted to collect trading cards, so there I was, taking the ones he didn’t want. And then, finally, a game where you could play as the Saints - Tecmo Super Bowl, for the Nintendo. I was hooked, and on top of that - the Saints were winners! That was 1991, the year of “five-and-oh, cha-ching!” so good times were in the air for this seven-year-old. Nothing will make me quit cheering for this team.

The first time I played Tecmo Super Bowl, I picked the Saints and returned the opening kickoff for a TD just like the Saints did!

 

[Scorpius the Allfather]

My priest could get us through a High Mass within an hour and he did it fast on purpose so that everyone could go listen to the Saints game because it most likely was blacked out to us at the time.

Here's a true story, I became an alter boy to Father Elias because I hated waiting for mass to end, so I became a part of it to help it go by faster.

 

[Day1]

Generational love. Started "year one" when I was 4. Life milestones measured in Saints games- Dempsey's kick, the "boo" game vs. Eagles 10/27/74, first whole beer(s) 12/8/74, last game in Tulane Stadium, first game in Dome, etc. Walking into the first playoff game in January 1988 with my dad, we stopped across Poydras from the Dome, just looked at each other and he said "I never thought we'd see this day". Dad, like many of the first generation fans, had the best seat in the house for XLIV, a game that I got to enjoy in NO with my own family. Kids are now in other States, repping the Fleur de Lis from their DNA. Gawd I hope 2024 is special.

 

[Nisey55]

Here's a true story, I became an alter boy to Father Elias because I hated waiting for mass to end, so I became a part of it to help it go by faster.

I'm picturing an alter boy sprinting up and down the aisle with the crucifix.
Most of the priests over the years kept it quick on game days since they figured we weren't paying attention anyway.

 

[GeauxSainz]

You did great.

 

[Clintonrebel]

Nice story. certainly rings a bell with all us old fans. I think the Super Bowl may have spoiled a few of the new fans though.

This comment needs to be pinned to the top.

 

[Saint KayBee]

The first time I played Tecmo Super Bowl, I picked the Saints and returned the opening kickoff for a TD just like the Saints did!

“Gil” Fenerty (they botched so many Saints players in that game, I guess the programmers got sleepy) was a kick return legend in that game