Who dat? Dat dem Saints!: What the Super Bowl win means to the Who Dat Nation.

The winner of SuperBowl XLIV was the New Orleans Saints. Another SB seemingly comes and goes. Yes, it was the most viewed TV program to date. Yes, it was an exciting game to watch. Yes, the commercials and half-time show were...well, sucky (IMHO). However, the "win" was so much more.

Win or lose, we, in New Orleans (NOLA) were ready to show our love for the Saints with a parade (later today, Tuesday). The win on Sunday for the 'Who Dat Nation' will make the parade that much more festive; though, in this city, funerals can be festive! The Saints did so much more than "win a football game." They showed the US, perhaps the world, that New Orleans is not lost. We are not "down and out." We are survivors and we are fighters and it is not just NOLA, the 'Who Dat Nation' is more than just New Orleans. The residents of the Gulf Coast, NOLA included, have struggled to rebuild, rediscover, and recover. The Saints' win will now shine a spotlight on us again. They will see what we have done and what still needs to be done. The country will once again be reminded of the tragedy of almost 5 years ago...and sadly, that tragedy wasn't just a hurricane, but the response to the disaster.

From this win, we will see increased tourism, a huge amount of our "bread and butter." The city will see more attention to the STILL uncompleted levies. The nation will see the reminders of destruction throughout the Gulf Coast. Our people will be able to tell the assholes who say we are "still whining," we have real reasons to complain and it isn't to be confused with "whining." The victory will remind people some wounds don't heal quickly. This year, the SuperBowl wasn't just a "football game." It meant so much more.

I came to this city, NOLA, 9 months after Katrina. My partner and I were welcomed to this city with open arms. We were applauded in a few places because we chose to move here so soon after Katrina. Seriously, people actually clapped! Some bought us drinks; shook our hands; hugged us. It was surreal. After a few months, we realized what kind of place NOLA was. It is far more than just a "party town." It was a place determined to return; to be whole again; to be as festive and fun as before; it was a place for us to call home!

I am simply a "transplant." If I feel this amount of pride in my city, I know those who are from here are bursting!

WHO DAT?! DAT DEM SAINTS!!!

"Ya gotta give the corpsters and their ads props for a lotta lame-ass try-too-hard 'humor' and general mysogyny and kissass meaningless materialism. Like republicon homelanders, they did a heckuva job. Smirk."

- xCommander AWOL (R)

:D :hug::toast::beer::party:

Great post BTA! :thumbsup:

43 with 26mph winds fron the north! Brrr.....