New Orleans Fans Love Their Saints!

The New Orleans Saints are undefeated and their fans are thrilled. Is this over the top? Maybe.

Saints fans don't think so.

On more than one occasion, both present and former players tell of the enthusiasm of Saints fans. Aren't all fans this way about their beloved team? We are no different than the rest of those who follow their team with reckless abandonment. Right?

According to Bobby Hebert (pronounced a-bear), who covers the Saints for WWL Radio 870 A.M., "Saints fans are one of a kind." 

Mr. Hebert, not only quarterbacked for the Saints, but also had a stint with the Atlanta Falcons. I'd rather not go there! Instead I'll let his radio show cohort, Hokie Gajan, a former running back for the Saints and teammate of Mr. Hebert, take care of that for the fans. He'll get some ribbing for sure on Monday for his transgression in the latter part of the '90s.

Back to "our" Bobby, who redeemed himself as soon as he became the founding father of the "Who Dat Nation." He has made us proud to have him as our daily connection to the game. On his radio show after the win against the Dolphins last week, he wanted to make sure to get across to the fans just how much their support means to the team. 

So how did the fans respond? 

Thousands of them showed up at the airport to welcome their team back home. That's right, for those who aren't in the know: As soon as the team finishes an away game there is a network of local insiders who let their fingers do the walking to find out what time the team plane touches down.

Diehards have been doing it for years. I remember doing the same during the 1991 season. I also remember how moved Drew Brees was when he saw the same diehards out on a cold rainy night when thousands showed up after a hard fought loss. This was not just any bad weather day, it was actually a little after midnight on Christmas morning in 2006. 

Just to clarify, the fans are not in the airport or even the parking lot, they (we) are parked on the access road that runs down a side street nowhere near the large commercial part of Louis Armstrong/New Orleans International Airport. 

Why?

To show our love for our boys in Black and Gold. 

The crowd erupts when we see the lights in the distance and the lucky few get a picture or maybe an autograph from members of the team as they drive off into the night. The rest get the memory of seeing our gridiron heroes smile back at the fans who adore them.

It's a win-win for everyone! My daughter, who was very tired the next morning after being out so late the night before, jumped right up when I reminded her of the autographs she got for "being in that number" watching her Saints come flying in.

Thank you Zack Strief and Jeff Charleston!

One last thing...Happy Birthday New Orleans Saints and I'll see you at the Dome for your Birthday Bash!