#9 New Orleans, The Saints, and Community

New Orleans, The Saints, and Community


"I know football is just a game and it may not be important who won or lost yesterday. What is important is what these games can teach us about life." -Steve Gleason

http://bit.ly/7LpNQ

Football has been a passion in my life ever since I quit playing soccer at age 9 to join the Ballard Junior Football Knights. When I was a kid football was a way to vent frustration and hit someone without a trip to the principles office. I think that is always one of the draws for kids who pursue the sport. As I continued playing football and other sports for the next 10 years of my life I learned that football and sports in general can teach us more about life than first meets the eye.

One of my closest friends and teammates in high school is cousins with former WSU Cougar and New Orleans Saint Steve Gleason. He was the only person I knew who had a connection with a real NFL player. So naturally I followed the Saints and Gleason along with my friend. Like Gleason in the NFL, I did not possess the ideal combination of speed and size to have great success at the high school level. I also played saftey and found much of my playing time on special teams so in many ways I looked up to Steve Gleason and the way he played the game.

Before Hurricane Katrina the Saints were known around the NFL as a team that never reached the big game and was typically average at best, if not the doormat of the league.

Leading up to 2005 Saints fans were as passionate as any in the NFL. They had supported the team often called the "Aints" for nearly 40, mostly loosing, seasons. Everything in New Orleans was affected by the hurricane including the Saints and their fans.

When the eye of the storm passed by the city on August 29, 2005 the Superdome became a place of last resort for residents who were unable to evacuate. Here is a video showing what life was like inside the Superdome during Katrina. http://bit.ly/tOtB1B

Here is a New Orleans newspaper article describing the rebuilding of the Superdome. http://bit.ly/nrwH5p

Damage to the Superdome that occurred during the hurricane displaced the Saints (like many N.O. residents) for the entire 2005 season. The Saints first home game was played in New York that year. Others home games were played at LSU in Baton Rogue or the Alamodome in San Antonio. Saints fans had a difficult time following this team and the team had a difficult time on the field. 

Many people speculated that both the New Orleans Saints and Hornets of the NBA would be relocated for good after Katrina. Many disaster profiteers (as termed by Jordan Flaherty) including Texas Governor Rick Perry and San Antonio Mayor Phil Hardberger pushed for Saints Owner Tom Benson to move the team to Texas. Other relocation options that were mentioned were to Los Angeles or Toronto. Many experts questioned if New Orleans would ever be a viable option for a professional franchise again. Fans were afraid they would lose their only pro sports teams on top of their belongings and homes. http://bit.ly/tITk8c

Benson wanted to keep the team in New Orleans and refused to sell his beloved franchise. He later met with NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue and toured New Orleans and the Superdome in December 2005 to assess the feasibility of playing home games during the 2006 season. They decided that the Superdome could be ready by September 1st and would host the home opener against the Atlanta Falcons. Pre-season games would be played elsewhere.

After the 2005 season where the Saints went 3-13 Head Coach Jim Haslett was relieve of his duties. Many key pieces were brought in during this offseason including Drew Brees, Sean Payton, and Reggie Bush. Excitement in New Orleans was rebuilding around football.

Many New Orleans residents were still homeless and trying to put the pieces of their life back together. The slow response and lack of accountability by insurance companies, FEMA, the American government, and other organizations left many people without hope of resuming life as they knew it before the storm. The first Mardi Gras celebration after Katrina was an important step in rebuilding the spirit and culture of the city, but the return of the Saints was on the same level of importance. Saints fans had a reason to believe that, with time, the team could help lift the city off of its back.  Here is a video showing some of the pregame festivities http://bit.ly/sIEzss

I remember watching the Monday night game September 25, 2006 when the Saints played their first home game after hurricane Katrina. The stage was set for an emotional return to a place which was a shelter for thousands during the storm. Here is a video which shows the MNF intro and some of what happened during the game. http://bit.ly/uBpSWi I think this video shows how sports can bring together a community. Sports play an important role in American society. A sense of pride, joy, confidence, and family were all brought back to New Orleans on this historic Monday night.

A few comments made during the Monday Night broadcast which stood out to me are,

"A moment almost unimaginable 13 months before."


"I know that there are social issues we should talk about here, and cultural issues, but what a start!"

I think these were thoughts many residents and fans were having while they watched the game. Even though the recovery process for many neighborhoods was very slow and in many cases is still not complete the quick rebuilding of the Superdome allowed for residents to enjoy themselves again.

The start to the this story was the blocked punt for a touchdown by Steve Gleason. This play happened early in the game and began a new era of Saints football Post-Katrina. Gleason played 9 seasons in the NFL, all in N.O., but is remembered for this one play. Recently Gleason was diagnosed with ALS and has received many honors from his former team including a Superbowl Ring, a Key to the City, and a Statute outside of the Superdome.

"It really represents more than the actual play itself," (Head Coach Sean) Payton said of the statue. "That play really represents what was the re-opening of the Superdome and the beginning of us kind of picking ourselves back off the mat as a city and getting back to what we know as a normal way of life.

The return to New Orleans and the Superdome was symbolic in many ways.

Not only did the Saints return to the Superdome so too did college football. Bowl games have often called the Superdome home so the rebuilding of the stadium was important in bringing back this business.  http://bit.ly/tdbu2F

Beacons of Recovery: The Superdome and the Convention Center.
http://bit.ly/szM0O5

"The Superdome came to symbolize everything that had gone wrong before, during and after Katrina in New Orleans."

-Frank McCormack

"Returning to the Superdome was like visiting a tomb, raising a victory banner, turning a page and gathering for group therapy, all at once."

-Frank McCormack

Its clear that winning football games will not fix the problems and recovery in New Orleans or any other city. Sports will never, and should never, be as important or a priority over things like housing, health care, poverty, employment, and human rights but there is no denying the power sports can bring to a community. The Saints have helped bring back the heart, soul, and spirit of New Orleans.

Football is a game that transfers lessons to real life. I think the lesson the Saints have given to the New Orleans public has been one of perseverance and faith. The Saints brought hope to a city which at the time had none.

After the resurgence of the Saints in 2006 the team has enjoyed some of the most success in the entire league and has continued to carry the spirits of residents who have been neglected. The Saints made a deep playoff run in 2006 and completed the dream in 2009 when they won the Super Bowl. Here is President Obama's presentation to the Super Bowl Champs.

http://bit.ly/uEig6g

Saints players have helped rebuild the city's spirits as well as physically rebuild the city. Volunteer efforts and charitable organizations by Saints players have touched the lives of many in the region not just their fans.



Here is a video showing the celebration after the Saints won the Super Bowl in 2009.
http://bit.ly/vB7m1v

Here is another video of New Orleans residents celebrating after the Super Bowl victory. http://bit.ly/bPMT3k


The story of the Saints and New Orleans
http://bit.ly/s2c0o8


Visit the Team Gleason Website to learn more
http://www.team-gleason.com/