Inclement weather derailed Big Daddy’s pregame plans. Though we were originally slated to ride the St. Charles streetcar downtown for an extended tailgating experience, torrential liquid sunshine delayed our departure, rendering the streetcar completely immobile. A clever on-the-fly decision brought Big Daddy’s krewe to the Kingpin’s hallowed ground to formulate a new strategy. Frosty beverages served by Kate went down faster than Big Daddy’s “Last Man Standing” pick (San Diego) at Tracey’s, thanks to Phillip Rivers jenny-woman portrayal Monday night. Uninspired by Dave Matthew’s early set, Big Daddy called a cool corner meeting, where Kingpin regulars deployed all their weather-checking aparatus, the high armchair quarterbacking IQs determined that driving was the only alternative. Considering the great spot discovered by Big Daddy’s talented parking scouts, the posse now had plenty of time to enjoy pregame festivities. Walking toward the Superdome, a cool brass band entertained us, the 610 Stompers displayed their extraordinary moves, Champions Square impressive size accommodated the massive Who Dat Army, and Eloise (Big Daddy’s lovely bride) got a picture with Bobby Hebert at WWL Radio’s pregame broadcast outside Gate C. That was great.
Have you ever felt hustled? Bogus information held 70,000 jubilant Saints fans hostage for an hour paying $8.50 for room temperature beer. Sinister plotting by Superdome officials, similar to LSU’s termination of University of New Orleans Chancellor Dr. Timothy P. Ryan, instructed 70,000 Saints fans to get in their seats no later 6:30 p.m. to see the Super Bowl banner unfurled. Since deception pent up Section 645’s aggression, when Southern University’s marching band escorted a Lombardi Trophy float carrying Saints owner Tom Benson, the Saintsations, and Harry Connink Jr. onto Superdome’s playing field, over anxious 645ers were ready to explode. The Jaguar band backed up Connick singing “ When the Saints Go Marching In,” as Harry alerted Saints fans to behold their 2009 Championship banner. Big Daddy’s beloved Section 645 discharged deafening volume demonstrating how Saints fans should respond when Drew Brees signaled for the unified Who Dat cheer immediately following the coin toss. Totally Awesome!
Big Daddy taped the NFL-NBC kickoff concert venture. Taylor Swift performed “You Belong With Me” and “Mine” validating the old cliché: “It’s not what you know, it’s who you know.” Headliner Dave Matthews got Jackson Square corporate crowd up off their asses, playing “Shake Me Like A Monkey,” “Why I Am,” and concluded the glitzy overproduction with the Talking Heads cover “Burning Down The House.” Flanked by Kermit Ruffins on his right, Troy “Trombone Shorty” Andrews on the left, and Mardi Gras Indians dancing behind him, Matthews belted out the final tune with fireworks bursting above to signal the NFL’s triumphant start.
Halftime festivities added to Saints fans excitement. O. Perry Walker’s Charger marching band spelled out “RJ 57” on the field. A stage split OPW’s formation, where Rickey Jackson was honored as the first drafted Saint inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Superdome jumbotrons aired footage of Jackson crushing opponents harder than the current recession is annihilating Americans’ bank accounts. The ceremony had every Saints fan on their feet screaming “Rickey!” Another unforgettable moment on a memorable night for Saints fans. Reminiscent of the late ’ 80s and early ’ 90s when the “Dome Patrol” dominated the NFL, Gregg Williams’ defense made Rickey Jackson and former coach Jim Mora feel proud, not allowing a Vi-Queens scoring threat the entire second half.
Saints Beat’s Minnesota recap begins with Saints return specialist Courtney Roby taking the opening kickoff up to the 23 yard line. Reggie Bush’ s 8-yard run and four Drew Brees passes devoured 77 yards in five plays. Devery Henderson’ s 29-yard touchdown reception gave the Saints an early 7-0 lead. Poor offensive execution, suspect play-calling, and costly penalties aided both the Vikings and Saints defenses, trading punts on the next four possessions. Viking quarterback Brett Farve found some rhythm, chewing 9:25 off the clock, using 16 plays, moving Minnesota from their own 11 to the New Orleans 23, where Ryan Longwell’s 41-yard field goal trimmed the margin to 7-3 with 5:28 left in the second quarter. Saints safety Roman Harper pressured Farve, coaxing a Jonathan Vilma interception at the Vikings 29. The Saints’ surprising inability to move the ball with a short field forced a Garrett Hartley 46-yard attempt. Hartley’s kick hooked badly off target, handing Farve the ball with 1:19 to work with. Farve exploited the middle of the Saints secondary throwing twice to tight end Visanthe Shiancoe. The first for 33 yards, the second 20-yard hookup produced 6 points, vaulting the Vikings ahead 9-7. Remy Ayodele blocked Longwell’s extra point, keeping the Saints halftime deficit at 9-7. Following a defensive stop, Viking punter Chris Kluwe’s 41-yard boot gave the Saints the ball on their own 26. Tailback Pierre Thomas, who only had three touches on seven prior Saints possessions, became “ The Man” on drive eight, Thomas rushed four times for 27 yards, caught a 16-yard screen pass, and his 1-yard end zone dive put the Saints back on top 14-9 heading to the fourth. Even though Hartley missed a 32-yard 3-point try, ball control, strong defense, and clock management sealed the “ugly” 14-9 victory.
Amid constant pressure stemming from the NCAA investigation probing into whether Reggie Bush received improper benefits at USC, Bush gave back his 2005 Heisman Trophy on Tuesday. Looking at several recent Heisman award recipients: Gino Torretta, Danny Wuerffel, Jason White, or Chris Weinke whose weak physical attributes rival Sarah Palin’s remarkable constitutional knowledge in the political arena, how were those guys considered college football’s best player? Big Daddy’s problem with the Heisman Trust is the NCAA— the same hypocritical organization that won’t give Division 1 football a playoff system. Holding on to an outdated student athlete ideals that were a farce 100 years ago will never work in today’s society. How many schools must endure program probation punishments? Instead of progressing past antiquated practices that insult college athletes and football fans, NCAA officials demonstrated how out-of-touch their reality is by naming Mark Emmert the governing bodies next president. Emmert’s term begins on October 1. Mr. Emmert demands more stringent rules and tougher penalties for future violators. Showcasing this less than progressive agenda indicates the NCAA has fewer days remaining than organized religion. Reggie you did the right thing: Don’t ever apologize to hypocrites.
Check out next week’ s edition of Section 645 Saints Beat, when Big Daddy recaps the San Francisco Monday night party, delivers a kingpin update, road trips to “The Shed” in Gulfport, makes his Super Bowl XLV prediction, and eats the world’s largest king cake. Have you purchased your raffle tickets for a chance to win a Saints Super Bowl Ring to support Gulf Coast Restoration yet? Our beautiful Louisiana home known by all Americans as the “Sportsman’s Paradise” needs your help! So pull out your Visa, click on the following website: www.celebritiesforcharity.org/raffle/Saints-Gulf-Coast-Renewal-Raffle, and do your duty. The deadline is Monday! Can you imagine winning that contest? Larry Flynt’s ladies would kneel and kiss the “Ring” more often than Muslims bow to Mecca. Now Big Daddy releases his World Famous Pregame Information: — Go Over 44 —
