Saints, Fans Need Attitude Adjustment

MIAMI -- What if they lose?

What if the New Orleans Saints fall a victory shy of completing their fairy tale by watching Peyton Manning crush their glass cleats?

It's going to happen, by the way, but it won't matter, at least not that much to the Who Dat Nation, whose citizens will continue to worship anything in black, old gold and white. They are eternally grateful that those colors represent the transformation of their 43-year-old NFL franchise from sorry to Super for the first time ever.

So, around the Who Dat Nation, all things are now possible for those still suffering from Hurricane Katrina and everything else.

That's great. That's also another reason the Saints are a nice story whose final chapter will unfold on Sunday at Sun Life Stadium with the Indianapolis Colts living happily ever after as world champions.

You still don't get it? Well, try this -- little things are big things when it comes to the Super Bowl, and here is one of those little things that is getting ignored: Courtesy of their adoring fans, the Saints will have less of that tiger's eye than the Colts' Peyton Manning, who has to win, which means so do his teammates.

The Saints would like to win on Sunday, but they don't have to because the historically forgiving Who Dat Nation really isn't demanding as much.

"If we lose, it will be like your child messing up to our fans in that you're still going to love your kid, and that goes back to the fact that this team has done so much for this city that they are going to remain proud," said strong safety Roman Harper on Wednesday at the Saints' team hotel, where he described the inspiring yet unfortunate situation -- you know, for those who really want the Saints to win.

Added Harper: "This city is so happy for what we've already accomplished that I don't want people to think that, 'Oh, it's going to be a huge letdown [if we lose].' This is all they know how to do in New Orleans. They know how to have a good time. They know how to enjoy themselves, and they're just riding the ship with us."

So, if that ship sinks against the Colts, it's not as if New Orleans is Green Bay, for instance. New Orleans is the antithesis of Green Bay.

While the Packers have multiple world championships, the Saints have zero. And whereas Packers fans still cringe over dropping a 12-year-old game to John Elway to keep from staying perfect in Super Bowls at 4-0, Saints fans are living out the new version of that old phrase, "Just glad to be here."

All you need to know is that regardless of what happens in Super Bowl XLIV, Mardi Gras will roar into the following week at an unprecedented level. A heavy Saints theme already is in place for the yearly celebration, ranging from a float for coach Sean Payton to another one for quarterback Drew Brees, who will reign in the thing as something called Bacchus while throwing Spanish coins to the crowd.

Plus, win or lose, New Orleans will hold a separate parade for the Saints on Tuesday, and consider this: Hotel space is non-existent in the city with folks already flooding into the place to shower their heroes with Who Dats. I mean, if 85,000 people can take the New Orleans streets as they did last week to celebrate thousands of men wearing dresses in honor of the Saints reaching the Super Bowl (don't ask), then you can imagine the scene if the Saints actually win on Sunday.

Or lose.

It doesn't matter.

"What I'm telling you is that you will not see a celebration anywhere like you will see in New Orleans," said New Orleans radio personality Bobby Hebert, who is the ultimate Cajun, even beyond his distinctive accent. He was born in Louisiana, where he went to college and is a member of several sports halls of fame.

More importantly to Saints fans, Hebert led the Saints to their first playoff appearance when he was their quarterback from 1985 to 1992.

Said Hebert, who does the Saints post-game radio show: "We're leaving on Friday (as a broadcast team), and we're not even staying for the game. If the Saints win, the party is not in South Beach, Miami. It's in New Orleans. We're doing a remote (from various sites). Friday and Saturday, it's going to be a pep rally, almost kind of a college atmosphere, like at Notre Dame. It'll be a constant atmosphere like that."

Then there was Saints owner Tom Benson, 82, who couldn't stop grinning with his wife, Gayle, by his side when approached by a FanHouse columnist at the team hotel.

He survived those bag days, when Saints fans covered their heads during a humorous attempt not to be identified at games. He survived the arrows slung his way by those who fumed over his numerous attempts to move the team elsewhere.

He survived a bunch of lousy teams, period.

Just like that, after the Saints' overtime thriller over the Minnesota Vikings at the Superdome during the NFC Championship Game, he was happier than the combination of all those moments in the 1980s, when he twirled his umbrella while doing the Benson Boogie after the few (the very, very few) Saints victories he witnessed.

"Well, let me tell you that, not only New Orleans, but the whole state of Louisiana right now is -- when you look out in comparison to other parts of our country -- I wouldn't say booming, but we really are doing well," Benson said. "There are lots of jobs available, the economy is rolling along, and I think (Louisiana governor Bobby Jindal) is going to be here in a day or so to make some statements to the press about this.

"So I think what's happening is that the Saints became a nucleus, and now the whole world is realizing it and thinking, 'You know, New Orleans and Louisiana, they be doing well.' We've really come along way.

"I mean, like every place, you've got things to improve on, because things aren't going to be perfect. But it's going so good, you couldn't ask for anything better."

Yep.

Just glad to be here.