WhoDat! WhoDat!

The press talks about the special relationship between the New Orleans Saints and their fans.

Just from one perspective:
I've never cared much for American Football - used to give away my U.Michigan student season tickets to delighted friends. Gerry prefers Cricket and Soccer - Arsenal is his team.

But here in New Orleans
... When the Saints go Marching in,
Oh when the Saints go marching in,
We want to be in that Number,
When the Saints go Marching in...

Lastnight the Saints fought long and hard to beat the Atlanta Falcons. We watched the whole thing with a visiting English chum from Costa Rica - who doesn't normally like football either. And there we were, perched on the edge, then jumping up and cheering, sometimes howling;
then during halftime, we went out on the street joining big crowds of fans watching the game at assorted bars around the Quarter. Everybody shouting WhoDat! WhoDat!

Then the Streets emptied up as we all went back inside to watch the 2nd exhausting half. What a physical game. What spectacular plays. The Falcons wouldn't let up even up to the last few seconds of the game.

But in the end, the Saints won their 7th straight game of the season.

Soon, Saints and Falcons fans alike, poured out from the Superdome and joined those from every bar, just swarming the Quarter, where everybody celebrated together just for the pure joy of it all. The Falcons fans had as much fun as the Saints, everybody drinking beer together, toasting each other. Everybody was a Saints fan lastnight.