skymike

As my good friend St_LB would want to hear, I was there in the Dome, and then made my way down the streets of N.O. I dont know if you've seen the video's but it was better than I imagined. Streets not named Bourbon were just as wild, abeit more passable. You could walk across just about anywhere, as cars could not move. Illegal fireworks, some really great mortars shot into the air. I know the honking and yelling went on past 3am? (finally succumbed to sleep) Canal St. was the wierdest--- it looked & sounded like a disaster, to be honest. NOPD was lined up all the way down, lights flashing... more honking, w/ people jumping out to the street to "five" drivers & passengers... more yelling/ whodat'ing (dont sue me, NFL) Sirens were everywhere, but I didnt see anybody hurt. I think the ambulances were celebrating too. People were happily banging the window of the restaurant we stopped into, and periodically, the restaurant would break into "Who Dat." I saw people shaking hands with Vikings fans telling them, "good game." Strangers hugged strangers. And Academy's parking lot looked like Christmas the next day. (they sold the official t-shirts)

I saw nor heard not one instance of violence or vandalism.

That was New Orleans. I know we have fans all over Louisiana, MS, The Gulf South, Texas, etc. I heard fireworks went off all over Baton Rouge. A lady told me people were celebrating pretty hard in Lafayette. I'd like to know what went on in Shreveport.

Im not finished celebrating this yet. Does anyone have video or pictures?

Saint_LB

You really don't want to hear my story...very boring.

Here's the deal. When the Saints stalled at the end of the 4th quarter and the Vikings got the ball to begin what usually is the game winning stick the dagger in our hearts drive...I was amazingly calm leaning back in my recliner. I had lived this scenario before, but somewhere, in the back of my head, I kept hearing Jim Henderson's voice, "Hakim drops the ball!"

I had resolved that it had been a great run, but, once again we were gonna be on the outside looking in as the son of my favorite baseball coach went toe-to-toe with the son of one of our favorite all-time Saints. I guess this was helping soothe me, but then Greer stepped in front of Favre's pass, (somehow I'm thinking Favre wouldn't have thrown that pass against anyone else, but he figures if he doesn't squeeze it in there and it is picked, his favorite team goes to the SB...win/win for him.)

So...I'm still amazingly calm, and we run the last few seconds off the clock...I'm still leaning back in my recliner. Vikes call heads, it comes up tails...now I'm almost without a pulse. We drive the ball down the field, and when Hartley comes out, I say to my wife, "Not yet."...anticipating the TO that Childress is about to call. Sure enough, he calls it...(sometimes I think maybe they shouldn't call the TO...might get into his head more than calling it if he is expecting it.)

So, when Hartley comes back on the field, I'm still reclined back and watching with a view that is right down the gut. When Hartley boots it, from my view it is a "no-doubter" and I simply utter to my wife, "We're going to the Superbowl." without any excitement or raised voice. I just hope Hartley continues to practice because I know that kick had to be 2 inches off dead center.

Whether you think you can or think you can't...you're right!

Stiggs

End of 4th Qtr., my house. I was about to go next door to borrow my elderly neighbor's oxygen tank, and wondering if I should take a couple extra blood pressure pills. Vikes are in FG range, I'm thinking this f'ing game is over...oh well, great season, guess it'll be another 43 years before we get a shot at the SB. I talk myself out of stealing an old person's medical supplies, and go to the home bar for another sazerac. As I swish the Pernod I hear Mrs. Stiggs going insane in the TV room...FARVE INTERCEPTION. I'm breathing again, but don't have a drink so I head back to the bar.

O.C. calls me as Hartley is lining things up. His feed is like 15 seconds ahead of mine, and he starts shouting "HE MADE IT!!!!! SAINTS ARE GOING TO THE SUPER BOWL!!!!!" He's crying and screaming, then I see the kick "live", and now I'm crying and screaming. And spilling my sazerac. I immediately take 4 sleeping pills, because I know I'm so hopped up I'll never get to sleep. Pass out ca. 11pm, one happy happy groggy drunken fan.

JoanieNTX

Well.....mine is sorta boring, too. I made etoufee' and we had a couple of friends over. (Note that we live in the Houston area, and most of our neighbors are either non-commital, or Texans fans). So the four of us are watching on our 60" tv screen (players almost lifesize) and I'm up and down, folding clothes...nervous as a cat as usual. Like Saint LB, I figure just before Favre throws that last interception that we're done for. So I start thinking just how blessed we are to have made it to this point, and how much fun this year has been, and bracing myself for the disappointment. Then....BING...interception! Then things start goin' our way, and I'm not believing it, so I'm waiting for the other shoe to drop, as usual. By the time Hartley is up to kick the field goal, my face is so hot that ice won't cool it down. (Blood pressure, I'm sure)! At this point, I can't bear to watch, so I step into the kitchen, put my head down on the counter and start praying. I hear the telltale "BUMP" when his foot connects with the ball, and from the solid sound of it, I just knew it was good. I waited, and then the living room erupted in shouts, and I ran back in there, jumping up and down, crying, fanning my now "burning up" face, hugging my hubby, throwing the dog up into the air....etc., etc. I watch the replay on the kick, and realize that that ball was actually carried up, up and away on the wings of the angels! Whew....what a dream! WAIT! We ARE going to the Super Bowl, (aren't we)?

Life is too short to be miserable....make changes while you can!

skymike

c'mon, LB thats a great story.

Hey, when the Vikes had the ball in FG range w/ :19, I was just sitting there, also thinking, "Well its been a great season," but also just trying to think of reasons to be happy.

I had very little faith in Hartley, and I was watching Brad Childress walk over to the ref and tell him, "ok, watch me, I'm gonna call timeout," or at least thats what I think he was saying. Then the timeout. My wife gasped in exasperation....I forgot to tell her what was going on...

Then he lined up, and I watched Brunell for the snap-and-hold.

I just wanted to not lose... it hadnt sunk in that we could win.... and when the crowd shrieked like the Beatles just walked in, it hit me like a wall. I would have been embarassed, if there werent other men crying too.

QBREES9

Nothing great. I was by myself Wife and Kids were asleep. I was on my knees, the nose of my football was pressed so hard into my forehead while I was praying it left a cross.

When they WON I had to go outside and SCREAM, The Saints are going to the Super Bowl. I didn't want to wake my 2 year old and 4 year old. I did wake my neighborhood.

DblBogey

I like Stiggs was thinking, as the Viqueens were driving that I had to think about away to rationalize it. Then the penalty for 12 men in the huddle (it was devine intervention and Joe Sam) my emotions shot through the roof of my house because I knew that put them out of "sure" field goal range and there was still hope. Next paly with Farve rolling right with open field in front of him I quickly thought he would not run it because he was gimped. Then the cross body pass and interception by Porter . . . I felt like I was about to have a coronary. At this point I got my cell phone out and punched in . . . 9-1 so I could punch in the other 1 was I was going out. (Fast forward) They come out on the field for the coin toss and the Viqueens called heads my blood pressure started rising again from its already elevated state. We WON the toss and I started gasping for air. (Fast Forward again) Hartley steps off for THE kick and Childress calls time out to ice Hartley. The TV becomes fuzzy and clear and continues to alternate. He comes out again steps off, by this time I am in deep prayer that the snap is good and Brunell ges it down . . . . my heart is palpatating, my arm is tingeling, my breathing is non-existent. The ball splits the uprights . . . I was so close to the TV at that point the screen gets thoroughly washed down by the tears that came gushing out of my eyes. By this time I didn't even know where my cell phone was much less punching in the other 1 to complete the call. Then a peace came over me heart quit palpatating. I finally took a breath after what seemed like 10 minutes, my arm quit tingeling . . . I felt 42 years of abuse, ridecule, bag heads and being the butt of way to many jokes had just been vindicated . . . The Who Dat Nation had overcome . . . we were going the the Superbowl, the ain'ts were dead and we did not have to say wait until next season anymore.

Hey Goodell . . . This year we will kick ass for free!

skymike

Dont forget to tell us WHERE YA AT? And if anyone else was celebrating in your neighborhood.

Saint_LB

Bump for my buddy Mike and I want to read more stories...and also was wondering if I could put in my application to Mr. Benson for Carney's job when he leaves(did anyone notice that it was him holding the ball for Hartley when he was practicing on the sidelines?)...kicking consultant...I like that and think I could be pretty good at it.

When my kicker asks me what to do, I simply point out to the field and asks him if he sees those two poles sticking up in the air...when he responds yes, he does, I simply say, "Kick it between them!"

Whether you think you can or think you can't...you're right!

dizzle88

k everyone, i was sat in my front room, in Nottinghamshire, England, when i seen garrett hartley coming out onto the field, i got up from my lounge position, walked into the kitchen, then walked back (really weird, no reason at all, was VERY VERY NERVOUS) then i crouched to the floor about 3 ft away from my tv, and just stared!! i kept muttering to myself, "if one time to come through for us hartley, this is the time".

when heard the thud, i knew he hit it well, wen i see it was on its way through, and the announcer shouted it, i got up sprinted through the kitchen, then back, upstairs and woke my mum and dad up with the shouts of WE WON!!!!!!

Your bonehead creator picked a fine chapter to omit from your memory bank....let me ask you, does a machine like yourself ever experience fear? - Vegeta, DBZ