Sportscaster Jim Henderson gives an exclusive play-by-play on 30-plus years of covering Saints

Saintswrath · 12-02-2010, 11:59 AM

Sportscaster Jim Henderson gives an exclusive play-by-play on 30-plus years of covering Saints football, flying pigs and life on the North Shore

It’s not every day that you see pigs fly. In his three decades of calling Saints games, no one knows that better than Jim Henderson.
“I’d often thought of what I’d say if the Saints ever won the Super Bowl. I’d seen a sign in the Superdome once saying, ‘Pigs fly. Hell freezes.’ So I said if the Saints ever win the Super Bowl, that’s what I’d say.”

But when Garrett Hartley’s 40-yard kick soared straight through the uprights in the final seconds of the NFC Championship game against the Minnesota Vikings, Henderson impulsively seized the moment.
“The moment was so great, so climactic when Hartley kicked the winning field goal, I thought, ‘Maybe I shouldn’t press my luck.’”

In the weeks and months that followed, ESPN and countless other broadcasts would replay the clip: “Pigs have flown! Hell has frozen over! The Saints are on their way to the Super Bowl!”
Henderson defines Hartley’s winning field goal as the most exciting moment of the historic 2009 Saints season.

“It’s amazing what being a part of that moment has done. To have your voice associated with a moment that’s going to live forever among Saints fans is really special,” he says.

But even more, last season was the pinnacle of Henderson’s 30-plus year career of covering Saints football for WWL TV and radio. He’s witnessed it all: The losing seasons. The Bagheads. The first playoff game.
The way Hurricane Katrina almost sent the team packing. And then how a new coach and players breathed new life into a battered city and its football franchise.
“It’s been a tremendous whirlwind,” Henderson says. “It’s been extremely exciting, sometimes exhausting. But for the most part, it’s the most incredible thing I’ve been a part of in the almost 40 years I’ve been in this business.”
‘Best move’
Even in the age of 60-inch high-definition plasma screens with Dolby Surround Sound, there’s a tradition that prevails in the Who Dat Nation: Mute the TV, and turn up Jim Henderson on the radio.
Henderson is as much a fixture of New Orleans and Saints football as the fleur de lis and the Superdome.

Who Dat Hero
Henderson’s ability to capture a moment through excitement, volume and humor has made him a broadcast legend among Saints fans, players and team officials.
That includes Saints owner and executive vice president Rita Benson LeBlanc, who has known Henderson since her first Saints training camp in the 1990s.
“Jim has the unique distinction of being that voice - that radio call that puts you in the moment and allows you to relive some of the greatest moments in Saints history,” LeBlanc says.
In recent years, Henderson has shared the booth with former Saints running back Hokie Gajan, a resident of Mandeville who has been a friend of his since Gajan’s days as a player in the 1980s.
From hearing Henderson’s calls as a player to working alongside him in the booth, Gajan says he has always respected Henderson for his straightforward commentary.
“He’s always fair and honest, and that to me is what makes him the professional that he is. He tells the truth, but he doesn’t do it in a degrading fashion,” Gajan says.
Starting in February, Henderson will have one more year on his two-year contract with WWL. The station has told him they would like him to come back.

» Sportscaster Jim Henderson gives an exclusive play-by-play on 30-plus years of covering Saints football, flying pigs and life on the North Shore

12-02-2010, 11:59 AM	#1
Saintswrath +Mod Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Between 504 & 813 Posts: 1,776 Blog Entries: 4	Sportscaster Jim Henderson gives an exclusive play-by-play on 30-plus years of covering Saints Sportscaster Jim Henderson gives an exclusive play-by-play on 30-plus years of covering Saints football, flying pigs and life on the North Shore It’s not every day that you see pigs fly. In his three decades of calling Saints games, no one knows that better than Jim Henderson. “I’d often thought of what I’d say if the Saints ever won the Super Bowl. I’d seen a sign in the Superdome once saying, ‘Pigs fly. Hell freezes.’ So I said if the Saints ever win the Super Bowl, that’s what I’d say.” But when Garrett Hartley’s 40-yard kick soared straight through the uprights in the final seconds of the NFC Championship game against the Minnesota Vikings, Henderson impulsively seized the moment. “The moment was so great, so climactic when Hartley kicked the winning field goal, I thought, ‘Maybe I shouldn’t press my luck.’” In the weeks and months that followed, ESPN and countless other broadcasts would replay the clip: “Pigs have flown! Hell has frozen over! The Saints are on their way to the Super Bowl!” Henderson defines Hartley’s winning field goal as the most exciting moment of the historic 2009 Saints season. “It’s amazing what being a part of that moment has done. To have your voice associated with a moment that’s going to live forever among Saints fans is really special,” he says. But even more, last season was the pinnacle of Henderson’s 30-plus year career of covering Saints football for WWL TV and radio. He’s witnessed it all: The losing seasons. The Bagheads. The first playoff game. The way Hurricane Katrina almost sent the team packing. And then how a new coach and players breathed new life into a battered city and its football franchise. “It’s been a tremendous whirlwind,” Henderson says. “It’s been extremely exciting, sometimes exhausting. But for the most part, it’s the most incredible thing I’ve been a part of in the almost 40 years I’ve been in this business.” ‘Best move’ Even in the age of 60-inch high-definition plasma screens with Dolby Surround Sound, there’s a tradition that prevails in the Who Dat Nation: Mute the TV, and turn up Jim Henderson on the radio. Henderson is as much a fixture of New Orleans and Saints football as the fleur de lis and the Superdome. Who Dat Hero Henderson’s ability to capture a moment through excitement, volume and humor has made him a broadcast legend among Saints fans, players and team officials. That includes Saints owner and executive vice president Rita Benson LeBlanc, who has known Henderson since her first Saints training camp in the 1990s. “Jim has the unique distinction of being that voice - that radio call that puts you in the moment and allows you to relive some of the greatest moments in Saints history,” LeBlanc says. In recent years, Henderson has shared the booth with former Saints running back Hokie Gajan, a resident of Mandeville who has been a friend of his since Gajan’s days as a player in the 1980s. From hearing Henderson’s calls as a player to working alongside him in the booth, Gajan says he has always respected Henderson for his straightforward commentary. “He’s always fair and honest, and that to me is what makes him the professional that he is. He tells the truth, but he doesn’t do it in a degrading fashion,” Gajan says. Starting in February, Henderson will have one more year on his two-year contract with WWL. The station has told him they would like him to come back. » Sportscaster Jim Henderson gives an exclusive play-by-play on 30-plus years of covering Saints football, flying pigs and life on the North Shore
	Last edited by Saintswrath; 09-10-2013 at 04:56 AM..