2005: The Hopeful Realist

WhoDat · 04-20-2005, 10:26 AM

You may hope for the best -- we all do -- but you expect the worst, right?

As grumpy as I may come across at times, honestly, no, I don\'t always expect the worst. I doubt that you\'ll believe that, but it\'s true.

There are times when I look at the Saints schedule at about this time in preseason (and yes, this happens every year), and I wonder how we will win 4 games. Then there are times that I look at the schedule and think, well if this or that just happens to go our way, we could win 12! But in the end, with this team, I always seem to come back to what I believe to be a more \"realistic\" record given the situation.

And that\'s not to say I\'m always right. I think in the preseason of 2001 it would have been pessimistic after the 2000 season to predict 7-9. I certainly didn\'t. I predicted 11-5. I wasn\'t sure that the team could keep pace after such an incredible year, but with all that talent, and the new \"air\" about the Saints, I thought it was up, up, and away. If you think my view has been particularly less optimistic since then, it has. But I don\'t think that is unfounded.

In other words, there\'s being negative because there\'s good reason to be. Then there\'s being negative simply because you\'re a grumpy bugger. I know which you think I am, but it hasn\'t always been that way. My current outlook is the fault of the team and staff, not my own personal negativity. Compare that to Billy, who will always give you the absolutely most positive shine on things possible. That\'s optimism, not simply a positive outlook on the facts as they actually appear.

It\'s just my opinion. Think I\'m a pessimist if you want. But when the team gives me reason to be positive, I am. I was in 2001. I was hesitant in 2002, but after the first 9 games or so I was talking about the Saints potentially being the team to beat in the NFC. Like I said, I\'m not always right - but I will give credit where due. Right now, the Saints\' \"good faith\" balance is WAY into the red.

04-20-2005, 10:26 AM	#15
WhoDat 5000 POSTS! + Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 5,631	2005: The Hopeful Realist You may hope for the best -- we all do -- but you expect the worst, right? As grumpy as I may come across at times, honestly, no, I don\'t always expect the worst. I doubt that you\'ll believe that, but it\'s true. There are times when I look at the Saints schedule at about this time in preseason (and yes, this happens every year), and I wonder how we will win 4 games. Then there are times that I look at the schedule and think, well if this or that just happens to go our way, we could win 12! But in the end, with this team, I always seem to come back to what I believe to be a more \"realistic\" record given the situation. And that\'s not to say I\'m always right. I think in the preseason of 2001 it would have been pessimistic after the 2000 season to predict 7-9. I certainly didn\'t. I predicted 11-5. I wasn\'t sure that the team could keep pace after such an incredible year, but with all that talent, and the new \"air\" about the Saints, I thought it was up, up, and away. If you think my view has been particularly less optimistic since then, it has. But I don\'t think that is unfounded. In other words, there\'s being negative because there\'s good reason to be. Then there\'s being negative simply because you\'re a grumpy bugger. I know which you think I am, but it hasn\'t always been that way. My current outlook is the fault of the team and staff, not my own personal negativity. Compare that to Billy, who will always give you the absolutely most positive shine on things possible. That\'s optimism, not simply a positive outlook on the facts as they actually appear. It\'s just my opinion. Think I\'m a pessimist if you want. But when the team gives me reason to be positive, I am. I was in 2001. I was hesitant in 2002, but after the first 9 games or so I was talking about the Saints potentially being the team to beat in the NFC. Like I said, I\'m not always right - but I will give credit where due. Right now, the Saints\' \"good faith\" balance is WAY into the red.
WhoDat 5000 POSTS! + Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 5,631	\"Excuses, excuses, excuses. ThatÃ¢Â€Â™s all anyone ever makes for the New Orleans SaintsÃ¢Â€Â™ organization.\" - Eric Narcisse \"Being a Saints fan is almost like being addicted to crack,\" he said.[i]\"You know you should stop, but you just can\'t.\"