Open Season

Tracy Porter almost missed the bus – which would have been unfortunate.
 
A Louisiana local on the New Orleans Saints roster, Porter had been getting his head shaved at the team hotel before yesterday's Super Bowl.
 
One the left side of his head: "SB 44" representing Super Bowl XLIV, as the NFL's marketing department like to call it.
 
On the right side, a representation of the Lombardi Trophy, the thing that everyone was here in Miami to play for.
 
On the back, the outline of the Superdome, the New Orleans arena and Saints home that tragically encapsulated the horror of Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
 
Porter managed to take his seat on time and, like a Hollywood script, got his timing right to make the interception and game-sealing touchdown to bring the Lombardi to New Orleans.
 
Bourbon Street, which has seen some wild parties in its time, wound up for another BIG celebration.
 
Porter claimed he predicted his interception with a combination of practice, research, maths, and luck.
 
"When it came, it was just like I was watching it on film," he said.

"I jumped the route and the ball came to me. And here come the end zone."
 
For those that missed it, watch it now. The magic happens at around 4:30 but the first part of the clip sets up the context for how big an interception this was:
 


The other thread in the Saints win – if another story line was required – was underrated (by many but not all) quarterback Drew Brees.
 
Brees signed with the Saints in 2006, coming back from an injury just like the city of New Orleans.
 
It's important to note that this was no ordinary group of players representing a "franchise", as Americans call their sports teams, almost relegating them to the level fast food chain restaurants.
 
You want fries with the emotional connection?
 
But Brees explained this group of players, assembled since Katrina swept through the Gulf Coast, had pledged to play a role in rebuilding the region.
 
On Sunday, they kept that promise.
 
Brees, importantly, stood tall against rival Peyton Manning, overshadowing the Colts quarterback who many pundits predicted was too good to throw away a Super Bowl.
 
Manning was reined in by Saints Jonathan Vilma who, in one instance breaking from the tight defensive plan, pulled off a spontaneous manoeuvre to spoil a pass and a sure Colts touchdown.
 
"Mardi Gras may never end," joked Brees, although knowing New Orleans he may not have been joking.
 
Porter acknowledged his home state, but kept his dedication even closer to home.
 
"This is for you, Grandma," he said. "I love you!"
 
A scriptwriter could not make it much better.
 
Want more? A fan made this (unofficial) bring-it-home clip before the Super Bowl:




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