From the NY Times:
NEW ORLEANS — One week after the Super Bowl, citizens of this enchanting and peculiar city will place a crown upon the head of Saints quarterback Drew Brees. They will dress him in a tunic, put him on a float and parade him through the streets before cheering throngs.
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This will happen even if the Saints do not qualify for the title game on Feb. 7 in Miami Gardens, Fla.
To get there, the Saints must beat the Minnesota Vikings in the Superdome on Sunday for the National Football Conference championship.
But come what may, Brees will be honored on Feb. 14 as Bacchus XLII by the Krewe of Bacchus, one of the local organizations in charge of the festivities of Carnival leading to Mardi Gras.
Brees has led the Saints to two N.F.C. championship games since he arrived as a free agent in 2006, a year after Hurricane Katrina damaged the Superdome and jeopardized the team’s future here. He is far more than a football hero for a Saints franchise enjoying the best season of its 43 years. He is also a focus of the physical, financial and psychological revival of the region that was devastated by Hurricane Katrina.
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“Drew has stepped up in a way that is very, very hard to explain,” said Owen Brennan III, the executive director of the Krewe of Bacchus. “There was so much need, so many projects. We needed someone who could rally the troops. Drew Brees has been able to move mountains. He is a pillar of the community.”
In the parade, Brennan said, Brees will toss miniature footballs and wine-colored coins bearing his likeness and his signature. His “throws” will symbolize his philanthropic efforts, which have helped bond this team with this community in ways beyond what is common in places where professional teams succeed.
at 12:36 pm
Thanks Stan.
nOgar,you don’t know about that devasting hurricane because the news shows the Lower Ninth Ward.
Some facts,just some facts the public doesn’t know….
80% ofthecity of N.O was under water for 21/2 to 3 weeks as in homes, national businesses, etc
The Lower Ninth Ward is one small part of N.O.
Lakeview(moslty White middle-upper middle class) was washed out. These are mostly White Americans sonobody likes to talk about their pain.
Every group/neighborhhood between was too.
-I am tired of hearing about the Lower Ninth Ward.
What about the other neighborhoods.
-Hurricane Katrina opned upa sore that so-called Black Leaders will NOT address.
Why were so many Blacks there fighting for their lives? They are poor by choice-unwed mothers in poverty, several kids, no baby’s daddy’s, Black crime is moving out to the burbs and yeah, I don’t like it.
-The Mississippi Gulf Coast casinos were blown out by Katrina. I mean like it tore off the buildings.
-Downtonw N.O., Upstown N.O. faired out fine….higher ground. Lakefront did too.
-Lower SE Louisiana (Lafitte,Grand Isle, etc.) was sunken.
-No body blew any levy. This is Black urban myth going around by Black elite to keep Black poor ones oppressed.
-THe Saints,our big thing,isreally great.Thing is , funnything,many locals are contributing to the econ brought on the Saints by buying Saints merc, tickets,food for parties,newpapers, etc.
at 10:01 am
Katrina was years ago! I am tried of hearing about it every time the Saints win! Hurricanes happen every year. The Saints and New Orleans don’t deserve anything at all – then must go and win. If they do win, it is not because they deserve. For this reason, I don’t want them to win because I don’t want to hear another thing about Katrina.
Some say the levies were blown. If anyone knew anything about the JFK assassination and NO, they would know that flooding the city to destroy and lasting evidence would only benefit Bush I. They used to train Cuban exiles in that area to attack Cuba. There is a lot about NO that is sinister and needed to be erased. Fist 9-11 and then Katrina under Bush II…
at 12:04 am
They deserve it… they worked their asses off! May God shine on that city and provide what this sorry ass nation didn’t!
Go Bronco’s… But God bless the New Orleans Saint’s and their SuperBowl VICTORY!