re: 2009/2010 NFC Championship vs Minnesota = tGOAT Saints Game

My grandfather (who basically raised me) was a Saints fan from the beginning. He was in really poor health by 2009 and I knew that season was going to be his last chance to see them in a Super Bowl. We held hands and prayed when Hartley lined up for that kick. We held each other and cried when it was good.

It was the greatest joy I've ever had as a sports fan. It was even sweeter than LSU in '03 and '07 just because of what it meant to the old man. We both knew it was his last best chance.

The Super Bowl was lagniappe. We were just happy that he had lived long enough to see pigs fly and hell freeze over.

I held his hand when he died a few months later. I don't care for football nearly as much since he's been gone because I can't watch the games with him or call him after the game. I still love it, but not with the same passion that I did when he was alive.

Those were the glory days.