NEW ORLEANS (AP) -- Only a
Super Bowl victory parade could upstage Mardi Gras in New Orleans.
Carnival floats carrying
Saints players, coaches and team owner Tom Benson rolled past tens of thousands of jubilant fans in downtown New Orleans on Tuesday, two days after the 43-year-old franchise won its first
NFL championship.
Players, wearing team jerseys instead of traditional Carnival masks and costumes, tossed beads into the crowd and signed autographs for throngs of screaming fans. Benson shouted "Who Dat!" into a microphone from his perch atop a float. Head coach Sean Payton blew kisses and held the Lombardi Trophy over his head.
"This is wilder than Mardi Gras," said Frank V. Smith, 55, a lifelong New Orleans resident who shot photographs of players from the rear of a pickup truck. "I've never seen so many people out here like this. This is beautiful, man."
The parade, a week before the city's signature Fat Tuesday celebration, started outside their home turf at the Louisiana Superdome. Black, gold and white confetti floated over the crowd and a man wearing a Saints jacket held aloft a sign that read, "Happy Lombardi Gras!"
The floats stopped at a reviewing stand at historic Gallier Hall so elected officials, including Mayor Ray Nagin, Sen. Mary Landrieu and Gov. Bobby Jindal, could toast the team's 31-17 win over the
Indianapolis Colts.
"How's the 'Who Dat' nation feel tonight?" Super Bowl MVP
Drew Brees yelled when his float stopped at the reviewing stand. "This toast goes out to you. We love you and we won that championship for you."
"This is wilder than Mardi Gras. ... This is beautiful, man."
-- Frank V. Smith, New Orleans resident Ten Carnival krewes lent floats for the team to ride. More than a dozen marching bands joined the team on its route, which passed by the edge of the French Quarter and ended at the city's convention center.
Shannon Cobb, 28, of Metairie, said the parade was a party with a purpose.
"Everybody is here for one reason: their love for the city and their love for the Saints and to show our appreciation for what they've done for us," she said.
The Super Bowl win, which capped just the ninth winning season in franchise history, was a stunning reversal of fortunes for a team once derided as the "Aints." Few players could appreciate that better than fan favorite
Deuce McAllister, the team's retired all-time leading rusher who joined the team on the sidelines for the Super Bowl.
"It's been pretty crazy," he said Tuesday. "Everywhere you go, you can see the pride in the fans."
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Saints Celebrate Historic Title
New Orleans Saints fans greet the NFL football champions during a parade through the central business district of New Orleans, Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2010. The Saints and fans celebrated the team's 31-17 victory over the Indianapolis Colts in Super Bowl XLIV. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)
AP
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Super Bowl Photos
FORT LAUDERDALE, FL - FEBRUARY 06: Michael Irvin (R) comforts Emmitt Smith as Smith is overcome with emotion after Smith was announced as one of the newest enshrinees into the Hall of Fame during the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2010 Press Conference held at the Greater Ft. Lauderdale/Broward County Convention Center as part of media week for Super Bowl XLIV on February 6, 2010 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Emmitt Smith;Michael Irvin
Super Bowl Photos
FORT LAUDERDALE, FL - FEBRUARY 06: Emmitt Smith speaks on stage after he was announced as one of the newest enhrinees into the Hall of Fame during the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2010 Press Conference held at the Greater Ft. Lauderdale/Broward County Convention Center as part of media week for Super Bowl XLIV on February 6, 2010 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Emmitt Smith
Super Bowl Photos
FORT LAUDERDALE, FL - FEBRUARY 06: Floyd Little speaks on stage after he was announced as one of the newest enshrinees into the Hall of Fame during the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2010 Press Conference held at the Greater Ft. Lauderdale/Broward County Convention Center as part of media week for Super Bowl XLIV on February 6, 2010 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Floyd Little
Super Bowl Photos
FORT LAUDERDALE, FL - FEBRUARY 06: (L-R) Michael Irvin and Steve Young share a laugh on stage during the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2010 Press Conference held at the Greater Ft. Lauderdale/Broward County Convention Center as part of media week for Super Bowl XLIV on February 6, 2010 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Michael Irvin
Super Bowl Photos
FORT LAUDERDALE, FL - FEBRUARY 06: Michael Irvin is seen on stage during the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2010 Press Conference held at the Greater Ft. Lauderdale/Broward County Convention Center as part of media week for Super Bowl XLIV on February 6, 2010 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Michael Irvin
Super Bowl Photos
FORT LAUDERDALE, FL - FEBRUARY 06: Michael Irvin is seen on stage during the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2010 Press Conference held at the Greater Ft. Lauderdale/Broward County Convention Center as part of media week for Super Bowl XLIV on February 6, 2010 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Michael Irvin
Super Bowl Photos
FORT LAUDERDALE, FL - FEBRUARY 06: (L-R) Rich Eisen, Floyd Little, Jerry Rice, Emmitt Smith and Michael Irvin appear on stage during the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2010 Press Conference held at the Greater Ft. Lauderdale/Broward County Convention Center as part of media week for Super Bowl XLIV on February 6, 2010 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Rich Eisen;Michael Irvin;Emmitt Smith;Jerry Rice;Floyd Little
Super Bowl Photos
FORT LAUDERDALE, FL - FEBRUARY 06: (L-R) members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2010 Jerry Rice, Emmitt Smith and Floyd Little pose for a group photo during the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2010 Press Conference held at the Greater Ft. Lauderdale/Broward County Convention Center as part of media week for Super Bowl XLIV on February 6, 2010 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Jerry Rice;Emmitt Smith;Floyd Little
Super Bowl Photos
FORT LAUDERDALE, FL - FEBRUARY 06: (L-R) members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2010 Jerry Rice, Emmitt Smith and Floyd Little pose for a group photo during the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2010 Press Conference held at the Greater Ft. Lauderdale/Broward County Convention Center as part of media week for Super Bowl XLIV on February 6, 2010 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Jerry Rice;Emmitt Smith;Floyd Little
Super Bowl Photos
FORT LAUDERDALE, FL - FEBRUARY 06: President/Executive Director of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Steve Perry speaks at the podium during the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2010 Press Conference held at the Greater Ft. Lauderdale/Broward County Convention Center as part of media week for Super Bowl XLIV on February 6, 2010 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Steve Perry
Super Bowl Photos
Fans are grateful for more than just the team's on-field performance. Many members of "Who Dat" nation credit the team with uniting a city that has struggled with racial divisions and labored to rebuild in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, which left about 85 percent of the city underwater in August 2005.
"After the hurricane, people were more willing to come back when they realized the Saints were coming back," said Scott Catalanotto, 35, whose 7-year-old son sat on a ladder and yelled for beads.
In the French Quarter, thousands streamed toward the parade route, turning Bourbon Street into a river of black and gold.
Will Kaplan, 28, stood out in a billowing white toga with a gold-colored halo and the word "Breesus" on his back.
His Jesus-inspired costume, he said, was made from sheets he had in a FEMA trailer he stayed in after Hurricane Katrina on the University of New Orleans campus.
"I'm the spirit of the party," he said.
Enduring chilly, windy weather under overcast skies, fans started staking out spots along the parade route more than seven hours before the floats rolled.
Tim Thorn, a 35-year-old landscaper, drove in from Baton Rouge to be among the early birds. He said he gave his daughters, Cameron and Carson, the day off school because the event was too big to miss.
"It's probably the biggest party in the world," he said.
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Next stop, Skyline Chili. RT @terrellowens: Okayyyyyy I got it now, 2 n's & 1 t! CINCINNATI!! LOL!
Report: Vince Young Avoids Suspension for Strip Club Altercation http://bit.ly/cUU4yV #nfl
Comments (Page 1 of 3)
The win matches the game. Everyone loves free stuff, and as per the Super Bowl Commercials, Dockers is giving away free pants. Granted, only 2010 pairs of free Dockers will be given out, but the popularity of signing up for the contest already crashed the servers for Dockers website, albeit temporarily. You can sign up for them until February 15th, and for every e-mail entry, you'll get a coupon for a few bucks off a pair of their pants. The Super Bowl had an abundance of commercials with people, sans pants – maybe a few payday loans worth had to be shaved from production budgets.
Carnival floats carrying Saints players, coaches and team owner Tom Benson rolled past tens of thousands of jubilant fans in downtown New Orleans
You need to correct this statement: It was actually HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS of jubilant fans. A crowd comparable to that for Endymion and Bacchus.
Next week may be Fat Tuesday, better known as Mardi Gras. Today will forever be known as DAT TUESDAY, or LOMBARDI GRAS! WHO DAT!
SUPER BOWL CHAMPION NEW ORLEANS SAINTS!!!
I am waiting for the Detroit Lions to do like the Nawlins Saints. The kitty cats have been hapless all their existance except for a lost playoff game with Billy Sims and then with Barry Sanders. Otherwise the pussy cats are the Norths version of the Aints except the kitty cats have not made it into the Super Bowl.
Duke 2-09-2010 11:57PM
I am waiting for the Detroit Lions to do like the Nawlins Saints. The kitty cats have been hapless all their existance except for a lost playoff game with Billy Sims and then with Barry Sanders. Otherwise the pussy cats are the Norths version of the Aints except the kitty cats have not made it into the Super Bowl.
reply BWAHAHAHAHA! ! not in our lifetime will that happen! ! I grew up there... I was a fan until 10 yrs ago (for 34 yrs..then moved away and my loyalty gave out)...they will win nothing until the fords sell the team...My current team will win it b4 they do...GO FINS! ! ! !
WORDS CANNT EXPLAIN HOW I FEEL IMA SO GLAD WE WIN
Right on for NAWLINS!...... From a friendly truck drivin neighbor from the southwest. Broke my heart everytime I went through there on the 10. LOL
This game showed who the real quarterback is on the field and off the field. When Drew was holding his little boy there were tears in his eyes and the emotion showed he was sharing that moment with his son.Oh and he had his ears covered protecting them from the noise. I've watched a lot of teams when they won but this was different They were a bunch of young men their faces it wasn't just about them but New Orleans. What a geat bunch of young men. They had a reason not juat for them.Love all of you for who you are.
The estimates are that there were 800,000 people show up for the "Championship Parade!"
They break records on and off the field!
New Orleans is a beautiful city, and I am happy for the great people there
ray nagin is not the mayor anymore...do your homework......the racist was voted out.
Nagin is still the mayor until May 3, 2010 you idiot. I must admit I am glad he is at the end of his reign.
firstclassmeal...I'm not a fan of Nagin either but do YOUR homework. He wasn't voted out, he was term limited and couldn't run again. And Mitch Landrieu won't officially be mayor for a couple of months. So yes, he is still the mayor of NOLA.
There, you have a Super Bowl and Billions of our tax dollars. Can the New Orleans pity party end now?
Amen... enough is enough... time for these folks to stand on their own 2 feet now... just like the rest of us....
CPR, I think you need CPR. You don't seem to be getting enough oxygen to your brain.
cpr your total lack of brains and compassion is showing, there has been less help from tax dollars for new orleans then for most any other compatible disaster anywhere, the privte sector and good compasionate people as well as the great churches of this country have done more for this city then tax dollars have and that is what makes new orleans recovery both the city and the football team so more amazing...good job saints, and people of new orleans,well done, SHAKE THOSE HATERS OFF...
113 million in fema money went to Benson to replace the domes roof for 1.5 million, fema checks sold the stadium out, and now, with houses still in rubble all over the city, our tax money just spent another 5 million dollars for a stinkin parade. The aints cheated to get there, they don't deserve that tarnished trophy. Not a damn one of you people can explain how Bensons new increased ad revenue and and millions in merch sales going in his pocket is gonna benefit the city. He hasn't done crap for Nawleans except steal the us taxpayers money for his greed, and play the sympathy card to get a rigged superblow. Try beating the Vikings without the refs help in ot next time, cheating scumbags! Enjoy that tarnished trophy, its your one and only.
ACE, why would the Saints need refs' help to beat the Vikings? The Vikings beat themselves.. You know, kind of like you do when you look at childrens' clothing magazines.
Lemme guess the part of the contry you live in is invincible?? I hope for your sake you never experience any type of disaster.
Hey, firstclassmeal, do YOUR homework. Nagin is still the mayor until the new mayor is sworn in. That being cleared up,
Congrats to the Saints and New Orleans!! What a great victory!!