Oh, when the Saints come marching in...
According to the Associated Press eight people have already been gunned down in New Orleans this year, which may seem like a lot, even for the Sodom and Gomora on the Miss-a-sipp, but it makes sense. These are tense days for eight NFL cities, Philadelphia, Nawleans, Boston (OK, New England is a region, but you get the point), Baltimore, San Diego, Indie, CHI Town, and Seattle. And the fan bases of each community are turning to their roots to soothe their nerves.
Philadelphia residents are preparing for Saturday's match up against the Saints by cramming down hot wings in obscene numbers and developing a non existent quarterback controversy. "If Donovan McNabb was healthy, wouldn't you still rather have Jeff Gracia at the helm?" You might as well ask if Jesus could QB your team, would you want him or McNabb? The Philly area's talk radio is filled with idiotic accusations and the maligning of Donovan, and his mother. Philly fans would have run Babe Ruth out of town given the opportunity.
On the other side of stupid, the good people of Indie have collectively stuck their heads in the ground, praising Peyton Manning, even as he threw three interceptions in the team's victory over Kansass. God damn are they cheery.
Baltimore fans are eating crabs and praying a key member of their team doesn't get arrested before they face the Colts.
The people of San Diego are probably sunning themselves, California Dreams, on such a winter's day and what not. But I haven't been to southern California recently so... well, who cares, Baltimore is going to win the AFC anyhow. (Bold statement from a strange man.)
I haven't been to Chicago recently either, but the fans there can't feel confident, even though the Bears are the top seed in the NFC. They suck out loud. Grossman is an INT waiting to happen and Chicago's once lauded defense is pathetic now. If I lived in Chicago, I'd order a couple of deep dish pizzas, pick up a 30 pack of High Life and baricade myself in Sunday. If the Bears lose Sunday, I predict a return to mob rule.
According to my sources in Washington, the fair weather fans of the Seattle Seahawks aren't even aware that their team is still in the hunt. My grandmother tells me most of her neighbors are getting ready to root for the Mariners, until May, when they give up and start looking forward to Huskies football.
For the people of New England, well, the folks up there are probably drinking terpentine and having sex with their cousins as they always do. (Wow, that was an unimaginative cheap shot.)
All in all, this should be the best weekend of football in a long time.