The Brees Helps It Happen; Louisiana 'Comes Home' to the Saints Special

The Super Bowl win just minutes ago comes after a long and suffering stretch for the people of Louisiana, especially those to the South. If anything will mend fences between the factions of the state, it will be the Saints win Sunday.

Drew Brees is a "uniter," not a "divider," as reflected in his popularity that crosses racial lines and the various sections of Louisiana. He is a hero in New Orleans because he lives in the city and is part of the heart beat of the town. People cheer him in every quarter, not just in the French Quarter, where parties are already underway with cheering crowds and people pouring into restaurants, bars and hotels to chug one down in celebration. Those folks outside of Louisiana, or those who aren't well acquainted with its customs, don't know about those three states in one and the traditions of each part of the state. After Hurricane Katrina's victims poured into the north central and northern parts of Louisiana, the attitude was "visit, but don't move here" because the attitude of having more poor and of the underclass and those New Orleans folks full of sin, thought by some, was a lot. These were the reports from Red Cross people, from businesses and from folks on the street. So the game is bringing people together tonight. The Saints won with gusto, but they worked very hard. They have slugged through the trenches this season every bit as hard, folks say, as the City of New Orleans continues its rebound from Hurricane Katrina. The stats of their win can be found on ESPN here. Digital Journal interviewed an old former coach, who worked in football, although not with the Saints but with college teams and all, about his take on the win and how he thinks it might impact relationships. John Winston, a man of African American ancestry, is a man who walks across racial lines well, being good friends with many in the town of Natchitoches where he lives. Natchitoches is one of those towns where many people root for the Dallas Cowboys when they play against the Saints. In fact Shreveport, when the media has a choice between showing a Dallas Cowboys game against an opponent or one with the Saints, mostly chooses the Dallas Cowboys games. But tonight, things might be different in terms of getting factions together. Brees is a modern day hero in the town of Natchitoches, a place where a local band has even written a song about him that is being played around this time. John Winston said this in reference to the Saints winning the Super Bowl, "The win is great. For a minute it will bring the people of Louisiana together. But you know, as I do, you can't change hearts and minds with something like this, even as legislation can't." Winston is optimistic in general, he explained. "The Saints win will help the general morale of lots of people." Then he laughingly added, "just wish the Governor would declare a state holiday tomorrow. Folks need time to feel good, to celebrate. He won't, but wouldn't it be nice." Fans of the Saints, wherever they are, might agree.