Of Saints & Senators
If ever a fan base had earned a reward, it's the New Orleans Saints' faithful.
Whether or not they win the Super Bowl, the Saints record of expansion futility has few equals. Born in 1967, they didn't break even until 1979, and didn't have a winning record until 1987. Their win over Minnesota puts them in position to win their first-ever NFL championship.
The Saints' futility is one thing, but how about the Texas Rangers? Born in 1961 as the expansion Washington Senators, the Rangers are also awaiting their first World Series berth. They've made the playoffs a few times, but never got out of the divisional series. A new ownership group that includes Nolan Ryan can't hurt.
Then there are the Expos/Nationals. Born two years after the Saints, Montreal made the postseason in 1981, the strike year, and then were left high and dry with baseball's best record in 1994 when another labor dispute ended the season. The franchise was basically stripped of anything of real value before it moved to DC, so I prefer to look at the Nats as a sixth year expansion club. Disagree all you want, I'm not changing my mind on that.
There are other franchises in various sports who've had long, dry spells. Some are worse than others. But, after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina and the near relocation of that franchise, those big easy fans deserve an opportunity to cut loose.
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Categories (click for archive)Phil Wood |
Phil,
Though the Redskins had success early in the franchise, most of us grew up watching a dead-from-the-neck-up version of the franchise, believing they'd never win anything.
I remember it like yesterday. December 31st 1972. RFK Stadium. Cowboys vs. Redskins. NFC Championship game.
26-3 Redskins. Post headline: "Happy New Year! We're Champions At Last!" (or some derivation thereof).
With the score 10-3, Billy Kilmer hit Charley Taylor for a long bomb--50 yards if I remember correctly--something that seldom happened in the NFL those days, and NEVER happened with Kilmer as quarterback.
Watching your team go from a loser to a winner is a very special feeling (obviously, 28 years later I remember it so well). The Nationals will one day do the same, and all these difficult days will make the championship play all that more meaningful.
I'm for the Saints for the same reason, and because the Colts abandoned Baltimore. Still, I'd take 34 years of losing and frustration over 34 years of no team any day.
I was very happy for the Saints and their fans with yesterday's win. I'll be rooting for them on February 7.
Maybe they can bring back Tom Dempsey and Archie Manning for the coin toss :)