Saints and Sinners.

Mardi Gras came early to the Yard this year. With our chosen Saints, smashing another future Hall of Fame QB into untimely interceptions, we put on our beads, got liquored up and flashed our boobs. It is still a blur in the afterglow of betting the money line rather than taking the points with our recently beloved team. There is no better sports story this century than the Saints carrying this nearly 300 year old city into a much needed winner’s circle. Drew Brees is a relentless warrior encased in genuine. Dat who!

It was a great game with Saints Coach Sean Payton making some gutsy calls that could have cost his team the game. Going for it on 4th and goal from the 2 yard line right before half was gutsy and it failed. Coach Payton saving his timeouts while Peyton Manning tried to run out the clock was brilliant. He got that field goal back as the half ended. The on sides kick with the second half kick off could have been disastrous but it worked out.

The play that changed the game was made by Indy WR Pierre Garcon in the first quarter. It did not seem like anything could slow the Colts after their 11 play 96 yard drive to take a 10-0 lead. With Peyton Manning affirming his brilliance on every play, the Colts faced a rather pedestrian 3rd and 7 from their own 35 yard line. Manning dropped back and hit Garcon right in stride 20 yards down the field with no other player shown on my television. Garcon had another 30 yards of wet Miami turf open ahead of him and the legacy of Peyton Manning within him. A 17-0 lead would have been insurmountable and changed the Saints game plan, their fortunes and the spirit of this blog. With the ensuing touchdown, Manning might have been inducted into Canton right there in Miami at halftime.

Pierre Garcon would catch five passes on Super Bowl Sunday but not this one. The Colts were forced to punt. The Saints ham and egged a 46 yard field goal on the ensuing drive while the French Quarter ordered another round. Manning was never in control of this game again after that moment. The French Quarter has not been in control either but that goes back 300 years and a day.

We are on the fence if Tim Tebow can take his game to the NFL. He certainly did not do himself any locker room favors with his Focus on the Family ad that ran during the Super Bowl pre-game. The media deemed it controversial but it really did not convey any controversial message. We watched it and it seemed sort of like a hair salon commercial with Tebow playing the role of Alphonse. We are glad to see Tim and his mommy have so much fun together but it was a bit creepy.

The real irritating commercial during the Super Bowl was President Obama and CBS News Anchor Katie Couric sitting down at the White House in effort to save both of their careers. It was another unpaid advertisement for Barry to get his message out. Couric was there to remind the majority of the massive television audience that she is still on television. Barack, interrupting the Super Bowl pre-game show is definitely not going to help your approval rating. We prefer the Clydesdales and Carrie Underwood during the pre-game on our day. Have your people call my people next time.

Which washed up band is going to play the next Super Bowl halftime Rod Stewart? The Who’s lead singer Roger Daltrey looked like a Vegas lounge act with the curls and pink tinted Aviator sunglasses. Daltrey can not goose out those high notes even with that outfit. Pete Townsend still does his signature windmill strum that produces the same meager chords he has been playing since before CSI: Miami. Who were the other guys that were on the stage representing the Who? The lighting show was nice especially when it drown out the band. Next year let’s hope the NFL hires the Black Eyed Peas and Fergie has a clothing malfunction.

USC football will finally get their day before NCAA tribunal council next week. It has been a long time coming and Prince Peter knew better than to stick around for the punitive phase of his reign. The civil suit with Reggie Bush’s former agent’s claim that Mr. Kardashian needs to repay the $300,000 salary he was paid during his Heisman year still beckons before, after and during the NCAA investigation.

USC President Steve Sample can not be too thrilled to have his grumpy AD Mike Garrett representing the University’s most valuable asset-the football program. Garrett has raised record monies, built the Galen Center, and has made few friends in the process. Mike is quick to point out that he has a law degree. The Yard is quick to point out, he never passed the bar. Garrett might need to hit one on the way home from this hearing. We are seeing a “You can’t handle the truth” moment coming with Garrett impersonating Jack Nicholson when questioned.

Trojan faithful, it is not going to end well. UCLA had their best recruiting class this century while benefitting from the uncertainty. Hiring Lane Kiffin slowed the bleeding but the wolves are getting closer to the fire. The big lineman from MN is already talking to Ohio State and will not be coming if the axe falls. When the NCAA cuts scholarships for ten of your Parade All-Americans with no bowl games for two years, and restricted recruiting, etc, Lane will be what we all know he is already-not much. At some point in the next four years, if Garrett is still there, he will be forced to ask Kiffin to leave. The Yard takes no solace in the misfortune of Troy…yeah, right…

Sports do not build character. They reveal it. John Wooden.