Saints Fans in Need of a Reality Check

I hate to say it because I am a huge Deuce fan, but you have to admit, after watching Ryan Grant and Pierre Thomas run the way they did at the dome, there is a huge difference between the way they run and the way Deuce runs. They are faster, quicker, and often just as powerful. Not to mention that they aren't even two of the best backs out there.

Sure Deuce can push a pile a few times a game and punch through the goal line well, but honestly any running back that garners playing time in the NFL should be able to do that. The fact of the matter is that Saints fans, have forgotten what it's like to watch an effective, dominant running back in their backfield.

Deuce definitely was that type of prolific runner. But if we want to see what a real running back of today looks like, Saints fans need to Youtube highlights of Clinton Portis, Adrian Peterson, Marion Barber, Marshawn Lynch, Stephen Jackson, Ronnie Brown, Michael Turner, Chris Johnson, Matt Forte, Ryan Grant, DeAngelo Williams, Thomas Jones, Brian Westbrook, Frank Gore, Brandon Jacobs, Willie Parker.

Is the list too long? It isn't even complete. There are more names out there of guys who can run the ball better than Saints fans have seen a guy in black in gold run the ball in a long time.

Saints fans shouldn't be screaming "Payton" in reference to a last name; it should be in reference to a first name: PEYTON FREAKING HILLIS (a white boy/former fullback for Arkansas!) looks better than right now than Deuce has in two years. The point of above the list is that all of those players play for teams that are owning the Saints at the tailback position, while we're still paying Deuce about the same money (in some cases more) as those guys to, for all intents and purposes, wait for retirement.

Deuce is a great Saint, always will be. I love the guy; 1st string all-time Saints player and citizen. However, he's beyond the twilight of his playing career; but he should look back at what he has accomplished with utmost pride. Unfortunately, the reality is that he is not a runner of the caliber which the Saints need to compliment their offense.

Maybe Reggie is of that caliber, maybe Pierre could be; but Deuce was, and now, is not. That is a reality Saints fans must accept.

Uncharted Territory

It’s no secret now that people know the Hornets are for real, both locally and nationally. Locally, people are enthusiastic and amped that they’re hearing the words New Orleans and 1^st place in the same breath. Nationally, analysts and coaches alike are giving the bees their due respect. The question remains, however: Are Hornets’ fans grasping the significance of the situation yet? Has it really hit everyone?

Many people have often described New Orleans and Southern Louisiana as “football country.” Even when New Orleans was making a push to land the Hornets back in 2001, detractors were saying, “they won’t succeed here” “this isn’t a basketball town.” It appears now that those detractors are being proven wrong.

Nothing against the Saints, I’m a die hard and always will be; but there currently should be many more people on the Hornets’ bandwagon than were on that thing Coach Payton had constructed and tactfully placed in the Saints indoor practice facility. Bandwagon is often used as a term to describe fickle fans; but in this case the bandwagon is the first step in establishing fan loyalty to a team that, before this season, had not truly experienced it.

The Hornets’ success developed so quickly that it has left fans in a near state of shock. It seemed as though one minute we were rooting half-heartedly for a team that was halfway across the country; the next minute the team is back home and off to one of the best starts in franchise history. Then, all of a sudden, we have the best record in the conference at the All Star break, at which point fans finally seemed to realize, “hey our team’s pretty good, why don’t we start showing up at the arena to see them play?” Consequently, the Hornets won 12 out of their next 14 home games and, despite losing it shortly after the break, once again own the best record in the conference.

The whirlwind/shock & awe manner in which the Hornets have found their stride is pertinent because it has left fans unaware of the broad significance of their situation, a situation that we, as New Orleans sports fans, must relish in (we know all to well that we have not been in this situation very often at all, if ever). If it helps to understand it, the 2006 Saints were the only New Orleans team to even approach the type of success the Hornets are currently having.

But, even they didn’t have the complete personnel package or regular season success that the Hornets currently have. The Hornets have a frontrunner for the MVP award in Chris Paul, who is also on the verge of completing one of the best seasons for a point guard in NBA history. They also have a supporting cast that not only compliments him extremely well, but consistently steps up in key situations. Not to mention, this New Orleans team can actually play defense.

The fact of the matter is that the Hornets are entering unfamiliar territory for a professional franchise in the Big Easy. With 10 games remaining they have a good chance of finishing the season atop their conference, which would grant them home-court advantage throughout the playoffs, something a New Orelans sports franchise has not previously experienced. They have consistently performed well against the very best the NBA has to offer, having beaten all top 5 teams from the West and best team from East. The Hornets have great potential to make a deep run in the playoffs and possibly bring a championship to the Crescent City.

I know what you’re thinking. Nothing, short of a Super Bowl, could be better than the Saints run of 2006; but, to put it in perspective, this could be. Hornets’ fans, new or old, should take a step back to take in the situation because one day everyone will look back and realize it was one of the best in New Orleans sports history.

Second Sellout: A Sign of Realization? Recognition?

Have the people of New Orleans finally realized that the Hornets have players on their own team worth paying to see? Or have the sports centered eyes of New Orleans residents simply collided with the Hornets logo which has consistently been appearing on Sportcenter over the past three weeks? The answer is most likely a tasty concoction of both scenarios.

The Hornets recorded their second sell out of the season Saturday night in a victory against the Memphis Grizzlies, which could, quite possibly, have been the most significant showing Hornets fans have made all season. The lone other Hornets' sellout came against the Cleveland Cavaliers, but anyone that has been paying attention to the Hornets' marketing strategies should attribute that one to the "Lebron package."

It is also no coincidence that the other large crowds this season have come against other opponents with major stars on their team, i.e. the Shaq or Kobe packages; but what star on the Grizzlies did the Hornets' faithful come out in full force to see? Pau Gasol? Not anymore, I suppose he would be a newly added stipulation of the Kobe package.

Some may attribute the large crowd to the game's falling on a Saturday night; however, previous Saturday night home games, besides the Cavs game, include the T-Wolves, Clippers, Mavs, and Suns, none of which came close to selling out.

What is truly significant, and should be obvious, about the Hornets' most recent sellout is the fact that there is no big star on the Grizzlies, not to mention they are ranked dead last in the latest ESPN power rankings; but they still had the same amount of fans come out as they did for the Lebron James show back in December. This clearly shows that people now realize that the Hornets do have players worth the price of admission.

People in this city are finally starting to give Chris Paul his long overdue recognition for performing at a higher level than any other point guard in the NBA this season. The chants for MVP are warranted. They are giving David West his recognition for quietly becoming one of the stand-out forwards in the league, Tyson Chandler for his aggressive, dominating presence in the paint, and Peja and Mo Pete for their precision outside shooting skills, not to mention the recently found inspired play from the bench. And, no, praise is not the same thing as recognition.

Anyone can praise a player at work, school, the local bar, on the radio, or anywhere else with the proverbial "Hey man, he's awesome! Did you see him on TV?" (sorry North Shore); but true recognition is given by purchasing a ticket and sitting down in the arena to show your support. The recognition shown to the Hornets at the Grizzlies game should become commonplace throughout the remainder of the home schedule.