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HELL BREEZED OVER . . .

When the New Orleans Saints stumbled through the team’s first 20 years without a winning season, lots of people were saying the franchise would get to the Super Bowl when “hell freezes over.”

Well, now you can buy a black and gold T-shirt that states “Hell has ‘Breesed’ over!” in reference, of course, to Saints quarterback Drew Brees who led his team to New Orleans’ first NFC title Sunday with a 31-28 overtime win over Minnesota.

Next stop – Miami and Super Bowl XLIV where the Saints (15-3) will face AFC champion Indianapolis (16-2).

Sunday’s game was a real cliff hanger that was not for the faint-hearted. New Orleans had lots of trouble with a talented Viking defense, failing time and again to convert third downs and drawing way too many penalties. The Brett Favre-led Vikings had a lopsided edge in total offense and first downs, but the ball-hawking Saints’ defense came up with five turnovers and that was just too much for Minnesota to overcome.

My heart was in my throat for most of the second half. With the score knotted at 28-all and Minnesota moving close to field goal range, Favre made a critical mistake and threw an interception, setting up the overtime. I finally had a good feeling when New Orleans won the toss to get first possession in the sudden death OT. They got the win when Garrett Hartley drilled a 40-yard field goal five minutes into the period.

Older folks like me have been following the Saints since that first season back in 1967 and there have been a lot more really low points than great achievements. But boy, it sure is great to see the team finally make it to the Super Bowl.

They face a real challenge against the Colts, led by NFL MVP quarterback Peyton Manning. New Orleans will have to be a lot more productive on offense against Indianapolis.

Isn’t it ironic that Peyton, who grew up in New Orleans and whose father (Archie) was one of the Saints’ early quarterbacks, stands in the way of a Super Bowl victory?

I look for a high scoring game.

THIS & THAT . . .

Weather Channel – Breaux Bridge got more great publicity over the weekend when The Weather Channel aired an episode entitled “Life on the Bayou,” part of a new series “Cantore Stories” featuring Jim Cantore, a familiar face when hurricanes and other natural disasters occur.

The episode was shot this past summer and early fall with the crew spending lots of time in Breaux Bridge, with side trips to Henderson, Delcambre, the Atchafalaya Basin and New Orleans. Cantore sampled crawfish in the Crawfish Capital of the World and stopped by for the Saturday morning breakfast and zydeco dancing at Café des Amis.

Anniversaries – Friends and subscribers who celebrated wedding anniversaries during the past week included:

Jan. 20 – The 20th anniversary for John and Evelyn Martin of Breaux Bridge.

Jan. 21 – The 49th for Ronny and Patsy (Greig) Thibodeaux of St. Martinville; the 32nd for Clint and Renee (Bourque) Poche of Catahoula; the 26th for Andy and Joan Lasseigne of St. Martinville; and the 4th for Shawn and Tiffany Prince of St. Martinville.

Jan. 22 – The 59th for Wade and Kathryn Watkins of St. Martinville; the 54th for James and Beranger (Daspit) Theriot of St. Martinville; the 43rd for Collins and Cheryl Faucheaux of Catahoula; the 38th for George and Lena (Guidry) Choplin Jr. of St. Martinville; and the 17th for Jim and Carmen (Latiolais) Bulliard of St. Martinville.

Jan. 23 – The 50th for Lennis “Chute” and Mary Huval of Breaux Bridge; also the 50th for Jim and Mildred Devillier of Lafayette; and the 40th for Al and Edna (Bienvenu) Landry of St. Martinville.

Jan. 24 – The 62nd for Dr. Zerben and Gertrude (Gauthier) Bienvenu of Lafayette; the 56th for Earl and Jeanette (Broussard) Guidry of Catahoula; and the 40th for Danny and Pat (Leleux) Bulliard of St. Martinville.

Jan. 25 – The 45th for Larry and Sandra LeBlanc of Breaux Bridge; also the 45th for Donald and Susie Stelly of Breaux Bridge; the ?? for Darrell and Josie Anthony of St. Martinville; and the ?? for Steven and Mary Hayes of Breaux Bridge.

Jan. 26 – The 47th for Joseph and Eve Guidry; the 13th for Scott and Brandy Quebedeaux of Arnaudville; and the ?? for Norris and Mona Broussard of Breaux Bridge.

henritnews@bellsouth.net.