Blog n' Rant

Tom Benson is a slime ball.

I wanted to sit here and rant about Tom Benson and why I think he is what is wrong with America today, but, to my surprise, someone said that already... Go Figure!!!

This is a great article on the subject I found at http://www.louisianaweekly.com/weekly/news/articlegate.pl?20050523d

Than you for getting it right Mr. Lewis.

A sin and a shame
By Edmund W. Lewis, Editor
May 23, 2005

One of my earliest memories of my pops is of him throwing down his favorite cap in disgust and stomping through the house week after week as his beloved New Orleans Saints tortured him and tens of thousands of other poor souls with mind-boggling come-from-ahead losses. Long before I understood the rudiments of football americano, I knew that the Saints weren't worth a damn.

Still, against all odds and logic, I came to develop a fondness for the poor, bumbling underdogs. God help me, I still can't tell you why to save my soul. Guess it's like my old grandmother use to say, "You can't explain, what you can't explain."

Over the past four decades, supporting the Saints has been a lot like rooting for Charlie Brown even though everyone knew Lucy would never let Chuck's foot get anywhere near the football she encouraged him repeatedly to kick before pulling it away.

Despite the legacy of bitter disappointment and heartache, there is not a group of fans in professional sports that has been so loyal and gotten so little in return.

Saints fans have endured "Big Ben" finishes by the hated Atlanta Falcons, merciless whuppings at the hands of the once-dominant San Francisco 49ers and Lord-knows-how-many coulda-shoulda-woulda games in the Superdome. We've endured watching former Saints coach Mike Ditka giving obscene hand gestures to fans and running back Ricky Williams turning his back on the team. We've watched with frustration as former Saints QB Bobby Hebert ran around the Superdome doing his airplane imitation and the team pin its hopes on the likes of Kenny "Snake" Stabler and a banged-up Earl Campbell.

This is the same group of fans that was pelted with snowballs by Chicago Bears fans in the playoffs and watched Big Bad Bum Phillips struggle to make a first down against some of the NFL's worst defenses.

As long as there was any time left on the clock, there was always a chance for opposing teams to find a way to beat the Saints. No lead has been large enough to allow Saints fans to actually enjoy a victory. Nothing but nail-biting and teeth-grinding to the very end.

Any self-respecting human being would have walked away from the New Orleans Saints and their rotten luck a long time ago.

Saints owner Tom Benson has chosen to reward that loyalty by issuing ultimatums to the state and threatening to move the team to another city. He's been upset for a while about not getting a new stadium and not making as many millions as a handful of his NFL peers. He's gotten richer, just not rich enough for his liking.

When it's all said and done and there's nothing left to say and do, it all comes down to ego and greed. Benson sees a golden opportunity to make more money. Point blank. Never mind that the city's schools are crumbling and the state's teachers are sorely deserving of a pay raise. Never mind that the team has done very little to inspire the kind of financial support its owner is demanding. Never mind that the Saints have won only a single playoff game in nearly four decades of play in the National Football League. Mr. Benson wants what he wants.

The people of this great state made it crystal clear recently that they are in no giving mood. A recent poll conducted by a Florida-based research firm concluded that nearly 75 percent of Louisiana residents are opposed to using tax dollars to keep the Saints in New Orleans.

Adding insult to injury, Benson has hinted about moving the team to San Antonio, Albuquerque or Los Angeles, going so far as to suggest that at least one suitor would be willing to shell out more than $1 billion to buy the ailing franchise. You would expect a multimillionaire to be a little more subtle.

Even die-hard fans had to chuckle at the ridiculous notion that anyone in their right mind would cough up that kind of moula to buy the Saints. They are, after all, the Saints.

In case Mr. Benson still doesn't get it, we're tired. Tired of boneheaded draft-day decisions and front-office mistakes that give away the team's best players for a handful of magic beans. Tired of the franchise signing geriatric players to save a few bucks. Tired of filing into the Superdome to watch the Saints make some of the league's worst teams look like superstars. Tired of having to wear bags over our heads out of shame for loving a team that, for the most part, has done very little over the years to earn that kind of devotion. Tired of robbin' Peter to pay Paul in order to afford rising ticket prices. Tired of watching Tom Benson boogie all the way to the bank, year after miserable year, while pretending that the team doesn't turn a major profit each year.

If Tom Benson feels he must go, let the Superdome's door knob hit him where the dog should've bit him.

Saints fans deserve better from both the team and its owner.

posted by todAnthony @ 6:45 AM