When the Local Team Wins, We All Win!

I’m well aware that a segment of society couldn't care less about sports... I don’t quite understand them, but that’s just me. To some, athletes are just a bunch of narcissistic, over-paid, roided-up, meatheads who do little to make a positive impact on society. Of course, there are plenty of headliners who continue to put themselves in that spotlight, so I can’t argue with some of that apathy. But there is a greater impact that ismade by teams...especially duringtimes of victory that should be considered.

In my opinion,sports -- muchlike life -- needs to examined in the “big picture” to fully see the overall impression they leave on the community, whether it bepractically, emotionallyor historically.

In the most practical sense, a winning team stimulates the local economy. From little things like t-shirt sales, all the way up to out-of-towners getting hotel rooms and patronizing local eateries, their money fills our community coffers. More frequent winning means less quarter-cent taxes here and there during your stops at Starbucks and the gas pump.

Personally, I believe the best part is the sense of community and spirit a winning team brings. It doesn’t matter if it’s the Super Bowl, World Series or a triumphant team of little leaguers; people love to feel a part of success on some level. “They” becomes “We” and that stranger sitting next to you -- who was previously a non-factor -- becomes a teammate. Whether you sharea smile and nod or talk about the team, you’ve made a new friend -- be-it for five seconds or five minutes.

Let me ask you this: When was the last time you hugged a total stranger?

Let's look at the Super Bowl: Name another time you see so many ages, creeds and colors celebrating a common event? The closest thing I can think of is New Years Eve, but even then older people tend to be in bed by 9:00, only to wake-upat 12:15 to call the cops on their neighborswhose party is still going strong.

Now let's drill the impact of the Super Bowl down to a community: New Orleans.

The citizens of New Orleans really don't need a reason to party, but where Mardi Gras may draw more of the wild ‘n crazy crowd, this Super Bowl appearance will affectthe masses. Whether a fanworships Jesus orSaints quarterback Drew Brees, (who’s been dubbed “Breesus"), the entire community will come together to watch theirteam in theirfirst Super Bowl.The hurricaneswill be poured, the brasswill be blown and the areawill be a marching jambalaya of excitement.

Lest we forget it was less than five years ago that we all watched New Orleans on CNN, where footage of tragedy and devastation were the story. Now the nation's eyes and hearts will tune in CBSsix days from now and root along with the locals in the hope their team’s success continues to help heal the rebuilding, flood-ravaged, city.

I think you’d be hard-pressed to find anyone in the Louisiana area who is currently thinking that this Super Bowl is just a silly football game, and when looking at the big picture, sometimes it’s more difficult to find a reason to not care about a game.

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