Thank you to everyone who has filled out a survey so far. If you're a fan of an out-of-town team and I haven't given you a questionnaire to fill out, please let me know ASAP, as I am looking to profile as many people as possible.
My third feature is on the lone NFC South fan in Chicago that I can find. The most story-filled franchise of the division this offseason (perhaps the NFL outside of the Jets & Broncos) thanks to "Bounty Gate" and the ESPN-falsified wire-tapping story (which I don't think ESPN has still acknowledged). Thank you to Michael Ruth, New Orleans born and raised, for sharing his thoughts on the Saints. I met him through Tim Wolf (Dallas Cowboys) and his family - very nice guy.
Here's a list of other blogs in the out-of-town feature series:
Dallas Cowboys
Tennessee Titans
While a resident in Louisiana most of his life, Michael Ruth didn't take in much of New Orleans Saints football. Looking at the records and films on old highlight shows, who could blame him? The Saints (or the 'Aints as they were known) didn't record a winning season in their first 20 years as a franchise (1967-1986). Not exactly a way to win over new fans, especially younger ones.
"Just like everyone else I guess, my friends & parents were fans," Michael said. "The difference for me, however, is the Saints were terrible when I was a kid, so I was never really that into it."
He attended two games as a kid, both times for free. He also had suite seats one time in college through a friend of his ("the suite was more memorable than the game," Michael said). In some ways, he got what he paid for.
"Other than being in the dome for the first time, nothing memorable happened, especially on the field," Michael said.
Just as his studies were finishing up at the University of New Orleans in 2007, his free time opened up, giving him a chance to follow his hometown team, just as the city was trying to recover from Hurricane Katrina.
"I couldn't help getting very, very much into football, specifically the Saints," he said.
Three years ago, Michael started a teaching job in Chicago. That didn't stop him from consuming Saints football on Sundays - going to bars at first before deciding on the convenience and variety of NFL Sunday Ticket.
He hasn't taken kindly to the team in the Windy City, thanks to a combination of the loss in the 2006 NFC Championship Game to the Bears and some fans at the game who made light of Katrina.
"Since it's been a while, I don't care as much as I used to," he said.
Drew Brees and Darren Sharper, both key players in the recent success of the franchise, are Michael's all-time favorite Saints. Despite the distractions that have plagued the team this offseason, he remains optimistic about his team's chances, projecting double-digit wins and a good showing in the postseason.
Will they be the first team to appear in a Super Bowl in their home stadium? He doesn't want to give his endorsement on that just yet.
"Postseason is a long way off, and we play some really tough teams," Michael said.
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| Cartoon published in 2010. No confirmation on if this cartoon was part of Roger Goodell's evidence |
He doesn't think the Bounty-Gate stuff (of which he said the Saints got the short end of the stick) will be a problem. Rather, they will use the "us against the world" to triumph.
"An explosive offense with 10 of 11 starters rejoining and a fired up new defense with Spags (new defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo) might add up," Michael said. "But we often play really well and then go belly up in the postseason.
"So let's wait and see!"
| Michael Ruth | |
| (3 years in Chicago) | |
| Favorite team | Saints |
| A fan since… | late 1970s |
| # of games attended | many |
| Choice of Team Consumption | DirecTV mostly, sometimes bars |
| Favorite Player(s) All-Time | Drew Brees & Darren Sharper |
| Favorite Player Currently | Drew Brees |
| 2012 Prediction | (11-5, postseason appearance, no SB prediction) |
| Vegas Projection for team | 9.5 |
| (as of 8-27-12) 5dimes.eu | |
| Over/under? | Over |
| Odds to win division - 5dimes.eu | (+125) |
| Super Bowl odds | 17.5/1 (+1750) |
| (as of 8-27-12) - 5dimes.eu |
The Saints (or the 'Aints as they were known) didn't record a winning season in their first 20 years as a franchise (1967-1986). Not exactly a way to win over new fans, especially younger ones.Great stuff!
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