[MSSaintfan]

Win it for the little seven year old boy who watched in awe as John Gilliam ran back the first ever kickoff in team history.

Win it for the nine year old that thought that Billy Kilmer in a Black Helmet with a gold Fleur-de-lis was the coolest thing he had ever seen, then lost all hope in a Hurricane named Camille that hit his home in Biloxi.

Win it for the ten year old that watched as Tom Dempsey, with half a foot, overcame all of the odds in his life and the odds of reality as he kicked a 63 yard field goal to beat Detroit.

Win it for the eleven year old that screamed and jumped as his favorite player in the world, Archie Who, ran for a touchdown as time expired to beat the hated Rams in his first game as a Saint.

Win it for the twelve year old who thought Archie and Danny Abramowicz would finally take this team to the promised land.

Win it for the sixteen year old who cried when Hank Stram became the head coach, because that sixteen year old knew beyond all doubt that his Saints would finally become the winners he always believed they could be.

Win it for the seventeen year old who took the jeers of all of his classmates as he continued to cheer for "Thunder and Lightning" despite a futile record.

Win it for the eighteen year old who finally saw his hero get the recognition he deserved, as Archie won NFC MVP honors, despite playing for a losing team.

Win it for the nineteen year old, for whom Archie signed a football to be auctioned off in a benefit to raise money to care for the nineteen year old's dying grandmother.

Win it for the twenty year old, who refused to wear a bag and held his head high as he fervently believed in his team.

Win it for the twenty-one year old, who had Faith, Hope and Bum.

Win it for the twenty-two year old, who cried as his favorite player was sent away by the coach he had given his heart and soul to just last year.

Win it for the newlywed twenty-three year old, who had a beautiful new wife that didn't understand his fascination with the Saints, but stood by him as he cheered each game.

Win it for the twenty-five year old, who still believed, and even more so now that the Saints had a new owner who cared.

Win it for the twenty-six year old, who traveled from Biloxi faithfully to see every game because he knew the Saints would finally be winners with Mora and the Dome Patrol.

Win it for the twenty-seven year old, who screamed outside the 'dome as his team made it to the playoffs for the very first time.... only to lose the game in a 44-10 blowout to the Vikings.

Win it for the thirty year old, who lost his grandfather; the man who introduced him to the Saints by taking him to New Orleans in the beginning.

Win it for the thirty-three year old, who took his 4 year old daughter to the 'dome to see her very first Saints game, a playoff game they would lose to the Eagles after leading 20-7 late in the game.

Win it for the thirty-five year old, who lost his season tickets when his Dad decided it had become too expensive to pay for them.

Win it for the thirty-seven year old, who scraped up the funds on his low salary to get season tickets again for the first time in three years, after the hiring of the legend, Mike Ditka, knowing that it was finally next year.

Win it for the thirty-nine year old, who just knew that finally, with the drafting of the greatest running back of all times, the Saints would be winners, because Ricky Williams would take us to the promised land.

Win it for the forty year old, who saw the Saints return to the playoffs under the leadership of a coach that finally was tough and disciplined enough to turn it around again, and took the team back to the playoffs for their first ever win, when "Hakim dropped the ball!", only to lose the next week.

Win it for the forty-two year old, who cheered as Deuce ran downfield, sans helmet, amassing nearly 1400 yards in a season filled with hope, only to fall short again.

Win it for the forty-five year old, who saw his hometown of Biloxi destroyed again, along with New Orleans, by yet another hurricane, and watched his Saints live a vagabond existence, not knowing if he would ever see them at home again.

Win it for the forty-six year old. Win it for the forty-six year old that has been there all 39 years. Win it for the forty-six year old that has laughed and cried and cheered and wept. Win it for the forty-six year old that always believed, even when everything looked bleak.

Win it for me, Saints, win it for me..........

No, that's not fair. I am only one man. One of tens of thousands who have been there; thick and thin; win or lose. I am only one of tens of thousands who have always believed, always cheered, always dreamed, only to be disappointed time and time again. Win it for all of us, Saints; next year is here. The Black and Gold has arrived. It is time to March home to the Promised Land.