As a native of Indianapolis now living in New Orleans, I hoped the Super Bowl wouldn't come to this just so I wouldn't be pressed into choosing sides.
I'm pressed. Friends and family from Indiana are lobbying me toward the Colts, but the City of New Orleans has me drunk on the Saints.
This isn't something that's resolved from a coin flip. That's what overtime is for.
With two weeks between conference championship games and the Super Bowl, media is given plenty of time to analyze every aspect of the game. Over analyzation is how I'm choosing sides.
Quarterbacks:
What is believed to be a Super Bowl first, both starting quarterbacks have their own prayer. A tiny excerpt from each:
Peyton Manning:
"Our Peyton, who art in Indy, Hallowed be thy arm. Thy Bowl is here, it will be won, in Miami as it was in '07."
Drew Brees:
"Our brother, who doth rule the dome, hallowed by thine aim. Thy Bowl doth come, thy will be done, in Miami as it is in Canton."
The above is just an example. The prayers are not only longer, but in multiple variations. Google it.
Comparisons are also commonly drawn between the quarterbacks and whatever deity supports that week's incredible performance. Are you up there, Breesus?
Brees and Manning are both charitable men who love, support and consistently give to their communities. Manning is also hilarious and carried Saturday Night Live in 2007. Brees is the King of Bacchus - one of the larger, well attended Mardi Gras parades. In other words, both men aren't just football players. They're much more. This one is impossible to choose.
Advantage: Wash
Phrases with the word 'who' in them:
If 'Who Dat!' wasn't a house-hold phrase before the Saints punched a ticket to the Super Bowl, it sure is now. The NFL tried to lay claim to the entire phrase in the weeks leading up to the Big Game, sending out cease and desist letters to New Orleans' businesses who were printing merchandise with the catchphrase on it. Long story short (and in professional wrestling terms): Louisiana senators music hit, the NFL interrupted, some chair swinging ensued and the NFL backpedeled up the ramp and out of the arena. There will be no rematch for the title, either.
'Whose ear' is a famous explanation on why the people of Indiana are called 'Hoosiers.' Google it. Or don't. It's really not that interesting. Most think it has something to do with basketball history. I'll leave them thinking that.
The only proper way to illustrate the argument is to look throughout history at literature with the word 'who' prominently in it, and rank those based on how interesting they are.
1. 'Who Dat!"
2.
3.
.
.
.
100. 'Who's on first?'
101.
102.
.
.
.
5,678. 'Whose ear?'
Advantage: New Orleans
Drinking laws:
New Orleans has 'go cups.' Indianapolis has 'no cups.'
Advantage: New Orleans
Already saw it factor:
I've seen Indianapolis win a Super Bowl already. It's time to share the spotlight with a tortured fan base.
Advantage: New Orleans
Lengths of residency: (or, how big of a backstabber would I be to cheer against my hometown?)
Indianapolis, 23 years. New Orleans, 2 years.
Advantage: Indianapolis
Who am I kidding. Quarterback:
Indianapolis: Manning is on a sadistic tear right now, carving up defenses Hannibal Lector style. New Orleans: Brees is the second best quarterback in the league right now, but he has yet to reach Manning's level.
Advantage: Indianapolis
Manning is so good right now, he gets the Colts another Advantage: Indianapolis.
So, that's three for New Orleans and three for Indianapolis. I'm going to root for both teams. But, in the end, I'm pulling for the Saints. The Crescent City needs this one.
Ryan Smith is an information graphics artist for The Times-Picayune. His views do not represent those of The Times-Picayune, or its publisher, Advance Publications. You can e-mail him at rsmith@timespicayune.com, or follow him on Twitter @ryansmithtp.
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