January 2007 (PDF) - Antigravity Magazine

FREEFLOATING RAMBLINGSSEND HATEMAIL TO: FEEDBACK@ANTIGRAVITYMAGAZINE.COM OR: P.O. BOX 24584, NEW ORLEANS, LA 70184Welcome to 2007’s first ANTIGRAVITY. We’re happy to be here for another year, and I know we’re all looking forward to 2007 being betterthan 2006 (which was a hell of a lot better than 2005, wasn’t it?). We’ve got a fun issue ahead, with our 2006 wrap-up, a feature on the newdesign journal Constance, and interviews with Midlake (one of Patrick and Marty’s favorite bands) and local amalgam the Black Rose Band. Beforewe get into a super-special Ramblings, let’s welcome our new contributors as we bid adieu to one. Come aboard are Sarah Andert, Henry Alpert,Paul Caruso, Liz Countryman, Jenelle Davis and J.W. Spitalny, doing everything from reviewing records, movies and books to writing about art andsociety. We always welcome fresh hands (don’t be nasty, we’re talking typing skills here) and we’re especially excited to let them do their thing.Unfortunately, the reason there’s an opening in film reviews is because our long-time reviewer, Jay Jones, decided to take a break from the game. Wethank Jay for all the work he’s done over the past couple years, and we can’t feel too bad about it because he finished higher than almost everyoneelse in our Fantasy Football league. Speaking of football, instead of running letters this month, I’m doing a top ten list that wouldn’t fit elsewhere inthe magazine, namely the top ten Saints moments of 2006. Back in August we at ANTIGRAVITY predicted that our black and gold team would goto the playoffs (as evidenced in our first ever repeat judge; see below for details), so I think it’s apt. By the time our February issue hits the streets, we’ll know exactly howfar the Saints have gone, so let’s keep those fingers crossed, huh? In the meantime, we’ll see you out in the Superdome!10. Saints Draft Reggie Bush, 4/29It’s generally a bad thing when your football team holds the second pick in the draft—not only does it mean your team probably sucked the year before, but high-round draftpicks don’t work out about as often as they do. For every Peyton Manning there’s a Tim Couch, and one day we may be saying that for every Reggie Bush there’s a MarioWilliams. To say that Bush was the consensus number one pick is an understatement—it seemed like everyone (and I mean EVERYone) had the Texans taking Bush with theirfirst pick. By the Thursday before the draft, Saints officials were debating whether they’d take Williams or Ohio State linebacker A.J. Hawk (all post-Draft info pointed in thedirection of Hawk, who wound up going to the Packers a few picks later). When the Texans surprisingly signed Williams that Friday, a twelve-hour frenzy (and “frozen envelope”theories) began. Would the Saints pick Bush? Would Bush even want to come to New Orleans? Would the Saints trade the pick? We all know what happened, and it’s nowhard to imagine it unfolding any other way, isn’t it?09. Joe Horn’s Flea Flicker TD, Cincinatti, 11/19This is rated so low only because it came in a losing effort. Feeling that a high-scoring game was on hand against the potent Bengals offense, Sean Payton called the alwayscrowd-pleasing flea flicker. Drew Brees lofts a pass down the field, into a crowd of Bengals defensive backs, only to have Joe Horn snatch the ball and run into the end zone.Unfortunately the rest of the game wasn’t that exciting.08. Reggie Bush’s Screen Pass For TD, Dallas, 12/10This play was awesome for a couple of reasons. First, 61-yard touchdowns are rarely a boring thing, and when you add in Bush’s ability to make people miss it turns intosomething special. The most important thing with this play, though, is that it established that this Saints team has the abilityto run the screen pass. In the Haslett era, the Saints could neither run nor defend the screen (whether it was Aaron Brooks’inability to complete the short pass or the offensive line’s inability to sell it, I don’t think we’ll ever know), so the fact that thisteam can make people pay with it is a breath of fresh air.07. Saints Upset Cleveland Browns, 9/10Yes, it was just the first game of the season, but the Browns were actually favored by 3 and at some points it looked like the“Same Old Saints.” However, the team showed that they could gut out a win, and with just 170 yards passing from Drew Brees,the Saints showed what they had none of in Haslett’s regime—composure.06. Saints Hold The Ball, Philadelphia, 10/15Another thing that the Saints never seemed able to do before was hold onto the ball in key situations. Down by 7 after beingup by 14 at one point the game, the Saints climb back with a 48 yard touchdown pass from Brees to Joe Horn and subsequentlyput the Eagles in a punting situation. Feeling that even if his team scored a touchdown the Eagles would come right back andmatch it, Saints coach Sean Payton used the running and short passing game to his advantage, holding onto the ball for astaggering 8 minutes and 26 seconds while driving 72 yards. John Carney kicked a 31 yard field goal as time expired, and all ofa sudden the Saints were legitimate.05. Copper’s Hail Mary Reception, Falcons, 11/26Let me preface this with a simple fact: I hate (H-A-T-E) the Falcons. I hate the team, I hate the coach, I hate Home Depot becausethe Falcons owner owns it, and I hate Michael Vick (more on that later). The 76 yard pass from Brees to Devery Hendersonearly in the game could easily have been listed here (it was certainly important), but as the Saints were up by 8 points with atad more than a minute left in the half and the Falcons trying to hold onto a little momentum following Morten Andersen’s 30yard field goal, the Saints made a few plays but not enough for a field goal try of their own. Instead, Brees throws a “Hail Mary”pass into the end zone, which was amazingly caught by Terrance Copper (nicknamed “Copper The Dropper” in our section ofthe Superdome). The touchdown proved to be the straw that demoralized the Falcons, which I enjoyed immensely.04. Saints Sweep Falcons, 11/26Again, I hate the Falcons. It’s probably from having to deal with so many Falcons fans while sitting at the Superdome (I’d liketo think that I’m a fair fan—when I see fans of an opposing team, I don’t taunt them, or curse at them, or rile them in anyway. I’d also like to think that if I’d attend a Saints game at another stadium I’d still behave in the same respectful manner).I mean, fans who travel to watch their team just want to lend their support. Usually. Falcons fans seem to relish in gettingunder Saints fans’ skin, and they’ve done it by the hundreds in and around our seating area. Unfortunately for us, the Saintshave rarely given them pause—I’ll never forget the game a few years ago, where Deuce rumbled for a touchdown withintwo minutes to play, only to have the Falcons drive down and beat us on a Jay Feely field goal with no time left. So that wecould absolutely HANDLE the Falcons in their home and complete the season sweep…well, it warmed my cold, black andgold heart.03. Drew Brees Selected To Pro BowlI couldn’t believe that no Saints quarterback since Archie Manning had been selected to the Pro Bowl. Actually, I’d havethought that Jim Everett was at least an alternate in the mid-‘90s (to this day, I think Everett’s release just before Mike Ditka’sfirst Saints training camp was the worst move the ill-fated coach made, even worse than trading an entire draft for RickyWilliams—releasing Everett gave us a three year tailspin at QB that included, by no particular rating: Heath Shuler, DannyWuerffel, two Billy Joes and an alcoholic Kerry “Vodka” Collins [who, oddly enough, would go on to lead the Giants to aSuper Bowl while none other than Sean Payton was his offensive coordinator]. Since Brees is having an MVP-type season,selecting him to the Pro Bowl was a no-brainer, but it’s especially nice because it legitimizes the team as having a solid leaderinstead of relying on pure luck to complete passes.02. Reggie Bush’s Punt Return For TD, Tampa Bay, 10/8Reggie’s first touchdown as a pro came at the time we needed it the most. Bucs rookie QB Bruce Gradkowski was makinghis first start of the season following Chris Simms’ season ending injury the week before, and the Saints historically have hadproblems with giving QBs their first win (see the aforementioned Tim Couch). Being down by 4 and with the Tampa defensethinking it was 2002 all over again, Bush fielded a punt, broke to his right, and once he hit the sideline that was it. The Saintswould win by 3 and our second division win was in the books.01. Steve Gleason’s Blocked Punt, Atlanta, 9/25If there is a Football God, I made a deal with it before the Saints’ first game back at the Superdome. “Football God,” I said,“Give me this win against the hated Falcons and I won’t ask for any other win this year.” Honestly, I’d have been thrilled witha 3-13 season, if only we’d win that game. We’ve gotten a lot of lagniappe since then, but that game was something special. Inever know what I’d prefer in one of those games, a blowout in which the Saints have control the entire time or a close gamethat the team pulls out in the end, until I’m actually experiencing the game. We got the former, the 70,000 fans on hand ateit up and I couldn’t be happier. Of course, it all started with a certain long-haired special teams player who blocked so big ofa punt that it made his mother yell. Any time I run into you at a bar, Steve Gleason, drinks are on me.––Leo McGovern, PublisherLook familiar? Below is the FreefloatingRamblings page fromour August, 2006 issue. Book it!04_antigravity: your new orleans music and culture alternative