New Orleans has a reason to celebrate

Sunday night's Super Bowl lived up to its name. The two best teams in the National Football League faced off before a huge crowd in Miami and a record 106.5 million television viewers — the biggest TV audience ever.

The game was exciting, with outstanding play — and acrobatic plays — by both teams. Its outcome was uncertain until the final minutes. Two of the game's best quarterbacks — the Saints' Drew Brees and the Colts' Peyton Manning — led their teams' offensive attacks with extraordinary skill.

The game had everything —superb passing, great catches by receivers, tackle-breaking runs by swift running backs, goal-line stands, field goals, hard hits and sound defense on both sides.

There was the element of surprise — Saints coach Sean Payton called an onside kick at the beginning of the second half, which gave the Saints the ball and an advantage. There were few penalties and only one interception — of a Peyton Manning pass by Saints defensive back Tracy Porter who raced 74 yards for a touchdown late in the game.

Unless you're a resolute Indianapolis Colts fan, you have to be a little happy for the New Orleans Saints' come-from-behind 31-17 victory. The victory comes four years after Hurricane Katrina, which destroyed thousands of homes and small businesses and flooded 80 percent of New Orleans.

The championship — the first in the franchise's 43 years — is a tremendous boost for the city. New Orleans, scene of incredible devastation a few short years ago, is the proud home of Super Bowl champions today — a great story.