Super Bowl 44 will provide the ultimate story line

By Scott Coen

January 25, 2010, 3:07AM

A good storyline is a sportswriters best friend, and in two weeks from now in Miami, the New Orleans Saints and Indianapolis Colts will square off in a 44 caliber Super Bowl. Two teams that are extremely had to dislike. And two teams that will carry the weight of more than just the Vince Lombardi trophy.

Quickly about Championship Sunday. The Colts scored 24 unanswered points and rallied to beat the Jets 30-17. The Colts will be making their return to the Super Bowl, Indy beat the Chicago Bears in Super Bowl XLI in 2007. Which brings us to the Saints and the Vikings.

Sunday's NFC Championship game was an exhausting three hours of the "human drama of athletic competition." I still can't get over how brutal and grueling that football game was to watch.

And the 31-28 overtime victory by the Saints accomplished two things. First it send Brett Farve into retirement ... again. And the Saints victory also kept the alive the revitalization of the City of New Orleans.

AP PhotoNew Orleans Saints fans celebrated into the night following the Saints NFC Championship

Four years ago when hurricane Katrinia demolished the Gulf Coast, the City of New Orleans was devastated. We all remember the scenes at the Superdome. The people who were left homeless, the family s that lost everything. Four years ago the roof of the Superdome had holes in it. Sunday, the Superdome was the place where the cities journey back was completed.

AP PhotoSaints owner Tom Benson celebrates the Saints NFC Championship

And the long road back from Katrinia isn't just a nice storyline or an interesting sidebar. The Saints talked reverently about where their city has been, and more importantly where New Orleans is now. NFL football teams can sometimes provide inspiration to the people that follow them. In this case, it's the city and the fans that have inspired the players.

And the Saints are not the only team playing for something greater than a trophy. The Indianapolis Colts have a bigger mission in mind as well. Colts receiver Pierre Garcon is a Hatian native who has experienced first hand the devastation following the earthquake in Haiti. Pierre's family still lives on the island, and luckily are all alive and accounted for.

AP PhotoPierre Garcon waived the Haitian flag in honor of friends and family in Haiti

Following the Colts victory on Sunday, Garcon stood on the podium and draped the Haitian flag over the Lamar Hunt trophy. Garcon saved his best for the biggest stage. His third quarter touchdown was part of a career day, and gave the Colts the lead for good. It doesn't take much imagination to understand how powerful a moment that was for the Colts, the City of Indianapolis, and the Nation of Haiti.

So that's the wrap on a super Sunday of NFL Football. There were two games, two conference championships, and a city and a country that are celebrating something much greater than a final score. And the best part of it all, we now get two weeks to experience this story, and still look forward to the biggest game of the season

By Scott Coen

January 25, 2010, 3:07AM

source : http://www.masslive.com/mywideworld/index.ssf/2010/01/super_bowl_44_will_provide_the_ultimate_story_line.html