'Twas the night of this Christmas and all through our town, Saints fans were giddy.

WWL-TV

Jim Henderson, WWL-TV Sports Director.

They were playoff bound.

Their season ticket invoices were hung by the chimney with care, knowing Tom Benson soon would be there.

The Cowboys and Eagles -- on TV?

I'll just take me a snooze. But make sure you wake me for Eyewitness News.

When out on the neutral ground there arose such a clatter, that I tumbled out of my recliner to see what was the matter.

And what to my bleary eyes should appear, but ol' Tom himself and people in front where there should be reindeer.

Those people so different were joined two-by-two. And they pulled ol' Tom's Buick, so shiny and new, reacting as one with hardly a cue.

While blinking my eyes and rubbing my chin, I resolved to myself "in '07, less gin."

But the longer I pondered; I knew this was the truth.

So I resolved in '07, "just less vermouth."

Those people that pulled him, yeah I knew their names. But never like this, playing reindeer games.

Some were dem saints, and they pulled as one. But others less friendly, how would he make them run?

Tom didn't panic as he asked for their best. "It’s important," he said.  "You must pass the test."

"On Marques, on Breesy, on Deuce, and on Bush. On to the playoffs.  We must make a push."

"But you others up there. You listen too. It's even more urgent for you to come through."

"On Kathleen and C. Ray. On Vitter and Mary. The burdens of others on your backs you must carry."

"If you show the way, who knows what awaits. You could change the minds of them others what hates."

"On W. and Nancy. On Donald and Rosie. On Hillary and Rudy with the red on your nosy."

Take a left here on Tulane. We're headed south.

I'm gonna say something you've never heard from this mouth.

"It starts with an "s" and it ends with a "bowl." It's down in Miami where it's never cold."

"I've been there before but never with you. If we all pull together, this we can do."

And I heard him proclaim as he drove out of sight, "We're America’s team. Y'all have a good night."