New Orleans lets good times roll after win

NEW ORLEANS, Feb. 7 (UPI) -- New Orleans celebrated its first NFL championship Sunday with parties and dancing, and fans using words like "amazing" and destiny."

The Saints' 31-17 Super Bowl victory over the Indianapolis Colts in Miami not only ended decades of frustration for Saints' fans, it also represented a milestone in the region's recovery from the devastation of Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Team owner Tom Benson expressed it during a post-game ceremony in which he waved the Vince Lombardi Trophy -- given each year to the NFL champion.

"New Orleans is back and this shows the whole world. It's back!," Benson shouted.

As the game clock wound down, the French Quarter around Jackson Square broke into celebration, The (New Orleans) Times-Picayune reported.

Dana Graham, 33, who was born in Metairie, La., and lives in Lafayette, called the victory "the most exciting thing to ever happen in my life."

"Everything we've gone through, everything leading up to this, I still don't think it's real," she said. "I am so proud of my city and my Saints. It's destiny!"

Paul Kirkpatrick, 33, who lives in Biloxi, Miss., told the newspaper three generations of his family would celebrate the Saints' win.

"The Saints have been my father's life, my life, my son's life," he said. "We are world champions baby!"

Christian Guild, who came to New Orleans from Memphis to watch the Super Bowl, said he "wouldn't want to be anywhere else for this"

"This is just amazing for the city," he said. "Because this is for everyone!"