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Saints
Admire VooDoo Success |
By Andre L. Taylor
NYT Institute
NEW ORLEANS, May 25 - While the New Orleans Saints
go through mini-camps in preparation for next season,
the football talk around town is the VooDoo. And
Saints wide receivers Joe Horn and Michael Lewis
have taken notice. They are frequent visitors at
VooDoo home games and enjoy every minute.
”I kind of lose focus of being a Saints
football player and I put myself in a fans mentality,”
Horn said. “I like arena football and I like
what those guys are doing.”
In their first season in the Arena Football League,
the VooDoo have surprised everyone. With a record
of 10-5, the VooDoo are headed to the playoffs and
have gained a great fan base.
“I am probably one of the most intense
fans they have,” Horn said. “Although
I play football, that doesn’t mean that I
can’t get excited when I go watch a football
game.”
Lewis, who played in the AFL prior to becoming an
NFL Pro-Bowl player, is just as excited about VooDoo
games as Horn. Lewis hopes the VooDoo’s players
look at what the AFL has done for his career.
“Coming from that league and going to
the NFL, it shows the guys that you can move up
to the next level,” Lewis said. “The
good thing about the league is that it got me prepared
for the NFL.”
Lewis understands what arena players in that league
go through on a week-to-week basis. It’s what
keeps him going to the VooDoo’s games.
“When I go to the games, I just think
about where I come from,” Lewis said. “That’s
why I am at every game cheering the guys on.”
Known for his big plays and touchdown celebrations,
Horn makes the most of rips to VooDoo games and
enjoys the atmosphere of arena football.
“When they’re on the field, we’re
talking it up and they know that I’m going
for the VooDoo, but I still talk junk to those guys,”
Horn said. “Then, when they come to the wall,
I get to give them some jabs.”
Lewis, normally a quiet, non-intimidating receiver,
changes his personality as part of the arena scene.
“I bang on the walls and everything;
I do everything,” Lewis said. “I finally
get a chance to be on the opposite side instead
of being on the field. I can also harass the other
team a little.”
With the Hornets making an early exit from the NBA
playoffs, New Orleans fans still have post-season
hope with the VooDoo.
Horn is happy to see the city have a chance at a
championship, no matter which team gets to go.
“The VooDoo have all the props now because
they are in the playoffs,” Horn said. “They
give the fans here in New Orleans something to go
watch and see and I’m proud of those guys.”
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