New Orleanians as a rule are closer to their dearly departed than many, and now is no exception. The newspaper has a memorial section for Saints fans who passed away before seeing their team make it to the big game, and as of tonight there are over 300 entries.

We had a huge parade last Sunday to remember our long-term sports guy, Buddy D. Buddy famously said that he’d go dancing in the streets in a dress if we ever made it to the Superbowl. Buddy died in 2005, but thousands of men went in his place. (Video here, story here)

But in just walking around, there are all kinds of mini memorials all over town.

This one is in Masonic:

This anonymous tomb in St. Louis No 2 made me wonder-somebody clearly still cares for it:

And then of course, there’s Ashley Morris. He was a larger than life local blogger, filled with righteous, hilarious, completely un-PC anger. He died unexpectedly in 2008 and left a huge hole in the city. I happened to pass by his tomb and found that his friends had come by and left a little Saints shrine for him:

They left our local version of The Onion, called The Levee(motto: “We don’t hold anything back”), beads and a copy of the Roofbanger’s Creed, which reads:

We believe in the New Orleans Saints, #1 seed, and in Drew Breesus, our only begotten quarterback, who was drafted by the Chargers, but born again in the Who Dat Nation

We have suffered under Ditka, Haslett and 40 years of Schwegmann’s grocery bags. We had descended into hell.

On September 25, 2006, Miracle Monday, we rose again from the dead. We have ascended into the Sacredome, heaven on earth, seated at the right hand of Sean Payton, the Coach Almighty.

From here, we shall smell greatness, finish strong, be special. We believe in the Ghost of Buddy D. WE believe in the Who Dat Nation, the communion of Saints, the power of the fans, the resurrection of New Orleans, and a Black and Gold SuperBowl. WHO DAT!

One thing is for certain- win or lose, tomorrow is going to be a party for the ages, and all of these people and many more will be here in the hearts of those left behind, sharing in this wonderous thing they’d so long cheered for.