We got this close to Jeremy Shockey (still cute even with short hair)! But, it wasn't close enough.
QB Drew Brees was great about giving as many autographs as he could. We got his twice!
Nick: Tenacious autograph-seeker
Bill and Hollie, thanks for coming with!But, never to be discouraged, we decided we still deserved a mini-vacation, as long as it was fairly cheap and didn't involve more than a tank of gas. Somehow, we came to the conclusion that a weekend trip to Saints Training Camp in Jackson, Miss., would satisfy our vacation cravings.
Nick is a huge Saints fan, and I was so desperate to get out of town that I wasn't going to be picky, despite my lack of football savvy. We recruited two of our good friends — also fellow Saints fans — and headed east last weekend.
Here are the perks of going to Saints football camp: It's free! Although you pay $5 for parking and fork out a small fortune for bottled water and Saints brand souvenirs, admission to the practice is free. You also have the opportunity to get up close and personal with the players, if they decide to hang around after practice and sign autographs. We were banking that they would.
Lucky for us, we timed our trip perfectly with the Saints' recent acquisition of one of Nick's favorite players — tight end Jeremy Shockey. He was on a mission to get Shockey's autograph.
Before we could get into the autograph frenzy, though, we had to wait through three hours of football practice. If you've ever sat on aluminum bleachers in the 100-degree heat for a few hours, then you've got a pretty good idea of what it was like.
The redeeming factor was the company we were in. I was shocked by the number of fans who showed up.
And the variety! It was a people-watcher's dream. Saints fans of all shapes, sizes, ages, backgrounds and levels of intensity flocked to Jackson last weekend to get a glimpse of the team so many love to hate. And I'd bet there's just as colorful of a crowd there this weekend.
While my husband and friends were studying the plays and passes happening on the practice field, I was taking in the crowd.
By far the most entertaining fan was sitting one person down from me. She caught my eye because she had two notebooks in her lap and a stack of papers she kept riffling through. Then I noticed she was taking copious notes about every move the Saints players and coaches were making.
Now, we reporters can usually sniff out our own, and she didn't strike me as a reporter. Plus, I was pretty sure the media had their own area and wouldn't be lumped in with the regular fans at Training Camp.
Upon closer inspection, I noticed this woman, who was probably in her 40s and definitely spent a little too much time in the tanning bed, was wearing a Saints cap filled with autographs. She was sitting next to a man with a digital camera fancier than the one we use here at the Daily Leader, and she appeared to be on a first-name basis with all of the players (at least, in her own mind).
I was mystified.
Who was this woman and what the heck was she doing? In-between scribbling notes, she participated in rousing conversations with the fans sitting around her about important issues such as separation and player statistics.
Then it hit me: She must be a blogger. My suspicions were confirmed when I heard her mention something she'd posted that morning. Unfortunately, I didn't get the Web site for her blog. But even without seeing it myself, I feel sure it is a very thorough, frequently updated fan blog that would make the Saints proud.
Crazy Blogger Woman wasn't the only interesting character I saw in Jackson. There was her sidekick with the camera, who was rocking some pretty awesome Saints socks. There was a trio of men who I could tell were from New Orleans (they had the "yat"). One of them was wearing a camo shirt with a straw hat and some fabulous sunglasses straight out of Elton John's wardrobe. Another had on a Saints helmet (remember, it was 100 degrees) that had "Go Time!" written on the front in black marker. Finally, I kept seeing a group of women in matching gold tops and black shorts who had the same hair style (a French braid) and matching Saints tattoos.
Clearly, these people are bigger fans than I.
When it was time for the autograph crush, it was every fan for himself. I thought I was making progress burrowing up to the front when I noticed a man on crutches using a crutch to lift a jersey over our heads and into the hands of his favorite player (Reggie Bush). Although it made me mad at the time, looking back I have to give him credit for creativity.
At the end of the weekend, we walked away with a couple of autographs and lots of pictures. Although Shockey evaded us this time, Nick has vowed that we'll be back next year. And the year after that, and the year after that.
For more information about Saints Training Camp, click here.
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