It's been a very difficult month or more for me to be a sports fan, given my various allegiances: New York Mets (since my youth in New Jersey), Notre Dame (my alma mater), and the New Orleans Saints (irratonally and universallly beloved heroes of my adopted hometown).

I've adjusted. Baseball is over, so I can quit fretting about the Mets. The current edition of the Fighting Irish is so hopelessly inept that I've already given up on them; as far as I'm concerned, their current season might just as well be over, too. With no expectations, I can't be disappointed (not, at least, until next year).

So, I've written off two of my three teams. The good news for me and my homies is that, after a terrible start, THE SAINTS ARE BACK! The offense has regained its 2006 form, so inexplicably absent for the first four weeks, and the defense is better than ever. The NFC South title is well within reach, and thus the playoffs; there's still hope for topping last year's season, which ended with a loss in the NFC title game. This time, maybe the Saints will progress one game further into the postseason, and earn the right to play sacrificial lamb to the Pats or Colts in that big roman-numeral game...