By Jeff Duncan, The Times-Picayune
November 07, 2009, 11:08PM
Tom Benson sat in the Sazerac Bar of the Roosevelt Hotel on Thursday night and shared a glass of wine with his wife, Gayle.
He’d just conducted a public appearance in the hotel’s grand lobby, where he smiled broadly throughout the ceremony and his introduction was greeted with a rousing ovation.
To kill time before heading to the grand opening of the new wing of the World War II Museum, he regaled his wife and Saints vice president of communications Greg Bensel with stories of bygone days.
Asked if he frequented the hotel during its heyday, Benson recalled coming to the Roosevelt after shifts as a 15-year-old clerk at a nearby Canal Street department store. He’d rub elbows with the city’s elite, then take the streetcar back to reality and his home in the 7th Ward.
“I didn’t have a dime to my name, ” Benson said.
As we all know, Benson has a few dimes to his name these days. His New Orleans Saints, a local institution even more valuable than the Roosevelt, were recently valued at $942 million by Forbes Magazine.
Yes, it’s good to be Tom Benson these days.
In the past 18 months, he’s been honored by the U.S. Army and Volunteers of America for his community service.
This fall, he signed a long-term lease agreement with the state of Louisiana that will pour another $85 million into the Superdome and transfer ownership of a downtown office tower and shopping mall to his already prodigious portfolio.
And, oh yeah, his football team is 7-0. If the Saints knock off Carolina today at the Superdome, they’ll cement the best start in franchise history.
Maybe that’s why Benson was the picture of contentment as he sat in the Sazerac and swapped tales.
“It’s just wonderful, ” Benson said of the Saints’ raucous start to the season. “What it’s doing to the community, boy, I’ve never seen anything like it, and this is my 25th year. Across the lake, Lafayette, Mobile (Ala.), man, that’s all they talk about. I’ve never seen the excitement like this.”
At 82, Benson appears finally at ease. His health is good. Granddaughter Rita is a vital part of the organization and its future steward. And the franchise is enjoying unprecedented success on and off the field.
Some raised eyebrows seven years ago when Benson abruptly fired General Manager Randy Mueller and hired Mickey Loomis to run his football operation. But Loomis quickly won Benson’s trust.
In 2006, Loomis hired Coach Sean Payton, who, in turn, recruited quarterback Drew Brees, and, well, the rest is Who Dat history.
Benson has supported his leading men with an open pocketbook. He supplied the resources to allow Loomis to outbid Miami for Brees’ services. He signed off on drafting Reggie Bush and offering lucrative long-term contract extensions to defensive ends Charles Grant and Will Smith. He even backed Loomis’ decision to extend Payton’s contract last year when the Saints were coming off a disappointing 7-9 season.
When the Saints staggered home at 8-8 a year ago, the team’s long-suffering fan base grew restless, but Benson didn’t blink. He stood behind his leading men. They’ve rewarded his loyalty with a breakout season.
“Oh, sure, I’m happy, but I’m more gratified about what’s happened with our city, ” Benson said. “The more successful the team is, the more the city is going to be outstanding.”
Four years ago, Benson couldn’t have shown his face in the Roosevelt or any other local public setting. He’d become a pariah for his post-Katrina behavior. His lawyer talked with San Antonio officials about possibly moving the team, he ripped the city of Baton Rouge and engaged in an ugly confrontation with fans after a bitter loss to the Dolphins at Tiger Stadium.
If these are the best of times, those were the worst of them.
Time, though, has a way of healing old wounds. So does an exciting winning football team led by a universally loved superstar such as Brees.
New Orleanians are a forgiving lot. And they appear at least willing to forgive if not forget Benson’s post-Katrina actions. Their unconditional support of the team has never been stronger.
And for his part, Benson has tried to return the love. He’s set down roots in the city proper for the first time in a decade, invested millions in the local economy and ended, once and for all, his dalliances with outside interests.
Accordingly, good karma has embraced his football team. After a quarter-century, Benson finally has a Super Bowl contender. Among league owners, only Detroit’s William Clay Ford has operated a team longer and failed to make the big game. Benson’s Saints are suddenly the favorites to win Super Bowl XLIV, and New Orleanians have fallen into a perpetual state of fleur de glee.
“This is the greatest thing that’s happened to us, what’s going on right now, ” Benson said. “We’ve just got to keep it up.”
New Orleanians will agree with him. And for Benson, that’s a welcome change.
Jeff Duncan can be reached at jduncan@timespicayune.com or 504.826.3404.
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