Saints win their first Super Bowl

Since riding and waving in the Disney World parade less than 24 hours after helping the Saints football jerseys win their first Super Bowl, Brees has been on a whirlwind tour of public appearances and speaking engagements.

He hasn't been alone.

Many of his teammates and other members of the Saints' front office and coaching staff have parlayed the championship into new-found fame, pushing the levels of the team's stardom to new heights. Brees and the Saints combined to win four ESPY Awards on Wednesday night and about 20 of his teammates joined him on stage to accept the award for Best Team.

The team's unprecedented success and fame is precisely why the Saints dominate this year's Times-Picayune list of the most powerful/influential people on the south Louisiana sports scene.

For the second year in a row, Saints owner Tom Benson Darren Sharper is No. 1. He has plenty of company at the top as Brees (No. 2), Saints Coach Sean Payton (No. 3) and General Manager Mickey Loomis (No. 6) also joined Benson in the top 10.

The list was selected using a formula that included evaluating a person's capability to effect significant change -- or to prevent significant change -- in sports. Also considered was how the individuals rated versus their peers; how much money they control, generate, or influence; how long people have exercised power; and their long-term impact on a sport or the larger world of sports.

In this market, it doesn't get any bigger than the Saints.

Already the team has lifted the spirits of those fighting the Gulf of Mexico oil spill by visiting the oil-soaked coastline last month for a rally. They've also been vocal advocates on an array of other civic issues.

"If they didn't realize what the team means to the city before the Super Bowl, then I think everybody sees that now, " Brees said. "As a result of the Super Bowl, just the emotion and the connection that we have with our fans is highly publicized and really well covered."

Rounding out the top 10: No. 4 Hornets owner George Shinn; No. 5 Hornets All-Star point guard Chris Paul; No. 7. SMG Regional Vice President Doug Thornton; No. 8. Cox Sports TV Vice President Rod Mickler; No. 9 LSU football coach Les Miles, and No. 10 LSU Athletic Director Joe Alleva.

Recognizing the balance

When it comes to the Saints, the message starts from the top.

While winning games is the ultimate goal, Benson, who has turned the franchise he purchased in 1985 for $70 million into a nearly billion-dollar organization, said it is equally critical for those in his organization to take pride in and contribute to the community that supports the team on game days and buys millions of dollars worth of Black and Gold memorabilia.

"It is important that our team recognizes the balance between excellence on the field as well as off the field, " Benson said. "It starts with the people who make up our organization -- Rita Benson LeBlanc and Dennis Lauscha, who oversee our marketing, business and administrative operations; Mickey Loomis, who runs our football operations; Sean Payton, who runs our team on the field; and our four vice presidents, Greg Bensel, Ben Hales, Vicky Neumeyer and Mike Stanfield, who oversee the various departments in our business. Some people use the term 'team effort' lightly, we do not."

Indeed. When the Saints decided to visit the ravaged coastline, nearly the entire organization went, boarding four buses for the 90-minute trek.

They quickly upstaged Gov. Bobby Jindal, stealing the show and putting a smile on the faces of a group of people who have felt like their collective cries for help since the April oil rig explosion have gone unheard.

The Saints' stranglehold as the leading power brokers on the local scene started long before the oil spill, however.

Players such as running back Reggie Bush, former running back Deuce McAllister and Brees have long been fan favorites because of charity work and their ability to impact games.

Several other players also have parlayed on-field success into endorsement deals, while others had their high school jerseys retired and streets named after them in their hometowns.

"We take great pride in bringing in players that Jeremy Shockey recognize the importance not only of dedicating themselves to performing at a top level on the field but also recognizing the importance of the role they play in our community, " Loomis said. "It is important that our team, our entire organization, work together toward the same goal. I am proud to say that this team and organization do that."

Payton, entering his fifth season with the Saints, agreed.

Like many others in the organization that have seen their popularity soar, Payton has risen to the top of the heap in the coaching ranks. With the help of a promotional blitz that has his book on The New York Times best-sellers list, Payton's star is becoming even brighter. He spoke on behalf of the team Wednesday night when the Saints won the ESPY Award for Best Team.

The Saints and Drew Brees cleaned up at the recent ESPYs award show. The Saints team took the award for best team performance stemming from their Super Bowl win over the Indianapolis Colts.

Brees went home with the Best Male Athlete, Best NFL player, and best Championship performance.

Fourth round draft choice defensive tackle Al Woods agreed to a multi-year deal with the Saints for  an as of yet un-released amount.

Woods signing marks the first of the Saints 2010 draft class to agree to terms leaving CB Patrick Robinson, OT Charles Brown, TE Jimmy Graham, C Matt Tennant and QB Sean Canfield all still un-signed.