Van Lathan Jr. on Steve Gleason's Blocked Punt | Ringer Moments | The Ringer

Join Van Lathan Jr. as he looks back at the moment the New Orleans Saints brought the Superdome back to life after Hurricane Katrina.
Executive Producer: Jomi Adeniran
Supervising Producer: Cory McConnell
Audio Producer: Isaiah Blakely
Video Producers: Chia Hao Tat, Aleya Zenieris
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[@andrewvelazquez8833]

I love that Van is a cowboy hat guy now. I feel like it started ironically and then just stuck

[@handfullofsean]

It’s elite. Irony is the best way to try new fashion

[@ifitwaseazy9219]

I believe it’s him honoring his dad

[@Redjack10]

He really rocks the shit out of it too. I can only imagine that Senior wore it well too.

[@YungKyloKR]

Van is such a great storyteller. This was emotional.

[@bentertainment504]

Van - Proud New Orleanian here, who was displaced due to Katrina. You absolutely nailed it…the suffering of the city and the team over many decades before the storm, and encapsulated the rebirth and rebound of both on that night, triumphing our efforts post-K in future days to come. ⚜️

[@CarlosZelaya-ey6mf]

I was one of the lucky few thousand that was in the Dome that Monday night...I'll never forget what it felt like to be there for the anthem and the start of that game. I still get goosebumps when I think about it. Thanks to Van for sharing his experience with everyone! Well done

[@purple12701]

Such a great series. There are so many great storytellers at the Ringer and this series allows for them to fully show it off. Van's has been the best so far though, his perspective on the resurrection of an area and it's people is incredibly thought provoking and emotional.

[@JaideepSen1985]

Van is such an absolutely phenomenal & empathetic storyteller, and these moments videos are really great!

[@joshufo9959]

Goosebumps

[@BigBird104]

Love you, Van! What a fuckin story, man.

[@Derayne33]

Really great way to talk about the resurrection of a place and people. Great job, Van!

[@ws4jb]

Absolutely love Van’s takes. Nice guy irl too.

[@ifitwaseazy9219]

Keep killing it Jomi!

[@F18tico1]

Gosh darn Van, why the fcuk do you have me in my feels so early in the morning? I’m just trying to get to work. I love who you are and what you bring to media. Thank you for being you. P.S. Jomi(?) not knowing who Ricky the Dragon Steamboat is, was a pallet cleanser. LOL Ty for that. ####-ing millennials!

[@Ivan-mg9hf]

As a fan of the Ringerverse, I've always loved Van. Really cool knowing that he shares all of my pain and/or pleasure related to the Saints, Louisiana, Katrina and Steve Gleason's hero status.

[@lady_dayna]

Pitch perfect - thank you Van! My father was a Saints season ticket holder for over 30 years, and to this day, he maintains this was the greatest game he ever attended in The Dome. Even better than when they won the NFC Championship. The memories run deep. ❤

[@kamtheman106]

River City Relay wasn’t a kick return. It was just the last play of the game. Started as a 25 or so yard pass, then the laterals allowed it to become a TD. And of course we missed the extra point.

[@mtwoh]

Beautiful narration. Just the right amount of focus on the game and the blocked kick versus the historical context. Thank you.

[@thomasrawlings368]

As a life long Saints fan this is my favorite moment also and also why I love Van!

[@AndrewClaudio]

Van - your honesty & authenticity is what makes your stories so powerful. Thank you for sharing your perspective with all of us ❤️ Jomi/Isaiah - from one producer to another, I feel your pain editing the audio/chain interference 😅 extremely well done regardless!

[@sonnywhispers4299]

Wild game

[@ws4jb]

All the love and respect in the world to Steve Gleason.

[@Justinrombough]

THESE ARE SO GOOD!!

[@kamtheman106]

The 2006 Saints is one of the most underrated NFL seasons in history. From absolute dregs, the bottom barrel of the league, not even knowing if the team would be here next season, to making the NFC Championship. A truly magical run. The Gleason Block on MNF was the announcement that the Saints were back, but the December SNF game where we absolutely PANTS’D the Cowboys was the coming out party of the Payton/Brees Saints. So many great games that season.

[@kamtheman106]

There is a direct correlation between the Payton/Brees Saints and how South Louisiana has permeated culture writ large since 2005. Sports matter.

[@CameronStrandberg]

Van look good in that hat -- he know it, we all know it.

[@mtuktuk9627]

crazy stroy didnt knew about this as non American

[@jeremypage3370]

I think he is trying to pay homage to DJ from Khurangbin!

[@Hammifornia24]

Asterisk superbowl!

[@8ElliottScott]

Diddy Do it Van?

[@bennyh0]

Check out Jon Bois NO!!!! for the best breakdown of that Saints/Jags game. Hilarious.

[@SynthTerror]

He's STILL wearing the stupid hat, huh?