By ROBIN SHANNON

L’Observateur

LAPLACE – In honor of Monday night’s matchup between the 10-0 New Orleans Saints and the 7-3 New England Patriots, parish officials in Orleans, Jefferson and Tangipahoa parishes have made special proclamations dubbing Monday “Black and Gold” day. Although no such plans are being made for St. John Parish, fans of the undefeated Saints in the River Region are primed and ready for a matchup for the ages.

“We need to go into that dome and just pound the lights out of them,” said Reserve resident Kerry Legendre. “I’ve been waiting 36 years for a season like this one, and we can’t let up.”

Legendre, 46, said his roots as a Saints fan go back to 1973, when his father took him to his first ever Saints game.

“I think we might have won five games that year, but the one we went to was a 13-0 win against the Buffalo Bills,” he said. “It was a day I never forgot.”

As the team continues to vanquish each opponent in its path, the Saints’ rabid fan base becomes increasingly evident. Supporters have been much more inclined to don the black and gold as they conduct everyday activities.

“I love my 88 (Jeremy) Shockey jersey,” said LaPlace resident Natalie Ingram as she left the LaPlace Wal-Mart with a full basket of “Black Friday” loot. “I bought it when the Saints picked him up, and I didn’t wear it much, but now I wear it at least once a week aside from game days.”

The overwhelming excitement is not just reserved for the average fan. Local retailers throughout the area have reported strong sales of Saints gear. The shipments of merchandise bearing the ubiquitous fleur-de-lis don’t stick around very long.

“This is the best year we have had for our Saints merchandise,” said Tony Zuber, an employee at All Star Outfitters in LaPlace. “This year has been better than the 2006 season when they were one game from the Super Bowl.”

Zuber said the store, which carries the official jerseys and shirts for the team, stays steady for most of the week, but he noted business really kicks up the day after a big win.

“That Monday morning following a game, people flock to the store to pick up new stuff,” Zuber said. “We have a hard time keeping all sizes. Everything — shirts, jerseys, hats — it all goes very fast.”

So what does Zuber expect to see if the Saints take down the Patriots Monday?

“If the Saints win and the (Atlanta) Falcons lose, the Saints will win the division,” Zuber said.

“I think we may have a line of customers waiting to get in and tear us apart. It’s going to be great.”