Before Drew Brees, there was Archie Manning, the most beloved Saints ever without ever taking his teams to the Playoffs. We all watched and enjoyed his two off-springs become Super Bowl MVP's. Though we, New Orleanians, still love Archie and his boys, we are very blessed that Drew Brees came to New Orleans and gave us a Championship. This award could not have given to a more deserving man. Drew may doe snot have to win another game in New Orleans and he would still be the city's  the most beloved athlete of all time.
Congrats to Drew Brees!


Drew Brees and past cover photos: Sports Illustrated

By Tim Layden, Sports Illustrated

For not only leading the New Orleans Saints to the first Super Bowl title in the franchise's history, but also for helping lead the city of New Orleans' rebirth after the tragedy of Hurricane Katrina, quarterback Drew Brees is the recipient of Sports Illustrated's 57th Sportsman of the Year award. Brees will be honored at a ceremony Tuesday evening in New York City.

The SI award comes as Brees and the Saints have won four consecutive games and, with an 8-3 record, moved solidly into playoff contention in defense of the championship they won a year ago in Miami. Brees, 31, was the MVP of that Super Bowl game, but he wins SI's highest honor for much more than just his ability to play football.

Jessie Aney, a 12-year-old tennis and hockey star from Rochester, Minn., was named Sports Illustrated Kids' SportsKid of the Year. The No. 1-ranked tennis player in the USTA's 12-and-under and 14-and-Under Northern Section, she was runner-up in Minnesota's Class 2A high school state singles championships as a seventh grader. A 4.0 student, Aney school five goals in her varsity hockey debut for Century High.

Nearly five years ago, in the early spring of 2006, Brees was a broken player. After surgery to repair a catastrophic shoulder injury, the Saints were the only team that offered to make him their starting quarterback. Meanwhile, New Orleans was a desperate city, trying to find traction after one of the worst natural disasters in U.S. history. Brees would later say his landing in New Orleans was much more than just an athlete's change of venue. "It was a calling,'' he said. "We were brought here for a reason.''

Brees and his wife, Brittany, showed love for New Orleans when the city felt abandoned by so many others. Not only did Brees help the Saints make the playoffs in his first year in the city and begin the four-year climb to last year's title, but he also threw himself into helping the city recover, and its people to feel like they were not alone. "He symbolizes the people of New Orleans in many, many ways,'' says NFL commissioner Roger Goodell. "Drew believes in that community. He believes in doing what's right. He's one of the most genuine people I've ever met.''

Upon settling in a home in Uptown New Orleans, Drew and Brittany Brees established The Brees Dream Foundation, with the goal of "Advancing research in the fight against cancer and providing care, education and opportunities for children in need.'' In the ensuing years, Brees's foundation has helped raise more than $6 million, primarily in and around New Orleans, but also in San Diego (where Brees began his career and played five seasons with the Chargers) and West Layfayette, Ind. (where Brees played college football at Purdue, and met his wife in 1999).
"New Orleans was the perfect fit for Drew,'' says Brian Schottenheimer, who coached Brees in San Diego and is now offensive coordinator of the New York Jets. "There were questions about Drew and there were questions about New Orleans. But things happen for a reason.''

The steady revival of New Orleans owes to the efforts of many civic leaders, but none are more visible than the quarterback of the city's beloved Saints, so long lovable losers, but now on top of the football world. "You could see it in Drew from the beginning,'' says Billy Miller, who joined the team with Brees in 2006 and played four seasons. "He had this attitude that just said: `If I lead, people will follow.'''

Most poignant of all, Brees has dug deep roots in a city that opened its arms when he was wounded. He and Brittany have two sons: Baylen, who will turn two in January; and Bowen, born Oct. 19. Two weeks ago Brees held Bowen in his arms and said, "Life is a miracle.''
And some would say the same for what has happened since Brees arrived in New Orleans.

Ba Na Mountains, Danang, Sunrise at 5:30am

I'm heading back home to my native country for a very special celebration. After shooting many beautiful weddings, I'm actually going to invest in the product that I have promoted over the last few years. I am proud to say that I'll be joining the rest of my clients in the world of holy matrimony. You can actually go ahead call it my very elaborate research project for my job. If you were wondering if all the years of experience being involved in the wedding industry helped me in the planning. Emphatic NO! I do what a typical groom would do: Let the fiance make all the decisions. I my defense, I cannot ready do much of anything since the ceremony will be in another country. However, I will take credit for helping decide on a great photographer. Naturally, it's probably the only thing I would want to get invovled in. I'm very excited and very happy. Thank you for all you well wishers so far.

While I'm gone, please be patience if you have contacted me for pricing and consultation inquires or for any other questions. I will not be able to have internet at my disposal at all times. I'll handing over the pending wedding files over to a good friend. Please contact Todd (toddblee@aol.com) only if I'm not back in three weeks.

Thank you everyone for your support. I'll talk to you soon.





CAUGHT!

August 08, 2010. Hoi An, Vietnam. At 4:05, we had the front desk gave us a wake up call. At 4:10am, I had the front desk gave us a snooze wake up call. Yep. Barely recovered from the duty-free whiskey I bought from Taipei airport, we crawled off the bed and got ready for our day of wedding e-session. Ridiculous? Yes. But not as ridiculous as the haircut I got at one of the top hair-salons in Danang. Well, to get some kind of photo shoot with a little bit of good weather, we had no choice but to wake up early. We ended walking around Hoi An for three 2 1/2 hours. During the session, I marveled at the colors and history that this old trading center in the 16th and 17th centuries between the Japanese, Chinese, Indians and the Dutch. We were tired and running on empty from the stress before the date. However, with the fortune of booking a wonderful photographer and a true photojournalist such as Julian Wainwright, we were never before so excited. Thanks Julian for being our guest for our wedding. We are very excited to see you would tell our story with your camera.

I was fortunate enough to be invited to an intimate food tasting by Heaven's Kitchen, spear headed by chef John Tran and Paulina R. I met John througn a chance meeting at his Cousin's wedding early this year. The only reason I met John was because I made it a point to meet the creator of the very delicious food served after the Tea Ceremony (which was a little bit more special than the typical food I get for lunch at on a wedding Saturday). Fast forward two months and I was enjoying is full Asian Menu at Rosewater Hall in San Jose. Check out some of the dishes I was able to with ejoy with a glass of Arrogant Frog Merlot.