New Orleans Saints fans in Paris soak in atmosphere | Saints

PARIS — Leroy Mitchell had been in France for all of 90 minutes when a couple of American tourists saw him on the street and stopped to take a photo with him.

He was hard to miss. It wasn’t just that the New Orleans Saints super-fan had his signature whistle helmet positioned atop his head, but he was also whistling. Loud. A tune that cut through the traffic and the general metropolitan noises of the city of roughly 13 million.

This is a once-in-a-lifetime event, and there is a once-in-a-blue-moon person, standing with his New Orleans Saints gear in Paris’ 8th arrondissement, whistling a tune at ear-splitting volume.

“This is beautiful,” Mitchell said. “I was telling every single person, you do not want to miss this. This is once in a lifetime. First game in France, and then us, the Saints, the connection we have; I don’t use perfect storm, but if you put this on paper, it would work.

“Of course the Saints would have a home game in France. … I think it’s long overdue, and I’m happy that we’re here.”

The Saints are playing a game in Paris on Sunday, against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Stade de France. It is the first NFL game to be played in this country. It is also therefore the first time New Orleanians have swarmed Paris in force in their black and gold regalia.

“Whistle Monsta” is the most recognizable of them all, but he’s far from alone.

There are Saints fans from all over the United States — Sean and Denise Alveshire are visiting from their home in Orlando, Florida; Deni Stott flew from New York to join her “Superdame” friends; Katherine Becker is a Connecticut native who flew in from her Tallahassee home to meet her New Yorker sister: Chris, Sasha and Marley Phipps took an 11-hour flight from Southern California to be here. All of them are wearing black and gold in various states of sparkle, screaming Who Dat at anybody they see in their colors on the Parisian streets.

It has been an interesting time to be an American in Paris. The U.S. President, Donald Trump, recently expressed concern about the recent unrest in Paris, with the people of France protesting the high cost of living. Trump suggested the NFL could have postponed the game amid the protests.

“I think maybe it’s looking like (Saturday) is going to be a bad day in France, so you worry about it,” Trump told reporters. “I would have said the NFL could have probably postponed that match … because France is really in trouble.”

Those who made the trip to France have not yet seen anything to suggest they should fear for their safety — even if they know what they have seen is not necessarily reflective of what has happened when they were not there.

“Everything was clean,” Stott said. “It’s like Mardi Gras, like the next morning it’s done. We did see at Jardin des Tuileries people sandblasting graffiti off the walls, which was kind of sad. But I have not felt unsafe at all.”

Most are simply relishing the opportunity.

Stott is one of four in the group of “Superdames” who will attend Sunday’s game. She is considered an “honorary” member because she attends only a handful of games per year as a New York resident. This is not one she, nor her friends, would have missed.

Liz Broekman, another of the Superdame krewe who wear a Superdome-shaped headpiece along with a custom cape, had a simple reason why she was visiting Paris from her New Orleans home.

“The connection of the cities is very parallel,” Broekman said. “I just wanted to be here — I wanted to be here. I think it’s an iconic time.”

Sunday’s game will be the first NFL game in the history of France, which was a huge draw for a lot of people. In fact, it’s partially why Mitchell’s itinerary was so full shortly after his arrival in Paris on Sunday afternoon.

Mitchell visited France this summer with his wife and somehow found himself getting introduced to Emily Vidrine, the Louisiana Cultural Ambassador to France. Not three days after he landed in Paris with no itinerary, he said he was inside the U.S. embassy, whistling the tune to “Stand Up and Get Crunk.”

“The acoustics in that place were unbelievable,” Mitchell said.

He views this as part of his mission this week, too.

“My goal is to bridge the gap between Parisian football fans and American football fans,” Mitchell said. “… I’m stoked about the New Orleanians being here.”

For most, though, the goal is not so lofty.

Most of those who have spent their hard-earned money and vacation time on a trip abroad — some have brought family along with them — are seeking that je ne sais quoi in France that reminds them of home.

This is, after all, a Saints home game.

“It’s funny to see what the blueprint was for New Orleans,” said Marley Phipps. “This feels like the blueprint.”

Marley Phipps was born in Southern California, but she pronounces New Orleans with a substantial Yat accent. She says people often confuse her for a native Southerner in her Orange County home, which makes sense considering who raised her.

Though Sasha lives in California, she grew up in the French Quarter and recently traced her New Orleans roots back to the 18th century. Her husband Chris can’t boast the same rich history — his family moved to New Orleans when he was 2 years old — but the city still makes up a substantial portion of who he is. 

So even though the Phipps family does not call New Orleans home anymore, they chose to build a milestone family trip around the place that binds them.

Sasha and Chris Phipps will celebrate their 30th wedding anniversary the day after the Saints play the Steelers in Stade de France. They are here for the game, but they are here for more than that.

“It just happened to be a romantic city, and what a great way to celebrate with the Saints,” Sasha said, with Chris adding, “It all just connected. We’ve gotta go.”

They came to Paris to watch their team, but win or lose, they know they will go home feeling like they’ve accomplished their goal.

Becker grew up in the northeast, but works in Florida now in state government. Her sister is a Buffalo Bills fan, but joined her for the trip anyway. Paris has much to offer, even for those who do not call themselves Saints fans.

“Eating good food, just getting to spend time with my sister and her friends,” Becker said, “just getting to be in Paris. The (Eiffel Tower) lights up every hour on the hour at night, and we were there at 11 p.m. just standing on the Seine (River).”

But had Becker not gone on the trip, she would have felt like she was missing out for reasons other than food, family and sights. This was not her first time in Paris — not even her first time in Paris with her sister. She was a late arrival to Saints fandom, but it is an important part of her life now.

She went to Tulane and was finished around the time Hurricane Katrina hit. Her fandom was born when the team was awful as a way to connect with her New Orleans native college roommate. They sat in the dorms and watched the games and she built something that lasted for a couple decades.

Now she tries to visit New Orleans one weekend a year, when the Saints and Tulane share a home weekend. And when the opportunity arises, she finds a way to watch them on the road.

“This is my big trip this year; this is pretty much the only trip I’m making,” Becker said. “And I think it’s worth it. Not only is it a great excuse to come to Paris, but to be surrounded by (my people) and to be in the first NFL game in a country is really interesting. … I think it’s going to be so unique, and to look back on it and say I was at that game will be worth it.”

They also came to Paris because they realized they only have one life to lead.

Alveshire and his wife, Denise, live in Orlando, Florida. They stumbled upon Saints fandom while visiting a friend, going to a game and experiencing something that was completely new and unique to them. They’ve held onto it for years, often traveling to one or two games per year.

When Paris came up, especially this year, it was an easy call. Experiences, they agreed, mean much more than things at this stage of their lives.

“We had some personal issues this year with family that put things in perspective where we just need to live life, and do things and not wait,” Denise Alveshire said.

Alveshire added, “I’m 56, she’s 51, (life is short). My mother passed. (Denise) had an accident and broke her hand, so she was out of work for three months, then her uncle suddenly passed. It was one of those things where it was like, you’re not guaranteed life.”