NEW ORLEANS SAINTS: BEADMAN

When his brother passed away on Super Bowl Sunday, Phillip Davis needed an outlet. He began taking Mardi Gras beads and weaving them together into a costume he would wear to Halloween parties. But when a Saints superfan passed away, he decided it was time for him to step up and fill the void. He became Beadman.

How did you fall in love with your team? What is your first memory around your NFL team?

It was 2014 when a certain Saints superfan had heart surgery and passed away during the operation. It left a void in the superfans. My buddy, who is Phantom now, and I decided that we would fill that void together. We knew all the good things the superfans do for the community and everything, so we wanted to step-up. Then they had a contest to vote in the next superfan and this underprivileged child got put on the list, so I bowed-out, because he deserved to win much more than I did. During the draft for the following year I did the draft party and a couple of other events, then I got voted in to be an official Saints superfan. I've been going strong ever since. I show up at pretty much every event.

As to being just a Saints fan? I'm pretty much a fan of every team. As a superfan we're there for all the fans.

How, when, and why did you start dressing up, collecting, or becoming more than a regular ordinary fan?

That evolved through the 1999 to the 2000 season. It all began during the Super Bowl when I got a call from Chicago that my brother had passed away. He had been fighting HIV and when he passed away on Super Bowl Sunday I didn't take it too well. I was close with my brother. I had all these beads and I thought that he would want me to do something bigger and better than what I normally do. I happen to be a musician, but I just felt that something was guiding me to do something that would make an impact. I started making a costume that Mardi Gras. I didn't have the costume ready until Halloween of 2000. After I finished it, I went to a lot of Halloween costume parties and I was winning them all. I thought I'm just going to keep on doing it!

And I did, all the way until 2011. Then I took a year off and I came back with a whole new look. I retooled the whole image, the character, and the persona. I really got down to the nitty-gritty. Since 2014 season I've been doing black and gold, but this season I want to do something different. I have many looks, including pink, glow-in-the-dark beads to honor Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

What distinguishes you from other fans of your team?

I guess my stamina. My costumes weigh like 30 pounds. The longest I've worn one was for about 18 hours. On game days I will be at the Blood Drive early in the day, then I go to the game. So they really have a lot of respect for the fact that I can wear that much weight for so long. I do get drained though as I suffer from Lyme disease. I have had that for five years now and it does take its toll on you.

How did you develop your costume?

I weave my costume out of beads. It's all Mardi Gras beads that I buy. I go to the store, I pick out the color I like, and I sit down and make a pattern. Then I just make it. I've made a special loom and I weave them on it. It takes me about 48 hours to make an outfit.

What is your favorite keepsake or piece of memorabilia?

I'm not really a collector. I do have an old practice helmet from the 70s. I'm going to get all the super fans to sign it, because we're all like family. I don't really collect anything. I mean, I collect pictures with the fans no matter what team they're from, because when I'm out and about I get a lot of attention, I really do. I get so much attention it makes other superfans jealous sometimes.

What is your game day ritual? How do you prefer to watch the game?

A lot of times I don't really suit up for a game, because a lot of times I don't go to New Orleans to watch the game. Especially away games. We have away game parties, but I don't go most of the time. I like to sit at home and just watch the game, because every time I go to the Super Dome they lose! I'm like the curse, or something! So, I don't really go as much to the games. I'll go to Champion Square and get the fans hyped-up and go other places, like a friend's or a sports bar to watch the game from there.

How does it feel to be known by your friends and peers as a die-hard fan?

Well a lot of my friends and family are fans of other teams, but they respect what I do. They have a lot of respect for the fact that I that I suit up for a purpose. I don't want fame, I don't want glory; I want to make a difference for the people that need it. I take on whatever charity really grabs me at the moment. Now it's childhood cancer and breast cancer awareness. I get involved with so many things. It's great! When I was younger I didn't care about anything. Now that I'm older I know I can make a difference.

What is the best thing about your team?

Oh it's definitely the fans! For a while there I thought our fans were the most loyal fans in the NFL. We had so many hardships and only the one victory. Our fans are crazy in a good way. No matter where you go in the country, if you run into a Saints fan you're automatically best friends. You're like family right away. I don't know if it's like that with other teams, but with Saints fans I just click right away. It's just like we've always known each other and we're best friends!

All images by Stephanie Mei-Ling.

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