Men in dresses fill downtown New Orleans and the Quarter
Dave Cohen Reporting
Thousands of men put on dresses Sunday to march from the Louisiana Super Dome into the French Quarter.
"As far as you can see that way, there's thousands of dudes here in dresses," one man in a dress remarked.
Thousands of men put on ball gowns, miniskirts, wedding dresses and anything else they could find to fit - hairy legs, hairy chests and all.
"This is a negligee'," one man said."They didn't have nothing (else) big enough to fit me."
Why did thousands of men put on dresses, fish next stockings, bras, wigs, makeup and more?
"Buddy D, a great local broadcaster, would always say how he would wear a dress if the Saints ever made it to the Super Bowl. Lo and behold, it's happened. Today I'm proud to wear my pearls, my skirt and even my little undergarments. WHO DAT Baby!" explained a faithful citizen of the Who Dat Nation.
Click the following links for pictures of the parade:
(Send your pics of the Dress Parade to: photos@wwl.com )
Buddy D didn't live to see it happen.
But, the man that replaced him at the radio microphone did.
Saints Pro Bowl quarterback Bobby Hebert (below), put on a dress of his own and led the thousands of men in dresses through New Orleans in honor of Buddy D before a crowd estimated to be around 85,000 people along the route.
"I just wish my father and 'Buddy D' were alive to see this day," said George Butler, 63, as he dabbed at his eyes with his black and gold feather boa. "I know they're the happiest "Who Dats" in heaven."
In a town where people grew up, grew old, and died waiting for just a winning season, no chance to celebrate the greatest one in the 43-year-history of the team would be missed.
Now the Saints are scheduled to play the Indianapolis Colts in the Super Bowl on Feb. 7.
"This is the best of all worlds," said Tommy Cooper, resplendent in a full-length black beaded sheath, black and gold boa and hair, and a gold mask. "It's the Saints and Mardi Gras rolled into one. God bless New Orleans."
Although there was no official estimate of the crowd size, one police officer on hand said, "several thousand of the city's finest," were there.
The parade was led by a dance team in red jackets and blue short-shorts, billing themselves as "ordinary men with extraordinary moves." It took almost an hour for the last marcher to shimmy past the Superdome on the way to the French Quarter.
They chanted "Bud-dy! Bud-dy!" and "Buddy D! Buddy D!"
And, of course, "Who dat say day gonna beat dem Saints?"
Diliberto, a New Orleans native, was the originator of the paper bag masks Saints fans wore during the 1-15 season. He loved the team, but despaired that it would ever return the feeling.
Hebert marched in a radiant black and gold sequined dress designed by his daughter, Cammy Lynn, a fashion designer in New York. A sequined hat and long blond pigtails completed the look.
"I don't know how women stay warm in these things," Hebert joked. "I need extra tights or something."
Hebert wasn't the only one that decided to show a bit of flesh for the march.
Jerry Hanford, 53, who owns a sausage-making operation in Ponchatula, La., wore a fitted, black dress with a plunging neckline and back. It was complemented by fishnet stockings and black and gold beads.
"I had a wrap," Hanford said. "But it spoiled the look."
E-Mail
Print
