Leroy Mitchell Jr. unwittingly found his calling in life at 15 when an uncle taught him to whistle. Three years later he discovered he had a rare talent for blowing air through his lips. He could whistle louder than anyone he knew. Much, much louder, actually.
A decade later at a New Orleans Saints home game, he realized he could finally put his heretofore largely useless skill to good use. The 1996 Saints were in the midst of a dreadful 3-13 campaign, the last of Jim Mora’s coaching tenure in New Orleans. The Superdome was lifeless, and the lack of intensity transferred to the players on the field.