Saints Fans
BY VAL SCHOGER PHOTOS BY KATIE DESANTIS
Bill Buskell is one of Bay County’s biggest Saints fans. He is the owner of Pineapple Willie’s and The Wicked Wheel, and while both restaurants are located in Panama City Beach, the Wicked Wheel is the literal man cave for Bill Buskell. An entire room at the Wicked Wheel is dedicated to his favorite football team, the New Orleans Saints. From the memorabilia on the walls to the huge decals of his favorite players, Bill Buskell is all about the Saints and he invites every fan to join him on game day to watch the Saints play on three huge plasma TVs with him. “Of course the opposing team’s fans are invited as well .” says Bill Buskell and means it.
It is a Saints tailgate party at the Wicked Wheel, with free beer and appetizers and there are price drawings for fan wear and event game tickets at half time.
“I love New Orleans, it has the best music and the best restaurants in the world – I live and breathe New Orleans and naturally, the New Orleans Saints are my team.” says Bill Buskell and adds “Of course as far as college football goes, the team that I will always be rooting for are the Florida State Seminoles.”
Bill Buskell and wife Mary travel often to New Orleans and have held season tickets for the last 14 years. “I became a Saints fan more than 20 years ago and even my wife is now a Saints fan . She did not know the first thing about football when we met but I am glad that I could change that.” grins Bill Buskell with the typical twinkle in his eyes. Mary confirms “Yes, I am originally from a small town in Kentucky and there was just not too much football being played.” Mary and Bill speak about their team and New Orleans with such enthusiasm and love, they radiate warmth and spread a welcoming atmosphere.
Bill’s favorite player is quarterback Drew Brees. “He is a guy people can look up to. He is a family man and not only is he one of the best players in the nation but he is very engaged in the community and dedicates a lot of his time to charities, mentoring programs, neighborhood revitalization projects and child care facilities in New Orleans.”
While pointing out others charity work, Bill Buskell fails to mention that he is every bit as involved in our own community with several charities like beach Care Services, Paws & Claws, BASIC and the senior center on the beach and as I walk out of the Wicked Wheel I realize I became a fan myself. Not of the Saints but of Mary and Bill Buskell.
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