"Who Dat?" is "Our Dat!"

Well, we Saints' fans knew it was coming someday...The New Orleans Saints are going to the Super Bowl in their very first appearance this Sunday against the Indianapolis Colts. And no, a certain place is not freezing over! Gone are the days of the "Aint's" and paper bags over the head for fans! New Orleans Saints' fans are a loud and proud bunch. So, it is not surprising that a loud noise could be heard from New Orleans and the whole state of Louisiana when the NFL protested "Who Dat" shirts and merchandise with the fleur-de-lis being sold or marketed as an official Saints or NFL product. I, as a long time Saints' fan can also not be quiet!

Our own governor, Bobby Jindal asked the state Attorney General, Buddy Caldwell to look into the matter. The NFL's general counsel had ordered cease-and-desist letters for Louisiana T-shirt makers to stop selling shirts with the "Who Dat" phrase, citing trademark infringement.

Well, guess what NFL? You don't own "Who Dat" or the fleur-de-lis! The NFL conceded and said they have no intention of claiming the fleur-de-lis or "Who Dat." The fleur-de-lis is a traditional symbol of New Orleans that predates the Saints organization and is featured on the Saints' helmets.

NFL, we don't need your permission to sell shirts with the fleur-de-lis or "Who Dat." Okay, we can't reference the NFL or the Saints, but who doesn't know that a fleur-de-lis shirt with "Who Dat" is the one and only New Orleans Saints of the NFL?

New Orleans' t-shirt shops say this has disrupted business, but it's also been great. People are standing in line now to buy the shirts!

Senator David Vitter even got in on the act with his website, "Who Dat say we can't print Who Dat!" He sent a letter to the NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell protesting the legal action against mom and pop merchants using the phrase "Who Dat." He went on to say that the phrase is public domain and was first heard over 130 years ago in New Orleans minstrel shows. Senator Vitter also stated, "For the NFL to try to claim exclusive ownership of it would be like me registering and trying to claim exclusive ownership of the terms "lagniappe" and "Laissez les bons temps rouler!"

So, NFL, we can't sell official NFL merchandise with the fleur-de-lis or "Who Dat" but you can't stop us from wearing our unofficial shirts. And, you can't stop the Saints and you can't stop the Who Dat! I can't wait for Sunday's Super Bowl. I will, by the way, be wearing my unofficial Who Dat t-shirt!

Sources:

http://abcnews.go.com/print?id=9722093

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/02/01/who-dat-shirts-can-be-sol_n_445291.html

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/blog/shutdown_corner/post/The-NFL-tries-to-claim-quot-Who-Dat-quot-from?urn=nfl,216965

http://www.davidvitter.com/site/c.ktJUJ7MNIuE/b.5769125/k.342B/WHO_DAT_say_WE_CANT_SAY_WHO_DAT.htm?msource=google?gclid=codr_cdn1j8cfvw55qodmbmscw