NFL Says They OWN "Who Dat!"

**Gidget** · 01-31-2010, 09:48 AM

Who Dat? It's the big, bad NFL, that's who - Sports - MiamiHerald.com

King Sport, in a move that might be legally prudent but is public-relations quicksand, has sent cease-and-desist letters and threatened suits against New Orleans companies selling T-shirts that bear the city's and Saints fans' ubiquitous and beloved ``Who Dat'' catch-phrase.

The phrase's origin is traced as far back as a 1890s Vaudeville song and has been part of Saints lore since the early 1980s: ``Who dat, who dat, who dat say dey gonna beat dem Saints!?''

It has become an interwoven part of New Orleans' funky culture -- a street slang belonging to the city, its people and long-suffering fans.
But, ``If `Who Dat' is used in a manner to refer to Saints football, the NFL [and the Saints] own the rights to it,'' goes the statement from the league.

Hmmm.
I think that cease-and-desist letter needs to go to the NFL for needlessly and rather callously alienating Saints fans the very week of their first Super Bowl appearance.

I am hereby advocating that Warner Communications Inc., parent of DC Comics, sue the NFL because ``Super Bowl'' infringes on the Superman trademark.

Crazy!!!

G

**sunspotbaby** · 01-31-2010, 10:09 AM

I read this last night. What a crock!

NFL trying to capitalize on a phrase the Saints have been using forever. Guess they never imagined the Saints in the Super Bowl.

**truluv** · 01-31-2010, 10:59 AM

Scru-dat!

**Gidget** · 01-31-2010, 11:54 AM

Originally Posted by truluv

Scru-dat!

GOOD ONE! Watch out someone might lay claim to that catchy phrase!!!

G

**ameliaj** · 01-31-2010, 11:57 AM

Originally Posted by Gidget

GOOD ONE! Watch out someone might lay claim to that catchy phrase!!!

G

Tru dat!!

**Miss Critter** · 01-31-2010, 11:59 AM

Already done. You can buy the shirt.

These are all over facebook, along with various protest groups.

**Gidget** · 01-31-2010, 12:26 PM

Fancy - dat!!!!! I like ur spelling better though

**missredfox** · 01-31-2010, 02:54 PM

Sesame Street called the NFL and said they wanted their "N", their "F", and their "L" back....

**30A Skunkape** · 01-31-2010, 03:11 PM

No, I don't think so...

**Miss Critter** · 01-31-2010, 03:43 PM

How da Commish Stole Who Dat
(with apologies to Dr. Seuss)

The whole Who Dat nation loved their Saints a lot,
But the Commish of pro football evidently did not.
The Commish owned pro football, the whole football season.
Now he wanted the Who Dat, for sinister reasons.

Could it be he, too, loves our fleur de lis flower?
More likely he just wants to prove his own power.
Yes, I think the most likely reason of all
Is da Commish is committed to owning it all.

Where was he during losses to Falcons and Rams?
Where was he when poor Archie got sacked and got slammed?
Where was he through the bags of the Unknowns and ‘Aints?
Back then it was Who Dats alone with our Saints.

He didn’t push then for the profits we shared,
‘Cause the Saints weren’t winning, so nobody cared.
But the nation of Who Dat, they cared and still do.
That’s why, Mr. Commish, you can’t steal our Who.

No, you can’t take our Who, or our Dat, or our flower.
You can’t take our history, our spirit, our power.
For a bag full of silver, you’d sell your own soul.
Not us Who Dats; we’re bound to the black and the gold.

We’re joined in our fight by our own heavy hitters,
Like Governor Jindal and Senator Vitter.
We’re sending the message that Who Dat is ours.
It belongs to our people, and this is our hour.

We’re Super Bowl bound, darlin’, dat’s where we’re at.
We’re a nation united. Saints are champs! We’re Who Dat!

**missredfox** · 01-31-2010, 07:37 PM

Love it MissCritter. I bleed black & gold.

**Gidget** · 02-01-2010, 08:13 AM

Miss Critter that was great!!!

Such a huge Grinch fan anyway. I HAVE to pass this on to my crazy LA family. They are even watching re-runs of the last game. Over and over and crying.... Even have a new baby in the family with the name Payton!

Thanks again

Too cute
G

Oh and I see Bobby Jindal signed a proclomation making this the official "Who Dat Nation Week" in Louisiana.

**Miss Critter** · 02-02-2010, 10:24 AM

AG: Shops can sell 'Who Dat' shirts

Louisiana's attorney general said Monday that local T-shirt makers don't need the National Football League's permission to sell shirts with the phrase "Who Dat," as long as they don't make other references to the New Orleans Saints or NFL. Attorney General Buddy Caldwell said he had a conference call with the NFL's general counsel to discuss cease-and-desist letters some Louisiana T-shirt makers received from the league. The letters demanded they stop selling shirts featuring the phrase that's part of a popular cheer by Saints fans, citing trademark infringement.
"They've conceded and they've said they have no intention of claiming the fleur-de-lis, which would be ridiculous, or the 'Who Dat,' which would be equally ridiculous," Caldwell said in an interview. The fleur-de-lis is a traditional symbol of New Orleans that's featured on Saints helmets.
The NFL is only objecting to shirts that are marketed or presented as an official Saints or NFL product, Caldwell said. Shirts that are black and gold and say "Who Dat" can be sold, he said, if they don't purport to be Saints gear and don't include the team logo.
The chant - "Who dat say dey gonna beat dem Saints" - is often shortened to "Who Dat" on shirts and signs and has been a mainstay at the Superdome in New Orleans since the 1980s.
"People can use Who Dat all they want if it doesn't include NFL and Saints trademarks," said NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy, in an e-mail. "We explained that we would contact merchants only if a Who Dat item also contained NFL or Saints trademarks or if it is falsely claimed that an unauthorized item is affiliated with the Saints or NFL."
The "Who Dat" spat has outraged many Louisiana residents and merchants, who argued the NFL couldn't claim ownership of a saying or symbol that predates the Saints, who will make their very first Super Bowl appearance Sunday against the Indianapolis Colts. Gov. Bobby Jindal asked Caldwell to look into a possible lawsuit if the NFL was attempting to declare ownership rights of the phrase.
Lauren Thom, owner of the Fleurty Girl T-shirt shop in New Orleans, said she's changed the product description of her "Who Dat" shirts after getting a letter from the NFL demanding she quit selling them. She's sold out of her stock and is now managing back orders.
"Yes it disrupted business, but it's been kind of great as well. We've had lines of people waiting to buy our merchandise," Thom said. "One lady told me she wanted to buy anything in the store that was not NFL-licensed. I told her 'that's everything in the store!'"
"What started out as a letter that scared the bejesus out of me, has turned out to be the best thing ever for my business," she said.

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