Seen in New Orleans

Steve is in New Orleans this week and sends along this photo.  Guess they're Saints fans?

The Saints Get Their Rings

The New Orleans Saints received their Super Bowl rings last night.  The ring has 44 diamonds; on one side is an image of St. Louis Cathedral, the Super Dome and a scene from the victory parade; on the other side the final score of the game.

The Saints are raffling off a Super Bowl ring to benefit the Gulf Coast relief efforts.  You can go here to order your raffle tickets.  The deadline is Thursday, September 9.

New Orleans Saints to Raffle Super Bowl Ring to Help Gulf Coast

Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints are doing their part to contribute to the aid effort on the Gulf coast.  Brees told Fox News this morning that they will be offering "a chance for you to take home a Super Bowl ring. They want the proceeds to go towards the victims, clean-up and any other damage caused by the oil spill."

Details will be forthcoming but there's a raffle involved.

The website to watch is here and is set to go live this afternoon.

Watch for updates.

There is a full page of other ways you can help here.

Update:  The site (above) is now live.

The entry deadline is 11 a.m. September 7.  The winner will be announced on the 9th at the Saints nationally televised season opener.

• Winner will receive an authentic New Orleans Saints Super Bowl Ring (the same exact ring
  the players receive)
• Winner will be announced at the Nationally Televised New Orleans Saints Season Opener
  on September 9, 2010
• Winner will receive a cash prize in the amount of $2,178.00 to mitigate the Winner's tax liability that results from winning the raffle. This prize is withheld and paid, on behalf of the Winner, directly to the IRS ($1,800.00) and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts ($378.00) 

And yes, I just ordered mine!

The Morning After The Super Bowl Round Up

It's quite difficult to focus on political news when THE SAINTS HAVE JUST WON THE SUPER BOWL!

This blog will get back to politics shortly. Meanwhile, here's a round-up of the morning after commentary:

Red has the celebration videos. The folks in the French Quarter went wild, as one would expect!

The Dead Pelican went black and gold again last night and has lots of links.

My Bossier has Tracy Porter's interception video clip, and a video of a hilarious and unorthodox church service in New Orleans yesterday.

NOLA has the morning after write up and more video:

After the confetti had dropped, after the tears were shed, after they stood in front of the cameras and the microphones and tried to put the greatest night of their professional lives in perspective, Sean Payton and Drew Brees shared a quiet moment together. They hopped on the back of a golf cart, each with a hand on the shiny silver Vince Lombardi Trophy that rested in Payton's lap, each with a wide grin across their faces.

"Don't you just want it to slow down and last longer?" the coach said to his quarterback.

Governor Bobby Jindal's bet with Governor Daniels means that a "Who Dat" flag will fly over Indy this year!

The Hayride has thoughts after the victory:

It’s hard to form coherent thoughts when one is absolutely, completely numb.

The Saints winning the Super Bowl, as happened tonight, is that kind of event. Numbing. Until this year it was never even allowed, it seemed, for Saints fans to seriously think of their team as a champion...And while Payton is a sensational coach, Drew Brees is equally superlative. Brees is, to me, the epitome of what a star athlete should be – he exudes excellence on the field not based on overwhelming physical talent, though he’s unquestionably a phenomenal athlete, but all of the other factors. Brains. Character. Class. Work Ethic. Commitment. Courage. Leadership.

I'll update through the day as more trickles in.

31-17!!! DAT IS ALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hell has frozen over! Government Offices in Washington are shut down tomorrow...and the SAINTS WON THE SUPER BOWL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I was a nervous wreck up until the last minute and a half and then I figured we had it!

Shortly after the game ended you could hear yelling and horns honking all around; I went outside on the porch and a guy was running down the street in his tennis shoes, his briefs, and nothing else, hands over head, with his friend driving along behind him honking the horn for all to hear. I'm assuming he lost a bet!

The Dead Pelican has gone black and gold and has the siren up. Red Stick Rant is also celebrating with black and gold.

Here is a live cam of Bourbon Street! Here is the corner of Napoleon and St. Charles.

Good times!

Who Dat Gameday!

Game Day!

I've got my baby back ribs ready for the grill along with my venison & pork sausage. We'll also be having baked beans and various other Super Bowl things to eat.

I have football squares but my numbers suck, unless "five" comes in. Figures.

Geaux Saints!

The Saints Prayer

At the Who Dat Pep Rally yesterday, this prayer was read, first uttered in 1968 when Archbishop Hannan read the prayer at the inaugural Saints and Sinners dinner:



Here is the text:

God, we ask your blessing upon all who participate in this event, and all who have supported our Saints. Our heavenly father, who has instructed us that the "saints by faith conquered kingdoms... and overcame lions," grant our Saints an increase of faith and strength so that they will not only overcome the Lions, but also the Bears, the Rams, the Giants and even those awesome people in Green Bay.May they continue to tame the Redskins and fetter the Falcons as well as the Eagles. Give to our owners and coaches the continued ability to be as wise as serpents and simple as doves, so that no good talent will dodge our draft. Grant to our fans perseverance in their devotion and unlimited lung powered, tempered with a sense of charity to all, including the referees.May our beloved "Bedlam Bowl" be a source of good fellowship and may the "Saints Come Marching In" be a victory march for all, now and in eternity.

Who Dat Pep Rally Kicks Off Busy Weekend

We've got a big weekend on tap around here and it's already underway!

This afternoon at 4:00 was the "Who Dat" Pep Rally on Travis Street downtown. I met my brother down there and we hung out for about three hours listening to Robin and the Bluebirds (video below) and taking part in the festivities. Mayor Cedric Glover and the Shreveport City Council, specifically Joyce Bowman, came up with the idea to have a Pep Rally on Tuesday. Through the week they pulled together a fabulous celebration!

Shaver's Catering was there handing out jambalaya, there was face painting and balloon art for the kids, and lots of music and community participation. Huntington High School's band was there, their entrance even more dramatic than expected as their big drums came bellowing through the alley between the tall downtown office buildings.

The Battlewings Dance Line was there and the Southern University Cheerleaders as well.

For three hours we danced in the streets and celebrated the Saints and Mardi Gras. The mayor and various council members threw beads, hats, cups, and footballs from the stage as Robin belted out "Mardi Gras Mambo", "At Last", "C'est La Vie" and of course, "When The Saints Go Marching In."

When it was all over, about 7:00, my brother and I headed to my house to collect Steve and we went on down to Superior Mexican Restaurant to hear the Great Jimmy Day and friends play a couple of sets. I haven't been to Superior in, no lie, 20 years, and it hasn't changed one iota. It's still a packed house with a 2 hour table wait. We squeezed in a faux table next to the band, and a former student recognized us and took pity on us, waiting on us when he didn't have to. Hats off to him!

Tomorrow?

Well, that's the Centaur Parade, which is an all afternoon and evening affair; I'll be posting pictures through the afternoon and evening.

Sunday?

The Barkus and Meoux Parade in the afteroon and then ....

Who Dat!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is Robin and The Bluebirds, "When the Saints Go Marching In." Not the best quality but I was holding my camera over my head, shooting blind.



Here's the local media video. I'm in it, around 2:30 or so ... I'm the chick in the #12 Colston jersey leaning against a car shooting the Huntington Band. Gotta have quick eyes to catch me.

Who Dat Owns Who Dat?

Who Dat says they own the Who Dat copyright? The NFL, that's Who Dat.

And now they might sue me, too, because I'm using it.

In letters sent to at least two retailers, the NFL has demanded that they quit selling items with the Who Dat slogan on it. They claim trademark infringement. NOLA reports:

In letters sent to Fleurty Girl and Storyville, the NFL ordered the retailers to stop selling a host of merchandise that it says violates state and federal trademarks held by the New Orleans Saints.

Among the long list of things the NFL says is off-limits without a licensing agreement are some obvious violations like the official logo of the Saints and the team's name. But the one that stands out is "Who Dat."

Today, Senator David Vitter has responded to NFL Commissioner, Roger Goodell. Vitter explains the history of "Who Dat" as follows:

"Who Dat" was probably first heard in New Orleans minstrel shows well over 130 years ago. Much more recently, but before it was used in connection with the Saints, it was used as a rallying cry by St. Augustine High School in New Orleans. In the 1980s it was adopted by Saints fans in a completely spontaneous way. Only later did any legal persons, including the Saints and the NFL, try to claim it through registration.

Perhaps more significant than this history, "Who Dat" has become part of New Orleans and Louisiana popular culture. 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!”

Furthermore, Vitter has vowed to print his own t-shirts that say, "Who Dat say we can't print Who Dat?" on them.

Who Dat indeed!

Next thing you know we won't be able to say Geaux Saints, either.

NFL claims ownership of Who Dat

Bourbon Street After "The Kick"

Saints Video: Bourbon Street

Via: The Dead Pelican

The Dead Pelican Celebrates!

The Dead Pelican has gone black and gold! Awesome!

Who DAT!??????!!!!!!!!!!