The NFL Joins the Louisiana Casket Cartel

Remember a few years back when the Louisiana Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors threatened to throw a bunch of Benedictine monks in jail unless they ceased and desisted selling simple, wooden caskets to help support their Abbey?  Remember a little later, after failing to get the stupid funeral industry protectionist statute repealed, the monks sued the Board?

Well, it seems that the case made it all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court, and last October (after I'd already moved North), the statute was declared unconstitutional!  The monks have successfully resumed their craft and are doing quite well, thank you very much.

And, remember back a few years when the NFL sent cease and desist letters to mom and pop businesses who were using the phrase "Who Dat" on merchandise before the Saints played in and won the Black and Gold Super Beauxl?  And how the NFL ultimately relented?

Well.  These two subjects have merged.

It seems that, shortly after the Supreme Court decision last fall, a new business opened in Esplanade Mall, near the New Orleans airport, named "'Til We Meet Again." 

They sell caskets and urns.

(Does the very notion of having a Casket Store in your friendly neighborhood mall creep anyone else out as badly as it does me?  *shiver* )

Anyway, the particular casket pictured above (and you do not want to know how many tricks I had to try to get that image to download!) has raised the wrath of the NFL and they're furiously sending out casket cease and desist letters, alleging trademark violations.

The store slightly modified the fleur de lis, but that wasn't good enough.

So far, the NFL has refused comment.

*Snicker*  It's gonna be fun to see where this goes.

What is it with Louisiana and caskets, anyway?!?!