Who Do Voodoo Dolls: Somethin' for the Saints Fans

The Super Bowl Champs of 2009, the New Orleans Saints, are defending their title this year with mixed success.  The first game of the season on September 9, 2010 against the Minnesota Vikings was promising, but since then our super powers have switched on and off.  We have beat three other teams including the 49ers but have lost some games to less worthy opponents such as the Cardinals and the Browns.

Our faith does not falter; we know that Drew, Sean, and the rest of the gang can get the job done.  Sometimes, however, we do grow a little anxious, especially when the game is tied or our opponent manages to intercept the ball.

Gwen Leonhard and Kim Fernandez have come up with a fun way to manage that anxiety.  They are  the creative minds behind the Who-Do Voodoo Doll collection.  These dolls are a Naturally N'Awlins tool to ease one's nerves when the going gets tough.  Gwen and Kim don’t practice voodoo; but like many New Orleanians, they have their own rituals for the Saints games.  Says Gwen, "The doll is not about religion; it’s about having fun."

Although the Who-Do Voodoo Doll collection is a joint effort, "Kim is the real brains behind the doll's creations" according to her partner Gwen.  "She is a very innovative thinker and productive person. She gets ideas and brings them to life."  Gwen, however, was the one to speak with 411 NOLA about the Saints, about New Orleans, and about the Who-Do Voodoo Dolls.

In your opinion, what do the Saints mean to New Orleans?

The Saints mean so much to New Orleans.  The Saints are the living embodiment of what this city has gone through.  They’re about hope, resiliency, victory, and pride.  They were the underdogs.  You know the story about the team made up of ragtag players that nobody else wanted?  Well, it’s about standing up in the face of national criticism and saying, “We’re the champs!”  

I’m a high school teacher and can tell you as we moved closer to the Super Bowl last year, the students and the teachers in the school came together in a special way.  Everybody walked taller and smiled at each other more.  We were one!   

The same thing happened in the entire New Orleans community.  Whether we were in grocery stores, in traffic, or wherever, we felt united and proud.  No one loves their city like New Orleanians!  The Saints added to the passion that New Orleanians already feel about the city.  

What do you think of the "Who Dat" controversy?  First the NFL tried to claim it.  Now another businessman says he owns it.  In your opinion, who owns it?

 

Everyone knows who owns “Who Dat”!  Saints fans own it!  Period.  We should change “Who Dat” to “Who-Do”, and I got the trademark on dat! 

What is a Who-Do Voodoo Doll?  

A Who-Do Voodoo Doll is a doll that every Saints fan should have.  We all know the feeling of helplessness when our boys are struggling on the field.  We want to help some sort of way!  With the doll, we can.  By sticking the doll with a pin, we can at least hope to cause some kind of temporary cramp or twinge of pain to our opponent.  It's a thing to do instead of reaching for another Dorito!

Is there more than one type of doll?

Right now we have Skeleton-Man and Sash-Man to help us with the Saints, but soon we will have an LSU doll to help the Tigers continue their lucky streak.  We're also thinking of coming up with a bigger Who-Do doll for those who want a bigger target.

How did you come up with the concept and the name for the dolls?

We came up with the concept after seeing a commercial where a Saints fan sticks a voodoo doll to cause his neighbor, a Falcons fan, to fall to the ground grabbing his arm in pain.  So many New Orleanians love that commercial!  It’s so us!  It’s so New Orleans!  New Orleans is the home of Marie Laveau and American voodooism and the annual Voodoo Experience.  We get it!  The name “Who-Do” is a combination of Who-Dat and a type of Caribbean voodoo called Hoodoo Voodoo.  So Who-Do sounds like “hoodoo” but rings a bit of “Who Dat” as well. 

How do they work?  What are people supposed to do with the dolls?

The Who-Do Voodoo Dolls we have out now come with coffins to house them.  On the inside of the coffin, you'll find all the directions and the chant you use in the ritual.  Directions for the doll are pretty easy.  First, you open the scroll and scratch off the opposing team's name for that game.  After you re-attach the scroll to the doll, you recite the "Who Dat" chant and then stick the the doll – representing the opponent – to bring the other team bad luck. When the opposing quarterback is pulling his arm back to throw the ball, for example, you stick the doll in the shoulder and hope that his throwing arm cramps up temporarily.  Oh, and you have to say, “Who dat?” three times after sticking the doll.  Anyone can do it.  When “Who Dat” isn’t enough, you can reach for your Who-Do Voodoo Doll and stick dat!   Even if you’re superstitious about sticking the doll to bring someone else bad luck, it’s a great conversation piece to have on a bookshelf or mantle.

Why do you think the dolls are popular?

New Orleanians, like many sports fans throughout the country, have their rituals.  We’re maybe more superstitious than other people.  For instance, Kim and I watch all Saints games with my family.  We light a candle before every game. That’s what we do.   

Remember last year in December when Dallas beat us?  That was because Kim and I didn’t watch the game with my family; we thought it would be okay to watch it over at a friend’s house.  Well, obviously it wasn’t.  It was the first loss for the Saints after 13 wins.  And, you see, there’s 13, and that adds to the bad luck.  So we had a lot working against us that night.  

I know Saints fans who make a ritual out of wearing the same clothes or sitting in the same spot or not eating during the games.  So a voodoo doll fits right in to this.  It gives us something to do when we see our team struggling, and there’s nothing for us to do.  

Where can people buy the dolls? 

Right now, people can buy the Who-Do Voodoo Doll from Fleurty Girl on Magazine Street, from Colby's Cocktails in Metairie, from Bayou Gifts in River Ridge, and from our website:  www.whodovoodoodoll.com.   Hopefully, we’ll have the doll in other stores soon.

The Who-Do Dolls are $20; but if people "LIKE" us at Facebook, they can possibly win dolls or get discounts on dolls.  We haven't started that yet, but we do plan on it.  These dolls make great gifts to send to Saints fans out of town, for neighbors, for any occasion.  

Thanks for sharing with our readers your new dolls.  Best of luck with the venture.

We love 411 NOLA.  Thanks for that and for taking time out to talk with me about our new doll.  Go Saints!