Indians still all upset by Indian sports names and mascots!

[Walker]

I don't know why groups like A.I.M. are always telling school athletic departments what to call themselves.  The mascots give identity to the teams and schools, and it helps to preserve the memory and culture of our Indian neighbors.  I remember when Chief Nokahoma used to do that Indian dance every time Hank Aaron hit a home run for the Atlanta Braves.  Sure it was entertaining, but below the surface it always brought the Trail of Tears to mind and how those Georgia Indians suffered.  Nokahoma had to go, but now the tomahawk chop of those same Atlanta Braves sparks images of brave warriors rising to defeat Custer at the Little Big Horn.  It was my father who insisted that whenever he saw that University of Illinois Indian perform a rain dance, it always reminded him to go outside and water his tomatoes.  He said those Indians were smarter than weathermen and brought great social utility. 

I lived in Columbus Ohio for awhile and used to trek to see the Cleveland Indians.  I did some research once and found out that the owner of the Cleveland team really did have the best interest of the Indian at heart.  He actually started out by wanting to recreate the image of Geronimo.  I guess it's hard to see Geronimo in Cleveland's Chief Wahoo, but it's heartening to see Wahoo still smiling on a team that has not won a championship in over 60 years.

My favorite nickname will always be the Albuquerque Dukes, named after the great John "Duke" Wayne.  Kids on high school teams today could really learn a lesson and take some inspiration from The Duke.  You knew where he stood and he was always on the winning side.  The most disappointing nickname would have to be from Marquette University.  I can never see them winning another NCAA basketball championship since they changed their name from the Warriors to the Golden whatever.

And what about those white nicknames like Minnesota Vikings?  Why, just the other day I was talking with three co-workers who are Vikings, and they were not one bit offended by that nickname.  Later that night I went home and had a conversation with my pet panther and pet tiger.  Surprise!  They were not one bit offended by animal nicknames either.

Well, that is all I have for now.  My pizza arrived just in time for that ESPN2 special on Afro-Americans in sports.

[AntonLee]

there was a local team somewhere that changed their name to the 'fightin' whitey'

the reaction of white people..  . to ask if they had t-shirts for sale.

[Ogre]

Some  people just thrive on being offended. I just ignore such people.

[Lloyd Danforth]

Much ado about nothing. An industry created to keep school boys from playing with themselves, other schoolboys and shop girls. An industry that doesn't create a thing except statistics, more and more with astericks attached to them.
If all sports disappeared tomorrow, we would get over it.

[Free libertarian]

I had an imaginery friend so I wouldn't have to play with myself.

[Jim Johnson]

I had an imaginery friend so I wouldn't have to play with myself.

That's just sick... you played with your imaginary friend?

Go out and stand by the road, the Special Victims Unit will be by to collect you.

You should have been given a Teddy Bear like normal people.

[KBCraig]

The Seminole tribe of Florida told the NCAA to eff off, because they like being the Florida State mascot.

The NCAA insists that they don't ban mascot names or force schools to change. They're free to keep Indian mascots and names, they just can't host any championships or participate in any championships while wearing or using any Indian name or insignia. You know, just like taxes are voluntary.

[Trifith]

This was the big issue at my high school in the late 90's. In our case the local inter-tribal council wanted the school administration to be informed that the name of the ladies teams 'Squaws' was the Cherokee word for whore, and suggested that we might want to change it. A vote was held amongst the students and the name was kept. The inter-tribal council dropped the issue, but it was picked up by a fellow by the name of Bruce Two-Eagles, a 1/4 Cherokee who seemed to be a professional complainer on this issue. I'm sure several lawsuits were involved, but the school still has a native mascot and still calls the ladies teams 'Squaws'

[FreelanceFreedomFighter]

Please don't lump all members of A.I.M. in the same category! This part-Cherokee A.I.M. member doesn't have any issues with mascots being whatever they are! Some people just want to cause problems and should be dutifully ignored.

[KBCraig]

Dartmouth started as a school to train Native Americans as Christian missionaries. I don't think they have an "official" mascot, but they're pretty well known as the Dartmouth Indians. I remember some stink about it a couple of years ago, with the actual Indian students wanting to keep it, despite the white PC crowd seeking to protect them from the racism inherent in the name. 

Instead of choosing an official alternative, the school teams are officially just plain "Dartmouth".

[Lloyd Danforth]

I remember some stink about it a couple of years ago,

Yeah, that group's headquarters is in New Deli.

[Pat K]

 

[KBCraig]

Yeah, that group's headquarters is in New Deli.

Do they make a good corned beef on rye?

[AntonLee]

I was waiting for someone to do that.  KBCraig for the win.