North Dakota stands up to NCAA

[bearrassler]

http://www.grandforksherald.com/event/article/id/197066/http://www.grandforksherald.com/event/article/id/197066/

The governor of North Dakota signed a law that says that the University of North Dakota teams are to be known as the Fighting Sioux. That has been the name for 80 years but the NCAA had said it had to change. They gave the state 3 years to get approval from two Sioux tribes in the state. The Spirit Lake tribe voted and it was about 67% to keep the name and the Standing Rock tribal members turned in a couple of petitions to hold a vote but a few on thier tribal council would not bring it to a vote, so the State board of higher education caved and started to retire the nickname. Many of the Native Americans complained that they wanted the name along with the majority of the state residents and the state house and senate both passed it by about 2 to 1 margin and the governor signed it. I give them credit for standing up to the politically correct crowd.

 

[russholio]

Doesn't really sound a whole lot different than "Fighting Irish", does it?

Kudos to the ND guv!

 

[favoritos]

I always liked the name. I also did not see it as a derogatory term. I felt that the Sioux Nation received more individual recognition with the team name.

Custer was not wiped out by the Fighting Irish.

 

[russholio]

What I meant was....both "Fighting Sioux" and "Fighting Irish" have the common denominator of using a nationality as part of their team name....but only one is seen by some (not me) as derogatory, while the other is not, apparently -- or at least, nobody seems to have raised a stink about it. Seem like a double-standard of sorts.

At any rate, I'm joining both of you in agreeing the name should stay.

 

[windingtrailgal]

I'm a little slow at times...but I really don't get how one could perceive fighting "(whatever)" as derogatory. I mean, it's athletes out there playing their sport to the best of their ability. Don't get how that's offensive. I guess if the team sucked and they were a bunch of slackers who didn't try...but I didn't see Lions get all offended when the Detroit football team couldn't play it's way out of a paper bag!?! :O (Sorry, cheap shot to Lion's fans!?!?)

It's like when "they" did away with Chief Illiniwik at U of IL...how was he offensive? And really who was offended and why? What were the percentages?

Good for the Govenor and the gov't in North Dakota!

wtg

 

[G]

As long as The Washington Redskins are allowed to keep their name I don't see anything the matter here. 'Redskins' is quite a bit more disrespectful an politically incorrect than Fighting Sioux. Screw the NCAA.

 

[dcsnomo]

I'm a little slow at times...but I really don't get how one could perceive fighting "(whatever)" as derogatory. I mean, it's athletes out there playing their sport to the best of their ability. Don't get how that's offensive. I guess if the team sucked and they were a bunch of slackers who didn't try...but I didn't see Lions get all offended when the Detroit football team couldn't play it's way out of a paper bag!?! :O (Sorry, cheap shot to Lion's fans!?!?)

It's like when "they" did away with Chief Illiniwik at U of IL...how was he offensive? And really who was offended and why? What were the percentages?

Good for the Govenor and the gov't in North Dakota!

wtg

First, let me say (as a guy born in ND, although I rarely admit it while sober) I am glad they kept the Fighting Sioux name. Read that again.

OK, now to comment on WT's question "How was Chief Illiniwik offensive?". He wasn't...to us. But perhaps the ethnic group was offended that the portrayal of their race in front of America in sporting events is almost always as a full dress warrior in war paint whooping it up and going to war against the white man, which might just be a part of history they would like to minimize. They might prefer to be remembered as a peaceful nation of agricultural nomads (which they were) rather than "scalp collectors".

It's like if the Fighting Irish mascots were two drunken bums named Patrick Fitzgerald and Gerald Fitzpatrick, and during the game breaks they would go on the field and fight and drink and piss and puke week after week, for multiple teams. You would have the Fighting Irish, the Puking Leprechauns, the Drunken Irish Bums, The Irish Petty Thiefs, The Leprechaun Screwers, the Shamrock Sleepers, and on and on. As partially Irish, I would be offended after a few generations of it, even though the rest of America would think it was amusing.

Again, back to my first comment, I am glad ND stood up to the NCAA. The Fighting Sioux is a proud heritage not only of the team, but of the state. Perhaps the NCAA should have restricted the behavior of the team/mascots as related to Native Americans (thus assuring the demise of Chief Illiniwek), but not the team names.

Or one could say the NCAA should stick to more pertinent matters at hand and stay out of it, since it is an individual community decision to make (which is really how I feel).

 

[russholio]

Or one could say the NCAA should stick to more pertinent matters at hand

Like coaches who know about players' NCAA violations and cover them up?

Seriously though, I agree on all accounts.

 

[windingtrailgal]

dc - nope, still don't get it?!? OK, maybe a little ...but it wasn't like Chief Illiniwik was running around mock scalpling people. But I guess I see your point. I guess I always thought of him as the proud warrior.

As someone who's part Irish myself, nope, just don't feel offended by any of that...although I try to be sympathetic of those who do.

Although I'm the one who gets pretty darn offended when Hollywood and NYC (Oh heck, everyone from Chicago does it too!?) stereotype all southerners and rednecks as stupid. But I don't get offended by all the stereotypes - just snottiness of their attitudes towards my peeps?!?!

I just think that sometimes it's VERY few who are offeneded and when they scream they get their way.

wtg

 

[dcsnomo]

dc - nope, still don't get it?!? OK, maybe a little ...but it wasn't like Chief Illiniwik was running around mock scalpling people. But I guess I see your point. I guess I always thought of him as the proud warrior.

As someone who's part Irish myself, nope, just don't feel offended by any of that...although I try to be sympathetic of those who do.

Although I'm the one who gets pretty darn offended when Hollywood and NYC (Oh heck, everyone from Chicago does it too!?) stereotype all southerners and rednecks as stupid. But I don't get offended by all the stereotypes - just snottiness of their attitudes towards my peeps?!?!

I just think that sometimes it's VERY few who are offeneded and when they scream they get their way.

wtg

You mean like this??

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_9GHoR-RJL...6g_mycd8/s400/redneck-window-tint_amyoops.jpg

 

[windingtrailgal]

LMAO @ that one! Yup! That's funny right there...don't care who ya are! (and see? They used a smiley face there too!)

The uptight folks around where I live get offended when I call myself a redneck. I now clarify that I'm a Jeff Foxworthy kind of redneck, not a "Deliverence" kind?!?!

 

[MZEMS2]

As long as The Washington Redskins are allowed to keep their name I don't see anything the matter here. 'Redskins' is quite a bit more disrespectful an politically incorrect than Fighting Sioux. Screw the NCAA.

Grub hits it on the head! Seems to me that tribes etc...would take it as a compliment to have a team named after them. To me it seems like a compliment in a sense that it means a form of strength...I agree, screw the NCAA. Too bad all the high school districts are going through the same crap!

 

[catalac]

How about
Florida States stupid annoying fight song. That there has to affend some native american!

 

[luke_duke]

Like coaches who know about players' NCAA violations and cover them up?

Seriously though, I agree on all accounts.

Don't go there.

Glad they are trying to keep their name.

 

[bobsledder]

The Titanic is sinking!

The country is in all sorts of trouble and we the people burden the legislature with this crap.
The Titanic is sinking and we keep rearranging the deck chairs so a few minorities don’t have there feelings hurt!
Bob

 

[dcsnomo]

And by the way, congratulations to the North Dakota Fighting Sioux men's hockey team who defeated Denver 3-2 last night to win the WCHA championship!

 

[toolmaker]

Their is one group of people in this country that have a way of causing touble like this.

Despicible LAWYERS!!!


"GO BUCKY"

 

[G]

And by the way, congratulations to the North Dakota Fighting Sioux men's hockey team who defeated Denver 3-2 last night to win the WCHA championship!

This happens a lot when you recruit 21 year old Canadian 'freshmen' to fill out your team. However, a win is a win. Hope they bring home the National Championship in a couple of weeks.

 

[skiroule]

I always rather liked the Fighting Sioux and I certainly didn't see any problem with the Warroad Warriors (other than having to play them in hockey -ouch).

Here's a question I know someone out there can answer.

The football stadium in Hurley Wis. used to be known as the "Home of the Fighting Midgets". Now the sign just says "Midgets". Apparently "Fighting Midgets" was offensive. Is this a high school team name?

 

[dcsnomo]

I always rather liked the Fighting Sioux and I certainly didn't see any problem with the Warroad Warriors (other than having to play them in hockey -ouch).

Here's a question I know someone out there can answer.

The football stadium in Hurley Wis. used to be known as the "Home of the Fighting Midgets". Now the sign just says "Midgets". Apparently "Fighting Midgets" was offensive. Is this a high school team name?

Yup
http://www.hurley.k12.wi.us/Athletics Homepage/AthleticsHomepage.html