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Photo of ax-wielding linemen sacked
Sun Times ^ | Rummana Hussain

Posted on 08/13/2005 12:13:43 AM PDT by endthematrix

It was a harmless gesture intended to showcase the Batavia High School varsity football team's brawn, and playfully instill fear in their competitors.

But given the rising violence in America's schools, some felt that a poster depicting senior athletes gripping knives, sledgehammers, crowbars and axes crossed the line.

The Batavia High School board recently stopped further publication of the glossy Batavia Bulldogs picture and urged businesses to take the "Fighting for the Conference Title" posters down, after fielding several complaints from the community. The posters began circulating in May.

"We need to be sensitive in today's society with all things that go on," school board President Ron Link said Thursday.

Batavia High School athletic director and football coach Mike Gaspari claimed full responsibility for the "poor judgment" since he approved the student-selected theme for the poster.

'Meant to be fun'

None of the eight boys posing with weapons had bad intentions when they took the picture last spring with four other teammates pictured without weapons, Gaspari said.

"It's just a high school football poster meant to be fun," he said.

Still, Gaspari said he understood the concerns.

"I'm sure they're [athletes] not happy, but they do understand how someone may have thought it was inappropriate," he said.

There are no plans for a retake.

For the last 21 years, the far west suburban school has produced a poster with top senior offensive and defensive linemen -- players who are often overlooked, Gaspari said.

Last year, football players received endless compliments for their "Braveheart" themed posters, which featured costumed athletes holding swords, school officials said. "Braveheart" is an R-rated Mel Gibson movie filled with gruesome images of brutal medieval warfare.

"I guess when people looked at this year's poster, they related to it more negatively," Link said.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; News/Current Events; US: Illinois
KEYWORDS: pc
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I had to post...PC police are in my backyard.
1 posted on 08/13/2005 12:13:43 AM PDT by endthematrix
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To: endthematrix

Some Offended By Controversial High School

2 posted on 08/13/2005 12:15:53 AM PDT by endthematrix ("an ominous vacancy"...I mean, JOHN ROBERTS now fills this space!)
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To: endthematrix
"We need to be sensitive..."

The wussification of America continues apace.

3 posted on 08/13/2005 12:16:22 AM PDT by clee1 (We use 43 muscles to frown, 17 to smile, and 2 to pull a trigger. I'm lazy and I'm tired of smiling.)
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To: endthematrix

"Who axed you?"


4 posted on 08/13/2005 12:16:33 AM PDT by The Red Zone (Florida, the sun-shame state, and Illinois the chicken injun.)
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To: endthematrix

Hmmmm... For the "Bulldogs", I hardly think an axe is the right prop. For, say, the Beaverton Lumberjacks, I could see it... Oops, that would be promoting violence against trees. Sorry...


5 posted on 08/13/2005 12:20:10 AM PDT by Lexinom
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To: endthematrix

PC crowd wants what...rump riding sissies?


6 posted on 08/13/2005 12:20:21 AM PDT by ncountylee (Dead terrorists smell like victory)
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To: endthematrix

Of course the promotion of gangsta rap is acceptable.


7 posted on 08/13/2005 12:20:44 AM PDT by Stayingawayfromthedarkside (The stink you smell are the liberals fuming after Ann speaks!!!)
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To: endthematrix
I don't know..the name "Bulldogs"...it just...it just seems so... violent.

/pc weenie

8 posted on 08/13/2005 12:22:47 AM PDT by SerpentDove (This message printed on 100% recycled electrons.)
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To: endthematrix

Oh well. Too bad people took it that way. I agree it did seem like harmless fun. It would be nice if they put together another promo for these boys though. Pride in their school and team is a great thing. Go Bulldogs!


9 posted on 08/13/2005 12:25:07 AM PDT by DuckFan4ever (Proud Bushiite.)
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To: endthematrix

Looks like a sledgehammer to me, and a small one at that.


10 posted on 08/13/2005 12:28:12 AM PDT by NImerc
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To: NImerc

There is a larger photo in the print edition, and there is an ax, pick, crowbar, sledges and a knife.


11 posted on 08/13/2005 12:31:21 AM PDT by endthematrix ("an ominous vacancy"...I mean, JOHN ROBERTS now fills this space!)
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To: endthematrix

Scary thing is that those are the same tools that I hear are brought to literally staged fights between Senior Classes. I'm in Austin, a big city and this activity is not too popular among the youth. But out in places like Elgin and Kyle where the division is by counties, its common for a person to have a "them against me" attitude.


12 posted on 08/13/2005 12:40:37 AM PDT by lightislife
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To: Lexinom
For the "Bulldogs", I hardly think an axe is the right prop. For, say, the Beaverton Lumberjacks...

Bulldogs??!! Beaverton??!! How dare they offend the animals?!?! (/PETA)

Lumberjacks??!! How dare you offend the sensitive trees?!?! (/Ecowhacko)

13 posted on 08/13/2005 12:55:32 AM PDT by JRios1968 (If you can't laugh at yourself, someone else will do it for you.)
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To: SerpentDove

They should change it to "Miniature Poodles"


14 posted on 08/13/2005 1:09:40 AM PDT by irishtenor (At 270 pounds, I am twice the bike rider Lance is.)
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To: endthematrix

The Dogs were neutered.


15 posted on 08/13/2005 1:12:34 AM PDT by peyton randolph (Warning! It is illegal to fatwah a camel in all 50 states)
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To: clee1

Yeah but you could still choke somebody with an apron....:)


16 posted on 08/13/2005 1:54:02 AM PDT by Salamander (We're pain, we're steel, a plot of knives. We're Transmaniacon MC!)
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To: endthematrix
"We need to be sensitive in today's society with all things that go on," school board President and professional hand-wringer Ron Link said Thursday.
17 posted on 08/13/2005 5:33:27 AM PDT by DumpsterDiver
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To: The Red Zone
"Who axed you?"

It is correctly said, who ax you.Do not use -ed.

18 posted on 08/13/2005 5:49:30 AM PDT by SeeRushToldU_So (It is hotter than two rats screwing in a wool sock in GA.)
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To: peyton randolph

Put spiked collars on them for another picture. (Made out of paper and wood so nobody actually, you know, gets hurt?)


19 posted on 08/13/2005 5:52:38 AM PDT by The Red Zone (Florida, the sun-shame state, and Illinois the chicken injun.)
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To: endthematrix
The linemen should be photographed holding frying pans, hat pins and rolling pins to project a tough, but more feminine-friendly image.

Leni

20 posted on 08/13/2005 5:53:46 AM PDT by MinuteGal
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