Students put twist on mascots - The Fighting WHITIES

Argus Leader Newspaper, South Dakota ^

[chance33_98]

Indian students in Colorado have turned the tables in a debate on racism by naming their intramural basketball team "The Fighting Whities."

The students, at the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley, chose a white man as a mascot after failing to persuade nearby Eaton High School to drop a nickname they say offends them.

[Charles Martel]

Note that this is a college intramural team. Some, oh, fifteen years ago, I played intramural football with a bunch of my fraternity brothers. Some prankster (I don't remember who) changed our team name on the listing. I was a bit unhappy with the change, though we did laugh about it until our sides hurt.

We were going to get jerseys made with the team name, but the "new" name made us decide to go with plain jerseys. We were halfway through the season when some drone from the university came out to one our practices and announced: "Sorry, guys, but we just can't allow you to play under the team name of 'Smegma'." One of the guys shouted in protest: "Hey! No fair... you let 'Pink Meat' (opposing team name) play!" Ahem. Not the most articulate defense, to be sure. :-)

My point? Just that many such teams go for outrageous names. Looks like these guys struck gold.

[FreedomPoster]

The only valid conclusion I can see is that white folk, without exception, are insensitive.

I'm proud to have put in many fine hours at the Neil Boortz Institute for Insensitivity Training. I wear that appellation gladly.

[anatolfz]

Vancouver 'Canucks' ... NY 'Yankees' anyone offended? Anyone?

[HamiltonJay]

Whoo Hooo! Now, when the opposing non indian team is winning I can shout out kick them whities ass with full gusto!...

This schools full of "live ones"...

[lepton]

Will they find happiness when every image, word and symbol of American Indian culture is totally removed from our remembrance?

My typical point. The stupidity of fussing because people want to hold up your image is astounding.

[lepton]

When the Indians see how unoffended the whites are, this will offend them ....

hehehehe

[TomB]

They interviewed one of the team members on Fox Sports Radio today. I missed the interview, but they are getting hundreds of e-mails from white guys who want to buy a tee-shirt.

I'd like to say this has blown up in their faces, but if they can get their act together, they'll make a fortune selling the shirts.

Once again, the wonder of America!

[auggy]

As long as, they don't call themselves the Fighting Irish, I will be OK.

[raybbr]

Ok, you asked for it!!!!

Screamin' Scandanavians

Bashin' Balts!!!

Crushin' Croats!!!

Hangin' Hungarians!!!

Bashin' Belgians!!!

Whompin' Welsh!!

Screamin' Scots!!!

Eradicatin' English!!!

Destroyin' Dutch!!!

Lashin' Latvians!!!

Negatin' Netherlanders!!!

And, my personal favorite....Annhilatin Americans!!!

Go Whities!!!!!

[Aeronaut]

Lancaster Limeys

The Nasty Norskies. Ooooh!

[nothingnew]

When the Indians see how unoffended the whites are, this will offend them ....

Heh heh heh...ya gotta love it!

FMCDH

[SowellRocks]

This is my first post, although I have lurked on Free Republic since well before the Lewinski scandal. I take particular interest in this since my wife is Native American. Neither she nor any of her family take offense to these mascots. As a matter of fact, many of them are either Chiefs or Redskins fans.

Link to Story

Fox News
Monday, March 11, 2002
By Scott Norvell

Mixed Signals on Mascots

A poll published in the March 4 issue of Sports Illustrated suggests that the Indian team names so maligned by Native American activists are not nearly as offensive to the Native American community at large.

Asked if high school and college teams should stop using Indian nicknames, 81 percent of Native American respondents said no. As for pro sports, 83 percent of Native American respondents said teams should not stop using Indian nicknames, mascots, characters, and symbols. The poll also found that 75 percent of Native Americans don't think the use of these team names and mascots "contributes to discrimination."

The name "Redskins" doesn't seem to be especially controversial: 69 percent of Native Americans don't object to it. As a general rule, Indians on reservations were more sensitive about team names and mascots, but not to the point where a majority of them ever sided with the activists on these questions.

The Peter Harris Research Group polled 352 Native Americans (217 living on reservations and 134 living off) and 743 sports fans on the subject.

[Osprey]

Pale Face Works

But,Whities.

I hope its not the name of there basketball team?

[azhenfud]

"Any white folk here feel offended?"

Well, I'm a half of a shade or so off paper white, why with my tan from the flourescent lights, I guess you could say I'm a "dark white". If that qualifies, Offended? Na!!!
Az

[azhenfud]

"....The only valid conclusion I can see is that white folk, without exception, are insensitive."

Or could we say "without exception, are less insecure"? Caucasians have been accused of racial insensitivity for so long now, it is commonplace to say "Whatever" <<"in the cat's voice">>
Az

[wvnavyvet]

NO, but if a group of whites had done this they would have been expelled.

[brewcrew]

My favorite team names were care of SNL during a skit when they played high school students trying to come up with a new name for the mascot that wouldn't offend anyone (ala Jon Lovitz, Victoria Jackson, and Dana Carvey):

The Super Winners

The Flaming Envelopes

The Dogs

[NotJustAnotherPrettyFace]

I *KNEW* I could count on you.

But you overlooked.....

Annilatin' Andorrans

Lichtenstein Lancers

See? I can get in the act too! :-]

[Right Wing Professor]

...not to mention the Boston Celtics and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish

[TankerKC]

Well, I spent my High School years as a "Rocky Ford Meloneer". I was never offended, nor were any of the melon farmers in the area. Go figure.