Posted on 08/05/2005 8:52:05 AM PDT by Leroy S. Mort
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - The NCAA banned the use of American Indian mascots by sports teams during its postseason tournaments, but will not prohibit them otherwise.
The NCAA's executive committee decided this week the organization did not have the authority to bar Indian mascots by individual schools, committee chairman Walter Harrison said Friday.
Nicknames or mascots deemed ``hostile or abusive'' would not be allowed by teams on their uniforms or other clothing beginning with any NCAA tournament after Feb. 1, said Harrison, the University of Hartford's president.
``What each institution decides to do is really its own business'' outside NCAA championship events, he said.
Guidelines were not immediately available on which logos and nicknames would be considered ``hostile or abusive.''
The NCAA two years ago recommended that schools determine for themselves whether the Indian depictions were offensive.
Among the schools to change nicknames in recent years over such concerns were St. John's (from Redmen to Red Storm) and Marquette (from Warriors to Golden Eagles).
The NCAA plans to ban schools using Indian nicknames from hosting postseason events. Harrison said schools with such mascots that have already been selected as tournament sites would be asked to cover any offensive logos.
Such logos also would be prohibited at postseason games on cheerleader and band uniforms starting in 2008.
Hey, it's done wonders for blacks since they got their own month and got rid of confederate flags as state symbols :-)
"Or Scandanavians being offended by the Minnesota Vikings?"
As a lifelong LA/St louis Rams fan I have been offended by the Minnesota Vikings for many years.
"...and Marquette (from Warriors to Golden Eagles)."
I still don't understand why it is offensive for a sports team to be called the "Warriors."
(If what I just wrote makes you sad or angry,
Have any of you ever pondered the term "Yankee" or the real meaning behind the song title "Yankee Doodle Dandy"?
Yankee doodle dandy translated from the British slang of the late 1700's means self pleasuring cross-dresser.
As an American I am deeply offended by that term and I think the ACLU should sue.
Thanks, BlueNgold!
Note that the Michigan State Spartans, the Fighting Irish of ND, the Virginia Cavaliers, etc. are OK because they're named after white people.
Also, the Minn. Vikings & Boston Celtics are safe.
Consistent.......right?
"However, two things bother me. One is the name Washington Redskins, and the other is the logo for the Cleveland Indians."
You let things bother you too easily. I grew up with the goofy Indians logo, and I can tell you, I never once, not once, considered that logo representative of native Americans. The Indians were named to honor a native American player for the team, (Cleveland Spiders at the time).
The Fighting Irish mascot is a leprechan, why doesn't that bother you? I mean, all all irish small in stature and combative?
The Vikings use a primitive guy with a hammer. Why doesn't that bother you? Do you think Scandanavians are violent and carry weapons?
*sigh* No wonder PC rules.
I'm still waiting for the University of Pittsburgh Polacks and the CUNY-Staten Island Guineas myself.
The University of Massachusetts(UMASS) were once known as the Redmen but that was changed to Minutemen. The Minutemen name was challenged by minority students who thought the image of white men with rifles was intimidating but after heated debate the Minutemen name remains. They should have changed the name to the UMASS Debaters.
Um....no. When my high school played them at atate (and got KILLED) in 1992, a fair chunk of our crowd was chanting "1-2-3-4 get the cattle off the floor" at halftime.
If the NCAA plans to ban these schools, then maybe then maybe it's time to break their monopoly on post season championships. Maybe the NIT will win it's case. Maybe they can compete with sponsorships and money to attract a school like Illinois who might be ready to say, 'the heck with this!'
I wonder what Duke would do if the NCAA said 'we have to separate the NCAA from religion' and ban any schools that might have names with religious overtones.
"They should have changed the name to the UMASS Debaters."
I vote for UMASS Master Debaters.
Coffee Snarf!
You now owe me a new keyboard!
We changed ours too. It used to be the Red Raiders. I don't know what they are now. The indian riding the pony was changed to a torch or something. So stupid.
Could someone tell me what is so offensive about Warrior?
That is not exclusive to Indian. In fact, I don't think of Native Americans when I think of warriors. I think characteristic, not ethnicity.
Good for you!
Just damn.
If you want on the list, FReepmail me. This IS a high-volume PING list...
Bunnies? Like in Playboy Bunnies or Easter Bunnies? LOL.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.