Mascot IssueThursday, September 19, 2002Date: Wed Sep 11, 2002 10:50 amSubject: editorial "Bailing on the Redskins" This editorial was in an independent paper in Pasadena,/Los Angeles California. It is not currently available online. His email address is kevinu@pasadenaweekly.com Bailing on the Redskins Boycott pro football until Washington finds a new nickname by Kevin Uhrich For most of my life, from childhood until now, I've been a football fan. Not just a fan, really, but a fanatic; watching it, dreaming about it, writing about it, playing it both in and out of uniform, scheming over game plans and strategies and eventually, as an adult, betting on some of those very same pro teams that I idolized as a boy. But thanks to the owners and coaches and executives with one team, the Washington Redskins, I am once and for all washing my hands of the sport that once brought me so much happiness and continues to bring joy and excitement to millions - not to mention hundred of millions of dollars to the owners of those teams - each week. Why? Just think about it. The Redskins, or the "Skins," as those insipid idiot announcers so affectionately call them each week, are still playing under that incredibly racist nickname, the same nickname used by government soldiers as they committed genocide on Native Americans at the end of the 19th century. And by all indications, they have no plans of changing that name. Can you think of any term that could be more insulting, more hurtful, not just to Native Americans but to anyone who considers themselves advocates for; or even merely sympathetic toward civil and human rights? How about those Kansas City Chiefs? Isn't that racist? You bet it is. But it's not even close to redskins. While questionable in just its disrespectful use alone, the term chief doesn't compare with that of redskins. Well, you say, how about those Atlanta Braves? Sure, but braves are, well, brave, and isn't that a quality that we should all aspire to? Then what about the Cleveland Indians? OK, you got me there. That's a good case in point. All I can say is that I don't really care at all about baseball. As far as I'm concerned, all those crybabies can go on permanent strike. Football's my game, or was. But even as racist as those nicknames are, there is nothing in all of sports - professional, college, high school - that compares to that of the Washington Redskins. Nothing. But you would never know that from watching their games. Before and after the games, they have the "Redskins Report" with George Michael and a slew of ex-"Skins" players, like a tremendously slimmed down Sonny Jorgenson, and they have the "Skins" pregame show. It's as though they can't actually say the whole name, "Redskins," out loud. Of course, those guys never interview that lone African-American man who stands, or who used to stand alone outside RFK Stadium each week with a sign that read, "What if they were called the Washington Niggers?" Indeed, what if they were called that or any number of a half-dozen racial slurs that are still popular today, no matter how much the "Skins" owners and the NFL would have us believe otherwise? No matter how much they say they are equal opportunity employers, they aren't. No matter how many black men they hire to run with their damn ball week in and week out, they aren't. No matter how much they say they are doing their bit to promote equality, they aren't. Don't believe for one second that racial equality means a thing to the people who cut those whopping paychecks. If those players didn't perform, they wouldn't get paid. Period. When you stop and think about it, the NFL and the "Skins" are only promoting and profiting by racial divisiveness, and using the weakest and most powerless of all minority groups in the country to do it. Until Washington changes that name, all of the league's talk of equality is little more than empty words. posted by: Webmaster@ 11:42 PM
Faux Monty will debut today By SHERRY PARMET Union-Tribune Staff Writer http://www.signonsandiego.com September 14, 2002 "He's back from exile with a new headdress and a few more feathers. A San Diego State University alumni group is sponsoring its own Aztec warrior mascot to succeed Monty Montezuma, who was banished over accusations of cultural insensitivity. The faux Monty will dress like his predecessor - half-naked in a loincloth and wielding a shield. He'll act like Monty, cheering for his teams and shaking fans' hands, but he'll have to buy a ticket to see the games. He'll make his debut today at the SDSU-Arizona State football game, attired in a new black and red costume with an eagle's head emerging from the headdress. His sponsors have been meeting since early spring, maintaining secrecy to prevent anyone from sabotaging their efforts. "We've been in stealth operation mode until now," said Rulon Jenson, director of the Aztec Warrior Foundation, a nonprofit corporation whose members coalesced around reviving the Aztec mascot. The group has purchased about 20 tickets throughout Qualcomm Stadium to secure the mascot's right to mingle with fans everywhere. "We took a map of the stadium, and man, we have the entire place blanketed," Jenson said. The group is keeping the mascot's identity secret until the game. Foundation President Bruce Johnson would only say, "He's done something similar to this before." SDSU President Stephen Weber said the university values freedom of expression and is not going to stand in the way of the foundation's mission. "We don't have a dress code for Aztec fans," he said. But the mascot will never become an official university symbol, he said. Last year, the university expelled Monty Montezuma, the mascot since 1941, after receiving complaints by the school's Native American Student Alliance that the mascot and logo of the angry warrior was culturally insensitive. The school wanted to find a replacement that honors the Aztec culture. An 11-member committee recommended a tamer logo featuring San Diego State lettering with a spear running through it. A nine-member committee convened to find a suitable replacement mascot. The group comprising students, alumni, faculty and athletic department members had intense disagreements and disbanded in July, stalling the search for a new mascot indefinitely. "It's not a dead issue, but we're not moving forward on it at the moment," Weber said. The foundation resorted to drastic measures because of what it characterized as political correctness run amok, Jenson said. "The mascot was extremely respectful of the Aztec culture," Jenson said. "And it was just taken away from us in spite of overwhelming public opinion to keep it." Manny Lieras, president of the Native American Student Alliance, said a mock warrior is demeaning to the Aztec culture. "They're just going around saying, 'It's important to us because we graduated as Monty followers,' " he said. "They're really showing their ignorance to the issue." The foundation's goals are to preserve the Aztec warrior mascot, raise money for scholarships, support children's charities and increase support and attendance at SDSU athletic events. Its members are passionate SDSU sports fans. Johnson is on the board of directors for the Aztec Athletic Foundation and is a season-ticket holder for SDSU football, basketball and baseball games. "I've seen too many traditions taken away," Johnson said. "If this were another school I wouldn't have this passion, but I'm an Aztec." Jenson is a member of the fund-raising committee for the Aztec Athletic Foundation. He champions the university. "God, I wake up every morning and say, 'Hey, I live in San Diego, have my own business, and I owe it all to San Diego State University," he said. "I'm passionate about the school and its mascot." Foundation members say their mascot shouldn't infringe on the role of the university ambassador, a historically accurate Montezuma unveiled earlier this year who visits schools and talks about Aztec culture. "The two can coexist peacefully," Johnson said. The foundation will make a public announcement about its mission and scholarship Monday with San Diego County Supervisor Dianne Jacob, an SDSU graduate. The announcement will be made in front of her office. © Copyright 2002 Union-Tribune. posted by: Webmaster@ 3:45 PM
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