Date: Wed Sep 11, 2002 10:50 am
Subject: 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.
Monday, September 16, 2002
Subject: Mascot: Faux Monty will debut today
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.
