The Skinbasket Weighs in on New Redskins Nicknames

[denverYooper]

Just call them the Spooks...and let them have access to the NSA database to compile the most massive playbook in the history of football. Forget a binder, you'll need a couple warehouses.

The playbook is streaming in real time.

I second the "spooks". That was my first thought on the name change too.

[swede]

That is the unfortunate thing about time and distance. If Marquette had been a little more careful earlier, perhaps either sought sanction or invited the tribes to participate with the kid/mascot, I think it could have been avoided.

No one can convince me that a school in Milwaukee (named Marquette for God's sake) and in a State that was/is home to several tribes could not have found classes, performances and real world interaction/internships/scholarships/etc that incorporated actual Indigenous Culture with the school that would have made sticking with Warriors possible.

And I think the school would have benefitted far more than the Tribes in a way that had nothing to do with a kid dressed up at halftime.

But I am an incorrigible optimist.

The whole point of Marquette changing their name was liberal scraping. It wouldn't have been any fun for them if it was a pragmatic decision addressing an actual grievance. It isn't problem-solving or addressing a real issue. Once upon a time the name was selected because it meant something fierce and noble. The name was dropped because the action had political meaning.

[pbmax]

wrong thread

[Guiness]

This is a great topic so let's keep politics out of the thread so it doesn't get moved.

Well...it's a topic about DC. The Senate is getting involved.

Methinks it's inherently political!

[swede]

Well...it's a topic about DC. The Senate is getting involved.

Methinks it's inherently political!

It is inherently political...for institutions and constituencies that wish to change names of sports teams, or at least it is a kind of social activism that is clearly aligned with a political agenda.

It is not political for the constituencies that want to keep the names of sports teams as they are. Those constituencies are loyal and local and far more numerous than those agitating for change, generally speaking, and they usually cannot stand up to the pressure exerted by people skilled in the use of media.

As far as I am concerned the re-naming of any sports team does not bother me greatly. The Viking blood that runs through my veins does not connect me in any way to that awful purple team, but it has made me susceptible to sunburn.

[MJZiggy]

The whole Warrior name change thing was stupid. I agree that the name was originally intended to be complimentary and they could have left well enough alone. Snyder (who actually owns the team--not Congress) has said he's not changing the name.

And for the record there is no way that the op could have been Skinbasket. He would NEVER misspell "douchebags."

[pbmax]

The whole Warrior name change thing was stupid. I agree that the name was originally intended to be complimentary and they could have left well enough alone. Snyder (who actually owns the team--not Congress) has said he's not changing the name.

And for the record there is no way that the op could have been Skinbasket. He would NEVER misspell "douchebags."

The name would have been far more complimentary if they had abandoned the logos and accoutrements earlier. The fact that these did change over time points to the fact that far-sighted admins could have acted in such a way to prevent name trouble by courting the Tribes earlier.

[pbmax]

This is far better, though if that's a Badger on his head then I reserve the right to change my mind.

[swede]

The name would have been far more complimentary if they had abandoned the logos and accoutrements earlier. The fact that these did change over time points to the fact that far-sighted admins could have acted in such a way to prevent name trouble by courting the Tribes earlier.

You right about this. I find the Washington Redskins name is pretty awkward, but their logo is cool. The Atlanta Braves nickname is cool, but Chief Wahoo is as insulting as a 1940's Warner Brothers cartoon.

The images you found are old for a reason. They were outdated and reflected badly on the school. But the Chief Wahoo image still shows up, doesn't it?

[Pugger]

The Washington Spooks - not controversial at all! I always was partial to the "Washington Monuments," especially if the players were a bunch of stiffs

[Pugger]

The whole Warrior name change thing was stupid. I agree that the name was originally intended to be complimentary and they could have left well enough alone. Snyder (who actually owns the team--not Congress) has said he's not changing the name.

And for the record there is no way that the op could have been Skinbasket. He would NEVER misspell "douchebags."

This is what I don't get - even if the symbol is kinda silly like the Cleveland Indians these teams originally chose these symbols because of their fierceness and were complimentary. Why are these teams being forced to change are now going with birds of prey? They aren't gonna call themselves the Marquette Warblers or Sparrows.

[pbmax]

You right about this. I find the Washington Redskins name is pretty awkward, but their logo is cool. The Atlanta Braves nickname is cool, but Chief Wahoo is as insulting as a 1940's Warner Brothers cartoon.

The images you found are old for a reason. They were outdated and reflected badly on the school. But the Chief Wahoo image still shows up, doesn't it?

Yep. In fact the Indians went away from it for a while, using just a 'C', but went back to it at the new stadium I think.

But the fact that folks did eventually find the caricatures of the Warrior in bad taste, I think, points out that people were beginning to be uneasy with the idea.

But rather than simply restrict themselves to less offensive images, if they had embraced the culture they were expropriating, they would have stood a better chance.

[pbmax]

This is what I don't get - even if the symbol is kinda silly like the Cleveland Indians these teams originally chose these symbols because of their fierceness and were complimentary. Why are these teams being forced to change are now going with birds of prey? They aren't gonna call themselves the Marquette Warblers or Sparrows.

1. They aren't actually Indians of course. It would be more like naming the team the Cleveland Russkies in honor of the local Ukrainian population.
2. The logo is about as offensive as it could be unless it was trying to threaten you with an ax.
3. The mascot at halftime is doing a dance that has nothing to do with a sporting event, is not explained nor given context and is probably wearing an outfit that contains items associated with tribes that didn't live in the area.
4. The University sells the merchandise now associated with the logo, name and dancer and its an open question whether anyone related to an indigenous tribe will benefit from it.
5. People associated with indigenous tribes might have little to do with the University itself. Either enrollment, areas of study, Board of Trustees, etc.
6. The school was named after a missionary. Members of indigenous tribes might have a different opinion of Catholic missionaries that the Catholic School students who make up a substantial portion of the student population. Marquette seems to have had a good relationship with those he encountered, it was not always so with other missionaries.

[mraynrand]

The Joustin' Jesuits of Marquette!



NONE SHALL PASS!

[mraynrand]

I bet this one was nixed because it frightened young children - and was probably made with highly friable asbestos-laden plaster-like material.