Posted on 08/19/2005 5:10:46 AM PDT by presidio9
Count Gov. Jeb Bush among the Floridians outraged at the NCAA's recent announcement that it is banning the use of 18 Indian mascots and nicknames -- including the Florida State Seminoles -- during NCAA-sanctioned events beginning next February.
''I think it's offensive to Native Americans . . . the Seminole Indian tribe who support the traditions of FSU,'' Bush said Tuesday. 'I think they insult those people by telling them, `No, no, you're not smart enough to understand this. You should be feeling really horrible about this.' It's ridiculous. How politically correct can we get? The folks that make these decisions need to get out more often.''
The FSU Board of Trustees called an ''emergency'' meeting for 1 p.m. today to discuss the issue and plan their appeal. Attorney Barry Richard, who represented George W. Bush during the 2000 presidential recount, has agreed to represent FSU in a lawsuit against the NCAA, if it comes to that.
FSU president T.K. Wetherall said he will ''pursue all legal avenues'' to get the ruling overturned. The Seminole Tribe of Florida in June passed a resolution supporting FSU's use of their name and mascot Chief Osceola. ''It is unconscionable that the Seminole Tribe of Florida has been ignored,'' Wetherall said.
FSU, Illinois (Illini) and Utah (Utes) are among the schools that would be prohibited from displaying their name and logo at postseason tournaments.
Haggard said forcing FSU to change its name would be like asking Notre Dame to ditch Fighting Irish and the leprechaun mascot because they might offend Irish people.
''You've got a little green guy in a hat, who looks like he's in a drunken stupor, hitting people with his cane,'' Haggard said. ``Should we assume Irish people are offended?''
Bush suggested the NCAA focus on more pressing issues.
''You know what they ought to be worried about? The graduation rates of most college athletes,'' Bush said. ``Maybe if they had some suggestions on that, that universities could apply and could implement, they could be doing a service to all of us.''
I am personally offended that you left off my alma mater, who's mascot was the subject of a ridiculous LA Times editorial related to this subject. It appeared shortly after 9/11. I can't find it right now, but the college replied, telling the Times to get bent.
The letter is real. Check the University of North Dakota Website, it is posted there.
My home team! The Native American kids up in Greeley have made a fortune off of those T-shirts.
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