PETA Asks Gamecocks to Bench Offensive Team Name

PETA ^ | 10/16/01 | Kristie Phelps

[Egregious Philbin]

PETA :: Media Center :: News Releases

Home > Media Center > News Releases > PETA Asks Gamecocks to Bench Offensive Team Name Group Calls “Fowl” in Letter to University Presidents   October 16, 2001 Contact: Kristie Phelps 757-622-7382            Norfolk, Va. — People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals is asking the Carolina and Jacksonville Gamecocks to trade their names for ones that don’t glorify violence, cruelty, and illegal activity, as cockfighting does. The Gamecocks are named after birds used in cockfighting, which is illegal in all but three states and is a felony in South Carolina. "Like spousal abuse, bank robbery, and driving while intoxicated, cockfighting is illegal in South Carolina and Alabama," PETA’s Kristie Phelps points out. "It’s a safe bet that officials at the University of South Carolina and Jacksonville State University would never dream of calling their athletic teams the Dogfighters, the Wifebeaters, the Looters, or the Road-Ragers!" Letters from Ms. Phelps were faxed today to Dr. John M. Palms, President of the University of South Carolina, and Dr. William A. Meehan, President of Jacksonville State University. Birds used in cockfighting are routinely pumped full of stimulants, hormones like testosterone, and blood-clotting drugs, and their feet are outfitted with sharpened razor blades to make fights more "exciting." Birds often suffer hideous injuries, including wings and legs slashed to shreds, punctured lungs, severed spinal cords, and split eyes. Illegal gambling is part of "gaming." "After deciding that they didn’t want to be associated with lethal projectiles, the Washington Bullets changed the team’s name to the Washington Wizards," explains Phelps. "By calling their teams the Gamecocks, JSU and USC send a message to sports fans that cruel, illegal cockfighting is something to cheer about." Phelps urges the university presidents to "[s]how the nation that JSU and USC athletes are first-string champions of compassion. The ball is in your court." PETA’s letter to the University of South Carolina follows. For more information, please visit PETA’s Web site PETA.org. ______________________________________ October 15, 2001   Dr. John M. Palms University of South Carolina   Dear Dr. Palms, The Washington Wizards basketball team did it, and now, on behalf of our more than 750,000 members and supporters, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) is asking the Carolina Gamecocks to do it—make a long-overdue name change to better reflect society’s increasing awareness of, sensitivity to, and rejection of needless violence in all its forms.  The Gamecocks are named after the birds used in cockfighting, a hideous “blood sport” that, like spousal abuse, bank robbery, and driving while intoxicated, is illegal in South Carolina. Cockfighters pump the birds full of stimulants, hormones like testosterone, and blood-clotting drugs. Cockfighting enthusiasts attach long spurs made from sharpened razorblades to the birds’ feet to make fights more “exciting,” i.e., bloodier. The birds suffer hideous injuries, including wings and legs slashed to shreds, punctured lungs, severed spinal cords, and split eyes. It’s a safe bet that officials at University of South Carolina would never dream of calling their athletic teams the Dogfighters, Wifebeaters, Looters, or Road-Ragers! By calling them the Gamecocks, USC sends a message to sports fans that cruel, illegal cockfighting is something to cheer about. Millions of compassionate people—and the law—agree that it’s not. After deciding that they didn’t want to be associated with lethal projectiles, the Washington Bullets changed their team’s name to the Washington Wizards. On behalf of animal-respecting, law-abiding sports fans everywhere, we ask you, in all earnestness, to score points for kindness by benching the name “Gamecocks.” Show the nation that USC athletes are first-string champions of compassion. The ball is in your court—and we’re eager to know the final score. Thank you for your consideration. Very truly yours,   Kristie Phelps, Campaign Coordinator International Grassroots Campaigns

[Egregious Philbin]

Though this appeared a few days ago in a posted newspaper article, this is the original document. More lunacy from PETA! I would say this is just a humor post, but then I start thinking about the time and money that went into this effort, not to mention the media attention. Why can't they stick to their few reasonable, and successful, campaigns - like the hilarious commercial encouraging people to fix their cats? You can see it here.

[LurkedLongEnough]

OK - instead of "Carolina Gamecocks", we could try "Carolina Chickens".

[1Old Pro]

Here's a suggestion for a new name:
1) PETA EATERS

[Demosthenes]

How about a national response to PETA in the newspapers across the country:


Dear PETA:

F--K YOU.

Please direct any furture comments or queries toward the nearest brick wall.

[Jefferson Adams]

I hereby propose a new team called the Redskin Assault Weapon High Capacity Gamecocks :)

[Jefferson Adams]

Here's a suggestion for a new name: 1) PETA EATERS

I like that one too. Do PETA EATERS eat peters? Just wondering...

[quimby]

Peta brain trust:

[Argh]

Let's hear it for the Baltimore Bearbaiters, yayyy!!

PETA can take their puerile speech and thought control stuff and stuff it where many of their members like to put their gerbils!

[good_ash]

PETA - drifing further into irrelavancy.

[bualum]

You mean no more double entendre on caps, t-shirts, and tumblers? A friend's sister was a USC co-ed. Her pride and joy was a big plastic cup that read, "I'm a Big Cock Fan."

[Argh]

Who's the broad behind the putz? (rhetorical question, thanks anyway)

[Ask_Y_First]

North Carolina Bunny Crunchers!!

[Always Right]

Birds used in cockfighting are routinely pumped full of stimulants, hormones like testosterone, and blood-clotting drugs, and their feet are outfitted with sharpened razor blades to make fights more "exciting."

And that is different from football how??

[SES1066]

As an alum of USC I have already had to suffer through questions of when did I attend the Univ. of Southern California, a school established long after Univ. of South Carolina. Now these mindless TWITS, who appear to assume that male chickens fight only when the evil humans make them fight, want my old school to become politically correct AS THEY DEFINE IT!

OF COURSE it is obvious that they do this to milk the publicity mill, and to show their supporters how devoted they are to the cause and thus deserving of donations. If USC were staging cockfights before every game it might mean something but they don't care, THIS IS FOR PUBLICITY ONLY! Just wait, they will go after the Panthers, the Bulldogs, the Hornets etc. The only way to stop them is to turn off the publicity tap - every editor and publicist shoud ashcan every single press release from these TWITS as soon as it comes to their desk.

[RetiredArmy]

Jax State's president said "no" as did coach Crowe. No students have approached the administration of the school about a name change. I am sure the grads of Jacksonville State will say no also. This according to the Anniston Star newspaper yesterday. Anniston is near Jax State in Calhoun County, Alabama. I attend JSU back in the early 70s. As we used to say, "Go Cocks!" Woops. Sorry ladies.

[1Old Pro]

Yep, it's an odd sort of group comprised of adventurous women, gays, and dogs.

[1Old Pro]

Or how about "Beat the Cocks" as a chant?

LOL...

[StoneColdGOP]

Hey PETA, leave our cocks alone!