More spring league follies

[Mark Padgett]

Just got my schedule for this weekend. One of the JV games has a team called the "Alien Funk Squad". No - I'm not kidding. BTW - they're 1-9 so far this season.

Who thinks these things up, ET?

[Judtech]

I LOVE that name. It says the kids are at least having fun. I am a big fan of creativity!! Not to get this into a mascot thread but that is why I ALWAYS root for teams with the 'funky' names: The Fighting Blue Hens of Delaware, Montana AandT Orediggers, The Blue Hose of Presbyterian College, The Fightine Squirrels of Mary Baldwin College, and for our IHSAA peeps: The Pretzels, Rocks and Missles (formerly Milledgeville)

[Mark Padgett]

Growing up in Illinois, I was aware of lots of funky HS nicknames. One of my favorites was the Cobden Appleknockers. One of the worst, because it was offensive and disgusting, was the Pekin Chinks (no - I am not kidding).

Isn't there some HS team in Arkansas called the Uncledaddies?

[bainsey]

Originally Posted by Mark Padgett

One of the worst, because it was offensive and disgusting, was the Pekin Chinks (no - I am not kidding).

And to think that people are grumpy up here about Indians and Braves.

My favorite rec team name -- "G as in Gnat."

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by bainsey

And to think that people are grumpy up here about Indians and Braves.

I am not a Native American so my opinion probably doesn't count for much. I personally don't mind the nickname Braves, Indians, Warriors, Chiefs, etc., especially if the school is in a geographic area where Native Americans lived. What sometimes bothers me is the stereotyped mascot, non authentic costumes, chants, etc.

[riverfalls57]

One of my favorites is: UC Santa Cruz Banana Slugs.

[grunewar]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

I am not a Native American so my opinion probably doesn't count for much. I personally don't mind the nickname Braves, Indians, Warriors, Chiefs, etc., especially if the school is in a geographic area where Native Americans lived. What sometimes bothers me is the stereotyped mascot, non authentic costumes, chants, etc.

Billy, I went to a little school in PA named Shippensburg University. We were the Red Raiders (Indian Mascot) when I graduated.

I went to homecoming a few years back and they had changed our mascot/motto to a Ship (as in Ship pensburg). It was so sad, yet, so PC.

And, don't ask what the mascot looked like!

[26 Year Gap]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

I am not a Native American so my opinion probably doesn't count for much. I personally don't mind the nickname Braves, Indians, Warriors, Chiefs, etc., especially if the school is in a geographic area where Native Americans lived. What sometimes bothers me is the stereotyped mascot, non authentic costumes, chants, etc.

Old Town has nearby Indian Island. And, yes, it is a reservation.

[26 Year Gap]

Originally Posted by bainsey

And to think that people are grumpy up here about Indians and Braves.

My favorite rec team name -- "G as in Gnat."

A darn shame Old Town was bullied into making the change.

[bainsey]

Originally Posted by 26 Year Gap

A darn shame Old Town was bullied into making the change.

For the rest of the crowd, Gap is talking about a high school not far from me that changed it's nickname from Indians to Coyotes. My only problem with the name "Indians" is that it's a misnomer. (Columbus thought he landed in the East Indies.) Yet, that aforementioned reservation never changed its name to "Coyote Island."