[Alerts] GOOD SPORTS / BAD SPORTS (5/21/04)
Shawn McCarthy
shawn@essential.org
Fri, 21 May 2004 18:53:26 -0400
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GOOD SPORTS / BAD SPORTS
League of Fans - May 21, 2004
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GOOD SPORTS
- Advocating for the Removal of American Indian Sports Symbols
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BAD SPORTS
- Student-Athlete Gambling in NCAA Affecting Outcome of Games
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* GOOD SPORTS *
- Advocating for the Removal of American Indian Sports Symbols
There have been a few recent positive developments in the ongoing
struggle to eliminate American Indian nicknames and images as sports
mascots. Please do your part to uphold the right of all people to be
treated with dignity and respect. Fight to end racism against Native
people in sports. People who take a principled stand against injustice
have a right and a responsibility to fight racism, no matter who the
target is.
1) The University of Iowa is beginning to enforce a policy, approved by
its athletic department governing board in 1994, that prevents the
scheduling of non-conference games with schools that have American
Indian mascots.
Baseball Game Renews Mascot Discussion
Chuch Schoffner, Associated Press - May 7, 2004
http://news.findlaw.com/ap_stories/s/2060/5-7-2004/20040507013009_07.html
2) Protesters (including the Progressive Resource/Action Cooperative,
University of Illinois students, staff and faculty, as well as members
of the American Indian, Latino and black communities) working toward the
removal of “Chief Illiniwek” as the name, mascot, and logo of the
University of Illinois, succeeded in getting a resolution on the June U
of I Board of Trustees agenda calling for the removal of the “Chief.”
Agreement reached in Chief Illiniwek sit-in
Associated Press - April 16, 2004
http://abclocal.go.com/wls/news/041604_ap_ns_chiefill.html
3) Marquette University rejected a $2 million offer to change the
school's nickname back to Warriors after having switched it to Golden
Eagles in 1994 out of respect for the American Indian population.
Marquette declines offer to be Warriors again
ESPN.com - May 17, 2004
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/news/story?id=1803653
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The United States Commission on Civil Rights: Statement on the Use of
Native American Images and Nicknames as Sports Symbols
April 13, 2001
The U.S. Commission on Civil Rights calls for an end to the use of
Native American images and team names by non-Native schools. The
Commission deeply respects the right of all Americans to freedom of
expression under the First Amendment and in no way would attempt to
prescribe how people can express themselves. However, the Commission
believes that the use of Native American images and nicknames in schools
is insensitive and should be avoided. In addition, some Native American
and civil rights advocates maintain that these mascots may violate
anti-discrimination laws.
These references, whether mascots and their performances, logos, or
names, are disrespectful and offensive to American Indians and others
who are offended by such stereotyping. They are particularly
inappropriate and insensitive in light of the long history of forced
assimilation that American Indian people have endured in this country.
Since the civil rights movement of the 1960s many overtly derogatory
symbols and images offensive to African-Americans have been eliminated.
However, many secondary schools, post-secondary institutions, and a
number of professional sports teams continue to use Native American
nicknames and imagery. Since the 1970s, American Indians leaders and
organizations have vigorously voiced their opposition to these mascots
and team names because they mock and trivialize Native American religion
and culture.
It is particularly disturbing that Native American references are still
to be found in educational institutions, whether elementary, secondary
or post-secondary. Schools are places where diverse groups of people
come together to learn not only the "Three Rs," but also how to interact
respectfully with people from different cultures. The use of
stereotypical images of Native Americans by educational institutions has
the potential to create a racially hostile educational environment that
may be intimidating to Indian students. American Indians have the lowest
high school graduation rates in the nation and even lower college
attendance and graduation rates. The perpetuation of harmful stereotypes
may exacerbate these problems.
The stereotyping of any racial, ethnic, religious or other groups when
promoted by our public educational institutions, teach all students that
stereotyping of minority groups is acceptable, a dangerous lesson in a
diverse society. Schools have a responsibility to educate their
students; they should not use their influence to perpetuate
misrepresentations of any culture or people.
Children at the elementary and secondary levels usually have no choice
about which school they attend. Further, the assumption that a college
student may freely choose another educational institution if she feels
uncomfortable around Indian-based imagery is a false one. Many factors,
from educational programs to financial aid to proximity to home, limit a
college student's choices. It is particularly onerous if the student
must also consider whether or not the institution is maintaining a
racially hostile environment for Indian students.
Schools that continue the use of Indian imagery and references claim
that their use stimulates interest in Native American culture and honors
Native Americans. These institutions have simply failed to listen to the
Native groups, religious leaders, and civil rights organizations that
oppose these symbols. These Indian-based symbols and team names are not
accurate representations of Native Americans. Even those that purport to
be positive are romantic stereotypes that give a distorted view of the
past. These false portrayals prevent non-Native Americans from
understanding the true historical and cultural experiences of American
Indians. Sadly, they also encourage biases and prejudices that have a
negative effect on contemporary Indian people.
These references may encourage interest in mythical "Indians" created by
the dominant culture, but they block genuine understanding of
contemporary Native people as fellow Americans. The Commission assumes
that when Indian imagery was first adopted or sports mascots it was not
to offend Native Americans. However, the use of the imagery and
traditions, no matter how popular, should end when they are offensive.
We applaud those who have been leading the fight to educate the public
and the institutions that have voluntarily discontinued the use of
insulting mascots. Dialogue and education are the roads to understanding.
The use of American Indian mascots is not a trivial matter. The
Commission has a firm understanding of the problems of poverty,
education, housing, and health care that face many Native Americans. The
fight to eliminate Indian nicknames and images in sports is only one
front of the larger battle to eliminate obstacles that confront American
Indians. The elimination of Native American nicknames and images as
sports mascots will benefit not only Native Americans, but all
Americans. The elimination of stereotypes will make room for education
about real Indian people, current Native American issues, and the rich
variety of American Indians in our country.
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More Information:
American Indian Sports Team Mascots
http://www.aistm.org/
American Indian Movement
http://www.aimovement.org/ncrsm/index.html
The National Coalition on Racism in Sports and the Media (NCRSM)
http://www.aics.org/NCRSM/index.htm
Frequently Asked Questions (NCRSM)
http://www.aics.org/NCRSM/index.htm
Retire The Chief
http://www.retirethechief.org/index.html
Ten Reasons to Retire Chief Illiniwek
http://www.retirethechief.org/Archives/issue0205.html
The Progressive Resource/Action Cooperative (PRC)
http://www.prairienet.org/prc/
Common Themes and Questions about the Use of “Indian” Logos
http://pages.prodigy.net/munson/newpage1.htm
League of Fans’ Resources on Race and Sports
http://www.leagueoffans.org/raceandsports.html
League of Fans’ Race and Sports Action! Page
http://www.leagueoffans.org/raceandsportsaction.html
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* BAD SPORTS *
- Student-Athlete Gambling in NCAA Affecting Outcome of Games
There are three clear degrees of college student gambling on NCAA sports.
1) Non-athlete students gambling on sports (harmless?).
2) Gambling by student-athletes on sports (a little less harmless?).
3) Student-athletes gambling on sports, and playing poorly on purpose to
affect the outcome of the game (terrible circumstances on many levels).
The unfortunate and disturbing (if not surprising) results of an NCAA
gambling study were released on May 12 showing that because of gambling
debt, 1.4 percent of Division-1 football players admitted they had
changed their performances to affect the outcome of games in which they
were playing. 1.1 percent reported taking money for playing poorly in a
game. The numbers were slightly lower for D-1 men’s basketball players,
but no less worrisome.
The survey (NCAA National Study on Collegiate Sports Wagering and
Associated Health Risks) also measured: knowledge of a teammate who took
money for playing poorly; whether threatened or harmed because of sports
wagering; whether contacted by an outside source to share inside
information; and whether actually provided inside information about a
game. Another series of questions centered around affecting the outcome
of games because of gambling debt.
The NCAA Sports Wagering Task Force has been formed to analyze the study
and are charged with undertaking a thorough examination of the study's
results and submitting a final report with findings and recommendations
to NCAA President Myles Brand.
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More Information:
NCAA press release on study measuring student-athlete gambling
http://www.ncaa.org/
The shadow of doubt
Mark Kreidler, ESPN.com - May 13, 2004
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/columns/story?id=1801056
We're sending the wrong messages
Bill Curry, ESPN.com - May 12, 2004
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/columns/story?columnist=curry_bill&id=1801008
NCAA plans assault on gambling
Ivan Maisel, ESPN.com - May 13, 2004
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/columns/story?columnist=maisel_ivan&id=1801079
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* Take Action! *
Ensuring the well-being of student-athletes and the integrity of
intercollegiate athletics concerning student-athlete gambling is
becoming more difficult as the problem, with a long history behind it,
is clearly growing. And there are no easy solutions. League of Fans asks
readers to share ideas, suggestions, concerns, and personal knowledge
and experiences regarding student-athlete gambling to NCAA President
Myles Brand and the NCAA Sports Wagering Task Force.
Myles Brand
President
National Collegiate Athletic Association
700 W. Washington Street
P.O. Box 6222
Indianapolis, IN 46206-6222
tel (317) 917-6222
fax (317) 917-6888
Rev. Malloy, President of Notre Dame, is Chair of the NCAA Sports
Wagering Task Force:
Rev. Edward S. Malloy
President
University of Notre Dame
300 Main Bldg.
Notre Dame, IN 46556
tel (574) 631-7367
fax (574) 631-8212
The NCAA Sports Wagering Task Force Roster
http://www.ncaa.org/gambling/2003NationalStudy/taskForceRoster.html
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