Northcountry

Actually, if memory serves me correctly, the Sitting Bull Trophy is in South Dakota. When they requested the retirement of the trophy, they also requested that it be returned to them. I seem to remember that the trophy originated with USD and so the determination of its use was more or less in their hands. Feel free to correct me if I am mistaken about any of these points.

Someone remind me again - the Blue Cross/Blue Shield offices are located where?

Let me begin by saying that I have always been and will always be a passionate supporter of UND's use of the Fighting Sioux name and logo. It is fitting and appropriate on many levels and for many reasons that I will not get into. Over the years that this debate has carried on the one missing element was always what the tribes thought and their position was always that this was a matter for the University to determins and that they really did not want to get involved. Even when the state and the NCAA made thier settlement agreement, the attitude from the tribes was "don't drag us into this". Now we have dragged them into this and in fact have made them the "make or break" factor - and have done so without ever having consulted the tribes to see if they wanted that responsibility. The tribes have been treated presumptiously by the NCAA (the "namesake" provision), UND for waiting 50 years to reach out to the tribes, the state for including the tribes in the settlement agreement without asking if they wanted su;ch inclusion, and the Board of Higher Education for dumping everything in their laps. Some times we just want a Greta Garbo (for the younsters - "I just want to be left alone") but our will has been imposed on the tribes, and I know how I react when someone wants me to make their decisions for them - I just want to be left alone, you decide and I will live with the consequences the same as you. I really hope that some way is found to retain the name and logo - but to put the burden on those who never asked for it is unfair to them. This rant has a price tag of 2 cents.

An idea occurred to me during some stream-of-conciousness time today: If we really want to be and stay consistent with the notion (principle) that the "Fighting Sioux" name was intended to honor the American Indians of the state, then we should ask the tribes to choose a suitable nickname - one that they would regard as honorable and representative of their culture and heritage. The Sioux nickname was adopted in a formal naming ceremony and a new name could be initiated in the same way. Many have argued that the name was intended to honor, some have argued that it does not honor and which side is correct is in the heart of the intended honoree. UND should go without any nickname until something evolves to fill the void, but if we really do want to honor the tribes of the state, let them choose how they would like to be so honored.

Who was it that was chairing the hearings on oversight of the Commodities Exchange Commission when futures speculation in oil was running amok and each barrell was being sold 4 times before finally reaching a refinery, causing the price of a gallon of gasoline to rise from $1.43 when Busch was first elected to over $4 before the "speculation bubble" was burst? Helpful hint - he is the senior senator from North Dakota.

Is this really how we want elected legislators spending their (our) time? First it smacks of micromanagement , to which I am always opposed and secondly it involves a law-making body aacting in an executive capacity. Exactly how would you have the legislature do this? Or is your opinion an opportunity to make a run at Pomeroy, Dorgan, and Conrad? Keep the government off my back, even if it costs me to do it.

I have 4 tickets for Sunday's game in Section 310. I don't want to leave any seats empty so if you will occupy them and cheer loud, you can have them for no charge. Post a reply or call my cell number after 4:00 (331-1907).

I am heading for Grand Forks soon, call 701-331-1907. I have two in Section 306 you can have for free

I have two in Section 306 that you can have free. My cell # is 3311907

Back in the 1970's this phenomenon was known as the "Peter Principle" and it goes something like this: In every organization a person is promoted based on performance until he reaches a place where he is incompetent and no longer merits promotion. Seniority then prevents a demotion and the person is forever trapped in a position for which he is not competent. Time for the WCHA to break the principle.

And "Fighting Dakotans" isn't lame? The only "Fighting Dakotans" I can think of are our Congressional delegation who in every campaign refer to "fighting" to keep this or "fighting" to prevent that and "fighting" for North Dakota. I don't think we want to name UND's athletic teams after our Congressional delegation - or do we? But seriously, "Fighting Dakotans" is a very lame attempt at retaining "Fighting Sioux", but without the Sioux. No name other than THE University of North Dakota should even be considered until a logical alternative presents itself in time (however long that may be).

Kent Hrbek was better defensively than Don Mattingly? Within his limited range, Hrbek was outstanding but the best in the AL? I would beg to differ.

I just had an inspiration: Change our colors to Black and White, adopt the nickname "Zebraz", and get new uniforms with vertical black and white stripes. We could officiate our own games while we play. Let's not pass up such a great opportunity. Who needs home field, home court, or home ice - we would have "home rules".

I think that "sovereign" is the term they prefer to use, and is a term that UND or the State of North Dakota no longer have the right to use since the agreement with the NCAA turned our sovereignty over to the Sioux tribes and the NCAA. And I always thought it would be the Federal Government that would eliminate state's rights.

And the $10 that will be collected in parking fees from the protestors may be enough to put operations for the Alerus in the black.

According to official football media guide, the average per game attendance for last season at the Alerus was almost exactly the same as the average per game attendance in 2000, the last season at Memorial Stadium. When the glitz wears off, all you have left is your base.

I don't know exactly how or where this fits (I just know that it does). On the issue of political correctness, a friend offered this definition: Political Correctness is a doctrine fostered by a delusional and illogical minority, and promoted by an unscrupulous media that sincerely believes in the proposition that it is possible to pick up a turd by the clean end.

This lawsuit IS important because somewhere, somehow, someone has to put the brakes on this PC train that is out of control. As a further illustration I offer the University of Manitoba who have a Bridges-like PC group on campus who have convinced the UM administration that restrooms on campus should be "gender-neutral" because (and I am not kidding here) "those transgender students among us are faced with a great degree of discomfort when deciding which restroom is appropriate for their use and they should not be forced into such uncomfortable choices."

"because he (Blackhawk logo) is a warrior and is battling just as hard as we (the players) are. He gets thirsty, too and needs a drink."

It may be meaningless, but I found the story on UMary basketball player Ray Graham changing his name to be interesting in an ironic sort of way. It may be only my personal bias that colors the story, but I think it poses some interseting questions. Ray E. Graham was first recruited as a basketball player under the name Ray Taken Alive. When I read this story I wondered first if he was related to Ira and Jesse Taken Alive (Ira has tried twice to have the ND legislature enact legislation to force UND to drop the Sioux name and Jesse made GF Herald headlines when he transferred to USD to get away from the "hostile and abusive" environment of UND). If so, did that have anyting to do with his decision? Secondly, I wondered how Mr. Graham's name change is received among American Indians? The article said that his immediate family had no problem with it, but what about the rest of his peers? I don't like to draw assumptions based on tidbits of information, but this article has opened up a world of speculation in my mind.

How is this for burying your head and covering your ass at the same time? " Advisory committee chairperson, Melissa Avery, said the ... policy was discussed and reaffirmed but said she did not recall specifics of the discussion. She stressed that all scheduling decisions ultimately are made by the athletic director." Way to take a stand Melissa - there may be some blowback from this so I want to make sure I have plenty of plausible deniability and you can't blame me because even though I made the decision, I don't make those decisions. Next we are going to hear that scheduling will be determined by what your definition of "is" is. Good grief, why is it not possible to see the total lunacy in all this? Lest others begin to feel comfortable, does anyone else recall that 2 or 3 years ago the NCAA mandated a change from an all-leather basketball to the composite covered ball for their championship events? Their logic at the time was that with the composite version available, it would no longer be necessary to slaughter cattle for their hides to provide leather for basketballs. They were apparently appalled that it took so many cow hides to make basketballs. Of course we all know that most cattle are raised for the specific purpose of providing leather, since it is politically correct to have become vegetarian. Strains of "too much time on our hands" begin wafting over me. Steven Colbert hit the right note when he started his new feature on people in the news with balls (and a brain attached).

No goals scored in this series, the Wisconsin series, or in Alaska for that matter. The numbers put up by the defense and goalies would make fans ecstatic in most years, but when aactually scoring in the first period is so rare that fans don't know how to react you have to look beyond the goal. When scoring in general is so rare, every goal against is magnified and seems monumental - being behind by a goal looks like an obstacle that cannot be overcome by mere mortals and being two down causes you hear the dirt falling on the coffin. I was hoping that we would develop a penalty kill that was a threat to score, but we don't even have a power play unit that provides such a threat. In one stretch on Saturday night we went 1:30 of power play without gaining puck possession inside the zone. I'll admit that I don't have the answers, but unless someone can figure out a way for this team to score, Ed Belfour in his prime wouldn't be able to change the outcomes.

If you believe your signature, it is up to the courts to declare (determine) the sense of the law, so what function could Congressional involvement possibly serve other than to inject Congressional oversight into the activities of collegiate athletics? Title IX, Equal Opportunity, Civil Rights Acts have already changed the landscape of college athletics, why would anyone WANT Congress to weigh in on the issue of nicknames, logos, mascots, etc (remember the rule of unintended consequences)? This case is exactly where it belongs right now. The NCAA has acted as a bully and UND has pushed back on its own, defending itself in the best manner possible. We do not need to enlist a counter-bully (Congress) to help fight this battle. If we are right or if we are wrong, it is up to the courts to declare the sense of the law.

Do you consider yourself a conservative? Do you really believe that it is within the oversight function of Congress to micromanage to this degree? When I was young every time I said "there should be a law--", my Father said "No there shouldn't" - he was a conservative.