PCM

Thanks for taking the time to express your thoughts on this issue. We appreciate your support.

Yes, I told him that I agreed with his points about Kupchella's letter. I just thought he might want his blog to be accurate, but I guess not.

You don't need to apologize for expressing your opinion. While I understand your point, it's not realistic to expect most on this board to have much sympathy for the Gophers.

I sent Warner Todd Huston an e-mail pointing out that: A. All UND athletic teams are affected by the NCAA policy, not just the basketball team. B. There was no "ultimatum" for UND to change its name or be thrown out of the NCAA. C. The NCAA studied the issue for four years, but only considered evidence that supported what it wanted to do. He responded by calling my points "minutia" and saying, "...I cannot stand sports in schools... ANY schools. I think it is a huge waste of money and time and teaches our children NOTHING worth while." I liked this blog much better.

I PMed siouxjoy with a link to a Sioux logo avatar that's the correct size for this board.

Even though I am not an especially religious person, I recognize that there is such a thing as religious bigotry. I'm sorry if that offends you, but it's true.

When has an American Indian wearing a head dress ever led the Sioux football team on to the field?

No, that's not what I meant. I edited my post so the meaning should be more clear.

I suspect that Dave's comment has more to do with his bias against religious people than it does with you being a Bison fan. In any event, his remark was uncalled for and certainly more condescending and judgemental than anything you've ever written here.

Ask Pontiac which bought some commercials on the REA's big screen during the NCAA West Regionals. Just think of it. Pontiac paid the NCAA to put its hostile and abusive name and logo in front of the fans at the arena and those watching on TV. Pretty good scam Myles Brand has going there.

It's more than five, but far less than 400.

Here's a link to the story. Actually, the story says that while Parise has said that he's returning, the fact that UND has signed a goalie indicates that it's unlikely that he is coming back.

If this isn't hostile or abusive... ...and this isn't hostile or abusive... ...and this isn't hostile or abusive... ...and this isn't hostile or abusive... ...and this isn't hostile or abusive... ...and this isn't hostile or abusive... ...and this isn't hostile or abusive... ...then why is this?

Why are you here? If you don't like my opinion or the opinions of other Sioux fans, kindly leave. You don't see me over on GPL telling Gopher fans what to think or discuss.

I'm wondering the same thing.

And just who is it who constantly refers to Sioux fans as the "halos"? Hmmmm? What does that have to do with discussing hockey?

I believe that we are all aware of that. Hockey Mom was making what's known as an "analogy." I can explain the concept to you if necessary. No, the NCAA is acting as if it's a branch of the government by claiming that racial hostility exists at UND when the government agency responsible for making that determination found nothing of the sort. Again, we all know that. However, having spent seven years working for a private association, I also know that when an assocation takes a member's money and promises certain things, it had better deliver what it promised or risk being sued for breech of contract. It's not a one-way street. Again, NCAA president Myles Brand and the Executive Committee have trampled all over the organization's consitituion and bylaws to implement a legislative action that wasn't approved by the members. It would be nice if members of the NCAA realized that by allowing this to happen to UND and a few other schools, Brand could use the same tactic on them some day to implement one of his social change policies. The NCAA owns the NAIA, which makes the NCAA a monopoly. The reality is that UND has a right to clear its name of the slander initiated by the NCAA.

That's not quite right. The NCAA assumed that the Oklahoma Seminole tribe was against FSU's nickname on the basis of one tribal council member who was very vocal in his opposition. The entire Oklahoma Seminole tribal council voted 18-2 to support FSU. That's what caused the NCAA to suddenly backpedal and say that the Florida Seminole tribe's support did matter after initially saying that it didn't.

I learned a long time ago that it's pointless and a complete waste of time to visit other teams' Web sites and attempt to convince their fans of the errors of their opinons. But if you and Slap Shot want to waste your time here pointing out how Sioux fans are just as opinionated and sometimes hypocritical as fans of all other college sports, be my guest.

And the Spirit Lake Sioux tribe said it had no problem with UND using the Sioux name. So why isn't the NCAA applying the same standard to UND that it applied to Florida State, Utah and Central Michigan? If you can't see the gross hypocriscy in that standard, then there's no hope for you. With every waiver the NCAA granted, it said it believed the practice of college athletic teams using tribal names was wrong. So if it's morally wrong, why allow some NCAA members to engage in the practice and some not? And if racial, ethnic and national stereotyping is as inherently evil as the NCAA claims, then there's no way that names such as Aztecs, Vandals, Vikings, Fighting Irish and other human-based nicknames should be allowed, either. Yet the NCAA turns a blind eye to those nicknames. UND is getting some excellent legal advice on the matter. I doubt very much that the university would proceed with a lawsuit that it had no chance of winning. I believe I answered that above. The NCAA created the "big commotion," not UND. What many people unconnected with UND or Grand Forks fail to understand is that the NCAA has labeled UND hostile and abusive to a minority race that not only makes up a significant portion of North Dakota's population, but also a significant part of the student body. This charge is absolutely false, and all the evidence Kupchella cites in his letter proves it. Why should UND roll over for the NCAA and admit to something that's not true? The NCAA has demanded that UND change its name or face punitive consequences. Regardless of whether NCAA members agree with the association's policy on American Indian nicknames, they should be alarmed at the manner in which Myles Brand and the Executive Committee have trampled all over the organization's constitution and bylaws. Brand continually claims that the NCAA is a "member-driven organization," but the manner in which this policy was implemented proves that it isn't. Nice idea, but if two feathers in William & Mary's logo are enough to keep it on the NCAA's list, I doubt that your proposal would be acceptable.

There was that little money problem.

Even better.

I agree. I think it's Kupchella's way of saying to NCAA members: Are you going to handle this situation the way that you should or are you going to make UND do it the hard way? Your choice.

He did offer to donate his World War II collection to the Holocaust Museum. Was that not good enough for you?