PCM

Lennon or Lenin?

Don't overlook this statement by Hall: In other words, he doesn't want discussions to improve relations between UND and the tribes for the purpose of allowing the university's continued use of the Fighting Sioux nickname. He's saying that the purpose of the talks will be to convince Kupchella and the State Board of Higher Education to drop the name because it's "offensive." At the same time UND is supposed to drop the name, the university's also supposed to teach tribal culture to its students and, according to the resolution passed by the United Tribes of North Dakota, allow the tribes to pick a new nickname for UND that offends nobody. This isn't a compromise in any sense of the word. It allowing the tribes to have their cake and eat it too.

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Go to the Indian Country Today Web site. Type the word "Sioux" into the search engine and see how many stories come up. If an American Indian newspaper has no problem using the word "Sioux" to identify people and tribes, how can anyone claim that it's offensive?

A week after the fact, USA Today runs this story: North Dakota tribes urge NCAA to deny university's appeal With apologies to Buffalo Springfield: "There's something happening here. What it is ain't exactly clear."

I also think that the NCAA didn't anticipate the response it received from Kupchella. They probably thought they were doing him a big favor and expected him to act like it. Instead, he's very publicly led the charge against the NCAA.

From the Athens (GA) Banner-Herald: No plans to rename mascot La.-Monroe to remain Indians despite NCAA

I'm thinking that the reason the NCAA is taking so long on UND's appeal is that it's put itself between a rock and a hard place. If UND's appeal is denied, it's off to court the NCAA goes. I don't think the organization's attorneys really want to go to court because of some of the issues that will be raised about the type of association it is and some of the practices it engages in. If UND's appeal is approved, there will be howls of protest from all corners and the entire process will be revealed as a complete sham and an exercise in hypocrisy. The PR fallout will be ugly. I thought that the NCAA had all the justification it needed late last week to deny UND's appeal. With the media focused on the Hurricane Katrina aftermath, it would have been the perfect time to do it. But for some reason, the NCAA is holding off. The longer this goes, the more I wonder about what's really going on.

Rule 2 - Look it up! (Google is your friend.)

That would explain why he canceled on me.

I don't understand what's going on with the Spirit Lake and Turtle Mountain tribes. Are their tribal councils going to vote separately on the issue or are we to assume that the resolution passed by United Tribes of North Dakota is the consensus position for all tribes in the state? This has never been fully explained.

It's because you're not literal-minded enough. You're supposed to look at a Sioux athletic team and think, "Hey, wait a minute! Those athletes aren't real Sioux Indians! They're white people! Just what the heck is UND trying to pull here, anyway? I'm offended!"

I was there. A few stood out as having the potential to replace Scott Hennen. I can't recall all their names, however. I thought some tried too hard to be Hennen rather than being themselves. As you might expect, there were some who shouldn't have bothered trying out, but they get an "Atta boy!" for making the effort. I probably would have fainted before getting through the first sentence. The judges were Hennen, Tim Hennessy, Pat Sweeny, Cary Eades and the woman who heads Sioux boosters (sorry, I can't remember her name). Tom Bunning and Brad Berry were there, too.

Doreen Yellow Bird has a column about the Sioux name issue in today's Grand Forks Herald. Sioux City stays if UND Sioux goes From PJStar.com: Drinking it all in with a six-pack

It's a restaurant in Grand Forks made famous by UND students.

My e-mail to Seth Davis at SI.com:

SI.com columnist Seth Davis takes the bait hook, line and sinker. North Dakota doesn't have support for its nickname

It's not quite hockey season yet, but I'll switch to my hockey puck avatar just for you.

Under North Dakota law, they're supposed to be public record unless part of an ongoing investigation.

From the Native American Times: The spine of the NCAA turns to jelly

I'm merely addressing the issue as it stands right now. Could it change? Certainly.