The Power of the Sioux Jersey

[ksixpack]

My wife and I attended the Phoenix Coyotes/Detroit Red Wings game last night. It is a tradition that dates back to the Winnipeg Jets that the Jets, now Phoenix Coyotes fans wear white to the playoff games and create the 'sea of white'. When in Rome do as the Romans do, so the wife and I were dressed in white, which for me was the home Sioux jersey. It was amazing, though not surprising to me the incredible attention and respect I received from wearing that jersey. After 4 days of hearing all the negative connotations and misconceptions from the Arizona locals about North Dakota, suddenly for a few short hours while I walked the plaza, the local establishments, and the arena I was treated like a rock star. Every couple of minutes someone would high five me, yell 'go Sioux', or stop us and ask us where we were from and tell us how much they respect the jersey and the team. We met so many people, many from North Dakota/Minnesota and many others from all over the USA that recognized the jersey and wanted to stop me and voice their support of it. It is the most recognizable icon and respected symbol in all of North Dakota. I could not wear another symbol or moniker from North Dakota that would garner the attention and respect of a Sioux jersey. There is not another logo from North Dakota that makes me feel as proud of our state as a Sioux jersey. To do away with it would be more than a shame. Keep fighting the good fight, as will I, and I think we will see the retention of the Fighting Sioux name!

[MissSioux85]

Great story! It really is sad to think about the nickname and logo changing.

Is this you and your wife, by chance?

Watch the first goal of the game, Keith Yandle's, and spot the Sioux jersey in the Phoenix crowd

http://www.nhl.com/ice/boxscore.htm?id=2009030182

[ksixpack]

Great story! It really is sad to think about the nickname and logo changing.

Is this you and your wife, by chance?

No it's not...but that would be at least the third Sioux jersey at that game (another guy had a grean Teows jersey). Another interesting story is that we didn't have tickets to the game so we went to see if we could get some on the street outside of the arena and the first guy we spot was a guy in a Red Wings jersey trying to unload two tickets. We asked him what he wanted and he said face value which was only $35 each for 5th row upper deck behind Detroit net - nice seats and nice price! Anyway he recognized the Sioux jersey and told us he was recruited by UND for hockey in 1979 but chose to play junior hockey instead, a decision he now regrets. He could have been a teammate of UND Alum and current Phoenix head coach Dave Tippet as well as a two time national champion (80 and 82). He said he was going to try to get more for the tickets but when he saw it was North Dakota fans he said face value was enough...again the power of the Sioux jersey!

[Knickball2]

Absolutely right on point, anytime one wears Fighting Sioux apparel anywhere in the USA, that individual will be engaged by passersby and treated with honor and respect, that is not the case with our uppity cousins 75 miles south. Unless one has travelled the country and experienced the Fighting Sioux mystic, one will never understand, yeh, you Minneapolis/Bison and your ilk. Fighting Sioux forever! The march in support of the nickname last night was a real confidence builder, this is far from over...

[MplsBison]

I'll stand by my opinion on a SR vote: at this point it doesn't matter if the SR vote is 100% for the nickname. It just won't matter. What's done is done.

The 'people in control' got what they really wanted and it's going to take a heck of a lot more than some rally and a SR vote to change that.

Not saying I agree with it, just calling it like it is.

[siouxhockeygirl14]

I'll stand by my opinion on a SR vote: at this point it doesn't matter if the SR vote is 100% for the nickname. It just won't matter. What's done is done.

The 'people in control' got what they really wanted and it's going to take a heck of a lot more than some rally and a SR vote to change that.

Not saying I agree with it, just calling it like it is.

Why don't you just go away your opinion doesn't matter here.

[gooner]

My wife and I attended the Phoenix Coyotes/Detroit Red Wings game last night. It is a tradition that dates back to the Winnipeg Jets that the Jets, now Phoenix Coyotes fans wear white to the playoff games and create the 'sea of white'. When in Rome do as the Romans do, so the wife and I were dressed in white, which for me was the home Sioux jersey. It was amazing, though not surprising to me the incredible attention and respect I received from wearing that jersey. After 4 days of hearing all the negative connotations and misconceptions from the Arizona locals about North Dakota, suddenly for a few short hours while I walked the plaza, the local establishments, and the arena I was treated like a rock star. Every couple of minutes someone would high five me, yell 'go Sioux', or stop us and ask us where we were from and tell us how much they respect the jersey and the team. We met so many people, many from North Dakota/Minnesota and many others from all over the USA that recognized the jersey and wanted to stop me and voice their support of it. It is the most recognizable icon and respected symbol in all of North Dakota. I could not wear another symbol or moniker from North Dakota that would garner the attention and respect of a Sioux jersey. There is not another logo from North Dakota that makes me feel as proud of our state as a Sioux jersey. To do away with it would be more than a shame. Keep fighting the good fight, as will I, and I think we will see the retention of the Fighting Sioux name!

I was living in Atlanta in 2000 and I saw a Sioux hockey jersey hanging in a sports store in a mall where I lived. I was surprised to see it so I went in to look at it. While I was looking at it an individual came up to me and started asking me questions about the logo and jersey. That individual was Native American and we stood there and talked for about a half hour. He told me about himself and his tribe and I told him all about the history of UND regarding programs we had and about the name and logo. After that encounter I have always wondered why that type of a connection couldn't be made on a larger level with the name and logo. The only thing I ever hear is the negative angle.

[UND in Ohio]

It truly is amazing the respect we get when we're out at a hockey game sporting our Sioux jerseys here in columbus. There is seldom a game that goes by without someone saying something or another Sioux fan engaging us. It brings a great sense of pride to my dad and I to know that even in Ohio the presence of North Dakota Fighting Sioux is known. The logo and nickname of the Fighting Sioux is truly an amazing thing. It means so much to so many people and is respected and represented in all corners of the world.That is why we need to help it survive,it really is so much more than what it appears to be.

[Hayduke]

No it's not...but that would be at least the third Sioux jersey at that game (another guy had a grean Teows jersey). Another interesting story is that we didn't have tickets to the game so we went to see if we could get some on the street outside of the arena and the first guy we spot was a guy in a Red Wings jersey trying to unload two tickets. We asked him what he wanted and he said face value which was only $35 each for 5th row upper deck behind Detroit net - nice seats and nice price! Anyway he recognized the Sioux jersey and told us he was recruited by UND for hockey in 1979 but chose to play junior hockey instead, a decision he now regrets. He could have been a teammate of UND Alum and current Phoenix head coach Dave Tippet as well as a two time national champion (80 and 82). He said he was going to try to get more for the tickets but when he saw it was North Dakota fans he said face value was enough...again the power of the Sioux jersey!

Naw.

He just realized you, like the rest of us North Dakotans are such cheapskates that we wouldn't pay more than face value!

BTW, go Coyotes! They're my team this Stanley Cup Playoffs!

[Blackheart]

Absolutely right on point, anytime one wears Fighting Sioux apparel anywhere in the USA, that individual will be engaged by passersby and treated with honor and respect, that is not the case with our uppity cousins 75 miles south.

That's only because not everyone has seen the fabulous Bison Basketball Flood video. That will bring back the memories for generations to come.

[Sioux-cia]

It truly is amazing the respect we get when we're out at a hockey game sporting our Sioux jerseys here in columbus. There is seldom a game that goes by without someone saying something or another Sioux fan engaging us. It brings a great sense of pride to my dad and I to know that even in Ohio the presence of North Dakota Fighting Sioux is known. The logo and nickname of the Fighting Sioux is truly an amazing thing. It means so much to so many people and is respected and represented in all corners of the world.That is why we need to help it survive,it really is so much more than what it appears to be.

I was at a Kroger store in the CIncinatti area and saw a middle aged man wearing a Sioux sweatshirt and cap. I walked up to him to ask him if he was from ND. He said he had a contracted job in GF a while ago and became a Sioux fan while there. Would that be your dad? I saw him one more time a couple of weeks later and he made a point of saying hello to me, he was still wearing his Sioux gear!

I went out to my car after work last Saturday and found a note under my wind shield wiper. It said 'Hi North Dakota, I'm from Dickinson, ND. Moved to Ohio in 1972. Welcome to Ohio.' She signed her name. Not a Sioux story but I think it reflects the type of people that are North Dakotans.

[krangodance]

My wife and I attended the Phoenix Coyotes/Detroit Red Wings game last night. It is a tradition that dates back to the Winnipeg Jets that the Jets, now Phoenix Coyotes fans wear white to the playoff games and create the 'sea of white'. When in Rome do as the Romans do, so the wife and I were dressed in white, which for me was the home Sioux jersey. It was amazing, though not surprising to me the incredible attention and respect I received from wearing that jersey. After 4 days of hearing all the negative connotations and misconceptions from the Arizona locals about North Dakota, suddenly for a few short hours while I walked the plaza, the local establishments, and the arena I was treated like a rock star. Every couple of minutes someone would high five me, yell 'go Sioux', or stop us and ask us where we were from and tell us how much they respect the jersey and the team. We met so many people, many from North Dakota/Minnesota and many others from all over the USA that recognized the jersey and wanted to stop me and voice their support of it. It is the most recognizable icon and respected symbol in all of North Dakota. I could not wear another symbol or moniker from North Dakota that would garner the attention and respect of a Sioux jersey. There is not another logo from North Dakota that makes me feel as proud of our state as a Sioux jersey. To do away with it would be more than a shame. Keep fighting the good fight, as will I, and I think we will see the retention of the Fighting Sioux name!

i had the same experience at the twins game last friday when i wore a sioux sweatshirt. sure, i was in gopher territory so i got some razzing, but that was always followed by something along the lines of "what a terrible thing it is that they have to get rid of the logo". one gopher fan even called it a tragedy.

of course, there were many sioux fans who took notice as well and made sure to shout out a loud "go sioux!".

[Let'sGoHawks!]

Everytime I'm on the road for work I wear Sioux gear at the hotel in my downtime, and in the airports. I always have people come up to me and talk about the state or the university. I was in AZ once and a guy noticed my Sioux shirt. He said he has never been to ND, but saw the hockey team in the Frozen Four, and has been following the school since that time. The Minneapolis airport is always a hotspot, I have had several pilots notice my gear and say "Go Sioux", or ask me who won the game the other night. Pretty cool stuff.

[Siouxman]

I stopped in Grand Forks yesterday to pick up another Sioux hockey jersey. What an experience that was. Scheel's is sold out, the Siouxshop only had a few and not a green one in the size I wanted. The bookstore mostly just had kid's sizes. Scheel's has shipments coming in late May, July, and August.

[siouxforeverbaby]

Everytime I'm on the road for work I wear Sioux gear at the hotel in my downtime, and in the airports. I always have people come up to me and talk about the state or the university. I was in AZ once and a guy noticed my Sioux shirt. He said he has never been to ND, but saw the hockey team in the Frozen Four, and has been following the school since that time. The Minneapolis airport is always a hotspot, I have had several pilots notice my gear and say "Go Sioux", or ask me who won the game the other night. Pretty cool stuff.

I was on a plane to CA a couple of years ago wearing Sioux clothing and the flight attendant walks by and goes GO NORTH DAKOTA...and informs me that both she and one of the pilots were from UND. And the guy behind me was from UND. This was the ride from Minneapolis to LA!

[fight on sioux]

A couple of Xmas' ago I was in Cancun for a week. Midweek I ran into a guy in the restroom at the resort I was staying at.. The guy asked me where I was from and I told him Fargo. He said he was also from Fargo. I told him I lived in Fargo, but was a huge Sioux fan as I was wearing my hat. He then said he was with a couple of his buddies who went to UND. I then met up with him and his 3 buddies who were all wearing Sioux gear as well. We finished out the night playing drinking games and talking Sioux hockey. Also, while waiting for the flight out in the Cancun I spotted a leather jacket with a big Sioux logo on it. I'm always impressed when I spot Sioux gear around the country. I also attended a Coyotes game while living in Phoenix around 2002 and I also spotted many Sioux jerseys in the crowd.

[hrkac]

I had the same positive experience wearing a Sioux jersey to a Maple Leafs game in Toronto '05-'06. Zach gave us props, David Hale tapped the glass, and John Madden seemed to keep looking at the jersey during warmups.

[yababy8]

To do away with it would be more than a shame. Keep fighting the good fight, as will I, and I think we will see the retention of the Fighting Sioux name!

I fear that although the love for the Sioux is well grasped by fans they are in denial about how much of a unique and awesome reality having Sioux hockey in Grand Forks is.

I personally don't know how I would have made it through the winters there without having those awesome Friday and Sat night games to look forward to.

Now, living outside of North Dakota in Minnesota, Missouri and Colorado, I have much much more appreciation for how special and unique the Sioux reality is.

Sioux fans from students to Senior Citizens need to realize what they have in the Sioux and get MOTIVATED to do something because, let's face it, 400 people is not going to make the required noise.

I and a few others have posted on here that we need to do to be succesfull and I have seen very few replies from other posters regarding making plans for a protest.

If we want to "fight the good fight" then we need to get involved and get some things done!

I go back to my previous statement,

"The media has a way of making us feel like there is nothing left to do when in fact we have done NOTHING!"

Think about how good it would feel if you PERSONALLY did something to try to stop this crime against reasonability, civility and humanity?

[UND in Ohio]

I was at a Kroger store in the CIncinatti area and saw a middle aged man wearing a Sioux sweatshirt and cap. I walked up to him to ask him if he was from ND. He said he had a contracted job in GF a while ago and became a Sioux fan while there. Would that be your dad? I saw him one more time a couple of weeks later and he made a point of saying hello to me, he was still wearing his Sioux gear!

I went out to my car after work last Saturday and found a note under my wind shield wiper. It said 'Hi North Dakota, I'm from Dickinson, ND. Moved to Ohio in 1972. Welcome to Ohio.' She signed her name. Not a Sioux story but I think it reflects the type of people that are North Dakotans.

Afraid it's none of our family, we're from Columbus. But you speak the truth when you talk about the type of people North Dakotans are. Our family is from the Carrington area of the state originally. Now we have relatives from as far west as Beulah to Grafton and Grand Forks

[ticklethetwine]

Afraid it's none of our family, we're from Columbus. But you speak the truth when you talk about the type of people North Dakotans are. Our family is from the Carrington area of the state originally. Now we have relatives from as far west as Beulah to Grafton and Grand Forks

The best was this years final five. We loaded up the van, the kids and painted let's go Sioux on the windows and UND #1. The honks and yells of let's go Sioux were awesome. People driving by and jersey popping there shirt in the window as they pass us on the way there and especially on the way back. We even ended up going the wrong way home and wound up driving right through St. Clouds Campus in pursuit of the inter state. We actually got a few honks and yells of let's go Sioux. We did also get a couple middle fingers but that could be expected losing to the Sioux like they did.

[dakota fairways]

My wife & I went to the movie "Life as we Know It" this weekend. There is a short scene with a brief shot of the guy wearing a well-worn green sioux t-shirt. You don't see the whole shirt, but it is unmistakably a Sioux, not Blackhawk logo. Even as the NCAA takes it away, the Sioux legacy lives!

[82SiouxGuy]

My wife & I went to the movie "Life as we Know It" this weekend. There is a short scene with a brief shot of the guy wearing a well-worn green sioux t-shirt. You don't see the whole shirt, but it is unmistakably a Sioux, not Blackhawk logo. Even as the NCAA takes it away, the Sioux legacy lives!

The actor is Josh Duhamel. He is from Minot. He is a big UND hockey fan. He and his wife, Fergie from the Black Eyed Peas, spent the holidays in Fargo with his family. All of this has been covered on this board, most of it multiple times.

[Galley]

The same thing happened to me when I attended a Carolina Hurricanes game a few years ago.

[Big A HG]

Me and a few buddies went to a casino in Green Bay once. THEY thought it'd be funny to all wear Sioux jerseys at "Oneida Bingo & Casino", so that we did...even though my buddies didn't like Sioux hockey, much less any hockey. We go walking into the casino donning three different sweaters and immediately start getting looks. All of a sudden this group of four or five comes up to us and one guy was like, "hey, I love UND...I grew up in North Dakota! What are you guys doing in Green Bay?" We decided to have a little fun with a few people who were all tanked and we politely told him that we were on our way to our next game in New York against Cornell (it was the week before that series). This guy was like, "THAT IS AWESOME....guys check this out, these guys play for the Sioux, they will play in the NHL one day!" So his friends (a couple ladies and their spouses) were like, that's awesome. They wanted pictures with us and our autographs, so we kindly obliged, all while trying to hold back our inner laughter. After that charade, we started getting employees coming up to us and a few other random folks.

We couldn't stop laughing pretty much the entire night.

[MissSioux85]

Last week Virg Foss wrote a column about the Sioux nickname and asked readers to submit their thoughts on why the Sioux nickname and Sioux hockey means so much to people in North Dakota.

Some cool stories that were submitted:

Todd Seguin, Fargo: I wore a Sioux hockey jersey to a Buffalo Sabres game and a guy pulled out $400 and wanted to buy it from me right there. I refused to part with it. One does not give up the Sioux jersey even for $400."

Scott Kuntz, Grand Forks - after a vacation trip to Arizona and wearing the Sioux jersey to a Phoenix Coyote NHL game: Suddenly for a few short hours while I walked the plaza, the local establishments and the arena, I was treated like a rock star. Every couple of minutes someone would high-five me, yell Go Sioux or stop and tell us how much they respect the jersey and the team. It is the most recognizable icon and respected symbol in all of North Dakota.

http://www.grandforksherald.com/event/article/id/191773/