baseballtdtfvjpapd: Nov 9, 2007

Shakespeare could wax poetic about 'What's in a Name?' because he didn't have to contend with sports mascots ...

It's the politically-correct issue in America that refuses to subside. I consider myself to be an enlightened cyberbeing, but I contend there are just some topics that blur the bigger picture of an ethically responsible society, and complaining that mascots can be degrading is near the top of the list.

A quick check of Webster's Twentieth Century Unabridged Dictionary defines 'mascot' as 'any person, animal or thing supposed to bring good luck by being present.' So, it would seem that a team mascot is an honorable title. Most mascots in American sports had their origins in the early 1900s. Back then, teams fumbled around with quaint monickers until they gradually realized the tremendous marketing value they carried. The New York Highlanders became the more regionally-identifiable Yankees, for instance, and the Chicago Cubs took their nickname so newspaper editors could more easily fit it into headlines. Distinguished symbols like Tigers and Giants appeared. Unique features like White Stockings and Red Stockings evolved into the more headline-friendly and spelling-special White Sox and Red Sox.

One of the earliest attempts at humor in mascot-anointing was made by the Brooklyn nine of baseball's National League. Urban legend wasn't a known phrase back then, but it farily describes the allusion to fans who 'dodged' trolley fares to get a free ride to Ebbetts Field and watch the game. Those 'bums' were called Dodgers, and their favorite team became christened as such.

Ironically, that drift toward the whimsical --- probably intended to portray sports in its proper context as a divertissement of life --- may have been the root of indignation two generations later.

The social upheavals of the 1960s and early 1970s were certainly justified, in my view. Civil rights needed to come to the fore, and the resultant improvement in how all peoples were perceived was a great step forward for mankind. Still, there's a difference between significant awareness and pedantic perception in any movement. Thus, in my view, when certain Native Americans first raised the mascot controversy in headlines of the time, the attention afforded was only due to its being sucked into the backdraft of searing human rights campaigns.

Personally, I've always thought the issue had as much relevance to their legitimate concerns as bra-burning did for women's rights.

Think about it. Native Americans aren't alone in being designated as mascots. In accordance with Webster's Dictionary definition, other persons given the distinction include the Irish (University of Notre Dame) and Scandinavians (Minnesota Vikings). Both of these ethnic groups endured their moments of discrimination in the annals of American history, too. So far, neither has mounted a protest about being characterized as a good luck symbol for a sporting organization.

Don't even try to broach the 'caricature' argument as a reason why the Native American situation is different. Perhaps Notre Dame uses a leprechaun logo now, but the term 'Fighting Irish' was a clear reference to barroom brawlers, a stereotypical low-life trait at which immigrants from the Emerald Isle were perceived to be quite proficient. As to the Scandinavians, there is no evidence that even one Viking was ever so dim as to go into battle with a set of heavy horns on his helmet; why would any warrior charge into a kill-or-be-killed scenario wearing anything that could directly impede his ability to win? (The image of horns came from priests' drawings of Viking attacks, attempting to equate them to the Devil incarnate, and it was Wagner who popularized this image when he staged his epic Ring of the Niebelung.)

Cleveland's baseball team sorted through a number of mascots in their early days. 'Spiders' just didn't have that 'je ne sais crois' of marketing sizzle. They were the 'Naps' for a while, in honor of their star player-manager, Napoleon Lajoie. So, when they finally settled on 'Indians' in correlation to one of their first star players --- Louis Sockalexis, a Native American --- the monicker may not have begun as a tribute to him, but it has since memorialized his legacy. The evidence indicates the term was derogatorily applied to all members of the Cleveland team in the 1890s because it dared to have the fortitude to allow an Indian to play for them. Since then, Sockalexis has been recognized as being as much of a pioneer for minority involvement in major sports as the great Jackie Robinson was fifty years later.

Yes, the team uses a caricature of a Native American as its logo now. In fact, Chief Wahoo is perenially one of the hottest-selling logos on sports merchandise. It far outsells the NHL's Columbus Blue Jackets orginal logo, which is honoring the valiant Ohio battalion that fought so honorably in the Civil War. We haven't heard historical societies from that great state howling with indignation that this is done by putting a green insect in a Union soldier's uniform. Instead, the odds are they're pleased that more of the North American public has become aware of the Blue Jacket history than ever before, just as the Cleveland Indians can keep alive the memory of Sockalexis.Some protestors say Chief Wahoo has 'shifty' eyes and that makes him even more demeaning. I, for one, never drew that connection, but if anyone else did, why wouldn't they be laughing and demeaning the Oklahoma University Sooners? After all, that term originally implied cheaters getting a jump on staking claims to land being opened for settlement.

There are many more examples. I simply don't see Native Americans being unduly isolated in this context, and no one else involved is feeling belittled.

The Washington Redskins originated in Boston, home of baseball's Red Sox and Braves in the 1930s. They were also called the Braves back then, because they played in that team's stadium. However, when they wound up getting better terms to locate in Fenway Park, they didn't want to confuse the paying public by being Braves but playing in the Red Sox stadium. Their solution made sense: they incorporated references to their origins and their new game site by changing their name to Redskins. The logic apparently didn't register with enough fans, though, and the team soon exited to the nation's capital.

The point here is that the Redskins name wasn't derived as a slur, but as a facilitation to distinguish the team's new --- albeit transitional --- home. Furthermore, to be fair, the Redskins organization has only used a noble image as a symbol of the name. Washington DC is one of the most liberal cities in North America, with its population's majority consisting of minorities. The connotation of that nickname being demeaning, as in the Cleveland Indians case, just doesn't emerge from its context.

My impression, then, remains that the mascot controversy has its sole value in the publicity it gives those organizations who are raising it. Pro and college sports are more visible than ever in the USA, and what better way is there to affix one's organization to higher 'page rankings' than making headlines in the Sports section of newspapers and broadcasts?

The matter isn't going away anytime soon. Now the NCAA --- college sports' governing body --- has decreed that any university with a Native American mascot can neither host a championship event nor use their mascot in any championship event. Some schools have successfully been granted exceptions, which makes even less sense to me. Does this mean that Florida State's Seminoles, for example, are less demeaning to Native Americans than North Dakota's Fighting Sioux (a traditional college hockey power)? How hypocritical is that? If they're contending that degrees of discrimination exist due to local circumstances, then they're admitting to a targeted sensitivity beyond society's pale, which is discriminatory in itself. How can such a position be rationalized with a clear conscience?

Mascots, no matter how commercialized, are still nothing more than whimsical symbols. Society as a whole understands that, just as it realizes the stylized violence in Grimm's Fairy Tales leaves no lasting scars on the psyches of children who innocently absorb them. Those who claim to the contrary only risk trivializing themselves and the credibility of their greater cause.

Nowhere in the country do such topics remain in a lighthearted perspective more than in Orofino, Idaho. That's the site of the state's mental hospital. The local high school's teams are called the Maniacs.

No one protests, unless the teams don't play hard.

I thought to myself what else could possible go wrong? I have had turmoil almost my whole life but this I thought was the end. We hit a brick wall going 50 mph. My husband just found out his management job was going to end, you heard it before, the Company was bought out by a bigger company and the site where you work will be shut down. It was June of 2005; my husband no longer had a job. This affected our entire family, not only financially, but also emotionally.

We continued on struggling the entire time. Remember, previously he was in a management position making a fairly decent salary, now that amount was dropped in half. Although our bills remained the same they didn't drop in half. Of course I still worked the 9-5, He had a temporary job with a staffing agent. He was on unemployment for 6 months first. He worked that job for a year then the contract ended. You might me wondering, if he was a manager before why is it so hard to find a decent management job again. Well The position he was in, we had worked his up the cooperate ladder, he does not have BA. Therefore trying to get a decent paying job was very trying.

SO, back to my story, his contract ended in Nov. 2006; he applied at my employer as a purchasing specialist. That job lasted about a month.

He had been having severe pain in his neck and left arm. He had been seen for this many times before, but now it was different. We made an appointment with an Orthopedic Surgeon for a consult. His appointment was on 12/06/06. The surgeon told us that surgery was the only answer, otherwise he could end up paralyzed. We were floored, SURGERY oh my goodness. The Dr. told us he would have to have 3 level fusion in his neck. Basically they would use two metal plates and bone from his hip and screw them together.

I was very optimistic coming from a medical background I knew the benefits would out way the risk. Besides my Husband was only 39 years old he would recover fast and well.

So surgery happened on 1/23/07, keep in mind I'm the only one with an income. We have two children a mortgage and car payments. We applied for Social Security Disability, I thought for sure we would be fine. My husband could stay home and recover from this major surgery and we would have checks coming in from Social Security a long with my income.

I could not have any more wrong!

We were denied by Social Security, therefore he has no income what so ever. We are struggling more than ever, with our bills.

It has been 7 months since his surgery!

I have the answer to my prayers, its like God gave me a second chance at bat, this time only throwing me good fast balls that are easy to hit. I have learned a system that allows me to stay home with my husband and two children and make more money than both of us together have ever made. It does take time to learn and you have to be dedicated or you will fall. The best advice I can give is first remember where I came from, the bottom of a very deep hole, to being able to fill in the hole with concrete as to never being there again. Have an open mind, be positive, be patient (I SURELY HAVE), and enjoy life. My motto is why let life run you, run youre own life. So please don't think you are the only one that has been struck out I have been there, now I only hit home runs, you too can benefit from this system just give it a chance to work for you.

For these reason and many others I have chosen to stay homes with my family and create wealth for years to come. I am able to sleep in, go on vacation without limits, watch my children grow, become a better partner to my spouse, and last but not least have FREEDOM from the 9-5. So has you can see I have chosen the path that fits me and the lifestyle I have always wanted, hopefully you too can get the same results. So here is the answer to your prayers, http://www.cash-2-day.com

Let financial freedom ring!

My name is Carrie Ramalho I am 35 years old; I have two children 17 years and 9 years. I have been married for 10 years. I enjoy being with my family and spending money. I have 3 pets I live the beautiful state of Washington where we actually have four seasons.Ebooks Network Marketing Mlm Multi Level Marketing Web
Internet Marketing Seo Pay Per Click
News Blogging Commentary Language
Latino Law Advertising
Engine Optimization Search Seo Site Software Submission
Nguoi Viet Online Business Directory
Make Money Online Fast
Jobs You Can Make Money Doing On The Internet
Internet Marketing Strategy Lan
Free Pay Per Click Advertising Search Engine Direc
Ebook Reseller
List Of All Search Engines
Business Home Internet Marketing Online Payment
Best Network Marketing Company
Internet Marketing For Online Business
Internet Advertising Agencies
Seo Company Search Engine Optimization Directory Add Url
Free Bingo For Real Money And Prizes
Earn Money
Design Marketing Research Site Web
Top 100 Seo Tools Email Computerbratcom
Website Marketing South Africa Seo Pay Per Click Management
Debt Management Affiliate Program
Michigan Web Marketing Seo Services
Pay Per Click Placement
Ways For Kids To Make Extra Money
Cat Blogging
Based Business Home Opportunity Small Work At Home Internet
Developercube Web Developer And Webmaster Discussion Forums
Internet Home Business
Cash Earn Make Money
New Search Engines
Tampa Search Engine Optimization Company
Internet Home Base Business Opportunity
Targeted Web Site Traffic Internet Marketing
Restaurant Advertising
Annunci Personali Annunci Google Adsense Banner News Links
Best Online Business Opportunity
Online Surveys Earn Money
Affiliate Marketing Featinternet Programs Products For Every
Ebooks On Hypnosis
Make Money Fast Online Work At Home Crafts Home Business
Online Pharmacy Business
Meta Travel Search Engines
Affiliate Program Directory Affiliaspot 14spot 6
Secret Adult Search Engines
How To Make Money Online Auction
General Business Degree Online
Make Money Off Real Estate
Network Marketing Internet Marketing Solution Real Estate
Adventure Travel Affiliate Programs
Florida Internet Home Based Business
Blogging Tories
Best Online Affiliate Marketing Programs
Advanced Seo Tool Nyc
Top Ten Affiliate Programs
Costa Rica Search Engines
Internet Based Home Business Special Directory
Affiliate Marketing Program
Make Money At Home Imoms
Earn Extra Money Today
Book Search Engines
Blogging 101
Internet Marketing Services Web Site Promotion Int
Pay Per Click Search Engine Advertisingppc Bidpay For Placem
Seo Creada Por Seomundo A El Pagina
Insane Income Internet Business Make Money Online Insane
Power Of Gogle Adsense Google Cash Machine Luckysi
Gopgle Seo Fotums
Filling Make Money Online Survey
Internet Business Make Money Online Real Work At Home Insane
Adsense Adwords Google Marketing Information
Free Online Bingo For Money
Google Adsense Clickbank Profits Googleprofitscom
Ways To Make Money Online Uk
Work At Home Make Money Online
Paid To Take Survey Earn Money Taking Online Surveys Get
Free Ebooks Angels And Demons Dan Brown
Blogging Sites
Free Work At Home Jobs That Pay By The Hour
Ebook Hypnosis
Email Marketing Newsletter Pay Per Click
Legitamate Work At Home Jobs
Business To Business Web Site Marketing Maintenance
Cash Fast Make Money
B230b Advertising Agency
Easy Ways To Make Money On The Internet Credit
Search Engine Optimization And Seo Services Marketing
Work At Home Business Opportunity Internet Online Business
Online Fast Make Money Runescape
Seo Expert Seo Tool Organic Seo Search Engine Optimization
Business Opportunities Make Money At Home
Ideas Marketing Internet
Adult Affiliate Check Program
Pay Per Click Search Engine 1secondcom Mega Ppc Advertising
Work At Home Part Time
Ways To Make Money For Kids
Search Engine Optimization Consulting Seo Rank Attackcom
Network Marketing Resource Mlm Marketing
How To Make Money Online Uk

baseballtdtfvjpapd

Friday, November 9, 2007

The Game is the Name

The Day God Threw Me A Curve Ball on A 3-2 Count and Struck Me Out!

About Me

Links

Previous Posts

Archives