Marquette mania 

Here's an interesting proposition: two Marquette alumni pledged to donate $2 million to the school, on the condition that it changed its name back to the Warriors. Marquette, now known as the Golden Eagles, declined. A similar thing happened a few years ago, when an alumnus of the University of North Dakota made a donation, but only if they kept (or changed back to) the name Fighting Sioux.

Now, I am really divided on this issue. I am not in any position to make demands about nicknames like that, especially native American names. I mean, hell, I'm a white guy with a family descended from the Puritans. So, I can't honestly be offended at a nickname like Indians, or Sioux, or Braves, or Redskins. I feel like that many of these nicknames aren't offensive in the sense that they ridicule their namesakes (except, maybe, Redskins - which sounds somewhat slurrish.)

There are basically two arguments: tradition and sensitivity. There is no way that anybody would get away with creating a name like that nowadays. (But then, there probably wouldn't be any Buckeyes, Hawkeyes, Dodgers, Cubs, Phillies, etc.) Because these names have been around so long, people have a certain fondness for them, but just as many people find them offensive.

Do they actually degrade these groups? I couldn't really tell you. Members of the groups in question will tell you that they do, which is their right. But for some reason I don't think a name like "The Polacks" or "The Fighting Whites." I think it's kind of funny. But a Tribune columnist, I think it was either Eric Zorn or the always-indignant John Kass, said that us whites have no reason to be offended, because we're not a marginalized section of society.

That said, I think these Indian names will eventually go away. I'm sorry you Indians and Redskins fans, but it will happen one of these days. It's not the most pressing issue for most people, but there will certainly be a big enough stink soon enough.

As a side note, when I was a wee lad growing up in Ohio, my dad and I were in a group called the Indian Guides. We used Native American culture as a basis for learning about outdoorsy stuff, Indian philosophy, and Indian culture. It was all very respectful, and enjoyable. But somebody eventually shut them down, because they were found to be offensive. Was that necessary? Once again, I can't really know. But in my opinion, I don't think it was offensive - and if it was, those Indian Guide chapters were doing something wrong.

Lastly, I think it's stupid to donate money only if the university changes its nickname. I had once said that if I ever have a large amount of money, I'd donate some to my old high school on the condition that they give the heave-ho to a certain employee. But then I realized the folly of that. Along those lines, even if Dayton changed its nickname from the Flyers (why they would do that, I don't know), I'd still love the place. I'd just refuse to acknowledge the new nickname!