The NCAA chiefs want changes

I trust all of you Gaffney Indian fans out there have heard about a new ruling just approved by the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA).

Just in case you haven’t, here’s the gist of it from the associ-ation’s Web site: “The presidents and chancellors who serve on the NCAA Executive Committee have adopted a new policy to prohibit NCAA colleges and universities from displaying hostile and abusive racial/ethnic/national origin mascots, nick-names or imagery at any of the 88 NCAA championships.”

Eighteen colleges and universities continue to use Native American imagery or refer-ences and are subject to the new policy:

Alcorn State University (Braves); Central Michigan University (Chippewas); Catawba College (Indians); Florida State University (Seminoles); Midwestern State University (Indians); University of Utah (Utes); Indiana UniversityPennsylvania Carthage College (Redmen); Bradley University (Braves); Arkansas State University (Indians); Chowan College (Braves); University of Illinois-Champaign (Illini); University of LouisianaMonroe (Indians); McMurry University (Indians); Mississippi College (Choctaws); Newberry College (Indians); University of North Dakota (Fighting Sioux), and; Southeastern Oklahoma State University (Savages).

I know, I know, the ruling has no effect on high school sports, but as sure as I am sit-ting here pounding away at my keyboard, there will be those who will clamor for the South Carolina High School League of the South Carolina Department of Education to follow suit.

I believe some school districts in other states have already prohibited schools from using any of these offending nick-names and mascots.

Granard (Warriors)and Gaffney (Chiefs) middle schools would also be affected if a similar rule is adopted by those in charge of South Carolina athletics.

Perhaps I am being insensitive, but quite frankly I just don’t get it. Some, if not most or all, of the colleges and universities affected have the support of the Native Americans they are supposedly holding up to ridicule.

I, and I feel sure, other fans of teams with Native American nicknames, hold our teams in the highest regard. I view Gaffney’s Indian as a symbol of strength, bravery and pride.

If anything, these Native American mascots bolster the image of those they depict. How in the world anyone could see it any differently is beyond me.

This ruling from the NCAA is just the latest in a string of actions in a society that is striving to become more and more ‘politically correct.’

It won’t be long before every person living in the United States has some law or rule to use as a basis for a discrimina-tion lawsuit.

Take me, for instance.

I’ve got a couple of things that I think should be changed in order to make me feel more comfortable.

One, because I’m taller than the average American, there’s not enough legroom on airplanes and I am cramped anytime I fly somewhere. On one flight not long ago. I tried to move to a vacant front row seat with more leg room and the stewardess wouldn’t let me because of a weight distribution concern.

That’s just not right. Airlines should be forced to place the seats far enough apart to provide even the tallest passengers with unlimited room to stretch out.

Besides being tall, I’m pretty much bald. What hair I do have on my head is shaved off every other day. Because of that, the one-size-fits-all caps (with the adjustable band in the back) irritate the back of my head. There oughta be a law that prohibits hat makers from using those adjustable bands.

I bet you’ve got issues, too. Call your congressman or repre-sentative right now and demand that the discrimination and unfair treatment directed at those in your circumstance be outlawed immediately.

If you don’t get what you want, go on the warpath until you do!

(Cody Sossamon is publisher of The Gaffney Ledger. You can contact him via e-mail at cody@gaffneyledger.com)