Fightin’ what?

Roger Carlson

Sometimes you have to wonder if the madness of political

correctness is ever going to find a point where it can go no further.

Case in point: The Fightin’ Whites of the University of Northern

Colorado.

They’re mad because the folks at Eaton High School in that area of the

woods won’t change their nickname of the Fightin’ Reds and its logo, a

caricature of an American Indian.

So Northern Colorado’s intramural basketball team (record unknown) is

fighting back by calling itself the “Fightin’ Whites.”

I’m just glad that in these parts we’ve got Mustangs and Eagles, and

Sea Kings and Sailors. And Pirates, and Lions, and Anteaters. We

shouldn’t have any need for “The Fightin’ Whites,” unless someone gets

overwrought with those dastardly Woodbridge Warriors.

This all seemed to gets it start with Stanford a few decades ago when

the students there decided all those who had come through the heralded

university had been degrading the original Americans, so the nickname was

changed from “Indians” to “Cardinal.”

Whether that’s a nickname for someone in the Vatican, or for a bird,

or for a color, has never really been explained. But that’s OK, at least

it’s not the Indians.

All in the name of political correctness. Tradition has no value.

A while back Mission Viejo High was being targeted for being the

“Diablos,” and most recently, a new, small private school was labeling

itself the “Crusaders” until it changed after a protest from Muslims, who

believe “Crusaders” are the Diablos, because the Crusades of long ago

consisted of Christians of Great Britain, driving back the Muslims, who

had been invading and conquering large amounts of land in and around

Europe for a thousand years or so.

If the Eaton High Fightin’ Reds can’t have it their way, then how much

longer can there be such entities in the CIF Southern Section as the

Alemany Indians, Alhambra Moors (muslims who invaded Spain), Apple Valley

Sun Devils, Apple Valley Christian Warriors, Arcadia Apaches, Azusa

Aztecs, Baker Valley Braves, Baptist Christian Warriors, Barstow Aztecs,

Beverly Hills Normans, Big Pine Warriors, Brethren Christian Warriors or

Burroughs of Burbank Indians?

That’s just the A’s and B’s of the Southern Section directory.

How about the Comanches, Celts, Vikings, Tartans, Argonauts, Gaels,

Fighting Irish, Saxons, (what’s a Griffin?) or the Gauls?

How’d you like to be an Oakwood Gorilla? Or a Coachella Valley Arab?

Or an Ojai Valley Spud? Or a Thatcher Toad?

What happens when a Pomona High team gets matched up with Queen of

Angels Academy? It would be the Red Devils against the Angels.

How ‘bout the Savanna Rebels? Or the powerful Renaissance Academy

Rebels?

And when is someone going to complain about the Ribet Academy Fighting

Frogs?

And what’s the story on the Rio Hondo Prep Kares? Who cares? I can’t

even find a Kare in my circa 1960 Webster’s seventh new collegiate

dictionary. What’s Rio Hondo trying to pull?

And how about the Saints? There are Saints all over the place. Santa

Ana, St. Anthony, San Dimas ... it goes on and on.

So what’s the point of all this drivel over nicknames?

About as much as complaining about a Fightin’ Red.

The dimwits at Northern Colorado need to get a grip. And a life.

There’s another avenue here ... wait until some of our slo-pitch

softball teams and recreation basketball teams get wind of it.

And, while on the subject of political correctness, is it really

necessary to refer to a loser’s bracket in a double-elimination affair as

a “second-chance” bracket?

I always knew it as the “loser’s bracket.” One more loss and you’re

out.

What’s wrong with reality?

The newest reality test seems to be the “Silver Division.”

Now we’re coming up with tournaments producing Gold Division champions

and Silver Division champions, even on the high school level.

Consolation champion seemed to be enough political correctness for

finishing ninth in a 16-team tournament. Now the word is “Silver Division

champion.”