State Of North Dakota Fighting For Fighting Sioux

It was just about a year ago when I thought the final chapter was written for the University Of North Dakota's athletic name and logo, the Fighting Sioux. But of course I was silly to think that the nickname backers were going to go quietly away...not when they have lots of dollars left, and when I say lots I mean millions of dollars courtesy of the Ralph Engelstad estate.

I was curious as to why the nickname supporters were fairly quiet over the past year...after losing the supreme court decision, I thought the supporters would continue to pressure the Indians to garner their support...but the Indians are not the least bit interested in this topic and have refused to embrace or reject the use of the Fighting Sioux name.  But the nickname supporters are way more clever than I am...they went to the North Dakota legislature and so far got the ND House to pass a bill that would make it illegal for UND to change it's name from the Fighting Sioux.  It even goes so far to state that if the NCAA takes any action to prohibit UND from competing in NCAA sanctioned events that an anti-trust lawsuit will be filed against the NCAA.

This was a totally brilliant move by the nickname supporters...politicians, last I checked, are more than happy to accept campaign contributions from entities that they support...I bet you won't have to look too hard to see who got a nice campaign contribution from the Sioux nickname lobby...again, filled to the brim with millions of dollars.

I am a supporter of the nickname.  I have not seen nor have heard of many Sioux Indians that dislike the use of their name and, in fact, the last Sioux Indian I talked to about this issue, she was really proud that the college was using Fighting Sioux...and she always said THE Fighting Sioux...never just the Sioux, always, The Fighting Sioux.  I could tell she was proud of that name.

Sure, the ND Senate now needs to pass the bill and then the ball would go back into the NCAA's court...are they going to back down or are they going to continue the pissing match?  They have to know that if they choose to sanction UND they will have a lawsuit coming there way backed by a lot of money...and it isn't just the money part of it.  I think the NCAA is one of the most hypocritical, non-nonsensical governing body in sports, I think if this case goes to court, lots of NCAA hypocrisy will be exposed that could potentially open up a lot more cans of worms and this would be just the tip of the iceberg - which would hopefully, inevitably destroy the NCAA, which would make me happy.

And North Dakota isn't like Wisconsin or Minnesota or California with massive state debt and budget shortages...In 2010, estimates are that North Dakota had a budget surplus of $1 Billion ... yes, a surplus of ONE BILLION DOLLARS.  So if the NCAA wants to get into a pissing match with the State Of North Dakota, the state is ready to start pissing money down the drain right alongside the NCAA all over the use of The Fighting Sioux name...again, not sure of the rationale of the NCAA, but they probably feel so superior to us hayseeds in the barren wasteland...yet have no idea who they are dealing with...very stubborn, determined Germans and Scandinavians descendants that are use to getting their way or die trying....is the NCAA gonna be able to match that intensity?  No way.


 

Clutch - Fargo - February, 13, 2011

I got to see Clutch this past weekend opening for the infamous Motorhead in Fargo at the Venue.  Overall it was a pretty good time.  Clutch played a solid set that once again included Spacegrass, which was awesome.  Clutch played for about an hour and got a solid list of songs in and they sounded really good.  Posted below will be video of Clutch playing Spacegrass, almost the entire song - although the audio clips frequently because I was on the floor and I was using a cell phone so didn't have much of a choice...the video looks pretty good if you ask me.  And then there are a few pics I took of the show as well.

The show was very well attended, but it was clearly a Motorhead show.  There were lots of bikers.  Clutch did have its fair share of fans though, but the Motorhead posse dominated.  Mosh pit started almost immediately when the opening band, Valiant Thor started...and I'll give credit to Valiant Thor, they got the crowd worked up nicely.  The place was fairly packed from start to finish.  Then when Motorhead came onto the stage...holy F@^K! were they loud!  I was on the second floor for most of their set and it wasn't too bad, but a couple of times I wandered downstairs for a minute or two and the music was so incredibly loud I couldn't believe it...and I've been to many a loud show.  Motorhead had a shitload of speakers and I noticed they didn't hang much, so most of the speakers were on the ground directed directly at the crowd...I think that is why it was so loud.

Overall, though, it was a good time...

(Click on the pictures to see the full size version)

Super Bowl Over, NFL On Track For Lockout

Super Bowl XLV is long been done with the Green Bay Packers becoming another true wild card that played on the road for the entire playoffs and won the Super Bowl.  This past year's playoffs proves a few things that I have adopted as "trends" and that is a good playoff team that is "hot" at the right time, like the Packers were, they can win the Super Bowl.  Arizona was that team a couple years ago but fell short. 

Also, having the #1 season and grinding out the regular season meant nothing this past playoff year as both #1 seeds lost their first game after clinching a bye.  The next time you hear a player, a coach or a media person try to explain the importance of securing that #1 seed so they can play in front of their fans and also have a first round bye, remember that hasn't been too helpful as of late...

This year's Super Bowl continues a trend for football's biggest game, that is the game itself, was pretty good.  Wasn't a blowout and, for the most part, entertaining.  Although the Steeler's turned the ball over 3 times they had a chance to win, just couldn't pull it out.

Now the off season is in full gear and despite all the flowery talk by the NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell prior to the Super Bowl, it doesn't appear as if a deal is going to be hammered out by March 3rd...but of course things could change, but as it stands right now, it does look as if a lockout is still eminent...as many have forecasted for some time already.  I think everyone knows that it will only be a matter of time before a deal is reached but both sides have to do the "dance" to make it appear as if they are really serious about not making a penny when they each could be raking in millions and millions of dollars.  I think the owners have all the cards and the players don't seem united.  Once you have some of these "superstars" not getting their million dollar checks every month and they can't afford to keep one of their pools heated in their mansion, I think players will break ranks and essentially force a deal be made by their union just so they can get paid again.  And that is where I think the NFLPA is making a mistake ... they could most certainly get a more "fair" deal done now than later.  The owners are getting paid no matter if football is played or not next season and they are more than happy to sit back and collect million dollar checks for not having to spend a dime.  Once the players begin to exhibit dissension in the union, the union will have to go to the bargaining table to negotiate whatever deal they can in order to appease their members and once the owners know the union has cracked, they can then turn the screws to them.  That is why the NFLPA, if they were smart, imo, would figure out what they would "settle" for now and essentially negotiate to get at least that.  The longer there is no deal, the more it will hurt the NFLPA, imo.  What the NFLPA has incorrectly assumed, I think (again) is that fans would be on their side.  The fans are on neither the owners of the players side, we simply want to watch our teams play football on Sunday.  But, as usual, the players and the owners both take the fans for granted and the end result will likely be a work stoppage.