Chez Chesler

The NCAA has banned Indian mascots in the postseason. In an article in the Boston Herald on August 6, 2005, which I couldn't find, but which editor Mike Sullivan referenced in his blog, Dr. Joely De La Toree, a Luiseno Indian and professor of public administration at Cal State San Bernadino, is quoted as saying "I think it is unfortunate that the NCAA hasn't taken a strong stance. They wouldn't be this slow if there were mascots denigrating African-Americans or Asian-Americans. If the 'Fighting Jews' were a nickname, I think it would be taken care of." As Mike Sullivan points out, Notre Dame has been the Fighting Irish. The Herald article points out that Andover's [sic -- they're in North Andover, aka East Lawrence] Merrimack College's Warriors went from American Indian to Roman in 2003. While there aren't many Spartans around today, there are certainly individuals of Roman descent, many of whom live here in Massachusetts. Personally, I'd be proud if a team were called the "Fighting Jews", as would Dennis Prager, although I'd suggest the team just call itself "The Maccabees". (I'm still trying to think of a suitable school to front such a team, and I'm coming up blank. I blame my childhood. Bronx Science doesn't have a football team, and Harvard's doesn't have a mascot, just a misnamed color.)