Shame on the NCAA

The NCAA ruled recently that Post Season Play of Schools that have mascots and logos that derive from Native Americans will have to be covered up and/or uniforms changed. These same colleges and Universities are allowed to keep mascots and uniforms during the regular season but if they have athletic teams that go beyond the regular season into official NCAA post season play then they must adhere to the ruling.

Logically bogus. What is the difference between say a regular season game on Friday night and a first round play-off appearance on Sunday Night? Answer: Nothing except some arbitrary ruling of a governing body that has run amok.

If a logo and mascot is “offensive” to some segment of a country’s given population and that is the basis for such a ruling by a governing body then so be it. But to make the prohibitive measure only during post season betrays logic and actually discloses the actual concern of the governing body. If the logo is offensive it is offensive. If the governing body is concerned that the given population is seen in a derogatory light then why is it only in the post season? Why not always? Will they try next season to incrementalize it up and make it during the regular season too? Maybe, but then what about that given population this season? Why subject them to another “regular season” of discrimination? Is the NCAA really concerned about native Americans or are they more concerned about their own public persona? Did they make a ruling to save face at the expense of Native Americans? Have they made a ruling that is logically indefensible?

Shame on the NCAA.

Is the ruling Constitutional? Does it interfere with the free speech rights of college and university athletics? Who is the “watchdog” of what is offensive or not offensive? Why have they singled out the Native American logos? Are there other NCAA teams that have logos and mascots that derive from other segments of this country’s population? What is a Demon Deacon? What is a Tarheel? What’s an Aggie? What’s a Boilermaker? What’s Knight? What’s a Spartan? What’s a Gothic Knight? What’s a Cornhusker? What’s a Statesmen? What’s a Blueboy? Ever hear of Dallas Baptist University? Are you getting the point? If so why aren’t they deemed as inappropriate? And under the same regulations? Ridiculous I say; ridiculous. I am not saying that the possible offensiveness of the logos is ridiculous the NCAA and the way they have administered the ruling is ridiculous.

Shame on the NCAA.