This Just In...

So the Cubs lost again tonight and the new Dukes of Hazzard ain't too good, much less two good ole' boys, but it was also hot again in August, so let's get to some news that is actually surprising.

Word came down today from the NCAA that American Indian mascots will be banned from all sanctioned postseason play. Finally, irrefutable proof of just how out-of-touch the governing body of collegiate athletics is with real world concerns.

Now, it can be argued, and I can agree, that Cleveland's Chief Wahoo might seem a bit out of date and Redskins might sound a little too much like slang, but the same doesn't seem to apply in college. If you subtract Southeastern Oklahoma State (Dennis Rodman's alma mater) moniker of the Savages, none of the 20 or so teams currently in the NCAA has a mascot that is particularly offensive. Six of them are named after specific tribes, which seems more like a tribute than exploitation, and three call themselves the Braves, which is a horrible way to be remembered.

Seriously, we essentially forced the American Indians off the American landscape, now the NCAA is doing their best to do the same for sports?

The interesting thing is the mandate doesn't apply to college football because college football doesn't hold an NCAA sanctioned post-season. (Want to talk about a ridiculous, outdated and offensive notion, there you have it.)

So Florida State's Chief Oscewhatever can still ride out to midfield and throw down a flaming spear in October, but should the Seminoles make it to the College World Series I guess they'll be known as the Native Floridians and the mascot will be replaced by an old man in black socks and Bermuda shorts who throws down his seven iron at centerfield. We could also see trouble in Utah if the Utes, minus Andrew Bogut, make the NCAA tournament, at which point I assume they'll refer to themselves as the Latter Day Saints, stepping all over BYU's toes. And when the Fighting Sioux of North Dakota make their annual run to the Frozen Four, I can only hope that they will opt for the Boys Named Sue as they kick and gouge their way through the ice and the blood and the beer.

This is simply absurd. The best mascots have always been the ones that contain a regional reference. Why not just make everyone the Tigers? I seem to see a lot of those walking around the US of A these days.