The Observation Deck

C'mon Inidans!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

photos to come......
I was at the Jake tonight covering the event for the Indians. What a disappointment it was... and how heartbreaking it was to watch and photograph the expressions on everyone's faces!

photos...
observer blogs

larger view slideshow

Not like we didn't have our opportunities.....

Well at least the region can get back on its collective normal schedule.

I had an interesting thought during these playoffs, fueled by the ongoing discussions of the team changing its name, and logo.

The Indian's name and logo is a very valuable commodity. While I'm unsure of the actual price tag, it is certainly something that could be appraised, and most likely has a value in the tens of millions. So, the Dolans DONATE the name, logo, etc. to a Native American Charity (who in turn, elects to forgo its future use) and takes a HUGE charitable deduction. Renames the team (Spiders, anyone?) and cleans up in new team merchandise sales. Win-Win. FWIW

Jeff

Sure, right after they acquire a 3rd baseman (Lowell is a free agent next year), move Cabrerra to short and bring up a 2nd baseman. Maybe trade Hafner for a DH that doesn't strike out 80% of hit at bats?

Good photos, Ivor.

It's nice to remember that in baseball, disappointment turns back to hope in just a few months.

Jeff,

I applaud your posting.

There's an old saying that nothing good can come of bad beginnings.

I would suspect that even the most ardent Cleveland ball club fan knows down deep that there is something not quite right about calling a great baseball team a race of people these days, and certainly that something must be wrong representing that team with a cartoonish caricature representing those people, at least in my opinion.

There has been talk of a "Wahoo curse". I really think that is a sad and further distorted misrepresentation of someone's concept of Native American traditions.

Spirituality lies at the root of Native American tradition. Everything relates directly to Grandfather (Deity) Many, if not most of the Native Peoples with whom I am in frequent contact, want nothing but the best for the Cleveland ball club. That said, however, I think it would be safe to say that they would feel that, for the ball club to succeed in the field, it will need to cleanse itself from within.

Would Grandfather give glory to a group of people using another group's name and effigy without their permission?

And then there's the red feather.

Many are perhaps unaware that the Blood, or Honor Feather, was a high honor and distinction to Native Peoples. The representation of that, above all else, on the team mascot, is probably what hurts Native Americans more than anything else.

But what about 1948, you may ask? The team won then, and virtually no one paid attention to the mascot issue.

Well, back then, there were virtually no Native Americans in Cleveland. Today, there are thousands. Why is this?

In 1830 Congress passed the Indian Removal Act. Native Americans were forced west of the Mississippi in droves and left to starve and to die on the Great Plains from exposure, and attacks from western tribes.

Only in the '50's and 60's were Native Peoples encouraged to leave their western reservations for work in the cities.

And so, many came to Cleveland.

And the protests began.

When I started working with the Cleveland Native American community about 20 years ago, I was shocked by what I saw... little ones needing food, with pitifully exposed ribs, hunger, and sorrow...deep sorrow beyond measure.

Today, things are somewhat better. On December 8th, we will be having the Native American Christmas Party at the Lakewood United Methodist Church from 12:30 to 4pm. We can use all the help we can get. Please PM me if you want to help out.

Yes Jeff, there can be a win-win for all concerned.

No hate, only healing.

Walking the right way in life, in Native American terminology, is referred to as "walking the Red Road".

May we all begin that journey.

For the record, there are many cultures that burn sage. A Buddhist priest (years ago) taught me how to burn sage while reciting a mantra and drawing some sacred symbols. It was worth a shot.

The indians did a good job, to me, in limiting the use of the chief wahoo logo.
it's the fans that bring signs with the Wahoo on it. But the merchandise in stores and what's on the field differs greatly.

I really like your idea Jeff.

I don't know who owns the copyright and trademark to that logo, if the Cleveland Indians Inc. owns it then there shouldn't be a usage fee.

I'll ask around when I go back into the offices.

If the Indians(the baseball team) are going to pick up the endorsement of a specific native american tribal organization, they'd have to change their name to that tribe.

On the other hand, the Vikings haven't become the Scandinavians or Nords. We don't have any slavic or mediterranean themed pro sports teams. I'd like to see some. The white Sox and Red Sox can become the White Saxons and Red Saxons.

Legend has it the first business enterprise started in Cleveland by whites was a brewery. Barrel Making was also one of the big Ohio industries(we had a lot of trees). So, the Cleveland Brewmeisters or Cleveland Coopers would make a good name. Our mascot could be a Squirell. Nutso the Squirrel!

It is surprising Columbus has no real pro sports teams yet. someday they'll just cut the stadiums up into pieces and air lift them to the outskirts of columbus and weld them back together.

ryan costa wrote:If the Indians(the baseball team) are going to pick up the endorsement of a specific native american tribal organization, they'd have to change their name to that tribe.

On the other hand, the Vikings haven't become the Scandinavians or Nords. We don't have any slavic or mediterranean themed pro sports teams. I'd like to see some. The white Sox and Red Sox can become the White Saxons and Red Saxons.

Legend has it the first business enterprise started in Cleveland by whites was a brewery. Barrel Making was also one of the big Ohio industries(we had a lot of trees). So, the Cleveland Brewmeisters or Cleveland Coopers would make a good name. Our mascot could be a Squirell. Nutso the Squirrel!

It is surprising Columbus has no real pro sports teams yet. someday they'll just cut the stadiums up into pieces and air lift them to the outskirts of columbus and weld them back together.

How about the Fighting Y-T's?

I guess we can change the general meaning of the name and see what ruckus that will bring... ?