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The Citizen, 2001-05-09, Page 10Around an opponent Grey Central Public School student Matt McClinchey makes a nice move around his Wingham Public School challenger during a North Huron three-on-three basketball tournament held at East Wawanosh Public School, May 2. Teammate Bill Myers looks on. UCCESS RATE • ITS EASY • IT WORKS . ,tiet Yes you can... STOP SMOKING! Tired of standing outside to smoke? Sick of being a social outcast? Wonder if you smell like an ashtray? At X Smokers we know how you feel. For more than 20 years we've helped thou- sands quit for good with a 94% success rate.* Follow the X Smokers method and we guarantee you'll stop - for good! THREE WEEK FREE TRIAL' 'On completion of X Smokers, 94% of participants quit smoking completely. University of Western Ontario Epidemiology & Biostatistics "I tried about five techniques prior to this one. Nobody, but nobody was more skeptical, but this works." Joe Barnes. London 1 Sonic conditions apply r FREE INFORMATION SESSIONS 1 , 1 Month of May: London 16th, Goderich 22nd )-4,1 q ' 4 . Wingham 23rd, Sea forth 24th -... ) Call now to reserve your place. (519) 457-6399 L Bring your cigarettes for the smoke break! X Smokers THE ONE THAT WORKS! Celebrating over 20 years of success! co tr. Or toll free 1-866-976-6537 a UN 0 ti) PAGE 10. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, MAY 9, 2001. Sports From the sidelines A look at the sports' world's political correctness By Hugh Nichol I'm not sure why but it was with interest I followed the petitioning for the removal of the word Blue Devils associated with the Mitchell High School sports pro- grams. I guess I wondered if the lob., bying was successful how many other sport nicknames would also be deemed politically incorrect, the obvious being the use of the term Redmen by Central Huron of Clinton. In fact. I question the activist's decision to begin with the Blue Devils and not Redmen. The use of sports tokens associated with indige- nous people is widespread through- out North America and already under attack due to the sensitivity issue. The National Football League Washington Redskins have faced the .political correctness debate on a con- tinuous bus'', probably because of the attention gained from their nation's capital location. The organi- zation has even been challenged in court 'by the National Congress of American Indians on the charge Redskin is a racial slur, the most derogatory remark that a Native American can be called. Washington ownership maintains that sports fran- chises do not name their teams after people they hold in contempt, that in earlier days Indians were admired for their virtues, their skill as hunters, their ferocity, bravery, and dignity, all qualities that make for a winning team. In other words the reference is used to honour, not an - unfounded statement upon further investigation. For example the Atlanta major league baseball team, originally located in Boston, adopted the name Braves in 1911 when purchased by James Gaffney, a Tammany Hall "brave" while the Cleveland fran- chise was named after Louis Sockalexis, a Penobscot Indian who played for Cleveland in the late 1890s. Sockalexis was believed to have been the first Native American major leaguer and in 1915 the team officially took on -the name Indians on his behalf. In 1963 the National Football It League Dallas Texans moved to Kansas City and were renamed Chiefs in- honour of then K.C. Mayor H. Roe Bartle, the founder of the Tribe Mic-O-Say and known to everyone as Chief. The National Basketball League Atlanta Hawks were originally the Waterloo Hawks, named in tribute to the 1832 BlackHawk war that took place in the area while the Chicago Black Hawks Indian head sweater has been called the best uniform in professional sports. Designed by the wife of Chicago owner Major Frederic McLaughlin it is rumoured the logo is in honour of the Major's WWI military unit, the 85th "BlackHawk" division commemorating Chief BlackHawks, a prominent Indian of the 1800s. I grew up in an era where playing cowboys and Indians was accept- able, and I learned to, count by the musical - lyrics of Ten Little Indians. Yet in no way do I consider myself racist. Nor do I question whether these invitations to debate are the result of well-intentiorfed activism on behalf of the politically correct or simply attempts by a select few to capitalize on issues of moral integri- ty..I did however agree with the deci- sion in allowing 'the Mitchell Hid' School to retain its identity and hope the same of the Central Hurons and the Atlanta Braves. To solve the problem I believe in Local F.E. Madill students were off running and throwing in the first outdoor track and field meet of the season. Kerrie Meier placed second in a huge field for the 100 meter dash with a time of 13.5 seconds in the midget girl division. Midget Kristen Palmer placed fourth in the triple jump, sixth in the long jump and fin- ished the 100 meter with a time of 14.9 seconds. In the open girls division Laura Meier finished fifth in the triple jump at 9.85 meters. She also com- the words of a spokesman for the U.S. Trademark Trial and Appeal Board who stated all congress would have to do is assign property rights to individual names to allow the individuals involved to supervise their individual images. But I will admit if nothing else the Blue Devils precedings over-shad- owed for the moment our school board's more pressing issues such as closures, teacher strikes, and mechanical versus old fashioned number twos. peted in the 100 meter and the junior sprint hurdles. Amanda Palmer reached 10.05 meters to finish fourth in the triple jump. She too compet- ed in the 100 meter and junior sprint hurdles. Kristyn Gerth finished sev- enth in shot put with a throw of 9.4 meters and eighth in discus, throw- ing 26.98 meters. And Vicky Black threw the shot put 7.07 meters and the disctis 17 meters. In the Open Boys division Nathan Garland of Brussels threw the shot put 11.8 meters and the discus 30.56 meters. Local track athletes do well at Madill's first outdoor meet QUESTIONS ABOUT PICKING YOUR ELECTRICITY RETAILER? Now you have the power to choose your electricity from a number of companies. CALL 1-888-668-4636 and receive a free, 12-page brochure. Visit our website at www est govon ca or Email fy0est.govomca 0 Ontario