Translation from Navajo:

Red Sox Take Care of Offensive Wahoo

This season began with the "Civil Rights Game" in Memphis and a hasty generic wardrobe change for the Cleveland club. Since then, the Indians have had to learn many hard lessons about baseball. The final lesson, as one might say in India, was all about karma. The magic of Fenway combined with the dreams of a local star and made this playoff series extra sweet.

You see, through three games in Ohio, a young Navajo gentleman was sitting in the Boston dugout. He was waiting patiently for his name to be called and cheering his teammates. It is not difficult to imagine what Jackie Robinson might have thought of fans in blackface in the stands during his first playoff series, and Jacoby Ellsbury was witness to the modern equivalent. Jacobs Field was full of fans with painted Wahoo faces.

The irony of this fall should not be lost on the fans of Cleveland, who watched their team falter with a 3-1 lead. Ellsbury was a critical piece of the Red Sox comeback for the pennant. Perhaps the logo -- which both greeted and scared me along the freeway in the 1970s -- is due to be retired. Though the Wahoo of today is slightly less offensive than the monolith that once hung on the side of the Muni, it is still ridiculous. Due in large part to the intangible hoodoo of our pastime, it is costing them ballgames.

I think that all would be fine if they simply used a picture of Louis Sockalexis instead. They would never give up the name, but a silly logo first designed around their last championship should be discarded. It simply has to go, or they may never win again. After all, they last won a World Series in 1948 against another "Native" team: The Boston Braves.

In case this turns into a non-baseball debate, let me give you a few links about this ballplayer from our neck of the woods. Jacoby Ellsbury is the real deal folks, and I hope he goes fishing with Bobby Doerr this winter.

His Red Sox page:

http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/team/player.jsp?player_id=453056

Two great articles from the Globe about a rising star, and his pragmatic approach to Chief Wahoo:

http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/articles/2007/03/11/ellsbury_a_rare _talent/

http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/articles/2007/10/12/theyve_had_some _chief_concerns/

This is gonna be a fantastic World Series. Rox versus Sox will be one for the books. I imagine it could be snowing in both ballparks!

@Roger -- I'm sorry about your boys. I guess it doesn't mean much from a diehard Mariners fan who just called out your team. I do empathize even though I am still pissed off about 1995. :0)

I'm bi-teamual I root for the M's as well. I am only bummed about the fact that I still have peanuts left from game 4 and series tixs to a game 7 that is now only happening in an alternate universe.

As for offensive mascots..... people are now too sensitive. There are much bigger issues in life than some sports team called redskins, tribe, indians, warriors, etc..... I miss Atlanta's Chief Knockahoma, and the Indians now have an alternate cap sporting a script(I), rather than the chief Wahoo, and their mascot for years has been some stupid giant purple muppet, which like the mariners muppet mascot, really has nothing to do with baseball.

I always thought The University of West Virginia should be called "The Fightin' Hillbillies, and play their games barefooted in bib overalls, with a mascot right out of L'il Abner!

As for 1995, Damn, that was a fun season at the Dome, and I rooted for both teams in the playoffs!

Know any good Polish jokes? I like the one that starts...

A pollack, a jew, and a dumb blonde, try to walk into a bar, but can't get in.............

Political Correctness Sucks.

x2 on what Roger said. People are to sensitive.

Glen Frey and the Eagles said it best:

I turn on the tube and what do I see
A whole lotta people cryin’ ’don’t blame me’
They point their crooked little fingers ar everybody else
Spend all their time feelin’ sorry for themselves
Victim of this, victim of that
Your momma’s too thin; your daddy’s too fat

Get over it
Get over it
All this whinin’ and cryin’ and pitchin’ a fit
Get over it, get over it

You say you haven’t been the same since you had your little crash
But you might feel better if I gave you some cash
The more I think about it, old billy was right
Let’s kill all the lawyers, kill ’em tonight
You don’t want to work, you want to live like a king
But the big, bad world doesn’t owe you a thing

Get over it
Get over it
If you don’t want to play, then you might as well split
Get over it, get over it

It’s like going to confession every time I hear you speak
You’re makin’ the most of your losin’ streak
Some call it sick, but I call it weak

You drag it around like a ball and chain
You wallow in the guilt; you wallow in the pain
You wave it like a flag, you wear it like a crown
Got your mind in the gutter, bringin’ everybody down
Complain about the present and blame it on the past
I’d like to find your inner child and kick it’s little ass

Get over it
Get over it
All this bitchin’ and moanin’ and pitchin’ a fit
Get over it, get over it

Get over it
Get over it
It’s gotta stop sometime, so why don’t you quit
Get over it, get over it

I really, really hope that teams from professional to high school DO NOT bend to PC forces that are requesting them to change their names because they "may" be offensive to a select group of Native Americans with nothing better to do with their time.

And, I'm a Reds fan, but I still dig the Indian's logo.