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<blockquote data-quote="Bruce_ma gooshvili" data-source="post: 810001" data-attributes="member: 74121"><p>Well, I'd have no objection if it was a sports team with a strong native american fan base. But that aside I suppose its for two reasons. Firstly, because its fundamentally irrelevant to the area a team is based in (I also hate ones like Leeds Rhinos for the same reason). </p><p></p><p>Secondly, because a lot of sports names are built on masculine, confrontational stereotypes which makes sense for a sports team (Bulls and Bills rather than cows, Rams rather than sheep, Warriors rather than widows). So I'd argue that Chiefs being employed as a name is probably aiming to project similar images of masculinity, power and confrontation. Probably through some kind of warped interpretation of native americans historically being a single warlike people who made "heap big trouble" and scalped people. I think that's a bit of fun and probably done with the best of intentions 50 years ago. I think it'd be a bit stupid and crass now but I wouldn't lose any sleep over it. Its why I liked the US Pro Rugby names so much. Names that often relate to their local area, project power and excitement but don't needlessly offend cross sections of the population.</p><p></p><p>And apologies if I caused any offence with my suggestion that the Irish weren't treated badly in the States. I was coming from the perspective that, as far as I'm aware, they always had the right to vote and practice their religion(s), didn't get systematically removed from their property by the authorities and weren't disproportionately gunned down by the police or imprisoned by skewed drugs legislation. But as a Scot I can see why the "drunken brawler" stereotype might be a pain in the backside and I'd understand if an Irish American was a bit bummed out with the name (even though the crazy embrace of St Patricks Day probably should reassure them that they aren't a hated minority).</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Bruce_ma gooshvili, post: 810001, member: 74121"] Well, I'd have no objection if it was a sports team with a strong native american fan base. But that aside I suppose its for two reasons. Firstly, because its fundamentally irrelevant to the area a team is based in (I also hate ones like Leeds Rhinos for the same reason). Secondly, because a lot of sports names are built on masculine, confrontational stereotypes which makes sense for a sports team (Bulls and Bills rather than cows, Rams rather than sheep, Warriors rather than widows). So I'd argue that Chiefs being employed as a name is probably aiming to project similar images of masculinity, power and confrontation. Probably through some kind of warped interpretation of native americans historically being a single warlike people who made "heap big trouble" and scalped people. I think that's a bit of fun and probably done with the best of intentions 50 years ago. I think it'd be a bit stupid and crass now but I wouldn't lose any sleep over it. Its why I liked the US Pro Rugby names so much. Names that often relate to their local area, project power and excitement but don't needlessly offend cross sections of the population. And apologies if I caused any offence with my suggestion that the Irish weren't treated badly in the States. I was coming from the perspective that, as far as I'm aware, they always had the right to vote and practice their religion(s), didn't get systematically removed from their property by the authorities and weren't disproportionately gunned down by the police or imprisoned by skewed drugs legislation. But as a Scot I can see why the "drunken brawler" stereotype might be a pain in the backside and I'd understand if an Irish American was a bit bummed out with the name (even though the crazy embrace of St Patricks Day probably should reassure them that they aren't a hated minority). [/QUOTE]
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