Jacobs misses the point again.

If the Grand Forks Herald ever wonders why they lose subscriptions they might want to take a look at the editor. Seriously! Crappy articles like this stinker probably don't help circulation very much. This is the reason why newspaper circulation is failing nationwide. This is the reason potential readers are discontinuing their subscription and turning away from purchasing your local rag. This is also why newspapers failing as a daily source of information. I already dropped my newspaper back to three days a week and I am this close to cancelling it all together. The only reason I read the newspaper is for the Fighting Sioux Hockey coverage. I am definitely not reading the Grand Forks Herald for its coverage of city hall politics or the oversight of the Alerus Center.

In his latest debacle, the Editor of the Grand Forks Herald is attempting to say that the pre-game videos are disrespectful to the Fighting Sioux’s opponents and hence might cause the opponents to not respect the Fighting Sioux name. Holy Cow! That is some very flawed logic. How did Mike Jacobs ever become the editor to the Grand Forks Herald?

During yearly questioners at the Final Five, the WCHA’s 10 captains are asked various question and one of them is about the best conference logo and many years the Fighting Sioux logo has been listed as one of the best or most awesome logos in the WCHA. Also, the Hockey News also recently had a jersey tourney and the Fighting Sioux logo won the over-all contest. Jacob's letter to the editor would probably meet my defintion of tripe. It's definately a poorly written editorial and definately worthless because it misses the point.

The editorial raised a second issue, suggesting that the arena’s own special effects contribute to this suspension of civility.

Hodgson, and most of those who commented on Thursday’s editorial, rejected this idea. The in-your-face video highlights that the arena presents after the opposing team is introduced are standard fare in most arenas, I’m told.

Perhaps so.

But the reaction to the highlights reel raises an issue particular to UND, one related to the name and logo. UND’s opponents won’t respect the name and logo if their players aren’t respected here. The chants and taunts at UND hockey games show a lack of respect, and invite reciprocation.

I’ve been in several college rinks and half a dozen professional arenas, but it’s been a few years since I’ve been to a hockey game outside Grand Forks, so maybe I’m not in a position to know — but I still think it’s not sportsmanlike to taunt an opponent. [Grand Forks Herald]

The problem is that Jacobs is anti-logo and has been for some time and he probably looked at this as another opportunity to pile on and spew his anti Fighting Sioux logo rhetoric. I think Jacobs should stick to running the newspaper albeit poorly and writing stories about birds. So in this instance we can say a swing and a miss Mike.

Also, the arena’s ‘in-your-face video highlights that the arena presents after the opposing team is introduced’, has to remain and should not be looked at as a cause for bad behavior or disrespect for the Fighting Sioux name. The reason we had poor behavior in the arena is a issue that must and will be addressed but maybe we will leave the decision to the people that know what they’re doing. If you can't run a newspaper what makes you think you can solve a more complex problem such as this.

Here is a reader comment to another article that I really like and it hits the right message.

[Randy L. --- East Grand Forks, MN]
I wonder why so many commenters seem to missing the fact that this "topic" is actually 2 separate issues. The first is the vulgarities and message of the crowd chants, and the second is are choices of individuals in settings outside the game (in the concourse, outside the venue, etc.). There is no reason the crowd can't get loud, raucous, and in the face of the opposing team and fans without being physical or vulgar. Do chants, sing songs, show the opposing player in the penalty box with a smart-aleck sign behind him. All of those things can easily be accomplished "cleanly" but still be intimidating. Some of the earlier posters who defend the hockey history and experience are right in the sense of the atmosphere. If you dont' like it rowdy at a Divison 1 college hockey game, don't go. But that same atmosphere doesn't have to be truly offensive. Chant "Shoot the Gophers" - it doesn't have to be F***, does it? It's the same message.