First off, I am not trying to start a fight with anyone, I agree with Rob Port of Sayanythingblog on a lot of things when it comes to politics, but on this issue he is dead wrong. Today's ruling by the North Dakota Supreme Court puts UND's Athletic Department in a very bad situation, now they really get to find out if the Big Sky Conference is bluffing, "if" the Fighting Sioux nickname law isn't voted down or killed by the NDSC.
I am going to take the word of the UND athletic department over a political blogger. Who are you going to believe?
While it might only be three B1G teams that won't
play UND in any sport, two of those teams (Wisconsin and Minnesota) in college hockey, those teams bring a lot of money
when they play the Fighting Sioux in hockey at the Ralph Englestad Arena.
Would you rather see some random team every other season or would you like to play Wisconsin and Minnesota on a "semi" regular basis?
Wisconsin has stated they want to continue the series between the two teams but won’t if UND keeps the Fighting Sioux nickname. According to Chuck Schwartz of Bucky's Fifth Quarter, "assuming North Dakota works out their nickname issues, it seems likely that the Badgers will continue to play Denver and North Dakota one series per year for the foreseeable future."
Lastly,
some suggest we should discount Dale Lennon, Tim O'Keefe, Dave Hakstol and
Chris Mussman who some have accused of being liars or stooges for
the UND administration and the Big Sky Conference.
I will always love the Fighting Sioux nickname but where were these people 3-4 years ago? That was the time to stand up and fight. Why now?
