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	Updated Aug. 2, 2001, 8:00p.m. ET

PROFILES OF CONTROVERSIAL MASCOTS

Reported by Jennae Wallace

CLEVELAND INDIANS

Chief Wahoo

ORIGIN: The mascot is a red-skinned, buck-toothed, feather-sporting caricature of an Indian, but Chief Wahoo was actually chosen in 1915 to honor the first American Indian baseball player, Louis Francis Sockalexis.

CONTROVERSY: The controversy began in 1994 when Jacobs Field first opened its gates and a large crowd of locals and members of the American Indian Movement (AIM) flocked to the new stadium early to protest Chief Wahoo, denouncing it as a racial stereotype of real Native Americans. Most recently, in 1998, five people were arrested for protesting the use of Chief Wahoo's likeness. They claim was it was a wrongful arrest and violation of their right to free speech. Those five people have taken the Cleveland Police Department, its chief and the two arresting officers to court in a civil suit.

WHERE THEY ARE NOW: Cleveland still uses Chief Wahoo’s likeness and the "Indians" name.

ATLANTA BRAVES

Chief Knockahoma and the tomahawk

ORIGIN: A fictional Indian character created to represent the team. The Braves, who first played in Boston, were once owned by John Ward and James E. Gaffney, "chieftains" in the Tammany Hall organization. The team was reportedly called Braves because they worked for these chiefs, and not because of any Indian association.

CONTROVERSY: American Indian Movement (AIM) is opposed to the use of the name “Braves” because they say it is insulting and derogatory.

WHERE THEY ARE NOW: The "chief" used to sit in a tepee beyond the outfield fence in Atlanta's Fulton County Stadium. They stopped using it before the 1986 season. However, their name has not changed.

WASHINGTON REDSKINS

Redskins, a profile of an Indian head.

ORIGIN: In 1933, a Boston team was called the "Redskins" after their coach Lone Star Dietz. The team later moved to Washington.

CONTROVERSY: In September 1992, seven American Indians took Redskins owners to court, arguing that the name and logo should be legally eliminated because they are racially derogatory. In April 1999, a three-member federal trademark panel revoked the Redskins’ federal trademark protection, which essentially stripped them of exclusive rights for using and licensing the "Redskins" name and logos for merchandising. The Redskins have appealed the decision and the case is still pending.

WHERE THEY ARE NOW: In the meantime, the Redskins continue to use the name and logo though two Washington, D.C. radio stations stopped using the team name in broadcasts.

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS

Arrowhead

ORIGIN: There is some debate about how the Chiefs got their name. The team contends it was chosen not only to honor the region's American Indian tribes but to also recognize former Kansas City Mayor H. Roe Bartle, whose nickname was "Chief."

CONTROVERSY: Protesters continue to object to the team name and to the fans' tomahawk "chopping" at home games.

WHERE THEY ARE NOW: Though it was revived once in recent years for a playoff game, the team no longer has someone ride a horse named Warpaint around the playing field. An old team log with a picture of an on the warpath Indian raising a tomahawk is also no longer used.

UNIVERSITY OF NORTH DAKOTA FIGHTING SIOUX

"Sammy Sioux"

ORIGIN: A caricature of a fictional Indian. The use of the name "Fighting Sioux" dates back to the 1930s. Later, in 1976, UND Athletic Director Carl Miller introduced the geometric Indian-head symbol as the official logo.

CONTROVERSY: In 1999, supporters of a name change took their case to North Dakota's legislature and the university's Student Senate. North Dakota's House, in a 71 to 26 vote, rejected a resolution urging UND to drop its nickname. The Student Senate approved a motion to drop the nickname, but student body President Jonathan Sickler vetoed the motion, and it was not overturned by another Senate vote.

WHERE THEY ARE NOW: The school still uses the nickname to this day.

FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY SEMINOLES

Chief Osceola

ORIGIN: In 1975, Chief Howard Tommie, then-chairman of the Seminole Tribe of Florida, helped FSU create Osceola, a portrayal of an Indian who charges onto the football field on horseback at the beginning of home football games. Osceola ends his charge by throwing a flaming lance at mid field.
Historically, Osceola was a Seminole leader who was captured by Federal troops in the battle to move the Seminoles from Florida to the unoccupied land west of the Mississippi. After dying while in captivity, he remains honored by the Seminoles to this day.

CONTROVERSY: Most of the controversy stems from those who support a nationwide banishment of Native American mascots and believe that the use of Indian symbolism is derogatory. National groups have opposed the use of Seminoles as the FSU nickname. For those protesters opposing the use of the name and who routinely picket FSU home football games, the school provides a secure place for them to picket. The Florida Seminoles work with FSU to present the image of Chief Osceola.

WHERE THEY ARE NOW: Florida State University still uses both the name "Seminoles" and Chief Osceola as its mascot.

MARQUETTE, MICH., HIGH SCHOOL REDMEN

Redmen and the Redettes

ORIGIN: The nickname reportedly came about because of the sweaters the student-athletes wore. The symbol of a Sioux Indian in full headdress was picked as a symbol of the team in the 1930s.

CONTROVERSY: Native Americans objected to the nickname and logo as offensive and condescending. The logo was retired in 1998, but the decision was reversed in 1999.

WHERE THEY ARE NOW: The Indian chief remains the school logo and the mascot is still the Redmen.