North Dakota "Fighting Sioux" May Be No More

What the NCAA and voters want-- they get.

Voters in North Dakota on Tuesday overwhelmingly endorsed a proposal to abolish the state university's "Fighting Sioux" nickname and Indian head logo, banned under a national college sports policy that deems such symbols as racially offensive.

More than 67 percent of voters supported the move that will allow the University of North Dakota to end its use of the nickname and logo - based on a Native American caricature - in order to avoid possible sanctions by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).

However, supporters of the symbol have said they will continue their fight to retain the "Fighting Sioux" name and logo after years of appealing to alumni and to the state Legislature, which just last year passed a law to keep the images, only to then reverse itself with a repeal.

The university's alumni association and foundation had stayed neutral on the topic for decades, but in early February stepped in to support retiring the nickname and logo, spending $250,000 on the issue.

"The issue wasn't preference. If that were the case than clearly the name would be staying," said Tim O'Keefe, executive vice president and CEO of the alumni association and foundation. "It was about the significant price the University of North Dakota athletic program would pay under NCAA sanctions."

The NCAA, which governs college sports, adopted a policy in 2005 to bar images considered offensive by some Native American groups, but allows schools to use them if they gain approval from namesake groups.

It bars schools that don't from hosting championship events or wearing uniforms with the images during NCAA playoffs.

My Appearance on "The Linkedin Lady Show" 5/15/12

I was happy to join Carol McManus on Tuesday 5/15/12 on "The Linkedin Lady Show"

We talked about the Facebook IPO, sports in social media and what to look for in technology and social media at the Summer Olympics this summer in London.

Have a listen here:  It's the show on 5/15/12

http://rockstarradionetwork.com/shows/thelinkedinladyshow

2012 Final Four Refs Selected

The officials working the NCAA semi-final games along with the Championship game have been selected.  It is not known who will work each game, orwho will be the alternate officials, but we do know the refs come from all over the country and the selections mainly come from the major conferences.

Here's the list:

Pat Adams: SEC and SWAC

Roger Ayers: Big East, ACC, SEC

Joe Derosa: Big XII

Tommy Eades: SEC

Verne Harris: MVC, WAC

Les Jones: ACC, Big East

Jamie Luckie: ACC, Big East

Doug Shows: SEC, Big East

Mike Stuart: Big East, Big XII

Mark Whitehead: Big XII and MVC

Some Notes:

Joe Derosa is a former NBA official, Pat Adams has worked 3 Kentucky games throughout the season, and Mike Stuart has worked 3 Louisville games.  Luckie worked the Iowa St/Kentucky game in the round of 32 and Jones called the Sunday game between Kentucky and Baylor.

Joe Derosa

College Basketball Play of the Day for 3/3/12

Gonzaga

Gonzaga hosts BYU today in a matchup featuring a couple of evenly matched teams.

Even though Gonzaga hasn't been all that great at covering this season, I still like them covering the 2 points they are favored by tonight at home.

ByU has won 6 out of their last 7 and Gonzaga has won 5 of their last 6.  Should be quite a battle late tonight in Spokane.  But take the Zags.

College Basketball Play of the Day for 2/12/12

Michigan

The best college basketball game on the slate for today has to be Illinois visiting Michigan.

This game features two of the upper echelon temas in the Big 10. 

Michigan comes in at 18-7 and a perfect 13-0 at home.  Illinois, 16-8 faces a tough task as they try to get in the discussion for a NCAA tournament bid. 

If Illinois was getting more points, I would like them.  They are only getting 6 points on the road and they aren't a great road team or a road dog.

Michigan is 19-7 ATS in their last 26 home games.

Take Michigan and give the 6.