Baseball
Neha Shah '19
The Cherokee Boys Baseball team has a promising season ahead of them. The freshman coach, Mr. Gismonde, JV coach, Mr. Graham, and Varsity coach, Mr. Petragnani are all working very hard to make sure Cherokee excels in every game. The boys on this team work very hard for our school and for themselves. The team practices two hours every day except for Sundays. This is a lot of time and effort to put into an after school sport, and it is because of this effort that the Cherokee baseball team is bound to go far this season.
With the championships rapidly approaching, the Cherokee baseball team is getting increasingly competitive and eager to do the best they can. With many games and challenging practices, the baseball team just keeps on improving. This is evident in their fantastic record. The team has had seven wins and five losses, which is a solid ratio.
In an exciting game against Washington Township, the team was looking at a loss. They were down seven runs and there was only one inning left. But in the last inning, the team scored an amazing total of 12 runs and took back their victory. All of the players are extremely grateful for the opportunity to play on the team and are extremely excited to see their futures in baseball. With their persistence and teamwork, Cherokee can definitely bring home a trophy this year!
The Cherokee Boys Baseball team has a promising season ahead of them. The freshman coach, Mr. Gismonde, JV coach, Mr. Graham, and Varsity coach, Mr. Petragnani are all working very hard to make sure Cherokee excels in every game. The boys on this team work very hard for our school and for themselves. The team practices two hours every day except for Sundays. This is a lot of time and effort to put into an after school sport, and it is because of this effort that the Cherokee baseball team is bound to go far this season.
With the championships rapidly approaching, the Cherokee baseball team is getting increasingly competitive and eager to do the best they can. With many games and challenging practices, the baseball team just keeps on improving. This is evident in their fantastic record. The team has had seven wins and five losses, which is a solid ratio.
In an exciting game against Washington Township, the team was looking at a loss. They were down seven runs and there was only one inning left. But in the last inning, the team scored an amazing total of 12 runs and took back their victory. All of the players are extremely grateful for the opportunity to play on the team and are extremely excited to see their futures in baseball. With their persistence and teamwork, Cherokee can definitely bring home a trophy this year!
The Washington (Fill in the Blank)
Justin Thatch '19
Currently ranked by ESPN as the 11th-best team in the NFL, the Washington Redskins have endured more than just athletic opposition over the past few years. The team has received much condemnation regarding their name and mascot from a wide range of critics, spanning from religious groups like the United Church of Christ, to politicians like Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton. Many people are outraged at the term “redskin,” believe that using a Native American slur as a mascot has racist undertones, and is an inappropriate name for a national sports team.
However, one of the primary arguments for keeping the Washington Redskins’ name is that it somehow honors Native Americans and their place in American history. But would a racial slur for an African American or Hispanic person as the mascot of a football team be considered appropriate?
Of course not — considering the ongoing political tension regarding racial issues, it would cause an even greater and more decisive uproar than the “Redskins.” Why is it any different with Native Americans? The plain conclusion is that it shouldn’t be. If Americans are truly intent on honoring Native American culture and history, perhaps actions such as efforts to preserve Native American reservations would be much more effective than slapping a derogatory name onto a football team.
Furthermore, when Native Americans themselves denounce the term as racist, supporters of the team often argue that it isn’t offensive in the slightest. They may not find the term personally offensive, but how much weight does their opinion hold regarding a name that isn’t directed at them? The only ones who have the right to determine whether “redskin” is truly offensive or not are the Native American people, many of whom are against the term. It makes absolutely no sense to value anyone else’s opinion over a Native American’s on this issue, since it directly pertains to them and no one else, and it’s clear that they’re against it. Change the Mascot, a campaign launched by the Oneida Native American Nation, is one of the leading efforts towards the change of the DC team’s mascot. Many more organizations agree, including the influential NAACP and the American Civil Liberties Union.
Essentially, the term “redskin”, and the concept of a Native American as a football team mascot, are inappropriate and offensive for a football team to market itself with. It doesn’t honor Native Americans, their history, or their culture; it’s unacceptable. If that isn’t enough to convince team officials, live NFL broadcasts have mentioned the Washington Redskins 27% less since the controversy has caught fire. For the success of the team, and the betterment of society, the Redskins must heed the public’s call to change their team name and mascot.