MBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[arena]

As you probably know, the NCAA is pressuring schools to change racist mascots. There's a discussion of this matter over in the General Issues forum under "Indian nicknames." Racist mascotts apparently include not only Indian tribe names but any ethnic or national stereotypes. The Fighting Irish were specifically mentioned. Here's a part of a post by David Collinge from that other discussion:

Chuck, your story illustrates why using human beings as mascots is a generally bad idea.  Whether "dignified" or "cartoonish," whether done out of respect or ignorance, what it amounts to is ethnic stereotyping, and IMHO that's almost never a good idea no matter who is doing it or why.  I am unable to express my thoughts as eloquently as OxyBob; all I can find to say is that I know in my soul that it is wrong to reduce a tribe, a nation, or an entire race to a single stereotype, regardless of how many individuals in that group profess their acceptance of it.

Now, I feel the unfortunate necessity of pointing out that "Dutchmen" is ethnic stereotyping, especially with some of the proposed mascots that have appeared in this list.

Being of Dutch heritage myself, I'm offended! 

I think that before the NCAA comes after the Dutchm... er... Hope players, we should help them find alternative mascots that can withstand NCAA scrutiny.

Hmmm. Let's see. The obvious: the Wooden Shoes? The Tulips? The Anchorites?  (Hey, that last one might go well with the Flying Nun mascott. Though I suppose that might offend nuns.)

Can anyone get more creative? How about the Donder? (Then you could share more than colors with Wheaton!)

How about the Ollieballen? The mascott would have to be a great big fat-ball with eyes, I suppose.

(And don't think you'll get off the hook lightly, Britons or Scots! Hey, wait a minute, Knights are human beings too...uh oh...)

LOL

The ollienballens.   

Or how about Team Banket?

[MIdoubleA]

In a world where you can successfully sue someone for not putting "caution: hot" on a cup of coffee, there is no way that anyone can possibly find a mascot nobody will have a problem with. There will always be that one guy that has nothing better to do than file grievances with some college or universty over their racial and/or ethnic ignorance when choosing a mascot.

Some day corporate advertising will leak into the world of collegiate mascots and someone is going to be the Coca-Cola's or the Budweisers.

Anyway, what say you about the tourney in Holland? Will Hope clean up? Or is John Carroll (Or even Lakeland/Goshen) going to give them their first loss of the season?

[Flying Dutch Fan]

I see two tough games for Hope made even tougher by Richardson not playing and Cramer being questionable (according to the Sentinel both are ill), but I still see two wins.  This ought to be a good tournament - not a bad game in the bunch.  Records of the teams in the tournament:

Hope            9-0
Lakeland      7-3
John Carroll  6-3
Goshen       10-4

[Dark Knight]

I think Hope should HOPE to be able to handle these...I'd say the EthnicPersons over Lakeland by 26, over John Carroll by 18, and over Goshen by 21, based on guesses informed by Massey. (Though computer rankings that don't use margin of victory understandably have a hard time with undefeated teams!)

The Knights have an interesting trip to Colorado, with Friday and Saturday games against two mid-tier DII teams, Regis and Colorado Christian. Computer rankings are pretty useless between DII and DIII since they play so few games against each other, but both games should be close.

That'll give the Knights 11 games, with zero of them against in-region DIII opponents. I wonder what their SOSI is?

[Picket Fence]

If Calvin would just move their main address 11 miles closer to Chicago, the Wheaton game would count as regional.

[Pat Coleman]

It would only take about three miles, I believe.

[diehardfan]

Wheaton owns a significant amount of land east of the current location of our post office... maybe almost a mile... what can calvin give? 

[Dark Knight]

Wheaton owns a significant amount of land east of the current location of our post office... maybe almost a mile... what can calvin give? 

How about a whole new highway?

Up until a year or two ago, there were two main routes from west of GR to Calvin: north of town along 196/96 or straight through town on 28th street. The north route was 7 miles further but usually a couple of minutes faster.

Now that M6 has been built south of town there are other options, and I've had a chance to try all the variants. I think the fastest route is east on M6 to 131, north to 28th street, and east from there.  It saves about 4 miles over the 196/96 route (which is what mapquest recommends), but it's about 3 miles longer than the 28th street route.

Does anyone know what route the official driving directions program uses? When that one gets updated to take account of M6, the route could get about 4 miles shorter.

[Flying Dutch Fan]

Well, I just got back from the absolute ugliest game of basketball I have ever seen.  I think the final was something like:

Hope 55
Lakeland 47

Lakeland lead at the half 23-21.  11 minutes into the game it was 10-9 Hope.  Hope shot 23% in the first half and less than 50% from the line.  I doubt they finished much above 30% for the game, and right around 55% from the line.  Fortunately for Hope, the Muskies didn't shoot much better, and the Hope defense was pretty good. 

Hope stats (my best guess)

Immink - 4pts (all free throws)
Cramer - 9 pts (mostly in the last 5 minutes)
VanderHeide 11 pts (glad to have him back)
Vosin 11 pts (and I'll bet a double/double)
Phillips 2 pts (a tip-in in the last 2 minutes)

My theory - since the John Carroll coach was scouting for tomorrow, the Dutchmen didn't want him to see how they typically play (the Blue Streaks beat Goshen  97-89)

You know what they say "good teams win when they play good, great teams win when they play bad".

I sure hope we got that out of our system.  Should be fun tomorrow.

[Pat Coleman]

How about a whole new highway?

Up until a year or two ago, there were two main routes from west of GR to Calvin: north of town along 196/96 or straight through town on 28th street. The north route was 7 miles further but usually a couple of minutes faster.

Now that M6 has been built south of town there are other options, and I've had a chance to try all the variants. I think the fastest route is east on M6 to 131, north to 28th street, and east from there.  It saves about 4 miles over the 196/96 route (which is what mapquest recommends), but it's about 3 miles longer than the 28th street route.

Does anyone know what route the official driving directions program uses? When that one gets updated to take account of M6, the route could get about 4 miles shorter.

Time   Mile   Instruction   For   Toward
Summary:  201.3 miles (4 hours, 19 minutes)
9:00 AM   0.0   Depart Calvin College [3201 Burton St SE, Grand Rapids, MI  49546, (616) 957-6000] on Local road(s) (West)   153 yds   
9:00 AM   0.1   Road name changes to Hampshire St SE   0.3 mi   
9:02 AM   0.4   Turn LEFT (South) onto Ridgewood Ave SE   0.2 mi   
9:03 AM   0.6   Turn RIGHT (West) onto Vassar St SE   0.2 mi   
9:04 AM   0.9   Turn LEFT (South-West) onto Colton Dr SE   0.2 mi   
9:05 AM   1.0   Turn LEFT (South) onto Conlon Ave SE, then immediately turn RIGHT (West) onto Ardmore St SE   153 yds   
9:06 AM   1.1   Turn LEFT (South) onto Rosemont Ave SE, then immediately bear RIGHT (West) onto Burton St (SE)   5.1 mi   
9:20 AM   6.2   Bear LEFT (South-West) onto Beverly Ave SW   0.4 mi   
9:22 AM   6.6   Bear RIGHT (West) onto Farragut St SW   0.1 mi   
9:22 AM   6.7   Turn LEFT (South) onto Camden Ave SW   0.1 mi   
9:23 AM   6.8   Turn RIGHT (West) onto Elbon St SW, then immediately turn LEFT (South) onto Berwyn Ave SW   0.2 mi   
9:25 AM   7.0   Turn RIGHT (West) onto Porter St SW   0.9 mi   
9:27 AM   7.9   Turn LEFT (South) onto Parkdale Ave SW   0.2 mi   
9:28 AM   8.0   Turn RIGHT (West) onto Lee St SW   0.1 mi   
9:29 AM   8.2   Road name changes to Roys Ave SW   32 yds   
9:30 AM   8.2   Turn LEFT (West) onto Lee St SW   0.3 mi   
9:31 AM   8.5   Road name changes to 27th St SW   0.3 mi   
9:33 AM   8.8   Turn LEFT (South) onto Ivanrest Ave SW, then immediately turn RIGHT (West) onto Larue St SW   0.3 mi   
9:34 AM   9.1   Bear LEFT (South-West) onto Chicago Dr SW   1.6 mi   
9:37 AM   10.7   Road name changes to SR-21 [Chicago Dr SW]   4.9 mi   
9:45 AM   15.6   Bear LEFT (South) onto Local road(s)   21 yds   
9:46 AM   15.7   Road name changes to 32nd Ave   1.4 mi   
9:49 AM   17.0   Take Ramp (RIGHT) onto I-196 [Gerald R Ford Fwy]   62.2 mi   I-196 / Holland
10:47 AM   79.2   At exit I-94, take Ramp (RIGHT) onto I-94 [US-31 Bus]   30.7 mi   
11:18 AM   109.9   At exit 4, turn RIGHT onto Ramp   0.3 mi   
11:18 AM   110.2   Bear RIGHT (West) onto US-12   0.5 mi   
11:19 AM   110.7   Turn LEFT (South) onto US-12 [E Buffalo St]   11.0 mi   
11:25 AM   115.8   Entering Indiana      
11:33 AM   121.7   Turn LEFT (South) onto US-12 [Spring St]   153 yds   
11:34 AM   121.8   Turn RIGHT (West) onto US-12 [E Michigan Blvd]   2.7 mi   
11:38 AM   124.5   Bear RIGHT (South-West) onto Indiana Dunes NTL Lakeshore, then immediately bear RIGHT (West) onto US-12 [Dunes Hwy]   1.6 mi   
11:41 AM   126.0   Turn LEFT (South) onto Willow St [Willow Ave]   0.2 mi   
11:42 AM   126.2   Turn RIGHT (West) onto US-20 [Gary Michigan City Hwy]   9.5 mi   
11:53 AM   135.7   Take Ramp (RIGHT) onto I-94   7.2 mi   
12:00 PM   142.9   Road name changes to I-80 [I-94]   17.7 mi   
12:14 PM   158.1   Entering Illinois      
12:17 PM   160.6   *Toll road* Keep LEFT onto I-294 [I-80]   24.6 mi   
12:39 PM   185.1   Turn RIGHT onto Ramp   0.6 mi   Hinsdale Oasis
12:40 PM   185.7   Keep LEFT to stay on Ramp   0.3 mi   I-294 / Wisconsin
12:41 PM   186.0   *Toll road* Merge onto I-294 [Tri-State Tollway]   2.7 mi   
12:43 PM   188.7   Turn RIGHT onto Ramp   0.2 mi   US-34 / Ogden Ave
12:43 PM   188.9   Bear RIGHT (West) onto US-34 [Ogden Ave]   0.7 mi   
12:45 PM   189.5   Turn RIGHT (North) onto (N) York Rd   0.2 mi   
12:46 PM   189.7   Road name changes to CR-8 [York Rd]   65 yds   
12:47 PM   189.8   Turn LEFT (West) onto Spring Rd   1.4 mi   
12:51 PM   191.1   *Turn potentially restricted* Turn LEFT (West) onto CR-34 [31st St]   0.5 mi   
12:52 PM   191.6   Take Ramp (RIGHT) onto SR-83 [Kingery Hwy]   1.0 mi   IL-83
12:54 PM   192.6   Turn LEFT (West) onto W 22nd St   0.3 mi   
12:55 PM   192.9   Turn RIGHT (North) onto MacArthur Dr   0.5 mi   
12:57 PM   193.4   Road name changes to Myrtle Ave   0.5 mi   
12:59 PM   193.9   Turn LEFT (West) onto Sunshine Dr, then immediately turn RIGHT (North) onto Euclid Ave   0.1 mi   
1:00 PM   194.0   Turn LEFT (West) onto SR-38 [E Roosevelt Rd]   5.8 mi   
1:10 PM   199.8   Turn RIGHT (North) onto S Lorraine Rd   0.1 mi   
1:11 PM   199.9   Turn LEFT (West) onto E Indiana St   0.1 mi   
1:12 PM   200.0   Turn RIGHT (North) onto S Prospect St, then immediately turn LEFT (West) onto E Illinois St   0.2 mi   
1:13 PM   200.3   Turn RIGHT (North) onto S Blanchard St, then immediately bear LEFT (West) onto E Willow Ave   0.2 mi   
1:15 PM   200.4   Turn RIGHT (North) onto S Williston St   0.1 mi   
1:15 PM   200.5   Bear LEFT (West) onto E Liberty Dr, then immediately turn RIGHT (North) onto (S) President St   0.5 mi   
1:18 PM   201.0   Turn LEFT (West) onto University Pl   0.2 mi   
      Check local time; this stop is in a different time zone.      
1:19 PM   201.2   Turn RIGHT (North) onto Local road(s)   43 yds   
1:19 PM   201.3   Arrive Wheaton College [501 College Ave, Wheaton, IL  60187, (630) 752-5000]      

SUMMARY
Driving distance:  201.3 miles

[MIdoubleA]

FDF, I couldn't agree with you more.

Tonight was one of the worst Hope games I have ever seen... and I've seen a lot. I think the 18 day vacation in addition to the 4 practices (2 a days) Hope has had in the last 2 days is the reason for the poor performance.

Also, don't let the low score fool you into thinking Hope played good defense. FDF was right, tonight's game was all about who could shoot the least-bad.

All I know is that Hope had better find their touch, because JC nearly scored 100 points tonight. It should be a good game tomorrow, hopefully the dutchmen pull out a victory.

[Greek Tragedy]

Fortunately for Hope, the Muskies didn't shoot much better, and the Hope defense was pretty good. 

Maybe Lakeland played good defense too. 

[hope1]

yeah hope got lucky last night it will be a tough game tonight vs john caroll

[Dark Knight]

Time   Mile   Instruction   For   Toward
Summary:  201.3 miles (4 hours, 19 minutes)
9:00 AM   0.0   Depart Calvin College [3201 Burton St SE, Grand Rapids, MI  49546, (616) 957-6000] on Local road(s) (West)   153 yds   
9:00 AM   0.1   Road name changes to Hampshire St SE   0.3 mi   
9:02 AM   0.4   Turn LEFT (South) onto Ridgewood Ave SE   0.2 mi   
9:03 AM   0.6   Turn RIGHT (West) onto Vassar St SE   0.2 mi   
9:04 AM   0.9   Turn LEFT (South-West) onto Colton Dr SE   0.2 mi   
9:05 AM   1.0   Turn LEFT (South) onto Conlon Ave SE, then immediately turn RIGHT (West) onto Ardmore St SE   153 yds   
9:06 AM   1.1   Turn LEFT (South) onto Rosemont Ave SE, then

Wow, that's some mighty nasty route planning software you've got there -- 22 turns along back roads to get to highway 196! Mapquest uses 4 turns.

Unfortunately, although M6 might save about 15 minutes off that route, it isn't going to save any miles.

[Dark Knight]

Albion defeated Concordia (MI) 79-65, after trailing 30-33 at the half. From the box score, it looks as though Concordia focused on Crawford, holding him to 10 points/8 rebounds on 3/11 shooting and 4/8 free throws. For this first time this season he got less than 20 points and 10 rebounds!

That must have left the perimeter open, because the Britons hit 13/30 3-pointers. Albion also out-rebounded Concordia 41-37 and turned it over only 5 times, vs. Concordia's 11.