Chicago Blackhawks: Management, Logos and Winning

Stan Borman, ND '95

You know you're old when It's one thing when professional athletes are no longer your age...For most of my life they were older than me—a lot older than me. With Steve Nash retiring this year, I have come to accept new roles for my peer group. I have found one in Stan Bowman, the President and General Manager of the Chicago Blackhawks.

I remember Stan as a fellow undergraduate student at Notre Dame. He is one year older than me and we had friends in common. His father, Scotty Bowman was the head coach of the Detroit Red Wings. Stan wore a faded red hat that bore the teams name almost every day. For some reason, we thought it was very funny that he was named after the sport's highest honor—the Stanley Cup. Look who's laughing now.

But that's not why I wanted to write about the NHL champions a few days after they captured their third title in six years in their 2-0 defeat of the Tampa Bay Lightning. Last July, I wrote about the usage of Native Americans as mascots: Saint Kateri Tekawitha: Proud to Be. That posting prompted a "Sports in the News presentation" in my Sports & Spirituality course. It spawned further questions and an ethical debate. With this posting, I would like to offer insights on how the Chicago Blackhawks contribute to this conversation.

First, the Blackhawks are not a tribe of native people. No. The team name refers to something different. As written in Sports Illustrated, "When coffee bean baron Frederic McLaughlin bought the Portland Rosebuds in 1926 and moved them to Chicago, he renamed the team after the 86th Infantry "Blackhawk" Division he commanded in World War I. His wife, Broadway dancer Irene Castle, had already introduced Americans to the bob haircut and the foxtrot before making her greatest contribution to pop culture. She drew a gallant Indian head for the new team's sweaters."

You could easily raise the question: Why should the face of a Native American serve as a hockey teams' logo. And if you stated the question that way, you are correct. How? Why? The mascot of the team is something different. The actual mascot of the team is "Tommy Hawk." I love what the team website has to say about him. 

Tommy is the best mascot in the NHL. This feathery fowl loves to dance, play hockey and generally cause mascot mayhem wherever he goes. Tommy is not only at all Blackhawks home games, but Tommy makes numerous appearances throughout the Chicagoland area and the country. 

Name: Tommy Hawk
Position: Center (of Attention)
Weight: 2,356 Hockey Pucks
Shoots: Pucks and t-shirts for the crowd
Resides: In Tommy’s Nest on top of the United Center
Hobbies: Playing hockey, reading, dancing, spraying silly string, laying eggs, getting the bird’s eye view
Favorite Foods: Roasted Duck, Pickled Penguin, Coyote Burgers, Buffalo wings
Favorite Song: Here Come the Hawks, Freebird, Shake ya Tail Feather,
Dislikes: Detroit, being called an eagle, getting his tail feathers plucked.

It's fitting that Tommy Hawk is the mascot because that term is derived from is the French word "mascotte” meaning a charm or luck. A mascot is a way to represent a group with public identities, such as a school, pro sports team, military unit or brand name. In fact, has traditionally been understood to be a person, animal or object thought to bring luck to this group. Today, we are aware of it in another context. It is a highly marketed representative of the organization, in sports used for merchandising.

But what is worth paying attention to is that among many sports teams, nicknames and mascots are not interchangeable. For example, the University of Alabama is nicknamed the Crimson Tide. Fans yell “Roll Tide!” Their mascot, however, is Big Al: an elephant. And as with the NHL Champions, you have a mascot that is a bird and a team name that refers to a division of the military. So what gives with the illustration that adorns the Blackhawks jersey loud and proud, front and center.

I don't know that I can or should answer that question. I am open to hearing and learning from others (but I think it is one of the most regal and striking logos there are. A native person himself said it was "bad ass'). However, what I did learn in my other research is how and why the term "Redskin" is offensive. As I wrote about before, "Redskin" refers to a bounty, the number of heads that were brought in as the kill. No longer is a native person a human being, they are a cash prize. 

The article Why Is the Chicago Blackhawks Logo Okay but Washington Redskins Racist? states "The Hawks don’t use a caricature or slur that other teams have come under fire for. In fact, there is almost zero Native American 'stuff' used by the organization other than just their very famous logo. Read more here

I hope you will consider these questions and give them more thought. In the meantime, congratulations to my peer, Stan Bowman '95 and the Chicago Blackhawks

1. Should we continue to use people as mascots? As logos? For marketing purposes?
2. To what degree does a person as a mascot compromise human dignity? To what extent does it build/honor human dignity?
3. Why have Native Americans been deemed as mascots more often than other groups? Why are they used as logos for so many others?
4. What is lost when we are politically correct? What is gained?
5. How often is basic respect mislabeled as “politically correct?”

Photo Credits
Logo
Stan Bowman
Tommy Hawk

4th of July: Sports & Spirituality Style

I've always wanted to make an
Uncle Sam cake for this holiday

Independence Day—the 4th of July—is my favorite holiday. Upon learning this, a good friend of mine Father Lou once said "it's the only thing not religious about you." I still smile when I think of his kind and thoughtful response. But the two need not be separate, right? So here's my take on America's birthday, sport and spirituality style. 

Listed below are recommendations for what every American ought to consider on this national holiday one year or the next.

Run a 5 or 10K
Americans love a good Turkey Trot, but why not kick start this day with a stars and stripes run? It's something men, women and children of all-ages can complete. It allows a little more license for the impending eats at your afternoon barbecue and as I've written many times, for me, running invokes prayer.

I still treasure the memories of the "Go Fourth" 10K I ran from Alexandria, VA to Mt. Vernon on this day 14 years ago. Running beside places of such historical significance framed the importance of this day. Maybe your road race will take you through a city or state park? Perhaps it is on a trail completed by the WPA. Maybe it's beside the Atlantic or Pacific Ocean. America is expansive and diverse. Let your feet discover its awesome terrain. Don't forget to wear red, white and blue!

Attend Daily Mass on July 4
In the same spirit as Thanksgiving, the patriotism that flavors this holiday carries over into the Mass. The staff at your local parish would like to enjoy their own festivities as well, so there is usually but one common Mass on this day. And it's a special one because the petitions carry prayers of gratitude for our freedom, protection for those who serve our country and guidance for our leaders. The songs are ones that every American can and should sing: America the Beautiful, My Country This of Thee, etc. No Springsteen in that queue—but there could be...

I sit with my good friend Jackie every year.
Her family has been going to the Danville Parade for 30 years now

Attend your local 4th of July Parade
I have been out of the country on service Immersion trips twice and I regretted it—both times. I felt as though the heading of a new chapter for my book of summer was missing. For me, the best way to start the day (after my run) is showing up at the Danville Parade.

Your local parade gives you a real feel for the community, what it values and supports. Today I saw veterans from World War II on through a few from Iraq. We stood for "Blue Star Moms," a group of mothers who have sons and daughters active in the military. I always look forward to seeing the Little League All Star baseball players and what water pranks they intend to pull. 

But I'd like to make one small recommendation as you watch one float after another. Make a point to find the best "old school" NBA jersey in the crowd. You would be amazed what you will see. This year, we spotted a young man in a black striped Chicago Bulls jersey. #91. When he walked past, we were delighted to see instead of "Rodman" it said "The Worm." I told him it was a mistake not to wear one of the Detroit Pistons, from the Bay Boys Era. Give it a go. You'll like what you see... 

Pray to or read about the life of one American Saint

I would be remiss if I did not
mention the first Native American
Saint: Kateri Tekakwitha

Take your pick! There are so many holy and inspiring men and women whose selfless gifts indelibly shaped the Catholic Church in America. In addition to their feast day, take this day as one to thank them for the children they taught, the poor they served, the hospitals and schools they founded.

Canonized in 1946, St. Francis Xavier Cabrini, foundress of the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart is the first American saint.* "Mother Cabrini," as she is known was born in Italy but immigrated to the US and served men and women like her. St. Elizabeth Ann Seton is the first American saint who was born state side. She is known as the founder of the Sisters of Charity (and numerable associates) and the mother of our Catholic schools. St. John Neumann, a native of Bohemia immigrated to the US and later became Archbishop of Philadelphia. He once said "build a school and you'll have a church." I think "Field of Dreams" took his advice.

The rich tradition of saints is a treasure in the Catholic spiritual life. One component I love best is that we have Saints and we have saints. Dorothy Day and Thomas Merton are two exemplary American Catholics.  I'm sure you know of others...

If there ever way a time or place for a "no-no"

Listen to a baseball game on the radio
I write this because attending a baseball game on this day is a given. I will forever wish that I was in attendance at now Giants pitching coach Dave Rightetti's no-hitter as a New York Yankee on July 4, 1983. What could be more American than that? 

But, listening to a baseball game on the radio feels timeless, doesn't it? We refer to baseball as our national past time, but we know that time has passed. Hearing the narrative of the game through that magic box however, convinces me otherwise. It paints vibrant images, it transfers magnificent stories and recalls old memories. I like that past time on the long, hot summer days.

So as you drive to see the fireworks or head home from your pool party, turn on the AM radio and hopefully you'll catch a good game.

Play and compete in at least one sport or game...any sport or game
Horseshoes, ping pong (singles or doubles), volleyball, water balloon toss, belly flop contest, basketball in the pool. Something...anything. Nothing is more American that good old fashioned competition.

Three summers ago I traveled to Denver to spend this holiday with the Davis family. Their community pool and their large family had said games and more. I was so excited to be Sean's partner in the Mother-Son swim relay. I laughed when Pete's Dad and brother jumped in the pool with all the women for the beer toss. And I marveled at how some kids (and adults) sacrificed their bodies and their pride in the belly flop contest. 

My buddy Sean signing us up for volleyball. Forget that it mentions kids... ;-)

I could add to this list, but I'm going to sign off because I want to conclude this day by my final piece of advice. Watch a great American film. Tonight, I'm debating between "The Natural" and "Bull Durham." I'm leaning toward "The Natural." Why? It's soundtrack is so spiritual.

Happy Birthday America! And thank you for 238 years of Freedom.

Photo Credits
Rags
Uncle Sam Cake
St Kateri