Tennis shows winning flair vs. Benson/KMS

First of all, my thoughts on the Gophers vs. Northwestern football game of this past Saturday are on my "Morris Mojo" podcast. The link:

https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/brian1610/episodes/Gophers-vs--Northwestern-football-e29otm9 

 

MACA/WCA won a hard-fought tennis dual over Benson/KMS 4-3. Benson as we speak is in the midst of dealing with their nickname/logo situation. Benson is seeking permission from Native American groups to continue with its "Braves" thing, complete with the symbol that has the feathers. 

Well, my reaction is that if Benson gets its way, then what was the purpose of the new state law? Benson has the standard disrespectful symbolism. Apologists for them might say they consulted with a Native American on logo design, to be properly respectful or whatever. 

Can't you see through that? If I'm the Native American who gets approached on this matter, in a patronizing manner, I am not going to want to throw cold water on it. I'd risk drawing some resentment. Because, the school might be forced into a nickname change and that would cost money. It costs more than you might think. 

I think Benson right now is in a game to see who blinks first. And by that I mean, if Benson just balks indefinitely, what happens? What kind of "enforcement?" Put the superintendent or school board chairman in jail? Well that would seem preposterous. But I don't know, we have a former president of the U.S. talking now that if he gets back in, we'll see executions of people, for example General Mark Milley. Treason. 

So our first reaction follows the pattern: "Oh that could never happen." Might we laugh? But as with all Trump things, time passes and then we slowly realize that the scariest scenario is going to happen after all. And so many of the most committed Christians are reluctant to ever counter Trump on anything. Is it time for all good people to begin roundly condemning the Christian faith? I would say "no" but that our attention should turn to the bastardized form of the faith, i.e. MAGA. Will the local Apostolic Christians ever start showing skepticism toward Trump? I'm tired of waiting. 

So my theory is that the Benson school will just delay with its Indian logo thing, "delay" being the Trump kind of tactic, and in the end the state will be forced to move in and spend state money to fix the situation. The Benson school administration will get a pat on the back for doing it this way. But what about the moral question of having held on to the nickname for so long? 

Does it always have to be about money? Well in 2023, I guess yes. 

Native Americans are not mascots.

 

Tigers 4, Benson/KMS 3

The No. 1 singles player for MACA/WCA in this win was Cate Kehoe. Cate wielded a winning racket. She turned back Elle Kletscher of Benson/KMS in a pretty hard-fought match. The outcome: 6-4, 6-4 for Cate. 

At No. 2 singles was my occasional server at DeToy's Restaurant in Morris, Chloe Zimmel. Chloe too had a winning racket. She was pretty dominant vs. Molly Jones with 6-3, 6-0 success. I'll have to congratulate Chloe this weekend. 

We didn't fare so well at No. 3 singles: Lilia Asmus was defeated by Ava Oakes 1-6, 3-6. Our fortunes slipped at No. 4 singles too: Ava Breuer fell vs. Tara Beyer 2-6, 3-6. 

Let's move on to doubles, and here we see Ashley Koehl and Nora Meek at No. 1. The Tiger pair downed Elise Duncan and Kya Oakes 6-0 and 6-3. At No. 2 the Tiger tandem was Izabell Hoffman and Grace Hauglie. The Tiger pair fell to Addi DeToy and Teagan Froelich, 7-6 (4), 3-6, 2-6. Our No. 3 team of Heidi Seales and Ellen Reed defeated Ella McGinty and Megan Anders, 7-5, 6-2.

Final thought

Benson athletic programs have appeared to show some weak areas over the past few years. Volleyball is really down at present. Maybe the school administration there should work harder on those matters than on clinging to a dated nickname/logo.

- Brian Williams - morris mn minnesota - bwilly73@yahoo.com