Not meaning to aid in the opening of a recently-healed wound, but...
 
Michael Bohler wrote:
>I have been a Miami hockey fan for a few years now, but it is rare for me to
>see them play in an away game.  The tradition of scraping the ice and saving it
>after an away win is relatively unknown, even around Oxford.  It is a quiet
>celebration meant for the benefit of Miami skaters.
 
Not at Munn, it wasn't.  All times I've seen it done in East Lansing, it has
not been a "quiet" ceremony.
 
>What business this is to any other team beats me.
 
Last time I checked, it was our ice.  (And, please, don't flame me with the
"it's just water" line.  It's symbolic.)
 
>Never before have I heard this practice refered to as "scalping", not until I
>read a post on Hockey-L.  Is this what other schools, the media, or Miami
>players call it?
 
From what I've heard, that's what the Miami players referred to it as.
 
>I'd appreciate it if people thought about this phrase and
>would stop using it.
 
Since the Miami players have decided to no longer do it, I'll be more than happyto comply with your request.
 
Re: the nickname
>The Miami Tribe supported the University's decision to keep the current
>nickname.  They felt that the University reflects a positive image on the Miami
>Tribe and the nickname is not used in a derogatory manner.
 
Then, IMO, nothing else matters.  If the Miami tribe (who would be the ones mostoffended by the name if anyone) has no problems with iit and believes it
reflects a positive image, why should the University HAVE to change it?  From
what you've written (which isn't a lot, but...), it appears that the relation-
ship between the school and the tribe is similar to that between Lake Superior
State and the local tribes in Sault Ste. Marie.  If they're happy with the
arrangement and feel that the nickname does not denigrate them, then to be
somewhat blunt about it, the rest of the world can go screw itself.  (Hold
the PC flames, my mailbox is full.)
 
G. M. Finniss
Michigan State University 13-7-3, 18-10-3
WVU '87, UTenn '92, MSU who the hell knows when?
Wondering if there are any of Greek descent who are upset with the Spartan
nickname.....