Tonight the Twins open their first series of 2017 against the defending AL champions, the Cleveland Indians. In a perfect world Riverbrian would be writing this game thread opener, but we do not live in a perfect world.

 

1. There is ongoing controversy about whether the Indians' logo is racist. Last week, baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred suggested that the Indians should phase out the logo. http://www.cbsnews.com/news/mlb-commissioner-urges-cleveland-indians-to-eradicate-chief-wahoo-logo/

 

Above is a graphic that shows the current logo on the left and the prior logo on the right. In my opinion the current logo is marginally better than the prior logo, but still insulting to Native Americans, as is the name "Chief Wahoo". On the other hand, I take some pleasure in anything that divides Cleveland fans.

 

 

2. Lest I ignore the fact that TC bear unfairly portrays bears and terrifies young children, I would note that the Twins mascot is also less than perfect.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ZtjqoQ6Lf4

 

In order to keep the focus of this thread on the team on the field, I'm editing out the second half of this original story. Let's talk about the game and the team that is off to a (surprisingly?) good start.

I agree about the Cleveland nickname and logo. I think the time is long past to abolish them as well as those of the MLB team in Atlanta and the NFL team in Washington. It's my personal policy not to use those terms.

Get rid of the Indians name and logo. Today's society has progressed beyond that. Although how do we deal with our beloved Vikings team name?

http://olivia.mn.us/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Welcome-To-Olivia.jpg

 

Get rid of the Indians name and logo. Today's society has progressed beyond that. Although how do we deal with our beloved Vikings team name?

I think it should be dealt with in a similar fashion as the FSU Seminoles and the UND Fighting Hawks. Find out how people of Norwegian and Danish heritage feel about it. And there are many teams using ethnic mascots that should take a similar look at it. Lots of Vikings and Irish, just to name two.

I hope the irony of this thread's objectification of Olivias is not lost on anyone. 

 

Get rid of the Indians name and logo. Today's society has progressed beyond that. Although how do we deal with our beloved Vikings team name?

And I think too many people are looking for reasons to be offended and need to get over themselves.

 

And I think too many people are looking for reasons to be offended and need to get over themselves.

 

It isn't up to you to tell other people whether they should be offended.

 

If you can't see how "Redskins" is an offensive name....

 

It isn't up to you to tell other people whether they should be offended.

 

And yet I seem to find the logo issue only part of what is offensive in this thread ... and I was told that as a website of mostly men, to just accept it. My offense doesn't count.

http://ais.rtl.de/masters/229134/800x450/dschungelcamp-2013-kandidatin-olivia-jones.jpg

 

Ahhh… the good ol' days.

tony olivia?

Hey...how 'bout them Twins?

 

It isn't up to you to tell other people whether they should be offended.

 

If you can't see how "Redskins" is an offensive name....

Actually, no, I don't care about the Redskins name. For the record, my grandmother was full blooded Cherokee Indian. I have ancestors that died on Trail of Tears. Guess what? I got over that crap a long time ago. Actually, it was never anything I had to get over. If I got offended by every little thing that happened in this world, I'd be perpetually aggrieved. And I'm tired of being told that something is offensive when, as far as I'm concerned, it doesn't matter.

 

And yet I seem to find the logo issue only part of what is offensive in this thread ... and I was told that as a website of mostly men, to just accept it. My offense doesn't count.

Chitown, we're all human and we all step in it at times. Call someone out on it, they apologize, move on. (you should have seen the humble pie I ate when I made disparaging remark about Millenials. Fully deserved, I might add)

 

Anyway, how about Hawk Harrelson? Does the very mention of his name give you shivers and nightmares?

 

Hey...how 'bout them Twins?

Are they old enough yet?

Hey...how 'bout them Twins?

Is this the first time we are being reminded to discuss the game in a gamethread!?

 

Now i've seen everything!

 

Glunn, this is one impressive soul searching intro.

 

I hope we win, and if it is only the game, that's fine with me.

I'm looking forward to the game. Cleveland should be a good test. Actually, after last year, everything is a good test.

RE: Chief Wahoo, i agree that the Indians should move on from that. As far as changing the name, etc, well, that is a different story.

 

Like people have pointed out elsewhere though, Wahoo isn't going anywhere anytime soon because even if the team completely stops using him there is decades of memorabilia, and a plethora of shirts and hats out there that the fans will still use. And I can't imagine the team censoring those things at the gate. 

Also, go Twins

Is there any chance that Gibby pitches for more pop flys this year with our stud outfield defense and still in question right side of the infield?

 

I'm attending my first game of the season tonight, here's hoping to see Buxton get a couple hits!

Sano's going off tonight. He was pretty chapped about taking some pitches he should have destroyed yesterday. Wear your hard hats out there in the LF bleachers, folks.

Ahhh… the good ol' days.

Yeah. You don't see her around here much anymore. And for a reason, as ChiTown elucidated.

Game threads wander quite a bit, and I'm sensitive to that. But I don't want to use that as an excuse to make some people feel unwelcome.

 

As such, I'd like us to try and be careful about a "boys will be boys" mentality becoming pervasive on the site and in the forums. For instance, we could pump up page views with a lot of tactics that appeal to men. But this site has always tried to remain above that kind of attention. 

 

We haven't been terribly successful at adding female voices to our community. Our voices haven't resonated as strong with women. But any thread that encourages readers to post headshots of women feels like we're moving in the wrong direction. I'd encourage community members to, in this thread, stick to subjects that both male and female Twins fans can all embrace, and work on reaching out and welcoming each other.

 

I am really looking forward to the game tonight. I don't really care if the Twins win or not, as long as they show some gumption.

 

Also, when game time starts, it means I'm no longer replacing fence posts. Freaking builders. Put in the cheapest fence possible, no treated lumber and the posts rot out at the base, even here in CA.

 

 

I am really looking forward to the game tonight. I don't really care if the Twins win or not, as long as they show some gumption.

 

Also, when game time starts, it means I'm no longer replacing fence posts. Freaking builders. Put in the cheapest fence possible, no treated lumber and the posts rot out at the base, even here in CA.

 

Fences are a royal pain. We took ours out in MN, and never put it back. That said, I know some people like them. Even taking ours out was a royal pain.

 

edit: sigh. I just realized I used "royal pain" twice in that short rant. sigh.

Edited April 17, 20179 yr by Mike Sixel

 

Game threads wander quite a bit, and I'm sensitive to that. But I don't want to use that as an excuse to make some people feel unwelcome.

 

As such, I'd like us to try and be careful about a "boys will be boys" mentality becoming pervasive on the site and in the forums. For instance, we could pump up page views with a lot of tactics that appeal to men. But this site has always tried to remain above that kind of attention. 

 

We haven't been terribly successful at adding female voices to our community. Our voices haven't resonated as strong with women. But any thread that encourages readers to post headshots of women feels like we're moving in the wrong direction. I'd encourage community members to, in this thread, stick to subjects that both male and female Twins fans can all embrace, and work on reaching out and welcoming each other.

Thank you.

 

I am really looking forward to the game tonight. I don't really care if the Twins win or not, as long as they show some gumption.

 

Also, when game time starts, it means I'm no longer replacing fence posts. Freaking builders. Put in the cheapest fence possible, no treated lumber and the posts rot out at the base, even here in CA.

Perhaps, treated lumber is more detrimental to the environment than cutting down more trees?

So, glad I don't live there and NEVER will......