What do you think should be the Natick mascot?
METROWEST DAILY NEWS
MWNow Blog
September 15th, 2007 by Rob Haneisen
The committee studying the Natick mascot choice will meet next month to hear from the public about what the new mascot should be. In case you forgot, the School Committee earlier this year decided to stop using the “Redmen” as the school mascot after some complained it was offensive to Native Americans. Anyone who wants to suggest a name to the committee is asked to submit it in writing to the school committee before the Oct. 3 meeting. What’s your suggestion?)
17 Responses to “What do you think should be the Natick mascot?”
M Miller Says:
September 16th, 2007 at 6:57 am
try for mascot name:
the Aztecs (in respect for the large number of south americans in Natick.) Incas, etc as well.
Class of 91 Says:
September 16th, 2007 at 9:09 am
Just leave it the Natick Redmen. This attempt at p.c. is just a waste of time.
Mike Kornblum Says:
September 16th, 2007 at 9:38 am
Suggested names for Natick High School teams:
Natick Mallers (A nod to the retail profile of Natick, combined with “mauling” competitors
Natick Mallrats (Self explanatory)
Natick Consumers (Why not be transparent?)
Natick Collectors (Pimp my mall name)
Natick Fluties (A nod to the legacy- maybe there will be another generation coming someday???)
MICHAEL Says:
September 16th, 2007 at 12:38 pm
YOU’VE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME, THIS IS NOTHING BUT POLITICAL CORRECTNESS RUNNING AMOK. I CANNOT BELIEVE NATICK IS WASTING TIME AND MONEY ON SUCH A NON-ISSUE. SO WHAT IF 3 OR 4 PEOPLE DON’T LIKE THE NAME, DON’T GO TO THE GAMES.
WE HAVE TO STOP ALLOWING THE FEW THE ABILITY TO DICTATE TO THE MANY. THAT’S DEMOCRACY REMEMBER? I’M OF IRISH DECENT, DO YOU THINK I CARE IF NOTRE DAME’S TEAMS ARE CALLED THE “FIGHTING IRISH” OR SOME POLICE VEHICLES ARE CALLED “PADDY WAGONS”? NO, I HAVE MORE IMPORTANT THINGS TO WORRY ABOUT.
C’MON PEOPLE GET A LIFE OR FIND A HOBBY.
Erich Thalheimer Says:
September 16th, 2007 at 12:49 pm
I am, and always will be, a Natick Redmen, dammit! The blood I spilled on Memorial Field playing center for good old Doug what’s-his-name was certainly red enough. This candy-ass PC attitude that we have here in Natick is embarrasing. I am a native Natickite and frankly, I don’t care if the name Redmen offends some native Americans - get over it. How about the fact that I’m offended by their being offended, huh?
Erich Thalheimer, Class of 1980, thalheimer@pbworld.com
WT Says:
September 16th, 2007 at 3:50 pm
The Name “Redmen” should stay! What next change the name of the town because it is Native American as well? The name didn’t even offend any Native Americans, it was a WHITE person who felt guilty… and then the committee members had to follow suit because they didn’t want to hear anything about racism, it’s like a deer in headlights look once the word comes up… I believe it honored the Natick Indians to have OUR team named after them…. The town should have had a vote on whether or not to change it, as it is a town decision.
The Natick Politically Correcteds Says:
September 16th, 2007 at 9:52 pm
Natick is rapidly going into the toilet. I guess “these people” must think that the kids really could care less what
the team mascots name is.
Ten years from now nobody will know who Natick is because they closed the Natick collective because the Big “N” offended someone. Maybe Natick should do what Boston University did. KILL FOOTBALL forever.
If they would only add a tax to cigarettes,gasoline and alcohol then we would get a brand new High School that is constructed to survive Global Warming.
Give it up Doug you cant save it.
dee Says:
September 17th, 2007 at 6:15 am
NATICK WILL ALWAYS BE THE “HOME OF CHAMPIONS”….. SO WE WILL CALL THEM “NATICK PRIDE”.
RED MEN Says:
September 17th, 2007 at 9:17 am
I like the suggestion of changin the name to the RED MEN. I simple space between the D & M will sitisfy the people who are offended, and satisfy the rest of us as we would get to keep our name. I am not in favor of the PRIDE, VOLUNTEERS or any of that crap, we have always been the REDMEN, we will always be the REDMEN. What difference does a space make?
Steve Says:
September 17th, 2007 at 1:47 pm
As a Natick resident for only five years, I cannot speak to the emotions this controversy stirs in those who have called Natick home their entire lives. I can say, however, that when I moved here I flinched at the “Redmen” mascot and its seemingly negative connotations. Despite learning about it’s non-Native American beginnings, I’d say a change is in order.
I’m of the notion that the pride and spirit of Natick lies not within a simple mascot but within the people who make up our schools and community. I’d also like to see how this issue would fare if the townspeople were given a chance to vote upon it.
If forced to choose a new mascot, I’ve heard people say that a nod to the local red hawk population would be appropriate. While “Redhawks” is somewhat generic, it’s, on face value, a better choice than “Redmen”.
I also like Dee’s “Natick Pride” option.
Cynthia Martin Says:
September 17th, 2007 at 8:25 pm
It is hard living a world where asolutely everything must be politically correct. Just who decides what is PC and what isn’t? I graduated from NHS iin 1959 and was (and still am) so proud of our Redmen. I have always felt that the name indicated that the athletes of NHS strove to emulate those fine and admirable qualities of the Native Americans who occupied our little corner of the world before we arrived on the scene. I never saw and still do not see any disrepect intended in the choosing of the name Redmen. Instead I felt it was an honorable choice…. honoring all the courage in the face of hardship and the sheer determination of those early settlers of our town.
GO REDMEN!!!!
Class of 96 Says:
September 27th, 2007 at 1:56 pm
The people that let this happen should be ashamed of themselves. Atlanta Braves, Braintree Wamps, Washington Redskins….the list goes on and on. Leave it to Natick to be the only ones that are actually going to change their name. What a joke. They will always be known as the Redmen, as they should be. If the name must be changed the only somewhat reasonable name change would be the Red Men, with a space.
Mary Ashe Says:
September 28th, 2007 at 10:55 am
Natick Redhawks
Natick Spartans
Natick Talons
Natick Knights
Natick Thunder
Natick Sabres
Natick Falcons
Billy D. Says:
September 29th, 2007 at 8:47 am
RED And BLUE have always been the colors for Natick High. Therefore implement the K.I.S.S. theory. (KEEP IT SIMPLE STUPID). If we must make a change——change it from REDMEN TO BLUEMEN. Tradition has it that the Wednesday night before the THANKSGIVING GAME we celebrate RED AND BLUE NIGHT at the Natick Elks—— Let The BLUEMEN celebrate the present and the future and let the REDMEN stand proud of their past !!!! GO BLUEMEN!!!!
Shawn Grady Says:
September 29th, 2007 at 9:21 am
Sadly, the Redmen mascot is gone for good and therefore silly to lament over. A mascot is a symbol, so I’ll leave it to the symbol-minded to chose some name agreeable to new age suburbia. Too bad the Carling Brewery is gone, they could be the Brewers. Does it animate and trivialize a people to have a sports team named after it? Perhaps yes in some cases. But it was never the intent of the town of Natick to be slanderous, and for me this is the main issue. In our therapeutic culture where kid’s leagues do not keep score because “Everybody Wins!”, and trophies are handed out to losing teams because “We are all number ONE!”, feelings trump facts, regardless of intent or purpose. It goes to show we are no longer a serious people. We are a silly people and far from The Greatest Generation.
Stop Hate Says:
October 3rd, 2007 at 3:52 pm
Please stop the Redmen rant…hey, let’s bring back racism…NOT.
Despite it’s innocence at inception Redman has negative connotations…there’s simply nothing to argue there.
UMass Amherst figured this out and changed it’s name from Redmen THIRTY YEARS AGO…
How did being thoughtful and sensitive to ethnic sensitivities become so negative?
Move on people
Joe Pignatiello Says:
October 16th, 2007 at 11:52 am
I’ve been following this issue for quite some time. The name “Redmen” is gone, OK? It’s time to move on.
My suggestion?
The Champions!
As you know, Natick been using the slogan “Natick: Home of Champions” since its firefighters won a prestigious skills competition sometime in the 1800s. So, my suggested name is deeply rooted in Natick’s history. And, Natick has a number of championships of which is it very proud.
I think Champions is a name that everyone can rally around. It not politically or culturally sensitive. I think it is a name that exudes pride in Natick. I can almost hear Queen’s “We are the champions, my friend” being sung by all the Natick fans in the stands.
Regardless of whether a team from Natick wins or not, they will always be Champions.
Natick High, Class of 1972