KC Star demands the Chiefs stop the chop

[Hammock Parties]

****ing piece of shit fishwrap

Stop the offensive ‘Arrowhead Chop.’ It’s time for a new Chiefs tradition

link redacted

The image of former Kansas City Chiefs star Derrick Johnson banging the war drum at Arrowhead Stadium provided a stark reminder of the home team’s offensive and outdated tradition.

While Johnson led the prelude to last Sunday’s nationally-televised contest between the Chiefs and Green Bay, fans waved their arms back and forth in unison, banding together for the Tomahawk Chop.

It was a bad look for Kansas City — and an affront to Native Americans.

For years, the Chiefs organization has worked with Native American groups to address concerns about the negative stereotypes that have been on display at our home games. The team no longer promotes face paint or headdresses that disrespect the heritage or customs of Native Americans.

And Native Americans have blessed the use of the Chiefs’ war drum in accordance with their customs and rituals.

But the ever-present “Arrowhead Chop” at home games, along with Chiefs officials’ unwillingness to disavow the cheer, are evidence that the team still has more work to do.

“The Arrowhead Chop is part of the game-day experience that is really important to our fans,” said team President Mark Donovan.

But why? Arrowhead Stadium is one of the loudest places to play in the NFL, and there’s no doubt that Chiefs fans will bring the noise — with or without the chop.

The divisive chant is racially insensitive and entirely unnecessary.

“The chop itself is the most disgusting thing you can do in sports,” said Amanda Blackhorse of Arizona to Rally Against Native Mascots, a national group opposed to the use of Native American images in sports.

The continued use of Native American mascots, nicknames and themes in sports dehumanizes Native Americans, Blackhorse said.

“I disagree with so much of what they are doing,” she said of the Chiefs organization’s continued encouragement of the chop. “At this point, they are ignoring the opposition. Shame on them for allowing racism to happen in that stadium.”

Elizabeth Glynn, the CEO of Travois, which helps create affordable housing and economic development opportunities for American Indians, has spoken to leaders of tribal nations and said most are against the use of any imagery that depicts Native Americans in a bad light. Travois works with more than 100 tribes in 22 states.

“No one wants to take away the enjoyment for fans,” Glynn said. “There are a lot of ways to have fun at games. You can do that without labeling and stereotyping an entire group of people.”

Of course, the Chiefs aren’t the only organization that has clung to this offensive celebration. The Tomahawk Chop came under fire earlier this month during the Major League Baseball playoff series between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Atlanta Braves.

St. Louis pitcher Ryan Helsley of the Cherokee Nation was asked for his thoughts about the Braves’ game-day tradition. Hensley didn’t mince words, and the Atlanta organization immediately halted its foam tomahawks giveaway.

“I’m trying to use my voice to get awareness out there and try to help people in that way, to help people see another side, help people see our side,” Helsley told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

While sports teams have paid lip service to racial sensitivity, the Washington Redskins have shown no inclination to change their distasteful and inappropriate nickname. Cleveland’s baseball team was painfully slow to phase out its mascot, which belittled Native Americans, Chief Wahoo.

The Chiefs have taken steps in the right direction, but their unwavering commitment to the Arrowhead Chop is confounding and disappointing. What purpose does it serve? And why continue the chant if it offends even a single Native American?

Chiefs fans are among the most loyal and enthusiastic in the NFL. And there’s no doubt they would fill any void left by the absence of the chop with a high-decibel celebration of our team.

November is National Native American Heritage Month. The Chiefs plan to celebrate the culture during a game against Oakland on Dec. 1. But the organization could do far more good if it used this month to reevaluate a practice that perpetuates stereotypes and dehumanizes an entire group.

It’s time for a new Chiefs tradition.

[gblowfish]

They had a big problem with the Irish in Blazing Saddles...

[Hoopsdoc]

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

100 years ago when immigrants were fleeing famine in Ireland and taking American jobs. But now, the Irish have it easy today. The vast majority want to be of Irish ancestry. Being Irish is in no way a negative in America today.

Neither is being Native American.

[J Diddy]

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

All of the Arrowhead South chapters avoid controversies. No religion or political talk etc. But............. we have always encouraged the chop. Doing the chop with a room full of people after a score is fun. It unites and shares our excitement about the Chiefs.

I've asked some of our Chief fans over the years with native American ancestry about it, none were upset. We are not going to stop doing the chop.

**** I’ve trained all 3 of my dogs to sing the chop. I’ll give up the chop when they pry the tomahawk from my cold dead hands

[Baby Lee]

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

100 years ago when immigrants were fleeing famine in Ireland and taking American jobs. But now, the Irish have it easy today. The vast majority want to be of Irish ancestry. Being Irish is in no way a negative in America today.

You lot just make this shit up on the fly, or is it all written down somewhere?

[ThyKingdomCome15]

The Star is out of touch. The excessive PC stuff is so five years ago.

[Hammock Parties]

Holthus retweeted this

KCSTAR BTFO

@mitchholthus The Chiefs should be congratulated for blending many parts of our midwestern culture: Barbecue pre-game, military recognition, Native American ties to the region, etc. “The Kingdom” is a melting pot and unifying. The T. Chop is a small part of a good thing.

— Jim Swarthout (@1Lost_Wizard) November 2, 2019

[Mosbonian]

Originally Posted by Kiimosabi

I'm not against the chop other than it is not original and makes us look like wannabe florida state fans which I AM hyper sensitive about.

I think the chop should go away but not because it is offensive. It isn't offensive. Most native americans that I interact with have zero problem with the Chiefs name or the chop. They dislike the Redskins and Cleveland Indians though. For good reason Chief Wahoo is a straight up 1940s racist caricature

I have heard this for years and I keep waiting for someone to come up with an original idea. Everyone keeps complaining about the chop and laments that we should find something new but when it comes to a recommendation for that something new, I hear nothing but crickets.

Until then...I will keep doing the chop.

[JohnnyHammersticks]

Originally Posted by Bowser

It's impossible be racist against white people these days. Learn the rules.

So....Kansas City Crackers?

Replace the chop with a golf practice swing?

[scho63]

CP Planet demands KC Star fire the reporter

[Valiant]

As someone part Indian I don't go to games because I prefer my 60inch, but the chop with our crowd is intimidating. Nothing the chiefs represent is disparaging.

Just useless woke culture. The chiefs need to ban all kcstar staff.

[FloridaMan88]

Florida State does the Tomahawk Chop and uses all of the Injun imagery and the Seminole Tribe in Florida embraces and supports it.

So maybe the KC Star Editorial Board should go talk to real Injuns.

[dlphg9]

The Native Americans can have all of this stuff back as soon as they give me all of my money back that they practically stole at the virtual roulette table inside Down Stream Casino.

[Sweet Daddy Hate]

Sure, we can do that. There's just one catch; I'm the guy picking the new tradition.

And my new tradition involves a party of no less than 50 Chiefs fans armed with lead pipes and baseball bats paying your sports department a visit every time you print a bullshit story about any of the players, or when your written work can't hold my attention from start to finish.

Deal?

[Pitt Gorilla]

Originally Posted by scho63

CP Planet demands KC Star fire the reporter

Which reporter?

[kccrow]

We have many Native Americans in the area I live and several that enjoy football are Chiefs' fans simply because they think the team embraces and represents part of their culture. I don't see any of them bitching about the chop. They may agree that it's not especially representative of anything culturally, but they sure don't find it offensive. KC Star continues to be a bunch of idiots.