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Derrick Johnson banging the war drum at Arrowhead Stadium provided a stark reminder of the home team’s offensive and outdated tradition.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.

[rabblerouser]

Originally Posted by bobhill

Get rid of the KC STAR,, there that'd be the new tradition

You're not using your commas correctly.

[rabblerouser]

Originally Posted by JohnnyHammersticks

If the Star Editorial Board has their way, by 2025 Patrick Mahomes will be leading the Kansas City SJ Warriors to their 5th straight Super Bowl title.

But if KC SJWStar has their way, they'd be doing it without Ty Hill.

[rabblerouser]

Originally Posted by Frazod

You should chop your ****ing head off while you're at it. You don't use it anyway. If somebody sews up your neck before you bleed out, you'd probably carry on just fine. Sort of like a chicken.

[Stryker]

Well that's ridiculous, Florida State has been doing it forever and no one has said a damn thing about it

Good luck with that request KC Star

[Rain Man]

Originally Posted by JohnnyHammersticks

If the Star Editorial Board has their way, by 2025 Patrick Mahomes will be leading the Kansas City SJ Warriors to their 5th straight Super Bowl title.

I don't like them at all, but for five straight Super Bowls I'd be willing to entertain the Star's plan.

[Bowser]

The Kansas City Starreeeeeeeeeeee

[Bowser]

Originally Posted by gblowfish

I don't do the chop personally. But I don't care if others want to. I don't think it has any intent to mock or disparage Native Americans.

It's almost like nobody understands the "nuance" of context any longer. Almost like how outrage culture is more important than understanding not everyone is trying to personally attack everyone else constantly on a daily basis or something.

[TribalElder]

Originally Posted by dlphg9

So, if we scalped opposing teams fans and hung them on the outside around the top of Arrowhead, this dumb bitch would consider "The Chop" as more disgusting? What about when a fan gets beat to death at a game? Getting rid if The Chop should be the least of anyone's concerns. ****ing stupid ass idiots.

Ooooh, if KC wolf could scalp an effigy of the opposing teams after a win that would be great

it could be the chiefs equiv of the royals W guy

[HC_Chief]

Who? The KC Star? Man, that rag is still around? I thought all of the toilet-paper-based, day late propaganda pushers had gone the way of the horse & buggy?

[scho63]

I'll never read their stupid online stories or look at their photos ever.

Hope the place catches on fire and burns to the ground. No deaths or injuries.

[ClevelandBronco]

Originally Posted by Hammock Parties

welcome to sports

we do silly things

and **** you if you want to take them away

I don't want to take them away. The Chiefs will take them away one day.

[ClevelandBronco]

Originally Posted by FAX

How are they going to "stop" it?

Levy a fine against every person they see chopping?
Physically remove them from the stadium one by one?
Banning them en masse?
Poisoning their beer?

Even if you wanted to use military tactics, rounding up 60,000 drunk ass people is going to require a lot more than a dozen police officers and a couple of elderly, overweight security guards.

Besides, it's just a damn arm movement and a chant-type of deal. That's it. Rarely is anyone physically harmed (unless the chick in front of you gets chopped on her beehive do). And so far it appears that the people who get offended are not spending their evenings in a sweat lodge or their days spear-killing bison from horseback in order to survive.

Remember, the attendants who are "fetching and carrying" popcorn and beer in the stands are simulating slavery. What about that horrific representation and portrayal of white supremacy?

There is no bottom to victimhood, Mr. ClevelandBronco. No matter how deprived and insulted people get ... they can always find something more unendurable to exploit.

FAX

I agree.

And, yes, the few holdouts will one day be removed from the stadium if they refuse to comply.

[TwistedChief]

Originally Posted by Hammock Parties

the chiefs didn't start the chop

they won't stop it

you can't stop people from doing a thing

I agree that technically they can't stop it, but the vast majority of times it's done at games it's a function of the background noise they play with the drum beating, no? Stop that and you slowly bleed out the chant without having to really order anything.

I never liked the chop because I grew up primarily associating it with FSU, a team I despise. I thought the person in this article quoted as saying it's the most "disgusting thing in sports" was wildly exaggerating and felt that the Star was somewhat ridiculous in propping this Op-Ed.

But then I then did a little googling and read this which was modestly eye-opening in helping to understand the debate:
https://www.beyondtheboxscore.com/20...-wahoo-mlb-lds

In the end, whatever. I don't do the chop because I think it's lame but knowing the history behind it makes me glad I never did it in the first place.

[Boxers11]

Next the SJW snowflake pussies will want all sports to stop keeping score like my 8 yr olds leagues. Yay! Everyone wins. Gimme a break. Goddamn losers. Life is hard. It's gonna shit on you. Buck up & kick some ass!

[kysirsoze]

I don't really care either way. I mean the chop is pretty dumb but it's kinda fun. This article overstates its case by a long shot. Still don't understand how defensive Chiefs fans get over a silly hand gesture.