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Derrick Johnson banging the war drum at Arrowhead Stadium provided a stark reminder of the home team’s offensive and outdated tradition.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

[Baby Lee]

Originally Posted by SuperChief

It's funny reading all the "outrage culture" blasting while nearly everyone in here is outraged about this take by the Star. Truly hilarious.

For the record, I love the chop. And I'm Native.

The irony you attempt to cultivate does not exist.

To the extent anyone can even colorably be characterized as 'outraged' [which is miniscule] by this reeruned attempt at journalisming, they aren't demanding The Star respond to their outrage with apology and change in behavior. They just ridicule it and disregard their enterprise.

[underEJ]

Originally Posted by smithandrew051

“The divisive chant”

How can it be divisive if the entire stadium is doing? Sounds like it unified people to me.

Not everybody does it. I go to 3 or 4 games a year and see alot of people who don't participate. Offensive or not, there are clearly alot of fans who think it is stupid and won't do it. It looks dumb, sounds dumb, isn't original, isn't a tradition from very long. You all look like idiots.

[sedated]

Originally Posted by Red Dawg

Stupid idea. The Star hates the Chiefs these days.

the star hates everything these days.

They seem to want to sell papers by attacking KC institutions.

Next up, the Plaza gentrified the area just west of The Paseo, and must be torn down.

KC's BBQ tradition is cultural appropriation, and white people enjoying it is offensive.

[Baby Lee]

Originally Posted by underEJ

Not everybody does it. I go to 3 or 4 games a year and see alot of people who don't participate. Offensive or not, there are clearly alot of fans who think it is stupid and won't do it. It looks dumb, sounds dumb, isn't original, isn't a tradition from very long. You all look like idiots.

How on earth will we survive your scorn? . . .

[rabblerouser]

Originally Posted by BDj23

- By the Kansas City Star editorial board

Cowards too afraid to put a name on their sjw hit piece?

PTSD

[underEJ]

Originally Posted by Baby Lee

How on earth will we survive your scorn? . . .

Not scorn, pity.

[Baby Lee]

Originally Posted by underEJ

Not scorn, pity.

Access denied, above your pay grade.

[DJJasonp]

Originally Posted by sedated

the star hates everything these days.



They seem to want to sell papers by attacking KC institutions.



Next up, the Plaza gentrified the area just west of The Paseo, and must be torn down.



KC's BBQ tradition is cultural appropriation, and white people enjoying it is offensive.

In this digital media age, much of "journalism" amounts to contrarian takes, with the simple agenda of drumming up discussion or "click bait".

Yahoo/nbc sports is just about 95% this.

Just about every sports talk show on espn during the day is this approach.....either at one end of the argument spectrum, or the other.

Journalism is dead....everything is Op-Ed.

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

[carcosa]

I think the chop is pretty dumb and insensitive but getting worked up about it one way or the other seems like a waste of time and energy

[RN47]

Maybe we should just do the wave? Does that offend anyone? Is it insensitive to aquatic creatures, since a 'wave' is part of their natural environment, and not something to trivialize at a sporting contest?

I mean, I don't want to look like an idiot or anything (according to underEJ) so I guess I will simply don an ascot, knee length black leather boots, breeches, a hounds tooth jacket and my monocle like those cultured folk in Los Angeles and simply say "Pip-pip! Cheerio lads! Well done!" whilst observing grown men play a child's game.



ETA: God dammit I am so sorry for being white.

[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.

[rabblerouser]

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.

I'm a Native American and I don't think it does, either.

**** the KC Star.

[Baby Lee]

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.

Originally Posted by rabblerouser

I'm a Native American and I don't think it does, either.

**** the KC Star.

You white males have no authority to police the offense taken by others.

[rabblerouser]

Originally Posted by carcosa

I think the chop is pretty dumb and insensitive

[ClevelandBronco]

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

They can't stop a behavior in their own stadium? Of course they can. Don't be silly.