Adidas Trying to Remove Native American Sports Mascots, Will It Hit Kamiakin?

In what has to be the most shameful in the long line of efforts to remove Native American mascots from high school athletic programs, Adidas now seeks to 'bribe' high schools into changing their names if they have anything to do with Native American culture.

Adidas has launched a new program where they will "help" schools find a new mascot, if they agree to drop their old Native American one. They have pledged resources to design the new mascot and logo, and financial resources if the cost of changeover is financially prohibitive.

One of the schools that immediately comes to mind is Kamiakin High School in Kennewick. Since it's opening in 1970, the school has used "Braves" as it's mascot. But what the Adidas bunch and other politically correct zealots don't realize is, before choosing Braves, the school and district sought permission from the Yakama Indian Tribe and others to make sure the use depicted the Braves as honorable and portrayed with courage.   Kamiakin was the tribal chief who led his people in the Yakama Indian War between 1855 and 1858.

The school's use of the Indian leader, logo and affiliated artwork has been praised for years as being courageous, strong and respectful.

So far, KaHS, as it's known (to differentiate from it's cross-town rival Kennewick High School- KHS) has largely dodged and been left alone in these PC efforts to destroy tradition in the name of feel-good politics.

The same could be said for the Florida State Seminoles. That program and school have such a following, and support from local and regional Native Americans, they've not been in the crosshairs.

Most of the attention has been focused on the NFL's Washington Redskins, largely because there's a lot of money involved.

Here's hoping the school doesn't enter into any shoe or uniform agreements with a company that's obviously caving to political correctness by 'bribing' schools into thinking it's for their own good.  As the parent of three children who've graduated and participated in sports there, and a son who's playing for their very competitive football program, I am hoping they don't change for PC reasons.

Besides, it's probably a desperate attempt by Adidas to slow down  the 800 lb. gorilla known as Nike, who even more so dominate the uniform market. Especially since the explosion of the Oregon Duck influence on football gear.