* Bird-in-the-hand department: Two years ago, the Big East turned down an ESPN media-rights deal for $1.17 billion over nine years. That would have amounted to nearly $14 million annually for full members, such as USF. Then all hell broke loose with defections and realignments across the board in athletic conferences. Arguably, none more decimated than the Big East. It’s reflected in ESPN’s latest Big East offer, reportedly a seven-year, $130 million deal, which means about $2 million a year for full members–such as USF.
* Fired USF football coach Skip Holtz signed a five-year deal with Louisiana Tech that will net him $1 million a season. Half of that courtesy of USF. His Bulls’ buyout calls for $500,000 per year for five years.
* Lane Kiffin, the classless football coach at USC, strikes again. The son of former Bucs’ defense coordinator Monte Kiffin publicly faulted the USC defense for QB Matt Barkley’s drop in draft status. The same USC defense that was coached by his dad. Yet another reminder that Monte should have paid more attention to child rearing than teaching the “Tampa 2” to Buccaneer defenders.
* When it comes to mascots, I’m not a politically correct sort. I think the Florida State Seminoles have it about right. No need to traffic in, say, natural disasters (Hurricanes) or swamp critters (Gators) in looking for an indigenous touch. Then you kick back a percentage of mascotted paraphernalia to the tribe and offer an accredited course on its history. You share some wealth and show some respect. If there’s a “stereotype” in play, it’s one of nobility, courage and fighting tenacity.
But I draw the line at Redskins, which recently came under fire again at a Smithsonian Institution symposium. The topic was racial stereotypes and slurs. The hometown Washington “Redskins” qualify. It’s the Native American version of the “Fighting Sambos,” which no organization would stand for. Tradition notwithstanding, “Redskins” is insensitive and insulting, even if owners and too many fans are inured to that reality.
The problem is that “Redskins” is not about a university mascot. The dynamic of campus awareness and politics is not to be confused with the private sector, the domain of professional sports franchises. Ask Miami University of Ohio. It used to be, interestingly enough, the “Redskins.” Since 1997, the Oxford, Ohio school has been the Redhawks. So be it.
And for the record, yes, Chief Wahoo, the cartoonish mascot of the Cleveland “Indians” also needs to go. Yesterday.
*The NFL is a long way from being as global as that other “football.” But some progress was evident in the turnout at the league’s pre-draft combine. Participating players were born or grew up in: Australia, England, Estonia, Ghana, Germany, Japan, Liberia and Tonga.