Smart Aleck

The question on Sept. 21: The L.A. school board has axed the Braves’, Mohicans’ and Warriors’ mascots. In these hypersensitive times, do you have suggestions for some more appropriate team totems?

*

The word “Mohican” means “wolf.” The word “wolf” is Middle English. Suggest the team be changed from Mohican (or Mohegan, who had no alphabet) to Wolves. The word “brave” is French or Italian (bravo). Suggest the Indians stop calling themselves Braves. The word “warrior” is Norman (werreour). Suggest the Indians stop calling themselves Warriors, and leave the term “warrior” to the Army and Marines, the real warriors.

Rhetbtlr@aol.com

*

1. “The L.A. P.C.s” (Los Angeles Politically Corrects) 2. “The L.A. E.O.s” (Los Angeles Equal Opportunities) 3. “The L.A. Sensitivities” 4. “The L.A. U TOUCH ME, I SUE U’s” 5. “The L.A. Equals”

BAIAMI@aol.com

*

It’s just a thought, but how about the Intellects as a possible team name? Oh, wait, I guess that wouldn’t work. What if we junk sports altogether and use the money to purchase textbooks and good teachers? When I taught English at the community college, at the beginning of each semester I always asked my students to tell me the name of the last book they’d read. Most of them had no answer because they had never read an entire book, but most had played sports.

Jo-Ann Mapson, Costa Mesa

*

The “Smart Aleck” topic is really offensive. There are millions of worthy topics in L.A that deserve the smart-ass treatment--why pick the vote to eliminate racist mascots ? It was a rare moment of courage and maturity on the part of the L.A. school board and was not a reaction to anyone’s “hypersensitivity.”

J. Nelson, Monrovia

*

I think the Board is too hypersensitive and thin-skinned (the Thinskins!--what a concept!).

James S. Melville, Torrance

*

Perhaps the time-honored Birmingham Braves’ mascot of 44 years should be changed to the Bravos. That way, it will only cost the taxpayers $40,666.66 to change only one letter instead of $244,000 to change all six!

Janet Shuman, Encino

*

The Gardena High School Mohicans should become the Gardena High School Windows. That way Bill Gates could pay for everything.

Jack Cusick, teacher, Gardena High School (home of the recently ejected Mohican)

*

The kids on our league teams have chosen their own names for years. Names from nature reign. Tsunamis, Galaxy, Asteroids, Comets, Fog, RipTides, Iguanas, etc.

Wanda Lo

Los Osos