Steelers faithful find a shrine of their own in Rome
Page 1 of 2
SPORTS / STEELERS & NFL
Steelers faithful find a shrine of their own in Rome
Pittsburgh tourists have made La Botticella their cantina of choice
Sunday, May 17, 2009
By Dan Gigler, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Dan Gigler/Post-Gazette
Mr. Poggi, left, owner of La Botticella, and Luca Valente in front of St. Peter's Square.
ROME, Italy -- They come here, like so many do, as pilgrims and as scholars.
Their travel slate may include a papal Mass at St. Peter's Basilica, or a study of the ruins of classical antiquity. But as
itinerant subjects of the Steelers Nation, they also flock to La Botticella, a cozy pub just off of the Piazza Navona, which in
recent years -- mostly by happenstance -- has become the cantina of choice for Steelers fans in the Eternal City.
The reigning Emperor of the Roman Steeler Republic, Giovanni Poggi, is the owner and proprietor. Travelers from around
the globe have stopped to leave an official "Asciugamano Terribile" as tribute.
"I must have 30 Terrible Towels," Mr. Poggi said, laughing and pointing to close to a dozen bags stuffed with, among other
things, Terrible Towels, Steelers T-shirts, signs, magnets, hats -- even a pair of slippers and a long-haired Troy Polamalu
wig.
Housed in a century-old former wine merchant's shop in a narrow cobblestone alley, La Botticella was opened 18 years ago
by Mr. Poggi to capitalize on hordes of tourists looking to quench their thirsts with a cocktail between sightseeing stops.
Along the way, the haunt developed a loyal clientele, first among U.S.-based flight crews stopping over in Rome and later
college students studying abroad. About four to five years ago, Mr. Poggi said groups of Penn State and Duquesne
University students spending semesters in Rome -- most of them from Pittsburgh -- adopted La Botticella as their hangout.
The advent of satellite TV made it easy to catch American sports, and homesick students wanted to see their beloved Steelers
and Penguins play. A match was made, and La Botticella became a regular Sunday gathering spot to see the Black & Gold.
"The fans that came in here, their passion for the Steelers was infectious," Mr. Poggi said. "They go as nuts for them as the
[soccer] fans here do for Roma or Lazio," he said, alluding to Rome's stalwart futbol franchises.
He tacked a small Steelers pennant onto La Botticella's sidewalk sandwich board to beckon to Pittsburghers and Steelers fans
who passed by. Soon after, Pittsburgh paraphernalia -- Terrible Towels, Sidney Crosby and Troy Polamalu jerseys, even a
sticker from Fat Head's Saloon on the South Side -- were affixed behind its bar.
A "You're in Steelers Country" banner now hangs on the back wall, and Mr. Poggi once unfurled it out at the Coliseum prior
to Super Bowl XLIII. Conspicuously absent however: any "Franco's Italian Army" bric-a-brac.
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09137/970552-66.stm
5/18/2009
Steelers faithful find a shrine of their own in Rome
Page 2 of 2
Having amassed dozens of friends from Pittsburgh over the years, Mr. Poggi came to America in November for a football
vacation: a Thursday night Steelers game at Heinz Field, followed by a Penn State football Saturday at Beaver Stadium in
Happy Valley.
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette chronicled his journey in an online video that to date is the most watched video ever produced
by post-gazette.com, with more than twice the page views of the next most-viewed video produced by the Web site.
Since then, Mr. Poggi said it feels at times that every tourist from Pittsburgh has stopped to see him as well.
"It's been unbelievable," he said. "There are periods where we'll get a group from Pittsburgh in here every day for a month.
We had 60 kids from Slippery Rock come in on their spring break and a dean from Robert Morris came in and gave me a
sweat shirt."
Jack Tucek, a physicist with the Northrop Grumman global security company in Chicago, and his wife, Julie, visited Rome
earlier this month while attending a conference. Dr. Tucek, a North Hills native, was tipped off to La Botticella by a friend
who had seen the post-gazette.com video and was compelled to make a stop.
"We had to come by and pay homage to our Pittsburgh friends," Dr. Tucek said.
"Three times we came by," Mrs. Tucek added. "We put it on our list -- the Vatican, Piazza Navona, Trevi Fountain and the
Steelers bar."
Branden and Maura Woodard, of Peters, sought out La Botticella to watch a Penguins game while on their honeymoon.
"We came here and saw that it was an awesome place to be -- great beer, great friends, and watching the Penguins in Rome,"
Mr. Woodard said. "It's a great bar."
Traveling Penguins fans also have continued to show up throughout the playoffs, and Mr. Poggi said he hopes to replicate
the crowds that flocked in for the Super Bowl, when Steelers fans from all over Rome and from as far as Milan and Palermo
came to watch the game Feb. 1.
But because of the time difference, kickoff didn't occur until after 12:30 a.m. local time. Though the city might be Eternal,
closing time isn't. As in Pennsylvania, last call came at 2 a.m., and patrons had to vacate the premises. Sort of ... .
"Officially we had to close at 2 a.m., but we had more than a hundred Steelers fans here to watch the game. So I locked the
doors and closed the shutters and we partied until the sun came up," Mr. Poggi recalled with a grin.
Jared Bowman, a student at Saint Vincent College who was studying for a semester at John Cabot University in Rome, said
he was overwhelmed.
"It was the most amazing experience: a bar in Rome full of Pittsburgh fans rooting on the Steelers, thousands of miles from
home ... it doesn't get any better," he said.
Mr. Poggi lived in Canada during adolescence and early teens -- his English is impeccable -- and has dreamed of returning to
this side of the pond someday, perhaps to open a bar or trattoria. Pittsburgh is on the short list of cities he's considering.
"I loved my visit to Pittsburgh," he said, noting that he chatted in Italian with the folks at La Prima Espresso and was
impressed by the range of Italian delicacies at Pennsylvania Macaroni Co. in the Strip District
"The city is great and a lot of fun, especially the South Side. But the people are great. Really friendly and humble. They
seem to go out of their way for you, and I really like that. You don't see that in most places."
To borrow a phrase ... When in Pittsburgh ... .
Dan Gigler can be reached at dgigler@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1884.
First published on May 17, 2009 at 12:00 am
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5/18/2009
Bouchette on the Steelers: Team on a budget
Page 1 of 2
SPORTS / STEELERS & NFL
Bouchette on the Steelers: Team on a budget
Just because they've realized some recent savings doesn't mean they are flush with cap room
Sunday, May 17, 2009
By Ed Bouchette, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Gene J. Puskar/AP
Bill Cowher -- Only coaching in
2009 will be at CBS
The Steelers have their salary-cap savings from Larry Foote, Hines Ward and Ike Taylor. So, what will they do with their
newfound money and cap room?
Don't be surprised if it turns out they do little.
They have nine starters entering the final year of their contracts: tight end Heath Miller, halfback Willie Parker, nose tackle
Casey Hampton, defensive end Brett Keisel, tackles Max Starks and Willie Colon, free safety Ryan Clark, center Justin
Hartwig and kicker Jeff Reed.
Most of those will finish the 2009 season without a contract extension and become free agents in March, and perhaps none
will sign a new deal.
While the Steelers created more room with their recent moves, and the salary cap for each NFL team rose nearly $12 million
since last season to $128 million, most of that cap room already has been gobbled up by higher salaries for 2009 to the point
the Steelers were barely under the NFL cap before the draft. They also have their draft choices to sign.
One reason they don't have much wiggle room is the large increase in Ben Roethlisberger's cap figure. It was nearly $8
million last year, the first of his contract extension; it rises to more than $13.2 million this year. Other increases, although not
as dramatic, include Keisel's climb of nearly $2 million to almost $5 million.
The Steelers have done a good job remaining not only competitive but winning two Super Bowls while managing the cap
without wounding their future. They will be tested anew this year and next. They have paved the way to keep 20 of their 22
starters intact, but they may not be able to hold onto many or any of those nine who have one year left.
Kevin Colbert publicly proclaimed their desire to sign Starks to a contract extension, and Starks is open to a long-term deal.
But with a guarantee of nearly $8.5 million this season as their franchise player, it does not seem plausible. The signing
bonus alone would have to be enormous, in the $15 million range, for Starks to begin to entertain an extension. They tried
last year after they guaranteed Starks a contract of nearly $8 million and could not do it. Why would anyone think they could
pull it off this season?
They most likely will try to sign Miller and Reed to extensions as priorities, and perhaps Clark. They have no one behind
either of those three who can measure up. Whether they can do so or not is another matter. The others may have to wait until
after the season.
The unknown is whether a new collective bargaining agreement will occur before free agency in March. If not, players such
as Miller and Colon will be restricted free agents rather than unrestricted, and each NFL team can tag two franchise players
instead of one. That would, for instance, allow them to virtually keep four potential free agents -- Miller, Colon and two
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09137/970756-66.stm
5/18/2009
Bouchette on the Steelers: Team on a budget
Page 2 of 2
franchise players.
When these Steelers win, everyone wins
Steelers Nation may have gotten its start in the 1970s from four Super Bowl victories, but one of the Hall of Fame players
from that era believes now is as good a time as any for the franchise.
"I just think we're witnessing some great times in the history of the Steelers,'' cornerback Mel Blount said. "We have a great
fan base here, and the team produces. It's just a great situation. The Rooneys have done a good job. They're really embracing
the community and becoming a major player in the community. It's spilled over into the fan base, and the respect people
have for the Steelers."
Blount says he and most of the players from the 1970s dynasty revel in the team's recent successes. It has a spillover effect
for them, too.
"I can't go anywhere without people coming up and wanting my autograph,'' Blount said. "And I haven't played in 25 years."
Blount said their winning benefits his Mel Blount Youth Home and his annual fund-raising dinner.
"A lot of people might not realize that. Every time the Steelers win the Super Bowl, the dinner we have, we see a big
increase in sales of tables and our auction. Not just that but around the city, different businesses want you to appear and
speak. It's big for us when these guys win and I hope those players realize that.
"We in no way at all envy them winning the Super Bowl. We love it.''
And, Blount thinks they can win another this season.
"I told Mike Tomlin at our dinner, 'Hey, man, go win another; seven sounds good.' I wouldn't be surprised because they have
the nucleus -- the quarterback and good young players. I think they have a great coach."
If they would win another this season, it would be three in the past five. How would that stack up to four in six years for
Blount's teams?
"It's kind of like asking whether guys could play in different eras," Blount said. "They have my respect right now as far as
being up there with us if they don't ever win another.
"The Super Bowl they played this year, in my opinion, was the most exciting one I've seen since I've been a part of it.''
Only coaching in '09 will be at CBS
Bill Cowher says he won't rule out returning to coach in the NFL again, but he has no plans to do so.
"No, I'm not ruling it out. I feel like I'm still too young to do that,'' Cowher said from Raleigh, N.C., this week. He turned 52
last week. "But I really do enjoy the job right now at CBS. I know I'm doing CBS this year. Everything is good, and I don't
have other plans right now.''
Cowher's youngest daughter, Lindsay, will graduate from high school in Raleigh soon and will attend Wofford College in
Spartanburg, S.C., where she will play basketball.
"It's only 3Â 1/2 hours away," Cowher noted. "We're excited about that. It's not far, very driveable."
For those optimistic Steelers fans looking ahead, CBS will broadcast Super Bowl XLIV, and Cowher will be right there with
them.
Ed Bouchette can be reached at ebouchette@post-gazette.com.
First published on May 17, 2009 at 12:00 am
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5/18/2009
NFL Notebook: Steelers paying a visit to Obama
Page 1 of 2
SPORTS / STEELERS & NFL
NFL Notebook: Steelers paying a visit to Obama
Super Bowl win being honored Thursday
Saturday, May 16, 2009
From local and wire dispatches
The Steelers will visit the White House Thursday at the request of President Barack Obama.
The traditional visit by the Super Bowl champions will take place at some point in the afternoon. The Steelers last visited the
White House as Super Bowl champions in 2006, when George W. Bush was president.
Vikings
With Minnesota eagerly waiting, Brett Favre has sought the advice of a noted surgeon about his beat-up throwing arm,
according to the latest report on the quarterback's status. Citing an anonymous source, ESPN.com reported that Favre
consulted orthopedic surgeon Dr. James Andrews about options for healing the partially torn biceps tendon that has caused
pain in his right shoulder.
Andrews is one of the most consulted surgeons in pro sports.
Favre declared his retirement for the second time in February because of the injury, which he blamed for his poor
performance in December while the Jets missed the playoffs. The Jets released him last month, making him free to sign with
the Vikings or any other team, but Favre has expressed a disinterest in surgery.
According to the ESPN.com report, Andrews and Favre experimented with an exercise regimen that could allow the tendon
to tear naturally and thus avoid an operation. Favre's agent, Bus Cook, has not returned repeated phone calls from The
Associated Press. Cook has insisted in interviews this month that Favre remains retired.
Redskins
Washington won another legal victory yesterday in a 17-year fight with a group of American Indians who contend the
football team's trademark is racially offensive. The decision issued by the U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington doesn't
address the main question of racism at the center of the case. Instead, it upholds the lower court's decision in favor of the
football team on a legal technicality.
Redskins attorney Bob Raskopf said millions have been spent on the Redskins brand and the team would have suffered great
economic loss if they lost the trademark registrations.
"It's a great day for the Redskins and their fans and their owner Dan Snyder," he said.
The court agreed that the seven Native Americans waited too long to challenge the trademark first issued in 1967. They
initially won -- the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office panel canceled the trademarks in 1999 -- but they've suffered a series
of defeats in the federal courts since then.
U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly overturned that decision in 2003 in part because the suit was filed decades after
the first Redskins trademark was issued.
The U.S. Court of Appeals then sent the case back to Kollar-Kotelly, noting that the youngest of the plaintiffs was only 1
year old in 1967 and therefore could not have taken legal action at the time.
Elsewhere
NFL teams will have nearly $12 million more under the salary cap this season, the final year with one in place unless the
league and its players' union can reach a new collective bargaining agreement. The cap was due to increase $7 million to
$123 million this season, but additional adjustments stipulated in the current CBA will increase the total amount that teams
can spend on player compensation to about $128 million. The $12 million increase is the largest in three years. ... Former
NFL star Bruce Smith was charged with drunken driving after a police officer stopped him for speeding, Virginia Beach
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09136/970659-66.stm
5/18/2009
NFL Notebook: Steelers paying a visit to Obama
Page 2 of 2
police said. Police spokesman Jimmy Barnes said Smith was released on bond a few hours after being charged with
speeding, driving under the influence and refusal to take an alcohol breath test. He could not determine whether a hearing
date has been set, and it was not immediately clear whether Smith, 45, had an attorney. Smith, who played for the Buffalo
Bills and the Redskins, is the NFL's all-time sacks leader.
First published on May 16, 2009 at 2:47 am
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5/18/2009
Steelers plan trip to White House - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
Page 1 of 1
Steelers plan trip to White House
By John Harris
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Saturday, May 16, 2009
The Steelers, who defeated the Arizona Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII, will visit
the White House on Thursday and meet with President Obama.
It marks the second White House visit in four years for the Steelers, who visited
the White House after winning Super Bowl XL in 2006, when George W. Bush
was president.
The Steelers will be the first NFL franchise to visit the White House in the
Obama administration.
President Obama is a Steelers fan who named team chairman Dan Rooney as
U.S. ambassador to Ireland on St. Patrick's Day. Rooney endorsed Obama
during Pennsylvania's primary last year and campaigned for him throughout the
election.
Four months after winning the election, Obama nominated Rooney to the
ambassador post.
When the Steelers won Super Bowl XL, the team gave Bush a No. 43 jersey to
represent Bush's position in presidential history, and a football signed by team
members. The president threw a short pass to Super Bowl MVP Hines Ward
and joked with players.
The traditional visit by the Super Bowl champions is the same day as the
team's final scheduled voluntary workout of the week. The Steelers' last White
House visit was on a Friday.
Next Friday is the start of the Memorial Day holiday weekend.
"If we have an opportunity to go to the White House, we're going to the White
House," Steelers spokesman Dave Lockett said.
John Harris can be reached at jharris@tribweb.com or 412-481-5432.
Images and text copyright © 2009 by The Tribune-Review Publishing Co.
Reproduction or reuse prohibited without written consent from PghTrib.com
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5/18/2009
.: Print Version :.
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MONDAY MAY 18, 2009 :: Last modified: Friday, May 15, 2009 4:10 PM EDT
Obama to host Steelers next Thursday
By Mike Bires
Times Sports Staff
The Pittsburgh Steelers will visit the White House on Thursday.
Over the past few decades, U.S. presidents have invited championship
sports teams, pro and college, to Washington D.C. Such will be the case
next week as President Barack Obama will host and honor the Steelers,
winners of Super Bowl XLIII.
The Steelers’ last visit to the White House was in May of 2006 when they
were honored by then-president George. W. Bush for their victory in Super
Bowl XL.
Read more about the Steelers’ White House visit in Sunday’s edition of The
Times.
http://www.timesonline.com/articles/2009/05/18/sports/steelers/doc4a0dcbf8da41c390739... 5/18/2009
NObama: Steelers' Harrison Says He'll Skip White House Visit - Print This Story News S... Page 1 of 1
ThePittsburghChannel.com
NObama: Steelers' Harrison Says He'll Skip White House
Visit
Related To Story
Steelers Linebacker Also Skipped 2006 Visit
POSTED: 11:41 pm EDT May 15, 2009
UPDATED: 12:10 am EDT May 16, 2009
PITTSBURGH -- When the Super Bowl XLIII champion
Pittsburgh Steelers make their trip to the White House
Thursday, one of the players largely responsible for their
victory over the Arizona Cardinals says he won't be
attending.
Video: NObama: Steelers'
Harrison Says He'll Skip White
House Visit
Linebacker James Harrison said he'll pass on the invite
from President Barack Obama.
WTAE Channel 4 Action News anchor Andrew Stockey caught up with the NFL Defensive Player
of the Year at Friday's Legends for Charity Gala hosted by University of Pittsburgh head football
coach Dave Wannstedt.
"This is how I feel -- if you want to see the Pittsburgh Steelers, invite us when we don't win the
Super Bowl. As far as I'm concerned, he [Obama] would've invited Arizona if they had won," said
Harrison.
Harrison also skipped the Steelers' visit to the White House in 2006 following their victory in
Super Bowl XL.
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5/18/2009
Television Review - '4th and Long' - Spike TV Offers Players a Chance to Be a Cowboy -... Page 1 of 2
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May 18, 2009
TELEVISION REVIEW | '4TH AND LONG'
Suffering for the Chance to Be a Cowboy
By NEIL GENZLINGER
The reality series “4th and Long,” which begins Monday on Spike TV, has the courage to show the ugly side of
professional football. Not performance-enhancing drugs. Not gambling. Vomiting. Lots and lots of vomit is
spewed in the opening episode of the program, which despite all the retching and a fair amount of
disingenuousness is pretty entertaining, in its testosterone-fueled way.
The gimmick: 12 never-quite-made-it football players compete for a chance to go to the Dallas Cowboys’
training camp, where presumably the lucky winner will have a shot to make the team. The usual reality-TV
elimination format is in place, with one hopeful being cut each episode. Everyone involved seems under
contract to use the phrase “Dallas Cowboys” at least once per sentence.
Look too quickly at the show’s promotional spots, and you might think the 12 are vying for a place on the
Cowboys’ actual roster. That would make for a much cooler story line; but reality, so to speak, dictates
otherwise. A chance to go to training camp isn’t much of a prize. Plenty of undrafted free agents and other
fringe players get a look by the pros one way or another; very few end up playing on Sundays.
But the star of this show, Michael Irvin, a Hall of Fame wide receiver for the Cowboys in the 1980s and ’90s,
sells the bit perfectly, injecting his role as drill sergeant/eliminator with a menacing, overhyped gusto.
“With what’s at stake for you guys you should be begging to go again,” he barks at the 12 in the first episode
as they wheeze after a round of drills, “because you’ve got to have the desire to override your fatigue.”
Those drills — especially the sprints and field-length dashes — are where the vomiting occurs. Here again the
show is a bit dishonest; you’re supposed to have the impression that the players are shocked by the
rigorousness of the training.
But these guys aren’t couch potatoes (though that too might have made a cooler story line: 12 actual Spike TV
viewers get a chance to try pro football, with 12 ambulances standing by). They all have major-college or
arena-football credentials and certainly have experienced till-you-drop practices.
Which can only mean that excessive vomiting is part of the game. That shocking revelation may not cost the
sport many fans, but it does mean that “4th and Long” is not a show you want to watch while eating dinner.
4TH AND LONG
Spike TV, Monday nights at 10, Eastern and Pacific times; 9, Central time.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/18/arts/television/18long.html?_r=1&ref=football&page... 5/18/2009
Television Review - '4th and Long' - Spike TV Offers Players a Chance to Be a Cowboy -... Page 2 of 2
Created by Michael Irvin and Playmaker Productions; Mr. Irvin, Todd Nelson and J D Roth, executive
producers. For Spike TV: Sharon Levy, senior vice president of original series; Tim Duffy, vice president of
original programming. Produced by 3 Ball Productions.
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Official: Colts coaches retired due to pension plan changes - USATODAY.com
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Official: Colts coaches retired due to pension
plan changes
NEW YORK (AP) — The executive director of the NFL coaches association is upset with the way the league has handled a
change in assistant coaches' leaguewide pension plan.
The owners voted in March to make the pension, the 401K, and the current supplemental retirement plan non-mandatory for
the clubs.
"We're most miffed that this happened with absolutely no advanced warning and that they were even discussing it," Larry
Kennan told the Associated Press in a phone interview Sunday. "If you ask any of the owners, coaches are really important to
them. But we weren't important enough to keep in the loop. Tell us four or five months ago that we're thinking about that."
The change in the pension led to the retirement of longtime Indianapolis Colts coaches last week Tom Moore, the only
offensive coordinator Peyton Manning has had, and offensive line coach Howard Mudd.
"Howard and Tom are doing this strictly because of the pension," Kennan said, shooting down reports that the retirements
were tied to other issues.
According to Kennan nine teams — Arizona, Atlanta, Buffalo, Dallas, Houston, Jacksonville, New England, New Orleans, and
San Francisco — have opted out of the program. Others may do so over the next few years.
All NFL coaches have already signed their contracts for the upcoming season, so no immediate recourse was available to
Moore and Mudd.
"Maybe had we known those nine teams had opted out we wouldn't have signed with one of them," Kennan said. "We felt
really, really disrespected and betrayed."
There has been renewed talk of the coaches forming a union. The NFL has in the past threatened to fire all coaches who
joined a union.
"That's generally what has been said at different times when we brought it up," Kennan said. "We don't have a lot of options.
"Having a pension is a big deal. A lot of coaches are in the NFL instead of college because of the wonderful pension we
have. For them to change it dramatically without any advanced warning is wrong."
There has been speculation the league opted to change the pension plan requirements as an offshoot of the owners opting
out of the collective bargaining agreement with the players. Several coaches believe it is part of the league's overall strategy
for negotiating a new CBA.
Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or
redistributed.
Find this article at:
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5/18/2009
ESPN.com - Source: FB Polite to stay with Dolphins
ESPN.com: NFL
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[Print without images]
Saturday, May 16, 2009
Source: FB Polite to stay with Dolphins
By John Clayton
ESPN.com
After bouncing around the league as a dependable fullback, living with the fear of being cut, Lousaka
Polite has officially found job security with the Miami Dolphins.
Polite agreed Saturday to a two-year contract extension worth more than $3 million, according to a
source. The new deal will pay him $3.7 million over the next three seasons, the source said. He was
scheduled to make $620,000 this year.
The 27-year-old Polite is now under contract through the 2011 season.
It shouldn't be a surprise that the Dolphins would give him a home. Bill Parcells had him on and off the
roster from 2004 to 2006 when he was the head coach of the Dallas Cowboys. Parcells runs the front
office of the Dolphins and signed him to a contract last season.
The 6-foot, 245-pound Polite was an undrafted player in 2004 after being a four-year starter at fullback
for the University of Pittsburgh. Polite played 27 games for Parcells in Dallas and started three.
Last year, Polite played 11 games and started five. Unlike a lot of fullbacks in the league, Polite got a
chance to carry the ball rather than just block. He had 23 carries for 85 yards.
John Clayton is a senior NFL writer for ESPN.com.
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5/18/2009
ESPN.com - Court upholds ruling over Skins' name
ESPN.com: NFL
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Friday, May 15, 2009
Court upholds ruling over Skins' name
Associated Press
WASHINGTON -- The Washington Redskins won another legal victory Friday in a 17-year fight with a
group of American Indians who contend the football team's trademark is racially offensive.
The decision issued Friday by the U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington doesn't address the main
question of racism at the center of the case. Instead, it upholds the lower court's decision in favor of the
football team on a legal technicality. Redskins attorney Bob Raskopf said millions have been spent on
the Redskins brand and the team would have suffered great economic loss if they lost the trademark
registrations. "It's a great day for the Redskins and their fans and their owner Dan Snyder," he said.
The court agreed that the seven Native Americans waited too long to challenge the trademark first issued
in 1967. They initially won -- the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office panel canceled the trademarks in
1999 -- but they've suffered a series of defeats in the federal courts since then.
U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly overturned that decision in 2003 in part because the suit was
filed decades after the first Redskins trademark was issued. The U.S. Court of Appeals then sent the case
back to Kollar-Kotelly, noting that the youngest of the plaintiffs was only 1-year-old in 1967 and
therefore could not have taken legal action at the time.
Kollar-Kotelly issued a new ruling last summer that rejected that argument. She wrote that the youngest
plaintiff turned 18 in 1984 and therefore waited almost eight years after coming of age to join the
lawsuit.
The judge did not address whether the Redskins name is offensive or racist. She wrote that her decision
was not based on the larger issue of "the appropriateness of Native American imagery for team names."
A three-judge panel of the appeals court upheld that decision Friday.
The plaintiffs have a backup plan: A group of six American Indians ranging in age from 18 to 24 filed
essentially the same claim two years ago, but the new case has been on hold until this one was resolved.
"We're hopeful that case will lead us ultimately to a ruling on the merits," said Philip Mause, attorney
for the American Indians. "We're very confident about our position on the merits. We think this term is
disparaging of Native Americans."
Raskopf said it's all too late. "The time when the case could have been brought was 1967," he said. "So
it's not going to get any easier for anybody to bring the case now."
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http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/print?id=4169336&type=story
5/18/2009