Post by KY Kid on Jun 12, 2002 19:07:14 GMT -5
NCAA bows down To PETA, nation's cattlemen livid
By Will King The Gamecock
(U-WIRE) COLUMBIA, S.C. -- People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, otherwise known as PETA, is making waves again. PETA's target this time is the NCAA, and this time, their opponent buckled.
According to PETA representatives, a letter dated November 16, 2001 was sent to the offices of the NCAA requesting that they drop the use of leather basketballs for the upcoming men's and women's seasons and instead use pleather basketballs.
In response to PETA's request, the NCAA took an unorthodox approach and bowed down to the requests of PETA, and now cattlemen across the nation want answers.
"Those of us who make our living in the cattle business would like the NCAA and state universities to explain their relationship with PETA and, in particular, how PETA influenced the decision to stop using leather basketballs," said local cattlemen James Sease.
The NCAA has stated publicly that the switch had nothing to do with PETA. However, cattlemen aren't buying this explanation.
"If the NCAA did not take PETA's request into consideration, then why were they writing congratulatory letters to each other," said Becky Walton, public information director for the South Carolina Department of Agriculture.
Many national agriculture commissioners are taking this very seriously and are supporting their cattlemen.
Standing up for the South Carolina Cattlemen is Agriculture Commissioner Les Tindal, who in a letter to the NCAA, expressed his discontent: "I am disappointed that the NCAA has allowed a radical animal rights group to call the shots for its member organizations."
Commissioner of Agriculture James Harsdorf of Wisconsin has also thrown his hat in the ring for this fight against PETA and the NCAA. "The NCAA better take a good hard look at who it's playing ball with," he said, referring to PETA.
Harsdorf continued, "This is the same group that encourages college students to give up milk in favor of beer, at a time when binge drinking has been reported as a major problem on college campuses across America."
Walton was asked what she would say to a PETA official if given the chance: "It's hard to speak to someone who is being irrational." However, Walton digressed. "I do believe that they are a radical terrorist organization. They have supported groups that have bombed restaurants, and are as bad as people who support Osama Bin Laden. "They use scare tactics, and they sometimes even strip to try to make a point. What does that say about a group like that?"
Walton said she does not know if the NCAA will reverse its decision but Commission Tindal knows one thing for certain: "No matter how many hoops the NCAA jumps through for an activist group like this, the colleges and universities in the NCAA end up the losers."
The battle will definitely rage on as PETA has said they will now "turn their attention to the NBA in hope that the league will follow the lead of the WNBA and also disqualify leather and start shooting with pleather."
© 2002 The Gamecock via U-WIRE
By Will King The Gamecock
(U-WIRE) COLUMBIA, S.C. -- People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, otherwise known as PETA, is making waves again. PETA's target this time is the NCAA, and this time, their opponent buckled.
According to PETA representatives, a letter dated November 16, 2001 was sent to the offices of the NCAA requesting that they drop the use of leather basketballs for the upcoming men's and women's seasons and instead use pleather basketballs.
In response to PETA's request, the NCAA took an unorthodox approach and bowed down to the requests of PETA, and now cattlemen across the nation want answers.
"Those of us who make our living in the cattle business would like the NCAA and state universities to explain their relationship with PETA and, in particular, how PETA influenced the decision to stop using leather basketballs," said local cattlemen James Sease.
The NCAA has stated publicly that the switch had nothing to do with PETA. However, cattlemen aren't buying this explanation.
"If the NCAA did not take PETA's request into consideration, then why were they writing congratulatory letters to each other," said Becky Walton, public information director for the South Carolina Department of Agriculture.
Many national agriculture commissioners are taking this very seriously and are supporting their cattlemen.
Standing up for the South Carolina Cattlemen is Agriculture Commissioner Les Tindal, who in a letter to the NCAA, expressed his discontent: "I am disappointed that the NCAA has allowed a radical animal rights group to call the shots for its member organizations."
Commissioner of Agriculture James Harsdorf of Wisconsin has also thrown his hat in the ring for this fight against PETA and the NCAA. "The NCAA better take a good hard look at who it's playing ball with," he said, referring to PETA.
Harsdorf continued, "This is the same group that encourages college students to give up milk in favor of beer, at a time when binge drinking has been reported as a major problem on college campuses across America."
Walton was asked what she would say to a PETA official if given the chance: "It's hard to speak to someone who is being irrational." However, Walton digressed. "I do believe that they are a radical terrorist organization. They have supported groups that have bombed restaurants, and are as bad as people who support Osama Bin Laden. "They use scare tactics, and they sometimes even strip to try to make a point. What does that say about a group like that?"
Walton said she does not know if the NCAA will reverse its decision but Commission Tindal knows one thing for certain: "No matter how many hoops the NCAA jumps through for an activist group like this, the colleges and universities in the NCAA end up the losers."
The battle will definitely rage on as PETA has said they will now "turn their attention to the NBA in hope that the league will follow the lead of the WNBA and also disqualify leather and start shooting with pleather."
© 2002 The Gamecock via U-WIRE
. Just makes me sick. I loved the part about PETA being terrorists. Sure they do have some very valid points, but this anti-leather propoganda is just ridiculous. Its a byproduct of a food source people, sheesh, next you will say we can't fish 