Comments on: Local Faux Traditions

By: Bryan

Bryan — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 17:07:34 +0000

You are welcome, LLL, and they didn’t explain because they didn’t know. It’s not like he was a local, he just had a name that appealed to the chamber of commerce fifty years ago.

By: LeftLeaningLady

LeftLeaningLady — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 12:37:46 +0000

Billy Bowlegs Festival! Blast from the past.

Thanks for the reminder, I will not be headed West this weekend.

And thanks for the history lesson. I grew up in C-view and no one ever explained exactly who Billy Bowlegs was.

By: Bryan

Bryan — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 05:00:56 +0000

I think someone mentioned that they have some “creative control” about the mascot, and what he looks like, in addition to the licensing royalties. The terms are as hard to determine as the actually cost of the athletic program, but they have been in place for a long time.

I think I noticed them when I bought something for a friend, it was buried in the copyright/trademark blurb.

By: hipparchia

hipparchia — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 04:46:20 +0000

yeah, i remember the fsu flap. other sports teams, from pro right on down to elementary schools were ditching their various 'indian' mascots. you could almost hear the national gasp! when the seminoles said no we don't mind at all. i figured there was some kind of licensing agreement in there somewhere but i never really checked to see if that's what happened. mostly i was thrilled that they were going to have a reason to keep that fabulously gorgeous appaloosa.

By: Bryan

Bryan — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 03:20:35 +0000

The Seminole weren’t just great guerrilla fighters, one of the few groups that essentially kicked “Uncle Billy” Sherman’s butt early in his career, but they were traders and merchants. They understood about making and keeping wealth, including slaves.

That’s why they have a license with Florida State University on the use of the name, Seminole. They make money on every piece of junk FSU sells.

By: hipparchia

hipparchia — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 02:48:50 +0000

53rd?

i don’t think i’ve ever been to a single billy bowlegs festival, nor did i know anything about it, other than that it purported to be vaguely piratical.

interesting item from the wikipedia link: Upon his eventual arrival in Indian Territory, Bowlegs became a leading chief. He and his daughters became prominent land holders and slaveowners.