Back on April 10, 1998, a group of Native American activists burned the Cleveland Indians mascot, Chief Wahoo, in effigy outside of Jacobs Field to protest the team's continued use of what they consider to be a racist mascot. At one point in the protest, Cleveland Police moved in and arrested the protesters under the pretext that the burning represented a danger to public safety.
Later, the protesters sued, saying the arrest abridged their right to freedom of speech under the Constitution of Ohio, this despite the fact that the city never prosecuted them with a crime.
Tell Mr. Met I'm coming. And Hell's coming with me!
Today in a 5-2 decision, the Supreme Court of Ohio overturned a lower court ruling that held the protesters free speech rights had been violated by the City. But what caught my eye was this passage from Justice Paul Pfeifer who dissented:
If we allow flag burning in this country, we should certainly allow Chief Wahoo effigy burning. Our flag stands for over 200 years of freedom and unity; Chief Wahoo stands for 56 years (and counting) of baseball futility.
Tell Mr. Met I'm looking for him and I've got all the lighter fluid I need. Thanks to reader Nick Sylvain for the pointer.
“So Karl started drinking a little bit, and then he was going on and on about he and Mrs. Met. Nasty stuff, I tell you. Nasty stuff.”