Jackson: Change "Sioux" nickname

Phil Jackson on the Sioux nickname:  ‘Do the right thing’Alumnus and legendary NBA coach Phil Jackson urged the University of North Dakota on Monday to “do the right thing” and resolve the emotional Fighting Sioux nickname controversy.

“We have to rethink probably our nickname and moniker,” he said during the second of two public appearances at the university, where he wore the Sioux name and logo as a star basketball player more than four decades ago.

Use of the symbols is “not beneficial” to the Lakota people, he said.

“I think … we can make this change gracefully,” Jackson said, adding that he and other former UND athletes “don’t feel there’s any decrease in our spirit or our enthusiasm” with a name change.Comment:  For more on the subject, see Team Names and Mascots.