Are still jinxed by the American Indian Movement and the late Vernon Bellecourt, whom I knew personally.

Vernon opposed, among other things many of us accept as “O.K. Americana”, the using of Indian names, symbols and mascots in sports.

In 1970, I believe, his rival in the movement, a cat named Russell Means, whom I know even better(see his alleged “autobiography”, entitled “Where White Men Fear To Tread”–I really didn’t…fear) headed up Cleveland AIM or CLAIM. Years later, after a huge split in the AIM hierarchy, Russell soldout to the Cleveland Indians, representing AIM, for a measly $35,000 or less.

In this the apparent “warring bros” pulled the ultimate con on the Cleveland Indian organization–albeit for not very much money: one brother selling out while the other continued to protest and “jinx” the club.

The day Vernon died during the playoffs this year, the Indians appeared to have a World Series appearance pretty well “in the bag”.

Instead, you know what happened. I watched the final game of that series to see if the Cleveland “Indian hex” was still in place, even as Russell had sold out and Vernon had passed on…..

When Lofton slid into second obviously safe, with the game still close, on a throw from the “indifferent” Manny Ramirez, suddenly becoming the Rifleman….and he was called out….when the same Lofton was held up at third when he could have easily scored in his next time on and the score still close, I knew the jinx was on.

Apparently so did the “Indians”…they folded like those dollar bills you crumple in your shorts at the convenience store by the beach….

The funny thing about it is, the Rockies and Cleveland would have made for a better draw and probably a longer series and you wouldn’t need the Boras-AROD announcement to spike the moment….IN THE FREAKIN’ WORLD SERIES

Ah, well, but that’s my America…..

R.I.P. Vern Bellecourt. The jinx lives on….:-)

Lick your lips and smile, Russell. Go back to Cleveland, tell them you can lift the curse….cash in.
The timing’s good.

SP-S
*Footnote to the Cleveland Indians Owners: I’m a qualified medicine man and will do it for a gratuity of a mill, giveable when you win the pennant. _