Sports

Ye Olde Fighting Cocks?

WHAT DOES A PUB IN ENGLAND HAVE TO DO WITH GAMECOCK FOOTBALL? || By FITSNEWS ||  “Ye Olde Fighting Cocks” is the oldest pub in England … but according to People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) it’s also one of the most offensively named.  And so the organization…

WHAT DOES A PUB IN ENGLAND HAVE TO DO WITH GAMECOCK FOOTBALL?

|| By FITSNEWS ||  “Ye Olde Fighting Cocks” is the oldest pub in England … but according to People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) it’s also one of the most offensively named.  And so the organization is pushing for a rechristening.

“We wrote to the pub owners asking them to consider changing the establishment’s name to Ye Olde Clever Cocks – in recognition of society’s growing compassion for animals and in celebration of intelligent, sensitive chickens,” PETA wrote.

Jeez … “clever cocks?”  Bollocks!

Located in St. Albans (north of London), Ye Olde Fighting Cocks changed its name to The Fisherman in 1849 after cockfighting was outlawed in Great Britain.  That name change didn’t last long, though.  And the pub – which traces its history back to the eighth century – says it has no intention of adopting PETA’s suggestion.

So … how long will it be before PETA turns its focus on the University of South Carolina and its athletic mascot, the “Fighting Gamecock.”

Um, look in the rearview …

In late 2001, the group sent a letter to then-USC president John Palms urging him to “make a long-overdue name change to better reflect society’s increasing awareness of, sensitivity to, and rejection of needless violence in all its forms.”

The group said that cockfighting – like dogfighting, spousal abuse, bank robbery, and driving while intoxicated – was illegal in South Carolina, and that “it’s a safe bet officials at University of South Carolina would never dream of calling their athletic teams the Dogfighters, Wifebeaters, Looters, or Road-Ragers.”

Obviously the Gamecocks didn’t change their name …

Sadly, there’s been little “fight” in the program of late – at least when it comes to the school’s big revenue sports.  After three years of unprecedented success, South Carolina’s football program fielded the nation’s most disappointing team last year – while its men’s basketball program has failed to turn the corner under fourth-year head coach Frank Martin.  Meanwhile the school’s baseball team – which won back-to-back national championships in 2010 and 2011 – failed to make the NCAA tournament for the first time since 1999.

The only bright spot?  Women’s basketball … which repeated as SEC regular season champions and won the SEC tournament en route to the school’s first-ever Final Four appearance.

This website rejects the inhumane treatment of animals – be it dogfighting, bear-baying or cockfighting.  Such activities are disgusting, and we have zero tolerance for individuals who engage in them.  Having said that, it’s ridiculous to think a pub name – or a University’s mascot – is someone going to encourage a rash of such activities.

Bottom line?  There are real issues to address in college athletics.  This isn’t one of them …

Pic: Travis Bell Photography

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19 comments

Ye Olde Fighting Cocks May 27, 2015 at 9:58 am

Sounds like a vintage porn flick.

Cock fighting is still legal in Puerto Rico.

Reply
mamatiger92 May 27, 2015 at 10:39 am

Reminds me of the “Little Jerry” Seinfeld episode.

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easterndumbfuckistan May 27, 2015 at 9:59 am

I’ll just go ahead and leave this right here. Since 80% of you know nothing of the history of South Carolina.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Sumter

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yarblls May 27, 2015 at 10:26 am

Perhaps you should replace Cocky with a likeness of Mr. Sumter. That would deflate all of PETA’s ammunition.

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ye olde racist May 27, 2015 at 10:43 am

One interesting fact, not in the wiki, about Sumter is that he recruited people to fight by promising to pay them with slaves…”three grown negroes and one small negro” for each colonel to “one grown negro” for each private. He wasn’t just a racist, he was basically a slave trader. Shouldn’t the students be offended that the athletic dept honors a racist? Quick, someone start a petition!

Honor the racist man or the illegal fighting chicken? Either way, someone will be upset about it.

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shifty henry May 27, 2015 at 10:04 am

Our mascot/logo is the best and most artistic of any university or school in the USA..!!

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Squishy123 May 27, 2015 at 12:17 pm

I guess, if you’re a USCe graduate or fan you might think that.

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Col. Sanders May 27, 2015 at 12:43 pm

Who wouldn’t want a chicken in a dress as their mascot? El O Freakin’ El.

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shifty henry May 27, 2015 at 1:52 pm

My COCKY mascot does not wear a dress! His jersey is made to accentuate his manly tail feathers. He also proudly wears a cape made for him by a girlfriends daughter. He is MR COCKY with a COOL ATTITUDE!
Who really wants mascots that are tigers and bears from WINNIE-THE-POOH? eeeeh, matey?

Reply
Tazmaniac May 27, 2015 at 2:11 pm

After the GATORS!

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shifty henry May 27, 2015 at 2:35 pm

heh, heh ,,,

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Tazmaniac May 27, 2015 at 2:53 pm

Have you seen this year’s schedules? Both teams have a pretty tough row to hoe. Aw, life in the SEC!

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shifty henry May 27, 2015 at 5:21 pm

growling and crowing (in victory) — anyway the tuffer the better….

RogueElephant May 27, 2015 at 10:06 am

OUR COCKS ARE UP AND COMING! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA Enough said. LOL

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Todd May 27, 2015 at 11:24 am

USC-Columbia Road Ragers has real promise. Especially since one vehicle fire has managed to shut down the entire midlands transportation system today. #SCDOTLovesCocks

It ain’t like the Coots can go anywhere but up on the classy scale.

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James May 27, 2015 at 2:21 pm

But they would still be 10 spots ahead of the Taters on said classy scale

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Toyota Kawaski May 27, 2015 at 3:43 pm

we will not give in
Love,
Newberry College

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9" May 27, 2015 at 6:38 pm

I hate PETA. They drove Mepkin Abbey out of the egg business w/their bullshit. Even Paul McCartney dropped his support. They care more about rats than people.

Reply
Mike at the Beach May 27, 2015 at 10:20 pm

“…intelligent, sensitive chickens…”

Nuff said, there. Stupid…

Reply

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