Black Betty is not Racist

For many seasons up until 2006 the UNH men's hockey team used to skate onto this ice during the playing of Ram Jam's version of the classic song "Black Betty." But during that year the NCAA banned the song, ruling that it was "theoretically racist" since it was originally a traditional African-American work song and therefore unfit for a college sports environment.

You decide: Is this song too inappropriate  to play at college areas?

Whoa, black betty (bam-A-lam)

Whoa, black betty (bam-A-lam)

Black betty had a child (bam-A-lam)

The damn thing gone wild (bam-A-lam)

She said it weren't in er mind (bam-A-lam)

The damn thing gone blind (bam-A-lam)

Said whoa, black betty (bam-A-lam)

Whoa, black betty (bam-A-lam)

Whoa, black betty (bam-A-lam)

Whoa, black betty (bam-A-lam)

She really gets me high (bam-A-lam)

You know that's no lie (bam-A-lam)

She's so rock steady (bam-A-lam)

And she's always ready (bam-A-lam)

Whoa, black betty (bam-A-lam)

Whoa, black betty (bam-A-lam)

Whoa, black betty (bam-A-lam)

Whoa, black betty (bam-A-lam)

She's from birmingham (bam-A-lam)

Way down in alabam' (bam-A-la)

Well she's shakin' that thing (bam-A-lam)

Boy she makes me think (bam-A-lam)

Whoa, black betty (bam-A-lam)

Whoa, black betty (bam-A-lam)

For a little while UNH would play an instrumental version of the song, but it was later scratched completely. Now we get Dave Matthews' "Two Step." I mean what type of hockey team (or any sports team for that matter) uses Dave Matthews as entrance song?

Black Betty has been recorded by dozens of artist dating back to the 1930s. Some students have called that UNH losing Black Betty has cursed our hockey team. Combined that with the possible new curse of the Maine Lobster and I'm not too sure about our teams future. The song was banned in 2006 and UNH has not reached the Frozen Four since 2003. But for now, I stand by my claim: Black Betty is not racist.

Stay classy, not UMassy.

PS: Check out this new music blog started by a few blog readers. They read my blog so I figured I'd link them up. 

One Game at a Time

One game at a time. Three more times. Three more wins. The NCAA Hockey Tournament has been an upset galore and UNH is coming off possibly their best performance of the year. I call on the ghost of Leadbelly to exorcize UNH's playoff demons. Get out of here Devil! Black Betty is back! Wildcat blood.

Update: I just got this email. It went to my spam account and obviously isn't real, but it is weird:

Subject: change blog title and u get free tix to game

Body: change the name and u can get free Verizon wireless arena tix to game.  Get rid of the UMassy and will give you the tix for the hockey game. Certainly the title is not classy.

Thanks

Sue

Never! Sorry "Sue" if that is your real name. This is clearly one of UMass' higher ups worried about their reputation. Sorry ZooMass, you blew it when your fans threw apples at our fans and football team a few years back. 

Stay classy, not UMassy.