Michael Silver, Yahoo Sports: Commanders Need New Nickname

[peplaw06]

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news;_y...g=ms-trippintuesday051909&prov=yhoo&type=lgns

No excuses: Commanders need a new nickname

By Michael Silver, Yahoo! Sports

Last Friday, in a judicial decision that hinged on a legal technicality, the U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington, D.C., upheld the right of the local pro football team to keep its unconscionable nickname.

Gloated team attorney Bob Raskopf, “It’s a great day for the Commanders and their fans and their owner, Dan Snyder.”

Alas, it was another shameful day for America.
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[/FONT]In clinging to the most racially offensive moniker held by a major U.S. professional sports team since the Emancipation Proclamation – yes, I know, since forever – the franchise continues to offend some Native Americans and assault the sensibilities of a citizenry that should be long past such insensitive and shallow depictions.

How can a large majority of us not be offended? Imagine trying to explain “Commanders” to a foreign visitor or a time-traveler from the future? Every time I say the word, I throw up in my mouth a little and wonder why there is no widespread outrage.

I’ve heard all the arguments about why this name should be allowed to exist, and they move me about as much as Jim Zorn’s red-zone offense in a tight game against a strong opponent. (Sorry – I realize that was a cheap shot. Besides, I wouldn’t want to get ‘Skins fans ticked off at me or anything.)

You can spare me the protestations about how the name is actually a tribute to Native Americans, or how other allegedly similar groups (Vikings? Really?) are also consigned to mascot status. You can skip the talk about the importance of the team name to its fans or the tradition that would be compromised were it to be changed.

I’m not hearing it, because if I close my eyes and think about where we are as a society and the fact that this name still exists, it’s a complete travesty on both visceral and logical levels.

Would we “honor,” say, Chicago’s African-American population by calling its NFL team the Brownskins?

If the NBA placed a franchise in Hawaii, would it consider paying homage to the islands’ Asian influences by competing as the Yellowskins?

And while I’m sure we could all come up with some Jewish slurs to continue the analogy, I submit that an anti-Semitic major league owner like Marge Schott might’ve been quite comfortable fielding a team known as the Foreskins.

Ridiculous? Absolutely. And Commander is just as absurd, whether you’ve been conditioned to regard it as normal or not.

Worse, it’s blatantly offensive, and don’t bother trotting out the examples of certain Native Americans who regard it as a sign of great respect. The fact that even a handful of them were upset enough to sue to stop the name from existing, a legal fight that has gone on for 17 years and counting, should be enough to let decency prevail. And if you’re angrily composing an email telling me how the name’s meaning to you and your fellow fans supersedes the desires of these people not to be publicly lampooned, I’m going to bet my last Abe Lincoln note that you’re not a member of a traditionally oppressed minority group.

If changing the name of the established team in the nation’s capital seems so unthinkable, you might be forgetting about the Washington Wizards, who from 1963-1997 were known as the Bullets. Two years earlier owner Abe Pollin had announced that, because he had grown uncomfortable with the nickname’s violent overtones, the NBA franchise would be rechristened, and a fan contest ensued.

So the Bullets became the Wizards, and guess what? The sun came up the next morning, the rivers continued to flow to the oceans, and Calbert Cheaney kept getting beat off the dribble. (OK, that was a cheap shot, too. Just making sure you’re still paying attention.)

Things change. Societies evolve. The improbable becomes reality.

Remember, there’s a family that recently moved to a D.C. residence at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, and its presence there made a statement to the world about how far our country has come in terms of racial enlightenment.

Since the words “President” and “Obama” became Siamese twins (oops, another outdated term), it has never been so tough to make the argument that in the United States, a person’s skin color is a primary means by which he/she is judged.

Unless, of course, you’re part of that minuscule slice of the population that pays attention to pro football. Those of us, like our current commander in chief, who fall into that category need to think long and hard about our tolerance for such a preposterously backward name in such a conspicuous setting.

The Commanders may have had their day in court and prevailed, at least for the time being. It’s my sincere hope that before too long, the court of public opinion is far less forgiving.

 

[cowboys#1]

what if they were the blackskins....?


i think they should keep the name but it is racist if you think about it.

 

[5Stars]

Good article...!



But the RedPunk fans just don't get it...and never will!

If they love Snyder so much, what would it hurt to change the name to the Washington Fools?

 

[Hypnotoad]

Something always offends someone, and frankly I don't give a damn about a football team's name.

I am not the only one...according to a 2004 poll (pdf), only 9% of Native Americans thought the professional football team 'Commanders' was offensive.

Seems to me people are just fighting the name for political correctness sake.

 

[Spectre]

this just in...

bluebirds are filing a lawsuit against the human race for labeling them such an offensive name.

in other news,
Slimjims worldwide are boycotting Conagra Foods for the derogatory name created at the expense of their skinny appearance.

 

[Hoofbite]

Something always offends someone, and frankly I don't give a damn about a football team's name.

I am not the only one...according to a 2004 poll (pdf), only 9% of Native Americans thought the professional football team 'Commanders' was offensive.

Seems to me people are just fighting the name for political correctness sake.

responses of 768 people who said they were Indians or Native Americans were collected over a very long period of polling

Quite the sample. Just claiming to be Native American was enough for this survey?

I'm not saying that people do or don't find it offensive but this is just ridiculous.

Head out to a reservation and I bet you would get a slightly different consensus.

Should the team have to change its name? They probably should.

Will they have to? Probably not.

Personally, I think the mascot for the Cleveland Indians is far more distasteful than the name Commanders.

 

[TNCowboy]

Something always offends someone, and frankly I don't give a damn about a football team's name.

I am not the only one...according to a 2004 poll (pdf), only 9% of Native Americans thought the professional football team 'Commanders' was offensive.

Seems to me people are just fighting the name for political correctness sake.

 

[Hypnotoad]

this just in...

bluebirds are filing a lawsuit against the human race for labeling them such an offensive name.

in other news,
Slimjims worldwide are boycotting Conagra Foods for the derogatory name created at the expense of their skinny appearance.

The video game Fat Princess is getting sued by advocacy groups.

The Detroit Lions are getting sued by PETA because animals should not be slaughtered live on TV.

Mothers have won suing the South Carolina Gamecocks because no one thinks of the children. The team is now the South Carolina Little Roosters.

 

[5Stars]

Something always offends someone, and frankly I don't give a damn about a football team's name.

I am not the only one...according to a 2004 poll (pdf), only 9% of Native Americans thought the professional football team 'Commanders' was offensive.

Seems to me people are just fighting the name for political correctness sake.

I’m going to bet my last Abe Lincoln note that you’re not a member of a traditionally oppressed minority group.


:laugh2:

 

[5Stars]

I’m going to bet my last Abe Lincoln note that you’re not a member of a traditionally oppressed minority group.



:laugh2:

 

[Doomsday101]

One of the most storied franchises in the National Football League (NFL) history, the Washington Commanders did not originate in the District of Columbia. In actuality, George Preston Marshall purchased a then-inactive Boston NFL franchise that played on the same field as the then-active National League Baseball team known as the Boston Braves. To prevent the obvious confusion between the two teams, Marshall officially changed the name of the franchise from the “Boston Braves” to the “Boston Commanders.”
Further, it is said that Mr. Marshall renamed the team the “Commanders” in honor of the team’s Native American head coach, William “Lone Star” Dietz. Several years later,when the team relocated to Washington, D.C., the Washington Commanders were created.

 

[Hypnotoad]

I’m going to bet my last Abe Lincoln note that you’re not a member of a traditionally oppressed minority group.


:laugh2:

Well you sir are incorrect. My group falls in Other whenever I have to fill out forms.

Not every person in a minority group is ultra sensitive, and not every White American person is insensitive.

 

[5Stars]

Well you sir are incorrect. My group falls in Other whenever I have to fill out forms.

Not every person in a minority group is ultra sensitive, and not every White American person is insensitive.

What "other"...are you a family of freaking frogs! Tell us what your heritage is...


ribbit-ribbit......ribbit..

 

[5Stars]

One of the most storied franchises in the National Football League (NFL) history, the Washington Commanders did not originate in the District of Columbia. In actuality, George Preston Marshall purchased a then-inactive Boston NFL franchise that played on the same field as the then-active National League Baseball team known as the Boston Braves. To prevent the obvious confusion between the two teams, Marshall officially changed the name of the franchise from the “Boston Braves” to the “Boston Commanders.”


Further, it is said that Mr. Marshall renamed the team the “Commanders” in honor of the team’s Native American head coach, William “Lone Star” Dietz. Several years later,when the team relocated to Washington, D.C., the Washington Commanders were created.

Cool...maybe they should rename the Cowboys, the Dallas Buffoons!!

 

[xpistofer]

What "other"...are you a family of freaking frogs! Tell us what your heritage is...


ribbit-ribbit......ribbit..

as a frog I am offended by this statement...I am calling my attorney right now...I need some damages...

 

[xpistofer]

Cool...maybe they should rename the Cowboys, the Dallas Buffoons!!

and cleveland should call themselves the "Browns"...errr...uhhh...wait...

 

[Dodger]

The fact that even a handful of them were upset enough to sue to stop the name from existing, a legal fight that has gone on for 17 years and counting, should be enough to let decency prevail.

Regardless of whether a person believes the name is right or wrong, this statement is rediculous.

If I and a few of my friends were upset about something and sued to get it changed, does that mean that just because we filed the suit we should get our way?

Please...

 

[Chief]

Everything about the Commanders sucks.

 

[5Stars]

Everything about the Commanders sucks.

Now to mention they swallow...

 

[big dog cowboy]

I don't care what their nickname is. I will forever hate them.