The 81-Year-Old Newspaper Article That Destroys The Commanders’ Justification For Their Name

[TheRat]

In that sense, it seems obvious that the name “Commanders” was chosen more as a marketing ploy than anything else, a way to tweak the team’s name without changing the image it had established. Regardless of the original motive, however, this much is clear: the story the team and NFL have used to justify the name’s existence as a “badge of honor” is not true, and the man who founded the team refuted it himself more than 80 years ago.

http://thinkprogress.org/sports/201...-i-didnt-name-team-to-honor-native-americans/

 

[PJTHEDOORS]

Just watched the Olbermann video. Wow, he was heated up about it. Glad all this is coming out now why the name was changed.

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

Wasn't the "red" distinction first used by the natives themselves?

 

[PJTHEDOORS]

"...its original intent is a subject of debate."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Redskin_(slang)

 

[Risen Star]

What am I missing? Where does it prove they didn't name themselves the Commanders to honor Native Americans?

They honored them with the Braves and then continued to honor them with the tweak to Commanders. Case closed. Go pretend to be a victim somewhere else while the men play some football.

 

[Sonny#9]

Think what you will about Cooley as a player, he destroyed Olbermann a little while back on the name.

Unfortunately I couldn't find the video, but Olbermann had nothing.

http://washington.cbslocal.com/2014/01/31/keith-olbermann-chris-cooley-debate-Commanders-name/

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

Who cares?

 

[jrumann59]

If its KO opening his mouth I don't trust what he says to be 100% truthful. KO is a bitter individual now that is more wrapped up in keeping his name in the spotlight.

 

[Califan007]

That article didn't "destroy" anything lol...

The story has always been that the field change/baseball association was the primary dictator in changing the name from "Braves" to "Commanders". The part about honoring Dietz is around #11 on the top 10 list of reasons the name Commanders shouldn't be seen as racist. In fact, the marketing ploy story is used more often in the debate as a refute of there being some racist reasoning in naming the team the Commanders.

If you want to see an article that "destroys" an argument in this debate, read Ives Goddard's ridiculously thorough summation of the term Commander, as it completely obliterates the often-mentioned origins stories of the term being rooted in scalping Native Americans for money and that "Commander" has always been used as a derogatory name throughout this country's history. I mean it just decimates both of those cornerstones of the anti-Commander movement. But nobody cares about that, it seems.

 

[NIBGoldenchild]

Why doesn't the Name Change camp get an independent group to do a more recent poll of Native Americans and how they feel about the name? I guess I'd be surprised they haven't yet, if it wasn't obvious they already knew the truth of the matter is most Native Americans don't agree the loudmouth minority and their media friends.

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

Why doesn't the Name Change camp get an independent group to do a more recent poll of Native Americans and how they feel about the name? I guess I'd be surprised they haven't yet, if it wasn't obvious they already knew the truth of the matter is most Native Americans don't agree the loudmouth minority and their media friends.

I propose that they change their name to the Washington Indians.

Cowboys and Indians.

 

[Sonny#9]

Why doesn't the Name Change camp get an independent group to do a more recent poll of Native Americans and how they feel about the name? I guess I'd be surprised they haven't yet, if it wasn't obvious they already knew the truth of the matter is most Native Americans don't agree the loudmouth minority and their media friends.

No need for facts when dealing with a populist, emotional argument.

 

[BAZ]

Why doesn't the Name Change camp get an independent group to do a more recent poll of Native Americans and how they feel about the name? I guess I'd be surprised they haven't yet, if it wasn't obvious they already knew the truth of the matter is most Native Americans don't agree the loudmouth minority and their media friends.

If they haven't done a poll then how are you so sure of the answer?

 

[NIBGoldenchild]

If they haven't done a poll then how are you so sure of the answer?

Because a poll was already done almost a decade ago, and the results showed 90% of Native Americans were not offended by the name.

 

[BAZ]

Because a poll was already done almost a decade ago, and the results showed 90% of Native Americans were not offended by the name.

A lot can change in ten years and without knowing who took the poll or how many people were polled its meaningless.

 

[NIBGoldenchild]

A lot can change in ten years and without knowing who took the poll or how many people were polled its meaningless.

LOL! It's meaningless because it doesn't fit your agenda. If it said 90% of Native Americans were offended you wouldn't describe as meaningless. Look up the poll, a well-respected organization administered it. Regardless, this is why I said the Name Change whiners should just commission another poll to be done by yet another independent organization, but that hasn't happened yet and we all know why.

 

[BAZ]

LOL! It's meaningless because it doesn't fit your agenda. If it said 90% of Native Americans were offended you wouldn't describe as meaningless. Look up the poll, a well-respected organization administered it. Regardless, this is why I said the Name Change whiners should just commission another poll to be done by yet another independent organization, but that hasn't happened yet and we all know why.

You diminish others with some childish labeling, the only people with an agenda round here are Washington fans, the only people that can't see it are Washington fans. Link this amazing study that will magically change how people feel about this word or stop posting garbage passed off as fact. And don't act like the public conscience can't change over a decade, you just don't want to see because "woo sports!".

 

[NIBGoldenchild]

You diminish others with some childish labeling, the only people with an agenda round here are Washington fans, the only people that can't see it are Washington fans. Link this amazing study that will magically change how people feel about this word or stop posting garbage passed off as fact. And don't act like the public conscience can't change over a decade, you just don't want to see because "woo sports!".

Dude, it isn't just Skins fans defending the name. Some of your fellow Cowboys fans agree with us, do they have an agenda too?

I've linked this here over a dozen times, somehow people on the other side of the argument continue to pretend to have never heard of it. LOL!

http://www.annenbergpublicpolicycen...acceptable-while-9-percent-call-it-offensive/

BTW, this poll isn't intended to change anyone's opinion, that's your job. Which you're obviously failing at. It was intended to find out if Native Americans found the term offensive and they overwhelmingly didn't. I welcome a more up-to-date poll, too bad those who claim NAs are offended don't.

 

[Risen Star]

This is literally the dumbest league issue of my lifetime.

In my opinion, of course.

 

[MartinRamone]

You diminish others with some childish labeling, the only people with an agenda round here are Washington fans, the only people that can't see it are Washington fans. Link this amazing study that will magically change how people feel about this word or stop posting garbage passed off as fact. And don't act like the public conscience can't change over a decade, you just don't want to see because "woo sports!".

Im not a Washington fan and i dont want or think they should change their name.