Going on the 'Offensive'...Team Names

Recently, as the citizens of the United States are undergoing a form of social reckoning as it pertains to race, politics, identity and the prevailing social order, an interesting debate is underway in the sports world besides the conflict between revenue, public health and social justice. Once again, the names of professional sports teams, like the images placed on product names such as Aunt Jemima, Mrs. Butterworth and Uncle Ben have come under scrutiny; in this particular case the names of the National Football League's Washington Redskins and Major League Baseball's Cleveland Indians are under the microscope. Leave it up to The4Corners to provide some background and perspective as it relates to this subject, as it is a long and varied one. I will do my best to keep this brief because we have a question to pose to our readers at the end.

Dan Snyder, the principal owner of the Washington Redskins, is once again being pressured to rename his team by the Oneida Indian Nation, sponsors and media outlets. I am speaking strictly from my perspective in saying that he is rightfully reticent in doing so due to the value of the franchise and the fan-based revenue streams potentially being subject to decline as a result. However, Snyder is being backed into a corner despite this scenario by Federal Express, which holds the naming rights to the stadium in which the Redskins call home (FedEx Field). Coincidentally, FedEx's CEO, Fred Smith, has a minority stake in the Redskins, has reportedly suggested that team name be changed. The newly-'woke' NFL will not stand in the way of a name change and Nike, which is the NFL's official supplier of apparel, has removed all Redskins merchandise from its website and is no longer selling any related apparel. How Snyder handles this matter whether he changes the name or not, will send a ripple effect throughout the team's fan base, which has a cultural connection to the team and it's once winning tradition, which is traced back more than 50 years. Being that that we are now living in a politically charged culture, will the fans become divided along political lines? One section may feel "this political stuff has gone too far...I'm opting out of my season ticket contract and will no longer support this team", while another believes "yes, the team needed to change the name as I find it offensive". However, many people who find the name and logo offensive may not have the disposable income to purchase season tickets to the point they could replace the would be deposed fans without Snyder's bottom line being grossly affected. In this instance, Snyder and the Redskins could be subject to financial calamity.

Now I do not think all ethnic names should be even considered for 'cancellation'. The Boston Celtics features a name which is a homage to Boston's Irish community and the positive image and reputation of a leprechaun, which in Irish folklore, is said to bring good luck and fortune. The mascot, 'Lucky' is adorned in the same garb as seen on the team's official logo. On the flipside, the University of Notre Dame's sports teams are called 'The Fighting Irish', which is a name that in itself can be interpreted as offensive being that Irish people are stereotypically thought of fist wielding hooligans in American popular culture in the same vein as the 'patty wagon', which was a large hulled police vehicle used to haul Irish people to jail in the early 20th Century. However, this same 'fighting' interpretation can also be a homage to the historical struggles Irish people experienced in Ireland, where for generations these people fought for sovereignty against England in the region known as Northern Ireland. In both sports-based references, the interpretation of both symbols are largely connected to a stereotypical Irish based mythos, but nonetheless they are looked upon as a nod to the culture on a positive note. In another case of cruel irony, the modern Notre Dame teams in football and basketball are primarily comprised of non-Irish and non-'white' players.

The original team mascot of the Cleveland Browns was actually a leprechaun-type figure, complete with the floppy hat, pointy ears and those Peter Pan-style shoes; I can see where this would occur as the team was named after its founder, Paul Brown and there was no real symbolic reference to the name. The Browns adopted its current 'Dawg' representation in the late 1980's when players Hanford Dixon and Frank Minnifield spearheaded the creation of the 'Dawg Pound' in the old, since demolished Cleveland Municipal Stadium. Speaking of Cleveland, the MLB franchise the Indians, have long been in the crosshairs of people who deem the name and former logo as offensive. This franchise has gradually walked back its culturally-based team logo over the years by removing the blackface inspired 'Chief Wahoo' grinning characterization of Native Americans from all apparel. The franchise also stands at a team name crossroads where it could potentially face the same dilemma the Redskins may face in which the loyal fan base which fuels the organization financially may be alienated from the product as they have cultural and historical connections to the name, colors and the logo of the 'home team'. I wonder if the team can strike a medium of sorts by renaming the team 'Tribe', which would be a nod to the former name without saying it, while also branding the long-standing nickname of the team, which the fanbase both recognizes and respects. This would be similar to how the NFL's Seattle Seahawks fans have branded themselves as "The 12's", which is in reference to the fans being the 12th man on the field, which gives the team an added advantage as the fans are on record as being among the loudest in sports.

The Minnesota Vikings is an NFL team that is named after Norse explorers that allegedly exhibited a fierce temperament when it came to battle. However, the current popular representations of the Vikings are largely false in that they adhere to a stereotype, which like the teams named after Irish ancestry are looked upon favorably. Here, the team name is connected to a positive mythical representation; is this akin to the opinion of the Redskins and Indians fans that are resistant to a name change? I believe that the Redskins name is a form of cultural appropriation which is based upon a stereotypical 'warring' nature of Native Americans in the United States; when we thumb through the historical record, there is nothing positive, lucky or mythical about the treatment this group of people was subjected to throughout the entire history of our country. Any reference to Native Americans being aggressive was in the face of others attempting to encroach on their lands in areas which are now part of the present day United States. This is the main disconnect from Irish or Norse-themed names...it happened here. One cannot pay homage to this history just as one wouldn't do so in a similar manner to the Japanese people subjected to internment camps during World War II or so-called 'blacks' that were put into bondage. Are names, Redskin, Redmen, Indian, Warhawk and Seminole a reference to the fighting spirit of a group of people that have been all but marginalized? I believe this is where many Native people that oppose the names have couched their valid and relevant grievances. If I were in the room trying to assist Snyder in considering whether to change his team's name, I would suggest that he change the team to the 'Washington Federals'. This name not only incorporates the team's chief sponsor's name, it also acts as compromise that conceivably, would not offend it's fans. Also, the name aligns well in ideology and locality with other teams in the D.C. area such as 'D.C. United', 'Washington Capitals' and 'Washington Nationals'...I have no idea what that Wizards garbage is about. Those old enough to know the names Wes Unseld, Moses Malone, Bernard King and Jeff Ruland know what I'm talking about.

Here is where I pose a hypothetical that may challenge sensibilities...imagine the NBA sanctioned a new expansion team to be placed in Birmingham, Alabama and named it the 'Birmingham Fightin' Zulus'. How would you feel about this? Do you believe that there are negative connotations associated with this name? Would you consider it 'racist' or offensive? Keep in mind, Zulu and African are not 'races' in the American sense of the word; also be mindful that San Diego State University's name for it's team is 'Aztecs'. Food for thought.