Wow, sometimes one actually learns something, and sees an insightful word on ESPN!
You need to understand that George Preston Marshall, the man who bought the rights to an NFL franchise with three partners and started the Boston Braves in 1932, was an avowed segregationist. You have to understand the franchise was renamed in "honor" of a man raised by white parents who adopted a Native American persona (scholars say he was impersonating a Sioux man). And when the team relocated to D.C. five years after it was founded, the city was controlled by Southern white politicians.
Folks cut from the same cloth as the asshole trying to poke holes in a 102-year old American's immigration status may think the call to rename the team political correctness gone wild.
However, we must remember that the Washington team was the LAST NFL team to integrate...in 1962.
In addition...
Marshall didn't finally sign a black player because he was no longer a racist.
The NFL had signed a big TV deal the year before, and then-commissioner Pete Rozelle was encouraged by the other owners to talk to Marshall; no doubt they were afraid his bigotry would tarnish the image of the league. The federal government was also involved, as the team's new football stadium was built on federally controlled land. So the Kennedy administration required Marshall to abide by federal law.
This is the history of the franchise that has clung to the name "Washington Redskins."
(Boy "they" must've hated Kennedy!)
There have been pickets and protests, but Roger Goodell, NFL Commissioner, has stated "I think Dan Snyder (the team owner) and the organization have made it very clear that they are proud of that name and that heritage."
But what is that heritage, oh gutless corporate stooge?
The heritage is a racist owner, who propped up a white guy as a fake Sioux mascot.
The moment the DC mayor took some backlash, he immediately backed off any renaming effort. I lived in DC for a few years in the 80s. The fans there are rabid and loony...and the very visible core are old white men who dress in mardi gras style ladies dresses and call themselves the Hogettes, holdovers from the 80s' team with their great offensive line, the hogs.
Why should the team owner and the league commissioner have to be forced to do the right thing? What the fuck is wrong with them? Why can't they look at the true history of the name and simply do what is right? (Disclaimer: I am Jewish) I cannot imagine what Daniel Snyder would do with the team if it was named the Hebes or the Kikes (thank you, Meteorblades for that imagery). Would they continue that proud Hebe tradition, and have a mad crazy Hasid doing a pregame dovening dance at midfield, defiantly spiking a lulav at the 50? Or would Snyder just fucking change the fucking name?
What is the cost of action on this one?
You should also know the following:
Recently, the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian held a symposium entitled Racist Stereotypes and Cultural Appropriation in American Sports, and as you can imagine, the use of "Redskins" was a major point of contention.
"Honors like that we don't need," said Robert Holden, deputy director of the National Congress of American Indians.
And when you look at the true, repulsive history of the name "Redskins," the word "honors" should be the last thing that comes to anyone's mind.
Just in case you need a little more, here's the fight song, which they actually put on the TV screen every week during telecasts in the 80s, with a little "follow the bouncing ball" so we could all sing the fuck along:
Note: The original lyrics were written by Corinne Griffith, wife of the notoriously-racist owner, George Preston Marshall. (I don't know if she is related to the horribly racist renowned filmmaker DW Griffith.)
*Note that in the original version by sweet Corinne, "fight for old DC" was actually "fight for old Dixie".
Hail to the Redskins!
Hail Victory!
Braves on the Warpath!
Fight for old D.C.!
Run or pass and score -- we want 'em heap more!
Beat 'em, Swamp 'em,
Touchdown! -- Let the points soar!
Fight on, fight on 'Til you have won
Sons of Wash-ing-ton. Rah!, Rah!, Rah!
Hail to the Redskins!
Hail Victory!
Braves on the Warpath!
Fight for old D.C.!
*Note: If you decide to read the article on ESPN.com, do yourself a favor and avoid the comments.
Hint: the top comment when I was there was from a username: Fox_sports_is_better_then_onesided_ESPN.
"I thing this article offended more people then the crap this so-called journalist is writing about. I think that most people simply accepted the Redskin name LIKE 80 YEARS AGO!"
(Words fail me now).
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