The guilt-mongers at politically correct media outlets can breathe easy now. Their years of feigned suffering over the name of the "Washington NFL team" they dare not speak is over. Today the Redskins announced they plan to drop what USA Today writer Tom Schad calls "a polarizing team name and logo." It's a case of the tyranny of the minority prevailing over huge majorities of people and Native Americans who do not object to Indian nicknames.
Schad is whooping it up because, in 2013, Skins owner Daniel Snyder vowed he would never change the nickname.
"Now, it appears 'NEVER' has arrived," Schad says. It's "a moniker that many Native Americans considered a racial slur." "Many" -- as in 10 percent in public opinion polling.
The racial paranoia engulfing corporate America obviously led Snyder to push the panic button. That's the only thing that's changed in the seven years since he took a hard line stance on the Redskins name. Schad writes:
"In a monumental and long-awaited move, Washington's NFL franchise announced Monday it will drop its polarizing team name and logo at the conclusion of an ongoing review. The franchise did not immediately announce a new name for its team, or when it will finalize its new branding."
Snyder and Coach Ron Rivera are working together to come up with a name that will appease the race peddlers. One that will "enhance the standing of our proud, tradition-rich franchise and inspire our sponsors, fans and community for the next 100 years," a team statement declared.
Washington's decision to end an 87-year run as the Redskins came 10 days into a formal review, after FedEx raised a big stink about having its name attached to the team's stadium.
Schad says: "It also follows decades of simmering frustration from many Native Americans and activists, who have criticized the name as either insensitive or downright racist."
Les Carpenter and Mark Maske, of The Washington Post, confirm the race mania surrounding the killing of George Floyd contributed to the name change:
"Snyder had previously said he would never change the controversial Redskins name, which is considered to be a slur against Native Americans. But in the social uprising that followed George Floyd’s death, with corporations and governments around the country removing logos and symbols considered to be offensive, the pressure to drop the old name — including from some of the franchise’s most important sponsors — was too great.
"At least one of Snyder’s outside advisers urged him to deal with the name issue in the days after Floyd’s death, a person with direct knowledge of the plea said. Soon after, Snyder apparently began confronting the reality of a name change."
On July 2, FedEx threatened to terminate the $45 million it's paying the Redskins for naming rights to their stadium, barring a name change. Other sponsors, including PepsiCo, Nike and Bank of America, also warned the team they would revoke their sponsorships.
The Post says name changes are complicated processes and fears the team faces "a serious challenge" to complete it and also rename its Redskins Park Drive address in time for the Sept. 13 season opener.
Many petty sports writers and broadcasters have refused to say the "Redskins," name, preferring instead "the Washington NFL club." Sporting News is doing that today, ironically pushing for a race-related nickname: "Redtails," in honor of the Tuskegee Airmen. Writer Jordan Heck also suggests "Warriors," though Marquette University dropped that name, claiming it was disrespectful of Indians.
Deadspin writer Eric Barrow is ecstatic over the demise of the Redskins, writing that after the murder of Floyd "by four Minneapolis cops back in May, a push began to tear down images of white supremacy, particularly statues of Confederate officers, enslavers and known racists ... It wasn’t long before public outrage turned its attention to the most racist team name in sports (because Deadspin considers the name a slur, we will not print it). In June, Nestle announced it was abandoning same racial slur it used for an Australian candy."
No doubt Bob Costas is forcing his best big Botox smile today. The former NBC broadcaster exploited his NFL halftime appearances to call for the elimination of the Redskins nickname. It "can’t possibly honor a heritage or noble character trait, nor can it possibly be considered a neutral term. It’s an insult, a slur, no matter how benign the present day intent," Costas whined years ago.
Former Redskins player Donté Stallworth, an African-American appearing in an interview on CNN, rationalized the name change is a case of "capitalism,'' not "altruism."
Speaking on Fox Sports 1's "The Undisputed," Shannon Sharpe (at left in photo) said the nickname is a derogatory, offensive, racist slur. "It was the right thing to do." Skip Bayless (at right in photo) said he has "run out of air on national TV saying this is wrong" to use a "derogatory sort of defamatory term towards native Americans, that goes way back to the days in which we, as white people, white settlers, white government, declared war on the Native Americans," and it's wrong to use it for the football team in the nation's capitol.
