PUT WASHINGTON’S MASCOT TO REST
About time Redskins’ moniker got the boot
This is one time when the so-called “Cancel Culture” should have widespread agreement: the “Redskins” mascot is dead.
After 87 years, Washington’s NFL franchise will be called something different, the team announced Monday.
It’s way past time. Now let’s get rid of the other offensive names.
OK mascots: Animals. Weather. Rugged individuals like Titans or Giants or Cowboys or 49ers.
Not OK mascots: Anything cringe-y that might portray a stereotype meant to disparage. “Redskins” is just flat-out racist. Comedian Chris Rock did a hilarious bit about this, none of which is reprintable in a family newspaper.
Also not OK: Violent imagery, which is why the Washington Bullets don’t exist. Who ever thought that was a good idea?
A lot of Native American-themed mascots are under fire, and have been, because of the stereotypes that are insulting to indigenous people. (By the way, Canada refers to its original inhabitants as “First Nation,” which is kind of classy.)
The term “Indian” as a mascot in general is not well-received. … Cleveland’s baseball team had a crude mascot that it has since abandoned. In 2005 the NCAA issued a policy against these types of names, with the caveat that if tribes gave their blessing, names could be retained. So with tribal approval, Florida State is still the Seminoles, and Central Michigan is still the Chippewas. But several universities and colleges dumped the mascot. Somehow society survived.
Things get dicier when you’re talking about “meaning.” A “Chief ” or a “Brave” would seemingly be OK. But I’m a white guy: I don’t get to make that call. I see those terms and associate them with leadership. But create an artistic caricature, and those terms can become offensive real fast.
Are “Blackhawks” offensive? Some people think so.
Some teams have used “Warriors” as a mascot, and a lot of those were associated with Native Americans. Losing the association with tribes made “Warriors” socially acceptable, although if you think about it, that might be a little hard to take as well. Warriors kill people. I get it, you want athletic monikers that have some bite, but … it’s also OK not to go there. This is why “Patriots” is such a good mascot choice.
Thomas Jefferson High School in Dallas began life as the Rebels. And not like the “Star Wars” rebels … the Southern ones. As in the Confederacy. There are still people in the South who call the Civil War the “War of Northern Aggression.” There are still a lot of places in the South that do “Civil War re-enactments.”
This is a pursuit that is hard to comprehend … celebrating terrific losses. It’s such a stupid idea. Texans “Remember the Alamo” … but we don’t re-enact getting swamped by Santa Anna’s Mexican army. Hawaii doesn’t have a bunch of Zeros strafe Pearl Harbor in remembrance.
Can you imagine sports re-enactments from the losers? No one in Boston wants to recreate Bucky F. Dent, the 1986 World Series, or the Helmet Catch. Dallas, Texas, was hard
ly “woke” in the early 1970s, but TJ’s mascot was the old “Johnny Reb” and the marching band played “Dixie” throughout games as fans waved Confederate battle flags. Thomas Jefferson High School has given us Meat Loaf (the singer, not the food), Olympic shot put/NFL star Michael Carter, Monkee Michael Nesmith, and actor Owen Wilson. Wow.
After desegregation, TJ gave us a new mascot: Pat Patriot. Yep. The team adopted the uniforms and helmet of the Boston Patriots. A great call.
Growing up in Dallas, we of course hate the Washington team. It ain’t about the name in that case. The team began life in Boston as the Braves in 1932. Owner George Preston Marshall moved the team to Washington and gave them a new name in 1937. Marshall aggressively marketed his team to the South, and opposed the idea of a franchise in Dallas because he worried it would cut into his fan base. Prospective Dallas owner Clint Murchison bought the rights to the team’s fight song, “Hail to the Redskins” and told Marshall he couldn’t play it any more. Marshall caved, and Washington’s chief football rival was born.
But Murchison’s move was strictly business, and once he got his way, he did nothing to protest the song. At least now we won’t have to listen to it anymore.
Closer to home, though, is trying to figure out what happens next with mascots some people have trouble with. Is the term “Celtics” offensive? How about “Fighting Irish?”
One person’s “cancel culture” is another person’s “free hand of the marketplace.” Find a team name offensive? No one makes you buy a ticket. Vote with your money.
But losing the Redskins name is long overdue.