Team Names

There has been a lot of talk on the news lately about offensive team names.  To be more specific, team names that are seen as derogatory towards a group of people.

Now, I'm not one for being politically correct or oversensitive about matters, but for the love of sanity, if there is one thing that is clear, it is that certain team names have to go!  I don't care if someone wants to cite league or team history.  That doesn't fly, and I'll explain why.  But first, let's list a few of the names and logos that need to disappear.  Now.

Washington Redskins:  If there's any more derogatory name out there, I can't think of one.  Watch an old western and tell me if the actors playing the cowboys thought that they were being respectful when they used this term.  It's a slam, and akin to calling a black person the N-word.  The logo, showing a native American head, is also inappropriate, but the name is the thing that is ridiculous.  How would a white person feel about a league where the "Whitetown Crackers" played?  Come on.  The owner, Dan Snyder, says it is a respectful name and based on team history.  Actually, the owner who came up with that name was a white supremacist and racist extraordinaire.  Does Dan Snyder really want to line up in that group?  Overall, it should be clear to see that this name is insulting beyond belief and needs to be changed.  Now.  Today.

Cleveland Indians:  If the name isn't bad enough, smiling Chief Wahoo causes this franchise to get the "Insulting Image" award.  The team used to be called the Spiders.  Granted, that name stinks, too, but at least it isn't insulting.  Again, I don't care if this is historical.  Get rid of it.  And if you don't think the smiling Chief logo is insulting, I dare you to change it to a smiling Mumbai help desk operator with a turban.  What?  That's racially insulting?  No kidding.

Atlanta Braves:  While not overtly insulting, it still is based on racist overtones.  Their logo used to be a screaming native American, and they tried to use that logo again this year on some batting practice hats.  But some folks called them on it, and they shelved the idea.  Time to get rid of the name, the logo, and the tomahawk chop.

Kansas City Royals:  This promotes monarchy, as well as the Sacramento and Los Angeles Kings.  (Just kidding on this one.)

There are numerous college and high schools who use the same names and similar logos.  It's time to stop.  You can't tell me that there aren't millions of other possibilities that would be just as good.  And get this... you know how soccer teams change their jersey designs regularly?  They do this to keep people buying jerseys!  Think what would happen if these insulting names were changed, and the uniforms changed with them!  Fans would go out and buy the new jerseys and hats and other items to show loyalty to their teams.  Money would roll in!

Seriously...get rid of these names.  Now.  It's reasonable; it's logical; it's financially beneficial.  It's the right thing to do.