What’s in a Name?

Since the 1990s, various sports teams at all levels have gone through a transformation.  These teams were among those who had, as a nickname, some reference to Native Americans.  While various tribes have authorized some use as legitimate or while others benefit from their ambiguous names, others still find themselves in the crossfire.  Throughout the controversy, one team has been more criticized than others – the National Football League’s Washington Redskins.  While the pinnacle of opposition coincided with the team’s appearance in the Super Bowl in the early 1990s, there have been renewed attempts, namely the Oneida tribe, to convince the team’s ownership to change.  

There are three types of Native American-connected names the subject of debate over the last several decades.  One dealt with teams whose names are a direct reference to a tribe such as schools like the Utah Utes, Florida State Seminols and Eastern Michigan Chippawas.  The second are those who use as their moniker more indistinct names that do not reference a particular tribe such as MLB’s Atlanta Braves, NHL’s Chicago Blackhawks and NBA’s Golden State Warriors.  The last category are those who have used names that have either an obvious or vague racist tones such as the Redmen of St. John’s University, the Louisiana-Monroe Indians and the aforementioned Washington Redskins.  St. John’s and Louisiana-Monroe have changed their names but the football team that calls the nation’s capital its home has stood resolute. 

I do believe that racism exists and I do believe that the Washington Redskins are on the wrong side of this issue.  Its name is clearly a reference to the more racist connotations of days gone by.  Having said that, I’m reluctant to mandate a change.  In the 1960s, President John F. Kennedy used his muscle to force the Washington to accept black players, the last NFL team to do so.  A combination of political and economic forces compelled the team to do what public opinion did not.  However, if Washington changes its name, it must come from the marketplace.  I mentioned in an earlier article about the Boy Scouts of America that I feel a little queasy when organizations or individuals are forced to do something.  This is no different but I understand the backstory. 

For Native Americans, their recent history is one of societal, economic and political subjugation.  They have endured racism and worse, near ethnic annihilation.  Since the heyday of the Native American civil rights movement and the militancy of groups like the American Indian Movement (AIM), activists have tried to right wrongs.  For the most part, the American public has agreed and has supported changes that favor America’s indigenous population.  However, groups like AIM have not always been disciplined in their attacks and have subsequently unleashed their efforts on things that are questionable.  Therefore, when a real case emerges or a real argument is put forth, people have begun to tune it out.  This could be the case with the Washington Redskins.  

I don’t believe the team or its administrative staff are racists nor does it have a predilection towards racist overtones.  Yet, it would be better if Washington changed its name.  The Oneida tribe has made it clear that they are going to protest and push until the organization does so.  However, the fans have not been a part of the chorus, at least to the point where they have chosen not to attend games or purchase merchandise.  If the Oneida tribe can do what many other activists could not do – convince the fans that this is a racial issue – so be it and we are probably better off for it.  If they can’t, the name should remain the same.   

In Pursuit of Sport Fantasies

People travel for all sorts of reasons, myself more than anyone. I travel to experience history first hand. I love to look upon landscape or buildings where historical figures have traversed or gazed upon. I love to experience a part of history as I walk through important hallways of power or fields of hard work. I love walking into restaurants that tourists are not familiar with and speak horribly the local language while hoping everyone takes me as a local. I just want to come across as inconspicuously as possible. However, beyond the history and culture, I’m also a fan of world sports and have even created a list of sporting events that are on a wish list.

This year, I’m actually living one of those fantasies – to attend a top league European soccer match. I’ll be in Germany later this year and I will see Kaiserslautern on their home pitch. The Bundesliga is one of the top soccer leagues in the world and to see two of its historic teams in action is an amazing opportunity. I’d like also to see a baseball game in Japan. If there is one country, outside of the United States, who has set new standards and represents the best of the sport, it is Japan. To see a game at the Tokyo Dome or the Nagoya Dome would be as amazing an opportunity as seeing the most sacred temple or the most beautiful mountain. I don’t understand the sport but how great would it be to see a cricket match in India as the national team played Pakistan or Australia? Or, what would it be like to watch a rugby match in France or Ireland? Or a footy match in Melbourne, watching the Essendon Bombers? I have some friends from the region so I’ve adopted the team.

The passion of sport can bring out the best in people as it typifies the best of character – perseverance, sacrifice and joy. As it portrays so much of what makes a people great, it is as important as a castle, a natural wonder, a hall of government or a concert venue. Now, my wife and others I know are not as enamored with the notion of going to exotic locales just to sit in a stadium, wedged between a sea of fans and trying to follow the action. My wife prefers the quieter and more serene environs of a museum or a park. Don’t get me wrong, I’ll hit those places eventually. However, the sport can capture the mood of a place, the temperament of a people.

If it is true that the purpose of the travel is to experience a place from within, consider this. One of the great thing about sports in general is that, within a stadium, ballpark or arena, caste and distinction disappear and in the joy of victory or the agony of defeat (yes, I stole that line) people experience it together. So, imagine being in a foreign port of call and attending a match. To those around me, I’m not an American but simply one of the fans. We will celebrate or bemoan our fate together, regardless of nationality.

I’m as proud of who I am as the next person but it is quite an experience to forget about yourself for a bit and see life through someone else’s eyes. That is what sports can do.

Where is Mr. Blackwell When We Need Him?

I’m an avid sports fan – not of all sports but certainly enough to make my wife roll her eyes from time to time. Like many sports fans, I love the tradition and history in which many of the storied franchises are wrapped. However, there is one element that drives me a little crazy in the following of my favorite sports – uniforms. This might be an odd thing to get on one’s horse over but there are some offensive expressions of sports fashion out there that needs to be called out. We fans have to wear these colors and designs to support our team – how about some consideration? Here are a few of the worst – broken down by the sport.

Baseball – The Toronto Blue Jays used to have a great uniform (click here) but in the pursuit of trendy, edgy and new age, their look (particularly the dark colored ones seen here) are just wrong. The Diamondbacks/Marlins/Rays – any team whose years of existence are outnumbered by uniform varieties they’ve worn need to be disbanded at once. I know that the San Diego Padres wear the camouflage uniforms in honor of nearby stationed troops, but they look hideous – and I’ve worn camouflage utilities.

Football – I cannot stand the New England Patriots, whose uniform (here) looks like a holdover from the old USFL. What makes it worse; they used to have the best. The Atlanta Falcons have had a horrible uniform since the decided to go all black back in the 1990s (whoop, there it is). Why oh why won’t they return to the red and white? The Carolina Panthers must include the most awkwardly benign caricature of an otherwise fierce creature in sports (throw in Jacksonville Jaguars for much the same reason). Lastly, the Philadelphia Eagles color scheme is all wrong – their uniform is so monochromatic, I expect the helmet design to disappear soon (here).

Hockey – There are a group of teams with the most ridiculous mascot designs for their attire, including the Florida Panthers, the Columbus Blue Jackets (though, to be fair, the name of the team hampers the pursuit of good ideas), the Nashville Predators, the Phoenix Coyotes, the Pittsburg Penguins (here) and the Tampa Bay Lightning. You might say that the Penguins get a pass as an older team. No. I’m from the Baltimore/Washington area, I cannot stand the Penguins, and so they stay on the list out of principle.

College football – The reason for this article was a string of criminal uniform designs in the opening weekend of the 2011 season. The worst, and that is saying something, belongs to the Georgia Bulldogs who always sported a classic look. But the icing on the cake are my beloved Maryland Terrapins (here). What in the name of God was that they wore against Miami? A local radio personality brought up a good point – that uniform went through the approval of a host of board of directors, university officials, coaches and players. Not one of them, apparently, protested. What about the Oregon Ducks, you might ask? I’m sure others have said more eloquently than I could how hideous their various incarnations appear. How one university could screw up so often on something so simple is beyond me (here).