Back
Are you ready for some football?!
This week, the BuzzLine takes a look at the brouhaha over the name of the NFL’s franchise in our nation’s capital – the Washington Redskins. With lots of Redskins fans in PadillaCRT’s three Virginia offices, the BuzzLine is treading lightly.
The dustup over the Redskins name has resulted in a public relations headache for the league and the team. It also puts a spotlight on issues of cultural sensitivity in sports, regarding team names and mascots. An analysis by the Pew Research Center indicates that at least 76 news outlets and journalists have publicly stated their opposition to the Washington Redskins name or moved to restrict or ban its use.
Earlier this week, representatives of the Oneida Indian Nation asked NFL executives to sanction Washington Redskins owner Daniel Snyder for conduct detrimental to the league for continuing to use a team nickname and mascot that “promote a dictionary-defined racial slur.”
In a letter to fans defending the decision not to change the team’s name, Synder wrote: “Our franchise has a great history, tradition and legacy representing our proud alumni and literally tens of millions of loyal fans worldwide. We are proud of our team and the passion of our loyal fans. Our fans sing ‘Hail to the Redskins’ in celebration at every Redskins game. They speak proudly of ‘Redskins Nation’ in honor of a sports team they love.”
Given all the other things Washington, D.C. is known for, in six words, give us your best alternative team name for the Washington Redskins. How about:
- Washington Do-Nothings: Because Congress Sucks!
- Washington Cherry Blossoms: No staying power!
Leave your six-word response in the comments section. As always, the best contributor will receive the undying adoration of the BuzzLine and a Starbucks gift card. (Shout out to this past week’s winner Karen Goodsell in our Minneapolis office!)
Hut … Hut … Go!