What's in a Name?

Apparently, a lot or Trump would not be threatening the Commanders, er, Redskins.

By Greg Rabidoux

President Trump recently brought up the idea, somewhat offhandedly, as he frequently does, that he would block the NFL Washington DC team's proposed building of a new stadium into the actual District of Columbia unless they drop their "Commanders" name and go back to their original name of the "Redskins." The team got rid of its longstanding Redskins moniker after years of focus groups, surveys, polling, and well, mostly listening to white, liberal elites who seem to be the ones that get the most worked up over Indian names and team mascots.

For years now, the Washington Football Team (they went two years being nameless) actually play its home games in Landover, Maryland, so maybe they should just be called the "Marylanders." Hmmm, that might offend some folks too. Plus, it's not too intimidating when they play against say, the Chicago Bears or the Minnesota Vikings or the NY Giants (Who actually play in New Jersey). But the "Commanders," was that really an upgrade? Just what do they command? On the other hand, the same could be asked of the Cleveland Guardians. Just what do they guard up there in Cleveland by the lake, the Rock N' Roll Hall of Fame? Maybe LeBron James' old NBA locker and sweaty shorts? Wasn't it enough they buckled under pressure and got rid of their "Chief Wahoo" logo?

The Atlanta Braves had to ditch their beloved "Chief-Knocka-Homa" mascot, the University of Illinois axed its Chief Illiniwek but kept the "Illini" part, hence the confusing "Fighting Illini" chant at their home games, the Dartmouth Indians changed its name to "The Big Green" which just sounds like some sort of fast-spreading disease after liberals were outraged at the term "Indians." And several more sport teams, college and pro, including the then-Philadelphia Warriors felt compelled to drop the warrior part in a noble effort to "honor" Native Americans who, apparently, were offended at being publicly admired for their fighting spirit as warriors.

But are they? Offended?

I am not fully convinced. Years ago, one of my alma maters, Marquette University, who used to be called the "Hilltoppers" (talk about not intimidating the opponent) became the Marquette Warriors, in large part, to honor the local Potawatami tribe. But after years of leftist outrage, the Jesuit leadership at Marquette succumbed to the pressure and Marquette became the "Golden Eagles." They even created "Iggy" the Golden Eagle mascot who, to this day, gets mercilessly mocked, and again, intimidates no one. I actually saw the results of the local tribal comments and they just didn't seem nearly as outraged as non-tribal elites about the university being called warriors. But then again, I'm never fully certain who or what demographic is supposed to feel good or whose guilt is supposed to be assuaged with some of these name changes. I mean, in the case of the Potawatami Tribe they are so busy counting their local casino winnings they probably could care less what name Marquette goes by so long as those 21 and over come and play and lose, at their "home stadium," aka, the roulette table and Blackjack. Sorry, can I still say "Blackjack?"

So, will the Washington Football Team ever back to being called the Redskins? Should they? I just don't have the answer. Maybe when every school and sporting team completely expunges any and all possibly offensive or insensitive name across the entire land called America (can I still call it that?) any residual guilt or bad feelings will also be eliminated. I doubt it but until then the Kansas City Chiefs and their chop and the Atlanta Braves and their chop may just be next on the proverbial, elitist um, chopping block. Go figure. I guess all of this is progress. It just doesn't always seem like it. To be safe it seems we'll just keep naming all our sports teams after birds until that lobbying group flocks together and demands "justice."

Greg Rabidoux is an award-winning filmmaker, author, and screenwriter. And really doesn't like the name "Golden Eagles."