FedEx calls on Redskins to change name following investors’ demands on sponsors

@"purplefaithful" said: Report: Washington NFL franchise's three minority owners launching search to sell shares of teamThe three minority owners of Washington's NFL franchise are soliciting potential buyers for their shares of the team as a result of discontent with majority owner Daniel Snyder, according to The Washington Post, which cited multiple anonymous sources aware of the deliberations. The news comes as the franchise announced Friday it will "undergo a thorough review" of their nickname, the Redskins. This comes amid backlash for the name's racial insensitivity during a time when Americans are advocating for human rights and social justice – sparked by the death of George Floyd in Minnesota on May 25 while in police custody. On Thursday, FedEx, the title sponsor of the team's stadium, formally asked the team to change its name, becoming the first major backer to call for action. Businessmen Robert Rothman, Dwight Schar and Frederick W. Smith own a combined 40% of the team, and have collectively hired an investment banking firm to conduct a search for prospective buyers, The Postreports. The three individuals are "not happy being a partner" with Snyder, one source told The Post. Snyder, who purchased the team in 1999, has been hellbent on keeping the team name, telling USA TODAY Sports in 2013: “We’ll never change the name. It’s that simple. NEVER — you can use caps.”  Rothman is chairman and CEO of the investment company Black Diamond Capital. Schar is chairman of NVR Inc., the country's fifth-largest home builder, and Smith is chairman, president and CEO of FedEx. In 1999, FedEx signed a 27-year, $205 million naming-rights deal for what is now known as FedEx Field in Landover, Maryland https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2020/07/06/washington-redskins-nfl-teams-minority-owners-want-sell-shares/5382436002/

Maybe just a logo change?

@"wiviking" said: Maybe just a logo change?

personally if I were Snyder,  I would reach out to leaders of local tribes and ask for their input on a way to honor the tribes of that region to keep the respectful NA imagery and be able to tell a story that will not erase the NA from society.  The name is offensive to some,  but almost every single native I know has no issue with the imagery as long as it isnt depicting a NA in a poor manner. 

The images of the fierce profiles are not offensive to many NA people,  otherwise they wouldnt be endorsing that very image to be carved many stories high into granite in the black hills.  I also know a lot of NA that proudly wear Blackhawk,  Chiefs,  and many other teams apparel that use NA words, names, symbols, or imagery.  Sure some will be offended by about anything,  but they are hardly a majority IMO.

Maybe instead of destroying the reminders of the past transgressions and trying to erase all reminders of the failures of our past as a society,  we should leave them, teach from them,  and use them as ways to make sure those failures are not repeated in our future?

Gotta admit, this is hilarious.
https://babylonbee.com/news/redskins-to-change-name-to-lizard-people-so-theyll-fit-in-better-in-dcRedskins Change Name To 'Lizard People' To Better Represent Population Of Washington, D.C.

@"JimmyinSD" said: personally if I were Snyder,  I would reach out to leaders of local tribes and ask for their input on a way to honor the tribes of that region to keep the respectful NA imagery and be able to tell a story that will not erase the NA from society.  The name is offensive to some,  but almost every single native I know has no issue with the imagery as long as it isnt depicting a NA in a poor manner. 

The images of the fierce profiles are not offensive to many NA people,  otherwise they wouldnt be endorsing that very image to be carved many stories high into granite in the black hills.  I also know a lot of NA that proudly wear Blackhawk,  Chiefs,  and many other teams apparel that use NA words, names, symbols, or imagery.  Sure some will be offended by about anything,  but they are hardly a majority IMO.

Maybe instead of destroying the reminders of the past transgressions and trying to erase all reminders of the failures of our past as a society,  we should leave them, teach from them,  and use them as ways to make sure those failures are not repeated in our future?

We wont agree as a society on what/who belongs in which bucket. 

But I absolutely agree we gotta remember past transgressions so we can learn from em - hopefully we learn from em.

Whether that's what's happened to Native Americans in their native land, Slaves from Africa, The British colonies in India, Middle East and of course German Genocide and the Holocaust. 

I think every sport will eventually get away from a mascot that is associated with Native Americans. Whether it's derogatory or not, I think it's just how all the teams will handle the situation. We are already seeing the Indians discuss the matter, perhaps the Chiefs are next? 

@"Hawkvike25" said: I think every sport will eventually get away from a mascot that is associated with Native Americans. Whether it's derogatory or not, I think it's just how all the teams will handle the situation. We are already seeing the Indians discuss the matter, perhaps the Chiefs are next? 

To me the Florida State Seminoles isn't derogatory or demeaning, but Redskins is.

Chiefs? I guess I dont have an issue with that, not sure if the majority of Native Americans would or wouldn't????

@"purplefaithful" said:

@"Hawkvike25" said: I think every sport will eventually get away from a mascot that is associated with Native Americans. Whether it's derogatory or not, I think it's just how all the teams will handle the situation. We are already seeing the Indians discuss the matter, perhaps the Chiefs are next? 

I dont know if I agree with that, but it could be just my personal lens too...

To me the Florida State Seminoles isn't derogatory or demeaning, but Redskins is.

Chiefs? I guess I dont have an issue with that, not sure if the majority of Native Americans would or wouldn't????

This logo on the other hand was awful 

Cleveland Indians announce plans to consider name change https://t.co/hgkUU7aaSV

— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) July 4, 2020

Again is this not the free market correcting things as I have heard so much about? 

Does anyone believe that these teams are doing this just because a bunch of my whiney liberal buddies tjink they should? Read the writing on the wall people. Large money interests are demanding a change because the collective ideology of people in this country is changing. 

Ya can’t really cry market should dictate and then cry political correctness when it demands it. 

@"purplefaithful" said:

@"StickyBun" said: Not a bad deal for signing sponsorship with FedEx by Washington in 1999. U.S. Bank's deal with the Vikings is 25 years, $220 million. 

Underscores all the $$ involved with NFL and pro sports...Which is why these leagues/teams are fighting valiantly to have a season - even with all its imperfections and the risk of player, coach and staff infection. I guess its like the rest of the economy, you cant shut it down cold till (if) there is ever a vaccine:

The Sacramento Kings have reportedly closed their practice facility after a member of their traveling party tested positive for COVID-19 on Sunday, according to Sam Amick of The Athletic.Per that report, the practice facility "is not expected to reopen before the team departs for Orlando on Wednesday."
That news comes on the heels of the Milwaukee Bucks also choosing to shut down their practice facility earlier Sunday, per ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski. The Denver Nuggets, Miami Heat, Los Angeles Clippers, Brooklyn Nets and Phoenix Suns also shut down their practice facilities earlier this week, according to Marc Stein of the New York Times.
https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2899000-report-kings-close-facility-after-positive-covid-19-test-in-traveling-party?utm_source=cnn.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=editorial

@"savannahskol" said: Chief Zee. 

Born in Colquitt Ga (Da South!) Chief Z Williams was born a sharecropper and picked cotton as a youth.  

'Skins most recognizable fan.  A black sharecropper somehow becomes 'Skins most ardent fan. 
Kinda like Syd Davy? 

Chief Zee is dead now. RIP.  Coinciding with any sense of Americana?
LOL.  It's all over.    

But you are more "woke" now.  Got that, going for ya. 

From my perspective, teams may have approval from certain Native American figures but it's the way fans promote and present their support. I would imagine not many Native American people like to see white people or other races dressed up in war gear or performing the Seminole/Chief/Indian chant. I know it's not necessarily meant to be interpreted as racism, but it is the time we live in and a lot of people are more sensitive to this topic. Perhaps nothing changes with other mascots, just saying I wouldnt be surprised if it did.

Just ban all mascots.  They are all pretending to be someone they aren't.  If we truly want to be woke, mascots should just go away entirely.  And with them, professional sports.

honestly changing the name is stupid and not one Native Americans life will be made better by the name change.  

saying that I do think that it is tone deaf to resist the name change any longer.  The country is no longer rational and thinking and a business has to bow to the mob of lefties.

 They will be coming for the Vikings name soon as well since they were European pillagers.   If they change the Vikings name I am done with the NFL.

@"PSBLAKE" said: honestly changing the name is stupid and not one Native Americans life will be made better by the name change.  

saying that I do think that it is tone deaf to resist the name change any longer.  The country is no longer rational and thinking and a business has to bow to the mob of lefties.

 They will be coming for the Vikings name soon as well since they were European pillagers.   If they change the Vikings name I am done with the NFL.

@"bigbone62" said:

@"savannahskol" said: Chief Zee. 

Born in Colquitt Ga (Da South!) Chief Z Williams was born a sharecropper and picked cotton as a youth.  

'Skins most recognizable fan.  A black sharecropper somehow becomes 'Skins most ardent fan. 
Kinda like Syd Davy? 

Chief Zee is dead now. RIP.  Coinciding with any sense of Americana?
LOL.  It's all over.    

But you are more "woke" now.  Got that, going for ya. 

I guess I am missing the point. What does a black man being a fan of the Redskins have to do with Native Americans not appreciating the term?

@"JimmyinSD" said: personally if I were Snyder,  I would reach out to leaders of local tribes and ask for their input on a way to honor the tribes of that region to keep the respectful NA imagery and be able to tell a story that will not erase the NA from society.  The name is offensive to some,  but almost every single native I know has no issue with the imagery as long as it isnt depicting a NA in a poor manner. 

The images of the fierce profiles are not offensive to many NA people,  otherwise they wouldnt be endorsing that very image to be carved many stories high into granite in the black hills.  I also know a lot of NA that proudly wear Blackhawk,  Chiefs,  and many other teams apparel that use NA words, names, symbols, or imagery.  Sure some will be offended by about anything,  but they are hardly a majority IMO.

Maybe instead of destroying the reminders of the past transgressions and trying to erase all reminders of the failures of our past as a society,  we should leave them, teach from them,  and use them as ways to make sure those failures are not repeated in our future?

I don't understand the NEED to have a person or group of people as a mascot. We don't leave the skeletons of people who were hung in trees and yet I still learned about lynchings. Obviously that is an extreme example, but I think the point still stands that it doesn't have to be the name of the team for me to learn about past atrocities or mistakes of our ancestors. Typically those things belong in history books and museums and not on a 12 dollar cup of beer or a nacho cheese streaked jersey.