Cleveland’s Baseball Team Will Drop Its Indians Team Name

[SlyPokerDog]

The decision comes amid a wider push for sports teams to stop using Native American names and imagery as team names and mascots.

Following years of protests from fans and Native American groups, the Cleveland Indians have decided to change their team name, moving away from a moniker that has long been criticized as racist, three people familiar with the decision said Sunday.

The move follows a decision by the Washington Football Team of the N.F.L. in July to stop using a name long considered a racial slur, and is part of a larger national conversation about race that magnified this year amid protests of systemic racism and police violence.

Cleveland could announce its plans as soon as this week, according to the three people, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly on the matter.

It is not immediately clear what Cleveland’s exact steps will be beyond dropping the Indians name. The transition to a new name involves many logistical considerations, including work with uniform manufacturers and companies that produce other team equipment and stadium signage.

Cleveland spent much of the year before the 2019 season phasing out the logos and imagery of the cartoon mascot Chief Wahoo.

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/13/sports/baseball/cleveland-indians-baseball-name-change.html

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Nice.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

@EL PRESIDENTE it's not too late for you to tell Santa that you want used hipster Cleveland Indian clothes for Christmas.

 

[BlazerBeav]

I literally, today, had a delivery of an Indians jersey that I bought for a friend (diehard Indians fan) for Christmas. Guess it can be a collector's item.

 

[handiman]

India must be ecstatic.

Wouldn't "American" in the conference names be equally inaccurate and offensive to some?

 

[SharpesTriumph]

India must be ecstatic.

Wouldn't "American" in the conference names be equally inaccurate and offensive to some?

I dont see why, it's a place not a race.

 

[PCmor7]

I heard they're going to be called the Cleveland Overweight White Guys with Crewcuts and Glasses.

 

[UncleCliffy'sDaddy]

BG and I caught a game at Progressive at the start of last season. It was the first year of the “C” on the caps and it caught me by surprise (though it looked pretty good). They were still selling the old Chief Wahoo swag in the fan shop, so I picked up an old style cap. I wear it most days when I’m walking the dog. Interesting how many Cleveland fans exist out here, though I’m still waiting for a local SJW to call me out on it. Just label me insensitive........

 

[SlyPokerDog]

BG and I caught a game at Progressive at the start of last season. It was the first year of the “C” on the caps and it caught me by surprise (though it looked pretty good). They were still selling the old Chief Wahoo swag in the fan shop, so I picked up an old style cap. I wear it most days when I’m walking the dog. Interesting how many Cleveland fans exist out here, though I’m still waiting for a local SJW to call me out on it. Just label me insensitive........

I'm outraged over this post.

It's obvious the dog walks you.

 

[UncleCliffy'sDaddy]

I'm outraged over this post.

It's obvious the dog walks you.

Actually.....it’s the wife that walks the dog. I’m just the bag man, doing in retirement what I did in my working life. It’s a shitty job but someone has to do it........

 

[julius]

I heard they're going to be called the Cleveland Overweight White Guys with Crewcuts and Glasses.

I like it...the Cleveland Drews!

 

[handiman]

I dont see why, it's a place not a race.

As is India, and the resulting mis-applied term.

 

[Chris Craig]

I like it...the Cleveland Drews!

Cleveland Rocks!

 

[stampedehero]

The decision comes amid a wider push for sports teams to stop using Native American names and imagery as team names and mascots.

Following years of protests from fans and Native American groups, the Cleveland Indians have decided to change their team name, moving away from a moniker that has long been criticized as racist, three people familiar with the decision said Sunday.

The move follows a decision by the Washington Football Team of the N.F.L. in July to stop using a name long considered a racial slur, and is part of a larger national conversation about race that magnified this year amid protests of systemic racism and police violence.

Cleveland could announce its plans as soon as this week, according to the three people, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly on the matter.

It is not immediately clear what Cleveland’s exact steps will be beyond dropping the Indians name. The transition to a new name involves many logistical considerations, including work with uniform manufacturers and companies that produce other team equipment and stadium signage.

Cleveland spent much of the year before the 2019 season phasing out the logos and imagery of the cartoon mascot Chief Wahoo.

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/13/sports/baseball/cleveland-indians-baseball-name-change.html

Their logo is much more bigoted than the Washington Redskins although the mere mention of skin color is the turn off.

 

[stampedehero]

Watch, they will call themselves the Cleveland baseball Club.

 

[Natebishop3]

So genuinely curious, is there any scenario where it would be okay to use any kind of version of a native American mascot for a sports team?

I completely understand why something like the Redskins would be extremely offensive, but why would any version of a native American be offensive? Outside of animals, there are a lot of examples of warriors from various points in history that are mascots. The Vikings. The Trojans. The Minutemen.

And I think we have a great example of a university who has the endorsement of the local tribe in the Seminoles. So if a local university or high school or pro team approaches a local tribe and gets their endorsement, is that okay? There seems to be groups that are still hostile towards FSU even though they have the support of the local tribe.

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

I've been a fan since 1956 and it's hard for an old man to embrace the new sometimes; but I'm gonna be OK. Here is (maybe) how they got the original name: "On the suggestion of fans, the club chose the name in honor of Louis Francis Sockalexis, a Cleveland professional ballplayer who was one of the first Native Americans in the game's history."

He was a very good player at first but "Even in glory, Sockalexis had already dealt with racism at the ballpark, with insensitive fans yelling things like "Scalp 'em!" or doing rain dances in the stands. Unfortunately, the taunts got worse as his play declined, and The Plain Dealer went so far as to refer to him as "A Wooden Indian" and "a broken idol."

But actually they weren't named the Indians until much later; by which time Sockalexis most likely forgotten. They were named the "Naps" at that time after a star player; but then the player got traded, so they needed a new name. Apparently the Boston Braves were very popular then and maybe somebody thought that was partly due to their name, so they came up with "Indians".

Now, that is probably more than you wanted to know. I will miss that racist Wahoo cap, but I'll be happy with whatever new name they come up with.

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

So genuinely curious, is there any scenario where it would be okay to use any kind of version of a native American mascot for a sports team?

I completely understand why something like the Redskins would be extremely offensive, but why would any version of a native American be offensive? Outside of animals, there are a lot of examples of warriors from various points in history that are mascots. The Vikings. The Trojans. The Minutemen.

And I think we have a great example of a university who has the endorsement of the local tribe in the Seminoles. So if a local university or high school or pro team approaches a local tribe and gets their endorsement, is that okay? There seems to be groups that are still hostile towards FSU even though they have the support of the local tribe.

Yes, I think The Cleveland Iroquois would be great. They were a great and mighty tribe and located in the same general area.

 

[Natebishop3]

Yes, I think The Cleveland Iroquois would be great. They were a great and mighty tribe and located in the same general area.

I really think that's what they should do. Keep the tradition in a way, but approach a local tribe to get an endorsed name.

 

[julius]

Cleveland Rocks!

Ohio! Io! Io! Io!

 

[Eastoff]

I think they should pay homeage to history. Grover Cleveland. The team colors could be blue and you could get a contract with Sesame and have Grover be the mascot.

 

[e_blazer]

I remember back in the '70s when Stanford dropped the Indians name and switched to the Cardinal. Most people back then thought they were nuts, now it looks like they were just way ahead of the curve.

 

[julius]

I remember back in the '70s when Stanford dropped the Indians name and switched to the Cardinal. Most people back then thought they were nuts, now it looks like they were just way ahead of the curve.

Well there's something I never knew.

 

[Natebishop3]

I remember back in the '70s when Stanford dropped the Indians name and switched to the Cardinal. Most people back then thought they were nuts, now it looks like they were just way ahead of the curve.

Yeah but The Cardinal is really a dumb dumb name.

 

[Phatguysrule]

I dont see why, it's a place not a race.

Isn't India a place as well, though?

 

[e_blazer]

Yeah but The Cardinal is really a dumb dumb name.

I don't know, it's really hard to offend either a color or a bird.

 

[handiman]

I don't know, it's really hard to offend either a color or a bird.

Tree huggers take offense to that.

 

[THE HCP]

BG and I caught a game at Progressive at the start of last season. It was the first year of the “C” on the caps and it caught me by surprise (though it looked pretty good). They were still selling the old Chief Wahoo swag in the fan shop, so I picked up an old style cap. I wear it most days when I’m walking the dog. Interesting how many Cleveland fans exist out here, though I’m still waiting for a local SJW to call me out on it. Just label me insensitive........

I know people that are fans simply because of Major League.

 

[TBpup]

I get the 'Redskins' being gone, but just the name Indians, seemed a bit of a surprise. The mascot characature logo? That I totally get.

So what about the Braves? Blackhawks?

 

[Natebishop3]

I get the 'Redskins' being gone, but just the name Indians, seemed a bit of a surprise. The mascot characature logo? That I totally get.

So what about the Braves? Blackhawks?

Yeah.... I feel like if it's tastefully done, what's the problem? It's a nod to the warriors of their ancestors.