Cleveland Indians looking into changing team name

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Source: Associated Press via WBNS, Fox TV in Columbus

SPORTS
Cleveland Indians looking into changing team name
The club said it plans to review a nickname it has had since 1905.

Author: Associated Press
Published: 9:07 PM EDT July 3, 2020
Updated: 9:07 PM EDT July 3, 2020

CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Indians are reviewing their contentious nickname.

The team released a statement on Friday night saying it is committed to “making a positive impact in our community and embrace our responsibility to advance social justice and equality.”

The club said it plans to review a nickname it has had since 1905. {snip}

Read more: https://www.10tv.com/article/sports/cleveland-indians-looking-into-changing-team-name/530-463dd6cd-df7c-4d7c-9aee-9b9b08b8f824

[Sherman A1]

1. Long overdue

[Botany]

2. Fine by me.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

3. That's been gone for a while, hasn't it?

Mon Jan 29, 2018: Indians removing Chief Wahoo logo from game uniforms in 2019

[harley_weewax]

14. Chief Wahoo gone

Yes, it has been gone for awhile.

[brush]

44. Glad the chief logo is gone but why the name? Is "Indian" considered a slur?

I get "Redskin" but "Indian"?

[Ohiogal]

4. Almost every Indians fan I know

Has been very upset about them getting rid of Chief Wahoo, I can’t imagine the shit storm they will create over this.

IMO, .... both long overdue to be done away with

[lonely bird]

28. Grew up in a Cleveland suburb

Rooted for the Cleveland Baseball Club all my life even when I was living in Toledo and Chicago. Cleveland.com used to allow comments after articles which they stopped doing for whatever reason. I was always amazed at the comments claiming the Cleveland Baseball team wouldn’t win because Chief Wahoo was removed.

[luvs2sing]

5. I love my team..

but this name change is waaaaaaayyyy overdue. My husband, a native Clevelander and fan, is struggling with the idea, but I’m working on him, and he’s listening and understanding. There is hope. 😂

[Grins]

27. I'm hoping...

...he loves baseball more. And I think he does. When it’s your team in your city in your ballpark...! You’ll adapt.

[luvs2sing]

29. He does.

It’s emotional because he grew up with it, and he’s a nostalgic kind of guy. He agrees with the reasons to get rid of it. He couldn’t wait to get rid of Chief Wahoo. He will adjust.

[Danmel]

6. The team was originally known as the "naps"

For their star Napoleon Lajoie. That probably wouldn't work.
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://baseballhall.org/hall-of-famers/lajoie-nap&ved=2ahUKEwipzdCHxrPqAhVEhOAKHSqHDoEQFjAWegQIEBAB&usg=AOvVaw1Ec7r2N9XzltjLiE1UrgCC

[Ohiogal]

8. How about the Spiders?

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cleveland_Spiders

[Auggie]

15. I like "Spiders." Team was also once called the "Blues." I'm good with both ...

"Blues" was a shortened version of Bluebirds (which players did not like -- hence the "Blues".)

They could opt for true uniqueness and not have a nickname at all. Who says one is required?

[csziggy]

22. Hunh - using bird or animal names might be a good idea

But "blues" for bluebirds does not match the Cleveland team colors, which are red, black and white. Woodpeckers and red breasted grosbeaks are red, black, and white.

The Cleveland Woodpeckers? That might not work since we all know what the team nickname would be.

How about the Yellow bellied Sapsuckers!

The Northern Flickers has a nice sound, but they are more gray and black with only a bit of red.

[Auggie]

30. Team colors are red, white and blue. Not black.

[csziggy]

32. ! I just glanced at the colors and read the navy blue as black

My bad.

[Ohiogal]

26. I have an old post card

that I bought years ago at a flea market, it’s a team photo of players wearing uniforms with “Cleveland “ across the front, and below the picture, it says “Spiders 1892”. In the background is what must be the old League Park?

[Auggie]

31. Looks like it ...

According to wikipedia ...

League Park was first home to the Cleveland Spiders of the National League from 1891 to 1899 and of the Cleveland Lake Shores of the Western League, the minor league predecessor to the Indians, in 1900. From 1914 to 1915, League Park also hosted the Cleveland Spiders of the minor league American Association. In the late 1940s, the park was also the home field of the Cleveland Buckeyes of the Negro American League.

The property is still a baseball field.

[jayschool2013]

20. +1 NT

[cstanleytech]

7. Question is if the story is true or are they saying this simply to buy themselves time in the hopes

that the pressure from the people pushing for the name change will collapse.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

9. It's about fuckin' time!

[catbyte]

10. Awesome. Atlanta, Chicago, & Kansas City need to have that conversation, too. We are not mascots.

It's not "an honor." It reduces us to cartoon caricatures and mocks our ceremonies, sacred drumming, and dancing. How is the Cleveland logo, et al, any different than blackface? How are they different than Sambo's restaurant or the Frito Bandito? There just aren't enough of us left that have enough political clout to eradicate these racist images. This has been a pet peeve of mine for decades.

[edhopper]

17. Chicago

didn't know that origin before.

[yellowcanine]

18. Do Atlanta fans still do that gruesome "tomahawk chop" ?

I remember Jane Fonda doing it when she was married to Ted Turner.

To be fair she quit doing it, although there was no real apology from either her or Ted.

https://www.upi.com/Archives/1991/10/20/Fonda-puts-ax-to-chop/3118687931200/

MINNEAPOLIS -- Actress Jane Fonda, who did a double tomahawk chop during the National League playoffs, says she's through chopping.

'I'm not going to do it any more,' said Fonda, who was with her companion, Atlanta Braves owner Ted Turner, when the Braves lost 5-2 to the Minnesota Twins in Game 1 of the World Series at the Metrodome.

'It was never meant to offend. Ted and I are big supporters of Indians.'

About 200 Native Americans protested outside the Metrodome before the game, voicing their opposition to the use of Indian mascots by all sports teams. They are particularly upset by the tomahawk chop and other antics of Atlanta Braves fans.

A handful of Braves fans did the chop inside the Metrodome. People entering the Dome appeared about evenly divided in their opinion on the issue.

Braves executives and baseball Commissioner Fay Vincent said they won't talk about the matter until after the Series.

Asked by the St. Paul Pioneer Press whether the Braves should change their team name as urged by Indian leaders, Fonda said Saturday: 'Ask Ted, he's the owner.'

Turner didn't answer directly, but said he was unaware until two days ago of the reaction the chop would cause.

'I didn't name the team the Braves,' he said. 'This isn't the only team that's got an Indian name.'

Fonda, a well-known activist who has supported Indian causes in the past, was booed when she was shown on the Metrodome's large video screen. She was the subject of banners carried by the Indian protesters outside. One sign read 'Jane, we're not so Fonda you since your Turneround.' Another called her Jane Armstrong Custer Fonda.

[catbyte]

21. Every game.

[csziggy]

24. Then start on the college teams

I live where the Florida State University Seminoles rule and they do that annoying chop at every game. It does help that I am NOT a football fan and have never attended a FSU game but it dominates the branding for the university.

[Grokenstein]

11. Gosh, I thought they already took care of that...

https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/caucasians-t-shirt-satirizes-cleveland-indians-logo/

[paleotn]

12. Don't just review....

change it. Half measures won't do anymore.

[colsohlibgal]

13. As They Should

I am a big fan of the Cleveland teams and it is time.

[Coventina]

16. In 2016, when the Cleveland Indians were in the playoffs/world series,

I noticed a number of my NA students were all wearing Indians branded hats/tshirts.

I was surprised, to be honest, because I consider it offensive, but they were wearing it so much and so often I had to conclude that they were pulling for team. (I live in Arizona).

I completely understand that no population is a monolith, but based on my anecdotal experience, at least there is segment of college-age Native American students who (maybe?) support the team BECAUSE of the name?

[MichMan]

19. They just need to dissolve the team

The fans will never let it go. Maybe in a few years they can bring in an expansion team without 115 years of racist baggage

[marble falls]

25. Chief Wahoo has been MIA for several year.

[obamanut2012]

33. How about one of these?

Bobcats, Porcupines, Otters, Vultures, Eagles, or Owls.

[jmowreader]

34. Perfect name: Cleveland Flames

[Steelrolled]

35. Cleveland Clevelanders

Don't take any chances.

[Codeine]

36. Cleveland Steamers!

Somebody had to say it. . .

[GulfCoast66]

38. Damn you! Beat me to it by half an hour!

[NellieStarbuck]

40. Exactly!

[Capt. America]

37. How about an homage to negro league...The Buckeyes?

Blues? Spiders? Commodores?

[MichMan]

41. Buckeyes??

The same name as the biggest university in the state of Ohio ?

[BannonsLiver]

43. Probably best to avoid those

There could be some who believe it’s appropriation.

[mdbl]

39. They will have to do something otherwise there might be trouble for the

companies smearing their names all over the stadiums.

[BannonsLiver]

42. The KC Chiefs are next!

And as someone who values their Irish roots I’m going to be having a few words with my Notre Dame friends! I’ve been sick of that imagery for a while.

[Capt. America]

45. Robins? Gulls?