To paraphrase Ronald Reagan, here he goes again. It’s the man who claimed to crack down on Mike Vick and Ben Roethlisberger, when really he coddled both. The same man who is killing our game with rule change after rule change. It’s Roger Goddell, the NFL Commissioner. Now, he’s wading into the waters of a possible Redskins name change.
While speaking to LaVar Arrington and Chad Dukes about the Redskins nickname on 106.7 The Fan in Washington, Goodell chimed in with this pearl. “If one person is offended, we have to listen.” Really? That’s all it takes? So, the thinking that eliminated God, Christmas, Columbus, cops and robbers, cowboys and indians, cookies, and soda pop from our schools is now the blueprint for NFL leadership?
This drives home the sad fact that the culture war crippling our country right now is not only reserved for politics. It permeates entertainment and sports, even our beloved NFL.
If we are to hold Mr. Goddell to his word, that all it takes is one person to be offended, where does this madness stop? Obviously the Chiefs will be the next target after the Redskins. But, if it indeed only takes one person, all franchises could be in trouble with the PC police. Perhaps I’m offended by the Bills because I don’t like paying them. Maybe the Browns don’t sit well with me because that was my ex-girlfriend’s last name.
Other leagues better get ready too. We’ve already seen several colleges cave. St. John’s going from Redmen to Red Storm, Syracuse is now the Orange instead of the Orangemen. Marquette, perhaps, the most ridiculous of all, changed their name from the Warriors to the Golden Eagles. Who was offended by Warriors? Xena? Take heed, Golden State.
The Blackhawks, Indians, and Braves are clearly on the hit list. How about the Knickerbockers? Doesn’t that demean our Dutch friends everywhere? I know my argyles have a real problem with both the White Sox and the Red Sox. Why do only solid colors get all the love? The Kings of both Los Angeles and Sacramento are sexist to some, I’m sure. Not to mention the Patriots which probably burns flag burners and anti-frackers alike.
Do English professors have a problem with the Maple Leafs? They should be changed to Leaves before the final exam! Don’t think we aren’t hip to what’s going on in Phoenix. That clever spelling of Suns is clearly a way to exclude daughters.
Mr. Commissioner, do your job. Make the NFL as good as it can be and stop bothering storied franchises with loyal fan bases. The Washington Redskins are one of the NFL’s best and most important clubs. Back off.
It almost seems as if Goodell is taking a page out of the Obama playbook. You know, let’s talk about gay marriage and Trayvon Martin to avoid Benghazi and the NSA. On a far less important scale this is the same approach. Let’s be “concerned” about the Redskins name so no one notice’s I’m ruining kickoffs and other aspects of the game that make the game football.
If you want to change a team name, the only two I could think of are hockey teams in Ottawa and Nashville. The Senators, because well, people may associate you with Chuck Schumer or Barbara Boxer. The Predators, because this is obviously the most uncomfortable and weirdest name in sports. Who was the genius behind that one?
Fight like heck for your name Redskins fans. They will take it if you don’t.
By the way, did I tell you about these triplets I met that just can’t stand the Minnesota Twins?
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