Rosenthal: Mayor wants to discuss changing Redskins nickname

[Tweedr01]

None of those are really the same, are they? The name isn't "Native Americans" or "Powhatans" or something. Its Redskins.

fighting irish is a stereotype that all irish are drunken, violent, wife beating midgets, yeah if we have to change our name they have to change theirs.

[Predicto]

Do you think if we change the logo it would suffice? Leads to another question would people rather keep the logo or the team name?

Personally, I would rather see the name changed.

I don't think hardly anyone is offended by the logo.

It's the specific word Redskin that is viewed as a racial epithet.

[Dan T.]

I would rather this franchise be stuck in the muck and mire of another 30 years of mediocrity and bad football than change the name. I'm not passionate about much, but this is one thing I'll fight to the death on.

Really!!!?!

I don't feel near that strongly on the issue. Sure the name carries a lot of football history with it, but other pro teams have changed their names without the organization collapsing and the fan base falling to their knees in hysterics. And personally, given your hypothetical, if the choice is that RG3 leads the "Washington Warriors" to 3 Super Bowls and his son RG4 leads them to 2 more in the next 30 years, I'd take that in a heartbeat over 30 years of last place finishes by the "Washington Redskins."

[Predicto]

fighting irish is a stereotype that all irish are drunken, violent, wife beating midgets, yeah if we have to change our name they have to change theirs.

I guess that one is the closest. Certainly "Canadiens" or "Quakers" or "Gaels" don't qualify.

But even then, the word "Fighting" is a sports metaphor used with all sorts of different teams. As I recall, it was the "Fighting Quakers"- lol.

[Painkiller]

and this just keeps coming up. I'm not sure where I stand on the issue anymore. We are so damn politically correct in this country...I'd rather change the name then allow it to become a distraction every season.

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap100...skins-nickname

Washington D.C. mayor Vincent C. Gray suggested on Wednesday that he would like to discuss a possible name change with the Washington Redskins franchise.

This could especially become an issue if the Redskins want to relocate within city limits with a new stadium.

"I think that if they get serious with the team coming back to Washington, there's no doubt there's going to have to be a discussion about that, and of course the team is going to have to work with us around that issue," Gray said on Wednesday via The Washington Post

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[JMUSkins]

I'd rather stay in Landover than change our name.

[RVAbrendan]

I would almost be okay with changed to the Skins. But then... The Washington Skins...just sounds dumb.

[spjunkies]

Ummm what is Vincent talking about? his butt is about to be booted from office so this does not concern him.

[armstrong001]

Maybe not a huge deal in the abstract, but the fact that the owner of the team back then was a virulent racist, the worst in NFL history, makes it even more awkward.

I don't think we need to change everything about the team and logo, but maybe there is a better word to describe a team with a Native American motif than the one we currently use.

So, you think a racist owner would willingly change his team's name to a racist term? Who would purposely name their professional sports team a derogatory name? Makes no sense at all.

[benskins26]

Sure, after they change the Indians, the Seminoles, the Braves, the Chiefs, the Blackhawks, etc.

After all that is done, then come see us.

[TD_washingtonredskins]

Is there any reason to believe that he will still be mayor when we actually move back to DC?

[skinsfan07]

This will never happen. So dumb that it keeps getting brought up.

[bobbi3stix]

If it were to be changed to the "Hampton Honkeys" there wouldn't be ANY issue....

[BigMike21]

I'd rather stay in Landover than change our name.

Plus I don't want to pay PSLs. Stay where we are as the REDSKINS

[DCranon21]

Looks like we are staying in good ole Raljon, MD.