Return_of_the_STAR wrote:Is there not another non offensive name that could be used to keep their links to native Americans? Or is the general feeling from the Native American population that they want all reference gone?
I heard earlier today that a few other sports teams are under pressure to change theirs. Chicago Blackhawks, kansas city chiefs etc
Yeah it does seem to be a very sensitive topic, even the Warriors are under pressure to review their name despite not using any native American iconography that Im aware of. I always thought the Blackhawks were ok as they had the blessing of the Blackhawk tribe, though I could be wrong on that. The Florida State Seminoles do have the blessing of Seminole Nation in Florida but apparently theyre not the real Seminole Nation who are based in Oklahoma so thats a whole other mess. Exeter Chiefs are being roped into it as well, Id like to see them get out in front of this and just bail on the name and go with Exeter but they wont, theyll dig their heels in and hope to ride it out.
It will be interesting to see if this has a domino effect on other Native style names, I know a lot of high schools and smaller colleges have started to move away from those kinds of names, Washington finally changing their name could be the catalyst for major name changes over there. A lot of them may sound stupid but MLS using euro style team names is looking more and more like a smart move in the long run.