Posted on by Shannon Shark @metspolice

Off-topic: change the Washington Football Name

I don’t wish to offend anyone with the logos above but if they did make you react then this is a good time to reflect.  If the one on the right is OK, why not the other two?  (I will remind you that “Indians” are not from the Asian subcontinent.)

I heard Mike Francesa yesterday argue that changing the name of the Washington Football team hurts nobody.  Makes sense to me.

Over at Uni Watch Paul Lukas has been doing a great job discussing this topic day in and day out.  On that site I saw this logo.  The Washington NFL’s could switch nicknames and sell a ton of new merch.

Similarly, I think the Cleveland baseball team should reconsider their “mascot.”

offensive irish caraicatureAnd, as I am of Irish-American descent, I find this caricature offensive.  Why is this how Notre Dame chooses to depict the Irish?  Is this what Irish people look like?

The university could very easily keep their nickname and just choose not to have this going on.  Shamrocks make for nice looking logos. I’m sure ND could find a way to make money off that. Oh wait…

 

We now resume discussing the Mets off-season moves.

24 Replies to “Off-topic: change the Washington Football Name”

  4. I can’t wait for the name/logo/uniforms to change and then for everyone to be let down and complain about the result.

  5. How about the FS Seminoles? Atlanta Braves? Chicago Blackhawks? Where does it end?! This topic is ridiculous and is a waste of time with so many more important things going on in our troubled nation! And I’m American Irish (not Irish American because I wasn’t born in Ireland) also and am a big Notre Dame fan! But you know what? I could give a rats butt what the friggin mascot is!! Who cares?! Its not like the mascot is a stumbling drunk running around beating people up like that actual offensive stereotype people have of us Irish! It’s for fun and to rally up the crowd and a lot better if a mascot then a giant shamrock running around! I think the Redskins should keep their name because it’s not even derivative of slander! It was a compliment because native Americans would wear red face paint during battles in New England and Canada and the settlers of those regions gave them that name as a salute to mighty warriors! Even native Americans within Virginia tribes have spoken up and said they are proud of the name and the team and they often call each other Redskins! That’s why the song is called Hail to the Redskins!! But one chief from upstate NY’s Onidas who are casino owners and not even full blooded native American complains and oh my god its so offensive! What a joke!!

    1. Thanks Marty. And unlike the other gentleman’s comment I appreciate you engaging in actual discussion.

      It’s a quiet week obviously and I actually held off on this for 2 days but it kept sticking with me and from time to time I choose to use my forum.

      As I listened to Mike his argument that “who does changing the name hurt?” Made a lot of sense.

      As for the others – from what I understand nobody is offended by Chiefs or Blackhawks. The Indians mascot is offensive. Dan and I don’t like the Irish mascot.

      Btw there is a great read about this on Deadspin today.

      Doing his from my phone so apologies if typos

      1. Well like I said, I’m Irish and I’m not offended! I laugh it off! I’d be more offended if the mascot was a drunk or a pregnant woman with 10 kids or poor or a potato peeler or something stereotypical like Family Guy for instance has made the Irish out to be nothing good for other than those things! But on a side note if the Redskins were forced to change their name with the only other choice being the owner stripped of his ownership rights then the Red Tails logo is actually really good! BUT I have another alternative! How about calling them The Pigskins? Or the Redskins with a hog as their logo? It would serve two purposes! They’d still be either called The Redskins or nicknamed The Skins and they’d embrace those fans who dress in women’s clothing and wear the pig noses? I mean if the NFL is going to make a mockery of the history and pride of The Redskins name then The Redskins should just do the same back at the league!

        1. Hey Marty – Appreciate that you are participating in this open discourse.

          I just wanted to jump in on 2 things. First, you actually are Irish-American as the “Irish” part is the adjective that describes the type of American you are. If you were born in Ireland of American parents then you would be American-Irish.

          As far as the Notre Dame mascot, it is based on a caricature created by the English that was meant to dehumanize and humiliate the Irish. The traditional leprechaun face that ND (and the Boston Celtics use) is that of an ape-man, not a person. In addition, the leprechaun is known to be mischievous, deceitful and cruel. I certainly do not think this paints a good, or even light-hearted picture of what the Irish are. But it’s exactly the picture that the English (and many Americans in the early 20th century) wanted to paint of the Irish.

          Rather than this be the symbol of our race (my Mom was off the boat btw), why not use images of Fionn mac Cumhail, Cu Chulainn, or Brain Boru? All noble, intelligent warriors (mythical and real) who truly captured the spirit of “The Fighting Irish.”

  6. I will no longer read your blog and I am sorry I bought your book. I did not expect this politically correct crap from you. By the way, I am Irish and I am not offended by anything. People on Mets blog are right. You are a btch, not a man.

  7. Unless I’m thinking of another Shannon that I follow on Twitter who is a die hard Mets fan and I thought worked for Mets Police which is quite possible because I am pretty horrible with mixing up names! Lol

  8. If Shannon is not a man I am sorry. I apologize and retract my comments. I do not offend women. I was led to believe he was a man. It makes sense now though if Shannon is a woman. I don’t think a man would write so emotionally about mascots and ticket plans. I just checked to see if you left the comments in. I bought the book, but did not read it yet. The cover depicts a man selling stuff at Shea, so I have to believe Shannon is a man with a woman’s name and a woman’s emotions.

    1. Maybe if you really did read this site often Joe and read the book you would realize where the name Shannon comes from. Also, this blog from the start has been about ticket plans, jerseys, tradition of the team and expressing fan feelings. So if Shannon feels strongly about the mascots and the names of teams whats wrong with that? Just like there is nothing wrong with the way you feel about the names of teams and mascots. Do I think everything in this country has become too PC? Yeah I do. But, I also haven’t had to deal with some of the stuff the Native Americans have had to deal with. Oh yeah, I am irish too and I like the little fiery leprechaun. Do I give a crap about college football or basketball in general? Nope. And Joe, if you really feel the way you do about this blog it’s okay if you never read it again. You obviously don’t get what it’s about. MediaGoon wishes you well on your future endeavors…

      1. Media,

        I have read the site often. I know Shannon was his dogs name. I know his father was a bartender on Roosevelt ave, maybe it was Donovans. I know his father got tickets as tips and that is how he went to games. I have enjoyed the site even when you fill in. He knows my IP. He can see how many times I visited. It was often. Why don’t you ask him before you write it? It was in the many hundreds. I visit a site called Mets police, not police the world. It is his site he can write what he wants. I also know it is Mets Police because he like the band Police. I am also proud of MLB and the Mets because nobody should be bullied. If I came off like I cyber bully I apologize. That is not me.

        1. Joe, first of all thank you for apologizing. Second of all no one calls me Media, you can call me Goon or Keith. And no my uncle never worked in Donovan’s. I can see your IP Address just fine if I wanted to without asking Shannon, and I have free reign to write what I want. Just because this site is called MetsPolice, doesn’t mean we can’t write about other things. We have the post we sometimes do called The M Files about pop culture. Also, while I am thinking about it, a change in a sports team’s name is a concern of a blog that writes about sports. What about when next people go after the Braves,Indians,Blackhawks, Chiefs, etc….? I think that is all newsworthy. I went into St John’s the year they changed the name to the Red Storm from the Red Men and I hated it. Here is a word of advice that I give people who read the site and complaint about a post they don’t like, If it isn’t about the Mets and you don’t want to read it, then don’t.
          Also Joe on this site we don’t mind having discussion about what people like or don’t like when we write things. Conversation is much better then calling some names.

          1. OK Keith, you are right about name calling. I feel bad about that. It is not right. Won’t happen again. I am really gone this time. You won’t see my IP and I won’t read any follow up post or post anything. I just wanted to say sorry and now I am moving on to true Mets/Baseball sites.

  9. The Indian logo is pretty majestic (I believe was designed by or with the cooperation of some tribe).

    Just call them the “Reds”. Keep the Indian logo, keep the colors, etc.

    Or is the word “Reds” offensive? Could be a compromise.

  10. I’m with you Shannon, change the name. We’ve treated Native Americans poorly since America was “discovered.” If it offends them it’s a no brainer. It’s not about being politically correct, it’s about being decent to a group of people that has been oppressed and had their voices ignored for a long time.

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