My Solution to the Washington Redskins Name Controversy

Redskins primary logo 1972-1981, 1983-present (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I grew up a Washington Redskins fan.  For as long as I can remember, I have been a fan of the team.  My earliest recollections were in the late 1960's when they were a horrid team.  I lived through the George Allen years, and thankfully, the Joe Gibbs era.  I have remained a fan even through the mostly bad years of Daniel Snyder's tenure as owner of the team.

Now, these days, my beloved Washington Redskins are under attack.  I live in the DC area, and it seems like you can't watch a local news broadcast without somebody bringing up the team name.  Even President Obama, when he should be more concerned about the government shutdown, is chiming in saying that the Redskins should consider changing the name because some groups think it is racially offensive.

This isn't the first time that the question of whether or not the Redskins should change their name has been brought up.  It is the first time that it has gained the traction in the media that it has.  Naturally, those that stoke the fire are the liberal, politically correct, elitists of the world.  I don't have to tell you how little use I have for that crowd.

Years ago, when Tony Kornheiser of ESPN was still writing for the Washington Post, he suggested that rather than change the name of the team, the team should change their mascot.  Instead of the noble looking Native American that adorns the helmet, he suggested to change the logo to a potato, as in redskin potatoes/  A humorous concept but then we would have to re-write the team fight song. Here is my first pass at it:

Hail to the Redskins, Hail to Victory, Spuds on the Warpath, Fight for old DC.  Run or pass and score, we want a lot more. Bake 'em, Fry 'em, Touchdown! Watch the point soar. Fight on, Fight on, til you have won, Spuds of Washington!

It just isn't the same.

Instead, if things persist, my suggestion would be for the Redskins to take a page from the musician Prince.  Remember when Prince decided to change his name to a symbol?  Until he went back to using the name Prince, everybody always referred to him as "The Artist Formerly Known as Prince."  The Redskins could do the same thing.  Instead of the Washington Redskins, they could become the Washington the NFL team formerly called the Redskins.

Quite frankly, I hope it doesn't come to that.  I am so tired of the liberal mindset where anything that is offensive to anybody has to be forbidden.  I find the name Barack Obama offensive but you don't see me calling for him to change it (though I thought about Tweeting that).  If the NFL does cave in and forces the Redskins to change their name, I may be done with the NFL.

Hail to the Redskins!

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Hail to the Redskins

Image via WikipediaA few weeks ago, I entered my name into a raffle for Redskins tickets at my office.  My company either has, or was given, season tickets.  They gave away a set of four club level seats and a parking pass for each game of the season.  I was fortunate enough to win the set of tickets for today's Redskins/Cardinals game, which the Redskins won 22-21.

Sports have always been an important part of our family life.  My wife and I had our first date on opening day of the Baltimore Orioles season 20 years ago.  Since our son is away at school, and we had two extra tickets, we invited my brother in law and nephew to go with us since our nephew is also a huge sports fan.  I don't think that he had ever been to a Redskins game so it was a big deal for him. 

To be honest, we have sort of soured on attending professional sporting events.  We much prefer the atmosphere of minor league and collegiate events.  I think part of it is the fanaticism that is often on display at professional level.  A lot of it probably has to do with the amount of alcohol consumed by the fans in the stands.  Sure there is alcohol served in minor league parks, but the atmosphere is such that people rarely get out of hand.  It could also be that with the much higher cost of a ticket at professional games that the fans feel a little more entitled to fanatical behavior.

Maybe fanatical behavior is the wrong choice of words to use.  After all, the word fan is simply a shortened form of the word fanatic.  I guess what I probably should say is that at pro games people are more prone to what I consider obnoxious behavior.  I am not talking about just simply being loud and screaming at appropriate times during the game.  Nor an I talking about folks wearing the team colors in support of their favorite team, though I may have to draw the line at face paint, especially on fat, middle age men. 

All too often at the professional games, there seems to be an increased amount of foul or abusive language.  Or there is the example of the type of person who was sitting a few rows in front of us.  While just about everybody else in the stands would sit and watch the game, cheering loudly or standing during a big play, this guy felt the need to direct the crowd.  Before every play he would stand up and wave his arms and turn to his fellow fans exhorting them to get louder.

I don't know, maybe I am just continuing to get more cranky as I get older, but the guy just looked foolish to me.  OK, not as foolish at the guys that were wearing the burgundy and gold face paint, or the person wearing a Tigger costume.  The other thing that happened today that had not happened before, and I think is an indictment on where we are as a society, is that every fan was patted down upon entering the stadium.  The NFL claims it was not in response to an idiot Cowboys fan (I know idiot and Cowboy fan is redundant) sneaking in a stun gun in to the Jets/Cowboys game last week, but you have to wonder.

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John Riggins, Daniel Snyder, and the Redskins

I have been a Washington Redskins fan for as long as I can remember.  It is Sunday, so that means I am sitting here watching the Skins, though as badly as they have been playing this year, I am not sure why.  Anyway, over the years, they have brought me both joy and sorrow.

There have been several players over the years that I have admired and been a fan of.  Without a doubt, my favorite Redskin of all time would have to be Christian Adolf Jurgensen, better known as "Sonny."  Few could sling the ball around like old #9.

Probably #2 on the list, or at worst #3, would be "The Diesel," John Riggins.  Riggo was quite the character.  His wise cracking nature, and fun loving attitude made him a fan favorite.  That and probably the greatest play in Skins history that led to their first Super Bowl win under Joe Gibbs.

After he retired, Riggo went on to become a member of the media.  He was never afraid to criticize the Redskins in that role, and he was definitely not a homer, a roll filled ably by Sonny.  When Daniel Snyder took over ownership of the team, Riggo did not spare him from his criticisms.  However, he always did it with his usual charm and wit.

A few years ago, Snyder decided to get into the radio business and started his own station.  Some said this move was primarily to combat the criticism of Snyder that came out of DC's leading sports talk radio station, Sports Talk 980 WTEM.  Snyder, the ultimate marketer, hired Riggo to host the afternoon drive time show.  Suddenly, Riggo's criticisms, particularly of Snyder, lessened.  Snyder's station eventually ended up buying out WTEM. The drive time team at WTEM stayed in place and Riggo was out of a job.

Now, I am no fan of Snyder and the way he is ruining the Redskins.  Riggo continues to be an outspoken critic of Snyder.  However, his criticisms have taken on a much harsher tone, and lack his trademark wit and charm.  Recently, on Showtime's "Inside the NFL" program, Riggo had this to say about Snyder:

"This is a bad guy that owns this team. I'll just tell you that upfront. Bad guy. And if the commissioner is worried about potential new owners and saying some of these guys shouldn't apply, he might want to police his own inside guys."


"It's driven all by his ego and everything has to come from him. And I just don't think you can be successful in those situations and when you are dealing with someone with the mindset of a child and yet owns a franchise in the NFL."


"Let me put it to you this way Cris, this person's heart is dark."

Wow.  This sounds more like the ravings of a bitter ex than the legitimate criticism of the way an owner runs an NFL franchise.  Come on, Riggo.  Isn't it a little much?  There is much to criticize Snyder and what he has done to this team, but to suggest that the man is evil is just a little too over the top.  I miss the smart ass Riggins that could make me smile with his pointed, clever barbs.  Hopefully he will be back soon.

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Flu Shot?

I rarely get a flu shot.  About the only time that I have ever gotten a flu shot was when I went to the doctor for something else and he suggested I get one.It is just not something I ever really think about, and I rarely (knock wood) get sick.  So in all likelihood, I probably will not get one this year, especially when I saw this news story on my local news.

The story of Desiree Jennings is frightening.  Up until August, she was a healthy, active, 25 year old woman training for a half marathon and a member of the Redskins cheerleading squad.  In August, she decided to get a seasonal flu vaccination at a local grocery store.  Ten days later, she came down with flu like symptoms.  Her condition has deteriorated and now she has difficulty walking and speaking.  Her doctors say she has had a very rare reaction to the vaccine and it has brought on a neurological disorder called dystonia.

Millions will get a flu shot this year without any adverse affect.  For the vast majority of people, it is completely harmless, and I am not suggesting anybody not get a flu shot because of the case of Desiree Jennings.  I doubt that I will get one, but I would most likely not have gotten one regardless of this story.  However, as a father of an autistic son, I have read the stories of those who think all the vaccinations our kids have to get possibly contributing to the rise of autism.  As much good as vaccinations do for us as a whole, it is important to keep in mind that they are not completely void of risk.

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Are You Ready For Some Football?

Image via Wikipedia

Today marks the start of the NFL season.  Yeah, I know that the first game of the season took place Thursday night but it doesn't count.  In my mind, the "official" start of the season is the Sunday that the majority of teams play their first game of the season.

In year's past, I started looking forward to this day about 10 minutes after the Super Bowl ended.  Not so this year.  Usually, I will have watched every Redskins preseason game from beginning to end.  Even the first one where most of the people who are playing don't even make the team.  This year I may have seen a half of a game.

For the first time in about 15-20 years, I will not be participating in a fantasy football league.  Usually by this time, I have devoured two or three fantasy football magazines and participated in at least two fantasy football drafts.  I would be visiting multiple websites daily to find the least bit of information to plan my lineup.  Then as the games progressed, I would sit at the computer checking the progress of my teams.

My wife has known not to make any plans that would include me on a Sunday afternoon during the season.  This year, I have actually considered planning activities other than sitting here watching the games.  Sure I plan to watch the game this afternoon, but if something else comes up, I would consider it where in the past that was never an option.

I am not sure what has led to this apathy towards a sport that I once felt so passionate about.  I suppose that I could chalk it up to maturity and that other interests are more important now.  Then again, perhaps it could just be a little bit of depression and the stress of the real world.  Since I am a white man and politically conservative, the liberals would probably say it's due to racism (oh wait that's opposition to health care reform).  The only question is, does this mean I have to turn in my "man card?"  

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