Should the Washington Redskins change their name?

[pbrower2a]

We can start by ruling out the "Washington Generals", the basketball squad that predictably loses to the Harlem Globetrotters.

Superpredator and near-superpredator animals?

Bears, eagles, falcons, hawks, lions, tigers (Bengals), panthers, and jaguars are out of the question. Dolphins would be superpredators except for orcas and sharks in the open ocean, but they too are out of the question. Seals and walruses might fit. Pandas? Too closely associated with a country that isn't 100% reliable.

"Gators" and "wolverines" are heavily associated with some high-profile college teams.

Dogs are as deadly as any other carnivores of like size. They are either too small to hurt people badly (a Jack Russell terrier is a miniature tiger in many respects, much like a cat) or good behavior mutes their obvious lethality (you would still not want to get in a fight with a Great Dane). Problem is -- which dog?  There's so much variety. Wolves?

Snow leopard? Few people know what it is.

Komodo dragon? Giant salamander? Likewise.

A leopard would be a good idea -- for a basketball team. It's easily confused with a jaguar, so that would be a problem in the NFL. Maybe if pistons become technologically obsolete the Detroit Pistons could become the "Detroit Leopards", and I could just imagine a logo of a leopard slam-dunking a basketball while snarling. Cougars? In view of its sexual overtones I would not introduce that one now.

Giant otters are too cute in appearance even if they are big killers. Giant octopuses are too sinister in appearance.

Hyenas? Interesting.

Crocodiles? Probably the most dangerous man-eaters of all.

Sharks? Too sinister.

Pythons? Anacondas? Snakes inculcate as much revulsion as fear. But "snakes" describe many of our politicians all too well.

Whales? Now that would allow some alliteration -- "Washington Whales"?  At that "Washington Wolves" would do fine, too.

... If you still like "Washington Redskins", then ask yourself whether you would like "New York K**es", "New Orleans N****rs", "San Francisco C**nks", "Los Angeles G**ks", "San Diego S**cks", "Chicago P*l*cks", or Philadelphia W*ps".    

[pbrower2a]

What is so bad about the term "Redskins"? Is it an offensive way of saying "Red Indians"?

The most neutral term that I have seen is the Canadian "First Peoples".

[pbrower2a]

Yeah, but so should all the other ones like Blackhawks and Cleveland Indians. Washington represents the Gov. If collegiate sports can live w/out it, so should DC.

Is there anything wrong with the "Atlanta Bears Baseball Team"?

The "Cleveland Crocodiles Baseball Team"? (The Detroit Tigers are in their division).

The "Kansas City Cobras" Football Team?


The team formerly known as the Washington Bullets changed their name to the Washington Wizards because they disliked being associated with the tools of the criminal trade.

There really was a Chief Black Hawk, and he was good at what he did.