Native American Sports Mascots

[SpaceBooger]

Growing up a Cleveland Indians fan I have always participated in the "we should change our team name and mascot" debate. While I am undecided whether or not I like the name, I am not a fan of the Chief Wahoo logo. I am always wearing the block letter "C" baseball cap because I love the clean and classic look. I own zero Chief Wahoo stuff, other than I bough one of my sons a baseball cap with him on it for Easter, and am all for removing him as the mascot.

I was all for the name change too, until I saw some other ideas on a new team name and uniform design: http://www.uni-watch.com/2012/04/21/cle ... st-part-i/

After reading the above article and seeing those designs I am still ready for the removal of the offensive mascot, but I think the name "Indians" can stay.

So what do you think is offensive when it comes to sports mascots/names and their cultural implications?

*note: I do think the name "Spiders" should replace the Indians since it was Cleveland's first professional baseball team and who the legendary Denton True "Cy" Young played for.

[BoringSupreez]

I don't follow sports, especially out-of-state sports, but I know if I did like a team I wouldn't want a spider as the mascot. I hate those stupid things.

[ninjainspandex]

i think the yankees should have to change their name i find that very offensive...

[BoneSnapDeez]

Many of my older (now deceased) relatives were Abenaki (Maine) Indians. I grew up going to pow-wows and other similar gatherings.

Anyhow, I think the Native American mascots are in bad taste and should be changed.

Here in Maine most (maybe all?) of the Native American high school mascots have been altered. Unfortunately some of the new names are terrible! For instance, the former Sanford Redskins are now called the Sanford Red Storms (?!). I'm all for animal names, those seem pretty neutral.

[AmishSamurai]

One of my High School teachers went to University of Illinois, and told me how they used to have people learn actual Native American dances and do those during the halftime shows of football games and such. I feel this is much more tasteful than what say, FSU does where a guy rides in on a horse and chucks a flaming spear.

[Erik_Twice]

Let's not forget that many tribes actively support several mascots as a way of preserving their culture, using real clothing and musical aspects. A blanket statement can't really be made here, there's nothing inherently wrong it, it's all in the realization.

[Luke]

I wear my Cleveland Indians hat with my Blackhawks sweater (I don't, but I do own both).

This topic has been beaten to death over and over again, and I don't know why anyone would want to rehash it but is simple as this:

They're mascots and logos. They are meant to be exaggerations and have never had any intent of offending anyone. People who have serious hangups on this need to find something better to do with their time.

[Nemoide]

They might not have been created with the intention of offending anyone, but I can understand why having an ethnic stereotype as a mascot can be really weird. I don't think the name "Indians" is offensive - sports teams generally seem to be named after all kinds of random nouns. Whatever.

But the mascot itself just seems unsavory IMO. I don't watch or follow baseball but I certainly would feel uncomfortable supporting a team that had a blackface mascot. I see a red-faced, feather headdress wearing "Chief Wahoo" as being in pretty similar poor taste. I'm not personally offended, but if I was a fan of the team I'd support them changing the mascot.

[MrPopo]

One of my High School teachers went to University of Illinois, and told me how they used to have people learn actual Native American dances and do those during the halftime shows of football games and such. I feel this is much more tasteful than what say, FSU does where a guy rides in on a horse and chucks a flaming spear.

Yeah, and the headdress used as part of the show was donated by local tribes back in the day. But now the Chief has been retired. The school mascot hasn't changed, but there's no more live action performance.

To Luke's point, I don't think these mascots are any worse than Notre Dame's mascot.

[Luke]

I don't watch or follow baseball but I certainly would feel uncomfortable supporting a team that had a blackface mascot. I see a red-faced, feather headdress wearing "Chief Wahoo" as being in pretty similar poor taste. I'm not personally offended, but if I was a fan of the team I'd support them changing the mascot.

Someone always goes to "Would you follow a team with black face as a mascot?" or, "Would you support a team called the Nevada Niggers?". That's apples and oranges.

(not trying to put words in your mouth, but "blackface" isn't a fair comparison)

There isn't a Cleveland mascot running around covered in red paint. If anything the Native Americans should be upset about is the annoying Braves chant. That and defamation against the Redskins for being so awful. The logos and mascots are harmless.

And usually outbursts about "stereotyping mascots in sports" come from people who boast "I don't watch sports, don't care about sports, never played a sport, BUT! I need to tell you what is wrong with sports!".


@Popo: I have a ND hockey Sweater with the new Fightin' Irish logo on it. I wish it had the old one on it, but the derby is still down, the beard is in order, and he's a lookin' for a fight!