Washington Post to Stop Using NFL Team's Name

((ht: washingtonpost.com))

The furor over the use of Washington's NFL Team nickname continues. And this time, while many will so...oh, okay, it's just the newspaper, nobody reads that anyway...it's not the point.

((Note--The Post's editorial board will not use the name, the Sports Department is free to do as they choose))

One of the most widely respected names in Journalism today has decided that the nickname should not be used for the simple fact that to a group of people, it's an insult.

The Washington Post and their editorial writers have decided they will not use said nickname when talking about the team.

This adds to the furor that's seen everyone from U.S Politicians, government agencies, former NFL officials and others weigh in on the subject.

Said the Post--"We don't believe that fans who are attached to the name have racist feeling or intent anymore than Mr. Snyder (Dan--the owner) does. But the fact remains: The word is insulting. You would not dream of calling anyone a (insert Washington NFL Team Name) to his or her face. You wouldn't let your son or daughter use it about a person, even in the privacy of your own home."

Read the Post's Editorial RIGHT HERE

What does it say that this action is taking place? That so many people, though not many team fans, are crying for a change?

We at OSG Sports (well, okay, me---Brother J-Dub is a fan of the team and probably won't adhere to this) wish to offer what little added heft we have to the debate.

We too will not use the name, rather we'll refer to them as Washington's NFL team or something similar.

Hopefully at some point Dan Snyder will open his eyes and realizing the marketing opportunity in front of him. That changing the name means multiple generations of fans will have the opportunity to spend money and buy team gear. That alone we'd think should be enough to prompt the change.

But Snyder, if nothing else does what he wants to do...and unfortunately it appears the "Name Change" will follow that same path....

Because we wish to present opposing arguments, here is former NFL coach and current ESPN commentator Mike Ditka stating it's "*&!#---"

Dan Snyder's Legacy: 10 Years Later

((HT: Hockey Night In Canada))

The HQ will stipulate, openly, that we follow the puck- regardless of level and geography...

And the HQ's home base that had the Atlanta Thrashers was ground zero for a lot of story-telling in the team's history. It involved weddings, firings, trades that stunned, and drafts that even stunned more...

It also involved, sadly, a death...and those kinds of phone calls that you get alerting you to those stories leave you with a pit in your stomach...

Dany Heatley was driving home from a local bar with teammate Dan Snyder in the passenger seat of his Ferrari in October of 2003. On a very curly, two-lane road with dips in elevation, Heatley crashed the car and the accident took Snyder's life...

The HQ covered the subsequent trial and how Snyder family has carried on from here...

And Graham and LuAnn have done so nobly...

HNIC caught up with them and the Snyder family's efforts over the weekend...


Few rival the people who the Snyders are as a family...
And we doubt many we come across will...

MIke Shanahan vs. The World: Wednesday's Edition

This too funny not to post or laugh about.

Pity the poor Washington Redskins....or more specifically embattled Redskins head coach Mike Shanahan.

Shanahan has taken a ton of heat this season. From the teams 3-10 current record to his decision in last years playoffs to let QB Robert Griffin III play while hurt and summarily rushing Griffin back to play this season and the anxiety of his notoriously impulsive team owner Dan Snyder, it's coming from all sides.

Oh, did we mention the national media?

Today's adventure comes on the heels of him announcing that Griffin will sit out the rest of the season and backup Kirk Cousins will be the starter for the last 3 games.

Already many don't understand the move--Is Shanahan trying to get fired? Is he trying to protect Griffin from his horrible line, and himself? Does he think Cousins is better? Has he lost his mind?

All of those question and more have popped up on Twitter and other places.

On to today's presser--

Wednesday is traditionally "Open Lockerroom" day in the NFL and with that, the coaches do their weekly preview interviews for the upcoming game.

Which in the case of Washington, is a battle with equally disappointing Atlanta (3-10)....

But today's highlight was Shanahan--who provided some serious gems:

((quotes--from USAToday.com))

"I don't talk to anybody off the record"---Uh, yeah

"Dan (Snyder) could care less about the other positions"---Interpret that as you will

"I don't know {if I'll be back next year} until I sit down with Dan. We'll find out what I think, I'll give him my opinions and he'll give me his opinions. Maybe we'll just hit it off and I'll get that 12-15 year contract. Maybe 3 years"---Uh, okay...

"I'm trying to be as honest as I can and I don't normally do that"--So what are you saying here?

Comedy gold Jerry, comedy gold.

A full story on today's adventures from CSN Washington RIGHT HERE

Video to come later--

Now is later, your video Courtesy of CSN Washington:

REPORTS: Washington Bravehearts or Washington Redskins?

((ht: cbssports.com))

Hmmm....are the fine folks at CBSSports onto something?

Well, TMZ has the same story and there's some interesting coincidences going on.

In the din of calls for the Washington Redskins to change their team name comes interesting news from Washington.

CBSSports.com and TMZ are both reporting Aris Madirossian, a man believed to be neighbors with Washington Redskins owner Dan Snyder, apparently has applied for a patent for the name Washington Bravehearts and also a web domain (WashingtonBravehearts.com) with the same name.

He also appears to have registered the LLC name of Washington Bravehearts, LLC.

Read more from CBSSports.com RIGHT HERE

TMZ gives us a look at the LLC agreement RIGHT HERE

TMZ also says that Snyder and Madirossian, though not currently in business together or know publicly as friends, have quite a few things in common and have a somewhat friendly or at least neighborly relationship.

Read more from TMZ RIGHT HERE

Yes, we are aware that this is all extraordinarily circumstantial evidence. This may just be a coincidence or even a ruse. And we are well aware that Snyder swore he'd never change his teams name.

But when the president weighs in on the issue and quite a few others follow suit, you have to at least consider it. And smart money says Snyder is.

And quite honestly, if can get away with the Bravehearts name, it is kinda cool if you think about it.

This will probably be cool the first few times they play it--after that...not so much:

Dan Snyder: We Will Never Change the Redskins Name

((ht: usatoday.com))

Never? Never ever?

Washington Redskins owner Dan Snyder has made what he and many others would consider an unequivocal statement about the potential change of the Redskins name in the face of a renewed questioning about the name being an Indian racial slur.

Snyder told USA Today in no uncertain terms: "We'll never change the name," he said. "It's that simple. NEVER — you can use caps."

Read the USA Today story RIGHT HERE

Not being of Indian decent nor a fan of the Redskins and Mr. Snyder, it's hard to gauge the seriousness of either party.

Yes, it appears the team is the target of a federal trademark infringement suit by a Navajo Indian, but there's one question that stands out here: Why now?

The team has been named Redskins for decades. And until a few years ago when any Indian named team became a target, nobody said anything. We aren't arguing whether they have a right to complain about it. They do. It's the timing.

Again, trying to be sensitive and yes, show a bit of ignorance here, we aren't sure how this impacts the daily lives of Native Americans at this point in time. Yes, we know, they've been marginalized and many live in relative isolation. But another question we have, partially born of admitted ignorance is this: Are you mocked or insulted anytime a sportscast mentions the word? Or the team name?

If it is truly a derogatory term and an insult to all then yes, something should be done. But if it offends a few people, then maybe we're being a bit presumptuous. After all in today's era of political correctness, there are very few things any says, does or names something after that doesn't seem to offend at least one person. And it seems like nowadays
, that's all it takes.