Time for Change in Washington

It is going to happen.

In 2020 there has been a quite astonishing upheaval in the lives of people across the World. As COVID-19 continues to derail much of which we took for granted, we also witnessed the shocking Police brutality that resulted in the murder of George Floyd.

Change could never be more justifiably in the air than right now. For many this is also a time to reconfigure our own internal thoughts and often our own prejudices.

We rightfully look up to the selflessness of our key workers and we also try to better understand that, for many, their lives are made considerably more difficult according to skin colour and class too.

The Washington Redskins owner Dan Snyder is backed into a corner during this time of change. Yes, there are historic polls that demonstrate Native American majority support for the name, but the controversy will rightfully not go away. The Redskins stand on the wrong side of history at this point.

With FedEx requesting a name change and Nike on-line not stocking/listing Washington jerseys, the rate of change could be extremely rapid.

And, with the USA approach to the pandemic in the glaringly inept category, it might even be likely that on the field football in Washington for 2020 is instead replaced by a new name and off-field revolution from August onwards.

On a personal level, my first experience with the Redskins was watching the team in 1983 on Channel 4 in the UK. I was 8 back then, and as ever with Sports, the team chose me. Loved the colours, loved the logo and when you have not even reached the age of 10, you do not really have an opinion on the name.

Singing Hail to the Redskins at Wembley in London in 2016 was an all-time high point for me. What is to say that if a renamed Washington franchise gets the all-clear for stadium development in D.C., that they then do not become the “London team” for a single season during that stadium build?

That scenario I do not believe would happen with the Redskins name still in place.

.A change of name has the potential to re-energise the franchise and this would match the obvious raise in standards that we have seen through the Redskins social media and the positive hiring of Coach Ron Rivera.

It can bring in new younger fans, bring a new credibility to the franchise and positive outlook & reach to Native Americans and other ethic minorities. Let us face it, if you are 100% anti-change the name, you are going to resemble Grandpa Simpson raising his angry fist to a cloud sooner than you think.

The review I feel will be thorough but swift. It will include I believe a viewpoint from the players and staff that change is required, the League itself is ready for Washington to change and, if nothing else, money will very much talk if affiliated sponsors wish to pull out. That trend will not end with FedEx and Nike.

There’s always time for a little selfish request though – a re-brand of my own website would be MUCH easier with a team name that begins with R.

Redtails or Renegades get the thumbs up from me and it was interesting that Rivera rather randomly mentioned the military in the official press release. The story of the Redtails would be an amazing 360°turn for a new name and establish clear appreciation for African American & Caribbean WW2 heroes.