Introducing - The Cleveland Guardians

[sk!mom]

I’m from Ohio. I really think they could have come up with something better. Still think it’s all ridiculous why they had to change it anyway.

You think it’s ridiculous that they needed to change this Wow..:

 

[luvnwdwgal]

You think it’s ridiculous that they needed to change this Wow..:

Yes, It’s been the Cleveland Indians for years with Chief Wahoo and it should stay that way.

 

[wenrob]

Let's give credit where credit is due! The Marlins beat them in 1997. The CUBBIES beat them in 2016!

Cleveland and Chicago were my dad’s two favorite teams. I told him it must have felt like choosing between his kids. Ultimately he wanted Cleveland to win so ended up heartbroken.

Yes, It’s been the Cleveland Indians for years with Chief Wahoo and it should stay that way.

Know better, do better. You really think it’s okay to have degrading symbols just because it’s always been that way? What if the images were about *your* heritage? Or religion, race or what have you.

 

[sk!mom]

Yes, It’s been the Cleveland Indians for years with Chief Wahoo and it should stay that way.

My DH and children are citizens of an indigenous tribe. I’m stunned at your lack of understanding of how disrespectful the names have been. Where would we be if we subscribed to, “it’s always been so it should always be?”

 

[RedAngie]

Oooooh. I have to go to my favorite “news” site later (not ) and read all the comments from the butthurt posters.

Exactly what I expected.

How dare a private business choose to do something that’s against my beliefs!!! The government needs to step in and stop this travesty!!!

 

[JimMIA]

I have trouble getting excited about anything baseball any more. Baseball is just about the money.

MLB is just an industry owned by billionaires, most of whom don't even live in the cities where the teams are, but suck those cities dry for subsidies. The players are millionaires who also don't live there, and leave as soon as the season is over. Very few of them -- either owners or players -- contribute a thing to the communities that host them.

Here in Miami, we have pro football and basketball players who have made important contributions. And Jack Nicklaus (of NIcklaus Childrens Hospital fame). Those folks are great citizens of our community, and always will be.

But baseball? Naw. They just take the money and run.

 

[luvnwdwgal]

Cleveland and Chicago were my dad’s two favorite teams. I told him it must have felt like choosing between his kids. Ultimately he wanted Cleveland to win so ended up heartbroken.

Know better, do better. You really think it’s okay to have degrading symbols just because it’s always been that way? What if the images were about *your* heritage? Or religion, race or what have you.

My grandfather was 1/2 Blackfoot Indian and it didn’t bother them at all.

 

[wenrob]

My grandfather was 1/2 Blackfoot Indian and it didn’t bother them at all.

So if it didn’t bother him it shouldn’t bother anybody? Or maybe it did and he just didn’t make a fuss.

I’d like to give you examples of other symbols and words and ask if those would be okay with you but they’d get me put in timeout for using them. And really that’s my point. Chief Wahoo was never okay to begin with and they’re finally recognizing that. Like I said in my first post, know better, do better.

 

[sk!mom]

My grandfather was 1/2 Blackfoot Indian and it didn’t bother them at all.

Didn’t bother “them” or him?

 

[DisneyJamieCA]

Yes, It’s been the Cleveland Indians for years with Chief Wahoo and it should stay that way.

What an absolutely simplistic view of it.

 

[Darklord77]

Who's next? Atlanta Braves, Golden State Warriors, San Diego Padres, Chicago Blackhawks? Boston Celtics? Isn't the representation of an Irish person a little offensive to some?

 

[Darklord77]

Why is it a big deal if the teams change their names?

Why is it a big deal? It's not really to me. However, polling of American Indians show these sport team names do not offend them. So who are we appeasing at this point? It's all getting to be ridiculous. With all that is wrong in this country right now, we are worrying about what to name a baseball team that hasn't won a championship in 70 years.

 

[EACarlson]

Yes, It’s been the Cleveland Indians for years with Chief Wahoo and it should stay that way.

The name itself didn't bother me, but the caricature of the logo certainly did. Behind the former name of the Washington football team it was the second most disrespectful representation out there.

My grandfather was 1/2 Blackfoot Indian and it didn’t bother them at all.

Good for him. It does bother others, and many more it bothers when spoken, worn or used by non-indigenous people. If you go to a pow-wow you will see many, many people wearing the Indians logo, predominantly teens and young adults. Just like if you go into any majority black neighborhood there are certain racial slurs that are commonly accepted for use amongst themselves but would be a dangerous situation if in outsider uses them.

Who's next? Atlanta Braves, Golden State Warriors, San Diego Padres, Chicago Blackhawks? Boston Celtics? Isn't the representation of an Irish person a little offensive to some?

And that point has been made. Braves, the only issue I'm aware of is the War Chant and Chop. AIM held protests about that one at least as far back as 1991. Warriors name is non-racial, it means those that make war and has applied to all peoples for thousands of years. Padres is non-racial, it refers to the Catholic missionaries that were many different ethnicities. Blackhawks has the backing of the actual tribes. Personally I'm not a fan of the war clubs and headdresses but it's not my nation, I don't get a say. Celtics could go, I'm not bothered by it one way or another but I can certainly understand why some Irish take issue with the leprechaun logo.

I am an enrolled member of an Indigenous tribe. I have many family members that still live on the reservation.

 

[sk!mom]

Why is it a big deal? It's not really to me. However, polling of American Indians show these sport team names do not offend them. So who are we appeasing at this point? It's all getting to be ridiculous. With all that is wrong in this country right now, we are worrying about what to name a baseball team that hasn't won a championship in 70 years.

I can care about more than one thing at a time. With all that’s going on in the world and look at us…just wasting time on a chat board.

 

[wenrob]

Why is it a big deal? It's not really to me. However, polling of American Indians show these sport team names do not offend them. So who are we appeasing at this point? It's all getting to be ridiculous. With all that is wrong in this country right now, we are worrying about what to name a baseball team that hasn't won a championship in 70 years.

‘We’ aren’t doing anything. Baseball is a business not an entity owned by the American public.

 

[RedAngie]

“How dare a private business change something that don’t affect me at all?!!! I won’t tolerate it!!!”

 

[ChrisFL]

Changing a sports team name to be more inclusive?

Whats next? “Human sacrifice! Dogs and cats living together! Mass hysteria!”

 

[DisneyJamieCA]

Who's next? Atlanta Braves, Golden State Warriors, San Diego Padres, Chicago Blackhawks? Boston Celtics? Isn't the representation of an Irish person a little offensive to some?

The same could be reversed on you - why does it bother you if names are changed? Does it really change your life in anyway?

(General) This need to hold on to outdated ideas, names, logos, etc to me is baffling.

 

[JimMIA]

So if it didn’t bother him it shouldn’t bother anybody?

I couldn't care less what a baseball team wears on their uniforms, lol.

But there is nothing in the universe that will not bother somebody.

There are also some people who actively search for things to be "offended" by. For some, it's a mission; for others, it's their livelihood.

Florida State University has intermittent problems with some Indian advocates because their nickname is Seminoles. The Seminoles are a revered part of Florida history, and that is the context that led to the selection. It's a sign of respect and admiration.

What those advocates don't realize is that FSU actively sought the advice and approval of the Seminole Tribe of Florida prior to using that name. Not only the name, but the logos and every detail of the depiction was approved by the tribe before implementation. That includes Chief Osceola riding the length of the football field and stabbing his spear into the opponent's end zone. It also includes the "tomahawk chop" and the accompanying chant. Every detail was developed with the tribe, and was approved by the tribe.

I think it was 2-3 years ago, some self-appointed advocate made a fuss, and got the Seminoles in Oklahoma to complain. The Florida Seminoles basically told them to mind their own business.

I don't know about conditions everywhere, but I know locally our Indian populations have much more serious problems on their hands than what players for some billionaire's toy wear on their baseball caps.

They are much more worried about health care, food, adequate housing, employment, alcoholism and drug addiction, etc than what some sports fan wears posing for selfies.

 

[RedAngie]

When I was 7 and my family was planning to fly to Miami for vacation, I was afraid to go because Seminole Indians were in Florida.

TV, movies, etc. portrayed all or most Indians as uncivilized savages back then.

Cowboys stealing land. Good. Indians defending it. Bad.