Finally

As a young football fan in the 1970s I always felt discomfort over the name of Washington's football team. I was also uncomfortable with many of the early Bugs Bunny cartoons. Even as a 10-year old, it was easy to see the offensive depictions of Native Americans that were all around me. Football and cartoons were a big part of my childhood. Even more astonishing than the offensive name of the Washington football team was the sad fact that no one seemed to care that it was offensive. I guess that's what happens when everything and everyday is scripted by middle-aged white men.

This offensive name was chosen, embraced, and nurtured by the most blatantly racist team owner in the NFL. In those early years of the league, perhaps as many as all of the owners had some racist leanings. None celebrated their racism more, or made it more obvious, than George Preston Marshall. Everything about this idiot screamed racism and hate. Including the name that he chose for his football team.

Finally. That name is no more.

But not quite yet. Yesterday, the Washington football team released one of the most ridiculous statements I've ever seen from an NFL team. In a statement announcing the retiring the offensive name, the offensive name was used seven times. It's not going away easy but at least it's going away. Finally.

When a person, football team, whatever does the right thing it'd be nice if they did so for the right reason. The Washington football team has done two significant "right" things in their history.

1. 1962. The team integrated. Finally.
2. 2020. The team dropped their offensive name. Finally.

Nice job. On both occasions the team's owner was FORCED to do the right thing. In 1962, the racist Marshall reluctantly integrated his football team because the federal government FORCED him to do so. In 2020, Dan Snyder finally decided to do what he has repeatedly said he'd never do. It took the threat of sponsors walking away from the team for him to do the right thing. Simple greed FORCED him to finally drop his team's offensive name.

Doing the right thing shouldn't be so damn hard.