Here’s something I had never considered. Apparently, you can’t trademark something that is considered a derogatory slur. Some clever folks realized that they could use this fact to try to force the Washington Redskins to change their name. If they can get the court to agree that “Redskins” is a derogatory slur, then the owner Dan Snyder wouldn’t be able to control the name and brand of his team anymore.
Snyder, who is the worst owner in football, says that he will never change the name of the team. He says he won’t change it even if he loses this trademark battle in court. I don’t believe him. He might hold out for a while, but the league honchos and other owners would bring him to heel.
I think the name should be changed, but I hope the team can retain its link to Native Americans in a way that honors them rather than insults them. The Dallas and Washington rivalry should retain its Cowboys and Indians character.